I am confused
 

Pondering the race schedule for 2011 I find our operation at cross roads, we have done divisional and nationals for years (**** decades) and getting fed up the paying for the pro to run at nationals. Could someone explain what the insurance preminum is for at nationals, we are at greater risk because of the pro cars on the property? I have not been a member of ihra for 23 years, that may change, not sure if they are any better but as my wife tells me "when is enough ------ enough" ?

Re: I am confused
 

from everything I have read on here, the answer appears to be "no". racers have posted that they have asked at the tech trailers and received no answers, also have called the office in Glendora with no response...

Re: I am confused
 

That is a good point! What is different about a National event? We don't pay this insurance at a division race. This is just a way to get more money out of us and make it seem like it is ok. I know the likelyhood of all (or most) sportsman racers banding together and boycotting the nationals is very small, but that would sure get our point accross!

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some people say whats the big deal its only $30 more dollars. the big deal to me is when is it going to stop?!car counts are down for a reason .

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Yea, I wasn't even talking about the increase. I just meant why are we paying it at all? It is just rediculous. We are doing the same thing at a National that we do at a divisional and we don't pay insurance there. Or should I keep my mouth shut, that may be next.

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To me, If you own a racetrack and have races on that track, part of the cost of doing busness is knowing that you have to have insurance and medical personell at the time of the event. That is part of doing business and as the owner of said buseness you factor that into the entry fee's. I, feel like most everyone else on this board, that this is nothing more that a way for NHRA to make more money without saying entry fee's went up. If they said it was entry fee's, we as racers would expect an increase in the payout. Which by the way, is long overdue.
Chuck

Re: I am confused
 

Its the BLOWN FUEL CARS ! You dont see them at a divisional do you. Thats WHY your not paying extra there.

Re: I am confused
 

I don't know about any of you all, but I have never raced next to a blown fuel car. Nor have I ever driven one at a National event. Therefore I fail to see what that has to do with my insurance. I suppose if I pitted close to the track where one of them could come over the wall and slam into my pit area. What it comes down to is another way for NHRA to get money from us. I have yet to hear any legitimate answer as to why we pay this insurance. And by legitimate I mean that the money we are paying is used for insurance for us and not to fund something unrelated to us.

Re: I am confused
 

Here is my assumption (and is probably completely wrong).

I assume that each track is responsible for their own insurance, even when a divisional race comes to town. But, when NHRA brings the National Event to each track - the NHRA is responsible for the insurance because they're using their own equipment and personnel.

And FWIW, If my calculations are correct (400 racers at each of the 23 National Events, paying $95 fee just for insurance) then the NHRA will have collected $874,000 from us racers to help "offset" whatever their insurance premiums are.

Thanks,
Brad Rose

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:eek:has anybody put any thought into how many sportsman racers have been injuried or killed this year ?

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Stop bitchin and do something about it. Don't go

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Thats gonna be my stragedy until something changes.

In my opinion their much better......although they also have an insurance premium for national events. I think it's $40. Their payouts are a little lower because of the lack of contingency sponsors, but if enough of us get fed up with NHRA and begin running IHRA, the contingency sponsors will come back. IHRA really is a sportsman oriented sanctioning body. It seems as though in the past the IHRA has been seen as a 2nd class organization when compared to the NHRA, for some reason or another. Take a look at a list of their former world champions and you'll see some of the biggest names in NHRA sportsman racing. In my opinion, we all need to stop takin it in the rear from NHRA and give IHRA a chance.........they won't disappoint. Now.....if we could only get them to bring back the old championship points format. If enough of us jumped ship and voiced our opinions, they've proven that they will listen.

just my .02

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unfortunetly ,div 1 had a s/g racer die this year

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there aren't any ihra tracks that are close (NY)

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has anyone every heard of nhra insurance paying out to any of us p-ons? boycott not a bad idea of nationals, still play at divisional unless the "insurance" follows, investment is to great just to park the junk. Maybe we are all wrong and should be asking nhra "may we have more"! crap the $30 is my drinking budget per race not insurance premium.

Re: I am confused
 

We will never find out. In this economy they just keep pushing us away. Double the Chassis Cert fee, It took the tech all of about 10 minutes to do my car.....$150.00.... not bad for NHRA, then double the license fee....from $50 to 100.00 Why???What could possibly justify those increases.... not bad again for NHRA.
Now they raise the National event fee for an Insurance increase. Yea right
I've been doing this a long time and it's getting to the point of just running the associations (MASGA) or brackets.

Regards to all,
Pat I
Sg1809

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Yeah, unfortunately we got the same problem around here too...

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Im with sc321..........and I said it in a earler post myself......boycott nat events.........(as if that would ever happen, lol )

I think the reduced quotas will help some ..............forced boycott. (if too little of a grade)

Rick

Re: I am confused
 

Guys, I think they want us at Divisionals and not at Nationals. It seams rather transparent to me, If you insist on being a pain in the butt and running at a fuel show!, You are going to pay for it. They want just enough filler and by making it painfull for most sportsman, it will take care of its self.

In the end it is Pro Stock that gets screwed. I know how often I am on the edge of traction in my SC car, can you imagine from a 1000 feet on trying to keep a Pro Stock car under you? Maybe Davey Conlley could comment.

I would prefere if from Top Dragster, Top Sportsman down to be at a Division only level with a Jegs type Sportsnationals. Think about it, what do we get out of a national event anyway.

If anyone would help buy the IHRA, I bet we could make the best Sportsman series on the face of the planet. I'll put up the first Million, no BS.

