No really. What are NHRA racers going to do?

[Jimi B]

Here me out. This all got started by reading loads of annoying facebook statuses and forum comments fraught with negative comments. I realize im a small time player, at the moment. But none the less, I wanted to talk about this.


While I am annoyed by a lot of statements that are made about our racing, a good deal of them are not with out merit. However I here a lot of complaining, and not a lot of action. The most action I see are the ones that are protesting NHRA. Which, lets be honest, the ones that are sitting out are the ones that are not racing for a host of other reasons. Not their disdained for NHRA. All though I do understand some of these reasons may be caused by NHRA or maybe even Obama according to some of you... And to the ones that may be sitting out solely for their dislike of NHRA, that is obviously your right. But for some of us that are still trying to live the dream and appreciate what NHRA started out as, a less radical but with more effort approach might be better. I'm sure its not the end of the world to some you after 20-40 years of racing, if NHRA crumbled to the ground. I acknowledge NHRA is a greed machine, and that it is a complete sham since they are not for profit... But I also think its some of the best drag racing. Yes we are racers there for the competition. But it is also a show. With out spectators we would be nowhere. I often think about how awesome it would of been to be around at OCIR, or just to be apart of those glory days. So, I want to go to a divisional race with Alcohol Cars. I want to go to a National with Nitro cars. I am thankful for the combo races and additional racing series because like a lot of us, id rather be at the track then most places most times, so any additional races out there Id like to be at. But like a lot of you, I grew up in NHRA. I think about winning a Wally multiple times a week at the most random times. Call us addicts/Koolaide drinkers, and Tom Compton Pablo Escobar/David Koresh. Whatever it is, we're not curable and we can only improve our quality of life.

So really. Instead of making threads on forums complaining and saying what can we do, lets do something. Something that is not a knee jerk reaction such as not renewing your membership, not racing NHRA etc. Something that keeps the the sport going. I understand some basics in business, law, economy etc, but a lawyer, economist, CEO I am not. Some of you may be those things or know a lot about them.


So first I have questions. Some of this is basic and I may even have an idea myself, but I want conversation going.

1. Should we take a deeper look at the higher paid people in NHRA to try to determine exactly how vilified they should be. We talk about their salaries, but how do their salaries relate to other organizations? Are they really that out of control?

2. What exactly does the NHRAs Not for profit status mean?

3. What are our rights as members? Can some of our ideas discussed actually be employed? Can we look for new leadership etc?

* In case this isnt another dead end thread that goes no where we can discuss what to do with the actual racing in another thread. This thread is about what we can do with in our rights as members to make our organization better to participate in.


We all have loads of ideas that would make the racing better, more fun, economical etc. What really is the hold up? I want to reiterate that i'm not one that wants to boycott NHRA and I am not out for any heads to roll ( until/unless determined thats exactly what needs to be done). I want to know what are our rights as members, and who, where, when we can do anything about it.

If it takes people. Put my name on the list do do my part and then some.