Contingency Ideas for New IHRA owners

[FED 387]

Things (regulations) that are easy to change could be a plus----seat belts every other year does not bother me as the belts deteriorate over a period of time unlike an aluminum trans shield which probly will last your lifetime----I can see the mfg point if ya bought it 10 years ago how does it help them to sell new product---There has to be a middle ground that would satisfy both the racer AND the manufacturer--- Both sides might hafta give a little to get to that point---What is the middle gound ??? you ask I dunno but working with the sponsor and the racer is going to be necessery to get there---- Utilizing a product that was obtained whether a new purchase or an item that is 10 years old at a garage sale and a visual inspection of the product actually on the vehicle should satisfy the requirement. Now if say Earls says you hafta buy $200 worth of AN fittings every year who is gonna do that to get maybe $50 if ya WIN the event...No one unless your a top 5 or 10 player cuz the average racer is never gonna be in a situation to claim the money posted!!!! So how is the average racer gonna satisfy Earl's ???--- why can't ya use fittings that are over 3 years old?? That's the $64,000 question----
If potential sponsors see a chance to increase their sales and make more money without lotsa restrictions put in the way they are gonna be more inclined to join the party--- If the HRA's put obstacles in the sponsors way that are not conducive to allow a sponser to participate they will not be inclined to do so--- I think it all starts at the top of BOTH HRA's without a change of the current way of doing business nothing is going to happen. It's going to hafta start at the top--- you have seen what has happened with the current HRA's business plan the sponsors have or are leaving----so its not the racer & its not the sponsor that only leaves one other choice about who is at fault here

[Michael Beard]

Now if say Earls says you hafta buy $200 worth of AN fittings every year who is gonna do that to get maybe $50 if ya WIN the event...No one unless your a top 5 or 10 player cuz the average racer is never gonna be in a situation to claim the money posted!!!! So how is the average racer gonna satisfy Earl's ???

Nobody *has* to do anything. Companies offer incentives. If you don't want to take advantage of a program, you don't have to. The company could choose to not do any contingency incentives at all, and spend their advertising dollar in other ways. If a company's program doesn't generate sales, then perhaps they choose to modify the program in a way that does stimulate sales. That's up for them to decide, and for the racers to decide if they want to participate. The only legitimate complaint anyone can have is if they willing participate in a program as required, and the sponsor does not fulfill their obligation. That's not what we're talking about here.

Sam's Club will give me $100 off a TV if I pay $40 to become a Premium Member.
"What if I already have a TV?!?"
"Why do I have to pay money to get a discount?!?"
"Can you believe this ad says Limit 1 Per Customer?!?"
Well? Don't join and don't buy it if you don't want to. Complaining about a company making an OFFER does not make any sense. They don't owe you anything.

why can't ya use fittings that are over 3 years old??

You can. Whether or not you can claim contingency on that item in that time frame, however, is up to the stipulations set by the offering company.

If the HRA's put obstacles in the sponsors way that are not conducive to allow a sponser to participate they will not be inclined to do so

Correct. If the HRA's feel they would achieve a greater bottom line by changing their programs, then they might do so. That's up for them to decide.

[Chuck Beach]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Who ever said that a contingency date requirement has anything to do with the life or quality of the product? Sales and coupons have expiration dates on them, too. This is basic math. It is not financially feasible for every company to pay for every product forever. Instead of demanding that a company "owes us something", I am grateful for the companies that do support our sport, however they are able! I would rather a company post with stipulations than not at all. If it's not worth keeping a receipt or making a phone call sometimes, that's a decision for an individual racer to make. The rules are clear up front.

Your missing the point Michael, expiration dates on products such as pistons and rods for limited stock eliminator racers makes no sense .. It also makes no sense for someone building a new car that takes several years to complete.


Yes, that would be exactly the reason, IF that's what the qualifications are for that particular company/product. If you don't want to replace the part, you don't have to. You also don't have to claim contingency on it.



...and we expect Turbo Action to pay someone thousands of dollars over a lifetime for a $300 shifter (multiplied by how many racers?) and stay in business HOW?

It was just an example, Turbo action does not pay for shifter anymore and if it did there is a SN associated with it and they could have paid up to $300 and then quit paying.

The first complaint was that a product was somehow 'no good' after 3 years, yet now it would be okay if a product was deemed 'no good' (by that same standard) after you won 'x' number of races with it? If that's what a company wanted to do, and the sanctioning bodies approved it, that's fine. It's a free market, and their choice on how to best market their products. This brings us back full circle to: Appreciate the sponsors for what they can do, play by the rules set by the sponsors and the sanctioning bodies, and if you don't want to play, then don't.

That's just it, no one is complaining ... a good set of pistons and rods should last well over 5 years for a limited racer.

Correct. Who are they advertising to, how many people do they reach, and something many seem to be forgetting: what is their expected return on investment? Realistically, making a program LESS accountable does not achieve that goal.

A sponsor's primary considerations of a contingency program are 1) Advertising/Branding and 2) Sales. There are four legs associated with these objectives: 1) The sanctioning body 2) the racer 3) the fans 4) and the sponsor itself.

The sponsor is obviously going to do everything it can to leverage its own program. They interact with the fans with midway displays, promotional contests, etc. The racers display the requested contingency decals, so they do their part (in most cases... some choose to not provide sponsors with their full value in a number of ways). Some racers go the further and display additional decals on their trailer, pit vehicle, or tow vehicle, or display banners, etc. (when permitted)

Promoters are the link between the sponsor and their intended audience , both racers and fans. Sponsors provide advertising dollars to the promoter and/or augments the event as a whole with product, gift certificates, or cash payments direct to the racers such as contingency programs. Ultimately, even the direct "racer benefits" are a direct aid to the promoter, as it subsidizes the purse and awards, thus attracting larger numbers through the back gate, while ticket programs and/or advertising in partnership with sponsors yields larger front gate numbers. The remaining question then is, what else can a promoter do to provide additional value to the sponsor?

The bottom line is if the sponsor puts up the money for class win or an elimination win at that point they should expect to pay for all contestants who use their products. You sign a release that allows them to use you as advertising even if they don't pay you. Per what you stated above, your right I don't participate and I don't run their decal ..