Re: I am confused
 

You can only get IHRA to grow to what it once was by attending their races. If enough would start to attend and stay away from the other associations races then the NHRA tracks would jump ship and become IHRA tracks for 2012 and beyond. The manufacturers would follow but it takes time and commmitment from the racers. How many on this forum are to young to remember how IHRA had the "N" group running scared in the 1970's and 80's. Even the early 90's the participation was good but bad management, outside forces and the economy has just about left the racer with nothing but NHRA......THAT would be a bad deal for everyone. For those who complain that the races are to far away (ligitimate gripe) the only way for IHRA to grow and come back to your areas is to support them FIRST. How many attend far off NHRA races yet complain about a 10 hour drive to an IHRA race?
If Alex D. started a sporstsman assoc. in the next year to include T/S and T/D on down with NO Fuel cars and NO alcohol cars or even another US Class Nationals like the one of about 10 years ago with a REAL purse payout how many would support him???? Its something to consider or are you all just NHRA diehards!
The best part of IHRA and if Alex was to jump in with both feet is there are NO grade points required. Just show up.

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Jeff it's a dollar and sense thing to NHRA. They need the sportsman dollars, yes your right they don't want us personally just our money.

I have traded emails the last few days with NHRA. The conclusion for the added fee is to share the cost of the higher premium for national events. Point is the pro category has a higher risk and higher premium. Not to say each and everyone one us are not at risk. That was one of my points to them.

I look at it like gas prices. If you want to drive you will pay the price per gallon of gas. Same in racing and they know it. If we boycott as racers they will adjust and the spectators would end up paying more at the gate. It is a business and they know it.

Ok, I am done and will still race. I just won't be throwing my money towards the big wally just the little one!

Brian

Re: I am confused
 

What will the cost be to enter a national event this year?

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$305.00

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thank you for the imfo

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do you get any crew passes with that? If not do you know what they cost?

Thank you

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They quit including a crew pass back when SG cars went 136 MPH. That is another way to get more money w/o saying that they increased the entry fee. Normally they are $80 each except INDY, then they are $100.

Re: I am confused
 

All of the increases ,I was told by a member of a Pro team, is to recover the payment for the Pro Stock Truck screwing law suit. Another source said it was to cover other law suits from pit accidents to suits from Pro drivers that died on track which I thought was a function of Draw.Any of you ever get a dime from Draw? I thought not. Who knows what the truth is but I mark it up as stupid greed in a down economy so maybe some will boycott but I bet not just a lot of talk.....we'll see.

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Oh Tom, Let me tell you about "DRAW"..............They are the ***** !! Just ask my son.......
About mid 90's Jason was racing his murdercycle @ Terra Haute (1/8 mile) and had a ccident. Long story short, he got up against the guard raid and his arm on the back side of the rail , hit one of the uprights and all but severed his arm .......the Terra Haute hosptial couldnt do anything for him and they rushed him to Indy... possible ampatation.

He was just a sometime bike et rider,,,,, Never the less Rosealee Noble was there on the horn Monday or Tuesday morning letting him know that Draw was there for financial assistance and they were there till he got back to work.

Draw is independant from NHRA. totally on their own, and raise the funds on their own.
NHRA will not give them *****...........

Fact; The Draw folks and the RFC folks have to beg, barrow, or steal tickets to get themselfs into the National events. And thats Sad you'all..........

So, if you race.......support them.......you may be supporting yourself in the future.

Rick Bailey

Re: I am confused
 

Thats awfull hope he recovered ok. The Draw auctions are badass and have good stuff but you can't buy it if the big boys are there.I had no idea about the ticket thing so maybe if I have an extra here and there I'll give it to them. Good to hear a sportsman racer got help.

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Rick is right. Everyone needs to support DRAW. My wife was testing her super comp car on a Friday night in Orlando back in 2000 when she rolled the car 9 times and suffered a brain stem injury. DRAW was right there with financial support for a year. Even to this day when we go to a national event, if anyone from DRAW see's us they make it a point to spend some time with Wendi. So no one needs to think for a min that you have to be a pro for them to help you.
Chuck

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Rick glad your son is Ok that is the worst thing to go through having 2 sons who race . Getting back to DRAW they are the best knowing 2 seperate incidents when my friend John Bruzzo crashed a few years ago DRAW was there to help.! Just recently when another friend crashed @ Columbus Sport Natl Bob Wolkwitz I know DRAW was there again! I support DRAW and always will and if I ever win 50/50 I will turn over all money to DRAW without a doubt!!!!!!!!!!!

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When Darrel Gwynn got hurt, Kenny Bernstein wanted DRAW to give alll thier money over to Gwynns recovery. When DRAW informed PRO that the fund was for all racers and not just one pro, He went on a profain tiraid in front of my freinds 11 year old daughter. Not all the "Pros" act like this of coarse. My point being that RFC and DRAW are a great for all of racing, and are treated in a poorer fashion than Sportsman racers, if thats possible.

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Well said!

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That is great. That right there shows they really care.

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Regaring DRAW, we have been members for along time. Once you understand what they do anyone will understand they are the real thing. My wife and myself often send $$ to DRAW as we feel it's a true cause!! Have never need their support and hope to God we never do.
So back to this NHRA crap, I am sure but I did not get a 100% or even 33% increase in pay last year pay, chassis tag, member lic 100% increase, insurance 33% I can see 10-20% increase but 33-100 something is wrong. What coure of action do we have, maybe put up or shut up (may we have more) ? How aboout picking a national and boycott, would not want to do Norwalk as they seem to help the racer, a NHRA owned track would be best, any interest or do we just want to roll over and continue to allow. What happens when us 40~50 year olds retire from racing, the younger generations can not afford this?
Any suggestion for course of action?