Lack Of S/SS Magazine Coverage - Page 3

bad440 · 05-14-2010, 02:26 AM

Bret, nobodys ever said it better THANKS

John DiBartolomeo · 05-14-2010, 05:47 AM

I think that both Evan and Bret said it all best, so I don't believe there is anything I can add. However, we (Drag Racing Action) have constantly tried to keep all forms of drag racing (SS & S included) in the pages of our magazine. Just look at our issues for proof. I'm not only a sportsman racer myself, but I have long felt that all sportsman/bracket/heads-up racers (i.e. the "little" guys) get the short end of the stick when it comes to press coverage. If you don't think we have succeeded, then by all means, let us know, regardless of whether it's myself, Evan or any other editor. My e-mail is johnd@dragracingaction.com. Write. If you have the time to read and post on the Internet boards, then send a note to a place where it will count. I've always preached that when you have an issue with someone, go directly to that someone first. Magazines included.

Jeff Lee's post about purchasing the magazine was great. Thanks Jeff. If you don't do that, then it's going to go the direction of the late SS&DI. The magazine business as a whole is in the same condition as any other business today. Blame it on whatever you'd like, but support is the key. If you don't purchase/subscribe, then the reader numbers won't add up and the advertisers won't advertise. Next step is the coffin. I can tell you that while our subscriber numbers are okay, they are short of where they should be considering the amount of racers there are in this world. Why? Good question.

As editors, and I think Evan alluded to this, we have to balance the needs of our readers and advertisers. Which is not exactly easy. Do you see pro cars on our covers? Yes, because it sells on the newsstands. By the same token though, we've had our share of sportsman cars on the cover too. We've always been sportsman oriented because there are literally tens of thousands of them. But our powers-that-be need to see the sales to that group. Gets back to support. And if you don't like what you see between our covers, then... Write! That's your... right! Like I said, johnd@dragracingaction.com.

John DiBartolomeo · 05-14-2010, 05:49 AM

Oh and I have to thank my long-lost buddy, Bobby Don for his compliment. Sorry we never hooked up at the "Beav". I trust though that Billy Nees took care of you and gave you the $2. tour.

Billy Nees · 05-14-2010, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John DiBartolomeo

Oh and I have to thank my long-lost buddy, Bobby Don for his compliment. Sorry we never hooked up at the "Beav". I trust though that Billy Nees took care of you and gave you the $2. tour.

John, Bobby was hanging with me! That was the $.02 tour!

John DiBartolomeo · 05-14-2010, 06:37 AM

Well Billy, I was trying to give you more credit, but...

Gary Smith · 05-14-2010, 08:05 AM

John DRA is certainly the exception these days. Yes, they could always do more sportsman material, but it's way more than any other magazine. Sadly though it's not found anywhere except our local Barnes & Noble news stand.

BlueOval Ralph · 05-14-2010, 08:59 AM

This is not competely true

The original lure of class racing was never in winning the eliminator; the objective for the construction of any vehicle was to win class…period. As the focus shifted toward winning the eliminator, the emphasis to most novices became placed on bracket racing. In fact, there were very few places to compete with a sportsman machine in a heads-up, no-breakout format, (outside of contemporary class eliminations in Stock and Super Stock Eliminators), from (roughly) 1980 through 1995. When the resurgence in street car racing came to the forefront of the media fifteen years ago, a rudimentary group of three classes in the original National Muscle Car Association led to a wave of new heads-up categories under a variety of rules and sanctions which blossomed into a huge change in the sport’s basic complexion.

…or so it would seem.

This is not competely true, In those days you Had to win class to run the Elminator. Case in Point 1977 US Nationals B/SM 39 cars in class. If you were at SS& DI it was your car that won Class & Elminator.

[

Bob Don · 05-14-2010, 09:15 AM

Arlen Fadely won B/SM that year with his SS&DI Project Car (Maverick). Back then, they had class runoffs in Modified and Comp as well as SS and S. Imagine that! Now you've got me all nostalgic about Modified Eliminator!

Evan Smith · 05-14-2010, 10:04 AM

Bret,

That might be the best post ever written on this board. It really sums up the state of NHRA/IHRA Class racing and shows that there other options if you want to race, no matter what "style" the eliminator.

Evan

B Aceves · 05-14-2010, 10:42 AM

Bret,
I understand were your coming from with some of your info, But im just curious to know when you say that the 10.5, 8.5, and all the other heads up classes with unlimited rules on
power adders and mods is the MODERN DAY CLASS RACING, Have you guy's that write all the article's ever done any type of statistics on how many of those type of car's actually are out there as opposed to a NHRA. IHRA type S/SS car throughout the country?

05-14-2010, 02:26 AM	#21
bad440 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: livermore ca. Posts: 19 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Lack Of S/SS Magazine Coverage Bret, nobodys ever said it better THANKS

05-14-2010, 05:47 AM	#22
John DiBartolomeo Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Beaver Springs, PA Posts: 494 Likes: 1 Liked 1,282 Times in 159 Posts	Re: Lack Of S/SS Magazine Coverage I think that both Evan and Bret said it all best, so I don't believe there is anything I can add. However, we (Drag Racing Action) have constantly tried to keep all forms of drag racing (SS & S included) in the pages of our magazine. Just look at our issues for proof. I'm not only a sportsman racer myself, but I have long felt that all sportsman/bracket/heads-up racers (i.e. the "little" guys) get the short end of the stick when it comes to press coverage. If you don't think we have succeeded, then by all means, let us know, regardless of whether it's myself, Evan or any other editor. My e-mail is johnd@dragracingaction.com. Write. If you have the time to read and post on the Internet boards, then send a note to a place where it will count. I've always preached that when you have an issue with someone, go directly to that someone first. Magazines included. Jeff Lee's post about purchasing the magazine was great. Thanks Jeff. If you don't do that, then it's going to go the direction of the late SS&DI. The magazine business as a whole is in the same condition as any other business today. Blame it on whatever you'd like, but support is the key. If you don't purchase/subscribe, then the reader numbers won't add up and the advertisers won't advertise. Next step is the coffin. I can tell you that while our subscriber numbers are okay, they are short of where they should be considering the amount of racers there are in this world. Why? Good question. As editors, and I think Evan alluded to this, we have to balance the needs of our readers and advertisers. Which is not exactly easy. Do you see pro cars on our covers? Yes, because it sells on the newsstands. By the same token though, we've had our share of sportsman cars on the cover too. We've always been sportsman oriented because there are literally tens of thousands of them. But our powers-that-be need to see the sales to that group. Gets back to support. And if you don't like what you see between our covers, then... Write! That's your... right! Like I said, johnd@dragracingaction.com. __________________ John DiBartolomeo DRC Race Products DragRacingActionOnline.com

05-14-2010, 05:49 AM	#23
John DiBartolomeo Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Beaver Springs, PA Posts: 494 Likes: 1 Liked 1,282 Times in 159 Posts	Re: Lack Of S/SS Magazine Coverage Oh and I have to thank my long-lost buddy, Bobby Don for his compliment. Sorry we never hooked up at the "Beav". I trust though that Billy Nees took care of you and gave you the $2. tour. __________________ John DiBartolomeo DRC Race Products DragRacingActionOnline.com

05-14-2010, 06:37 AM	#25
John DiBartolomeo Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Beaver Springs, PA Posts: 494 Likes: 1 Liked 1,282 Times in 159 Posts	Re: Lack Of S/SS Magazine Coverage Well Billy, I was trying to give you more credit, but... __________________ John DiBartolomeo DRC Race Products DragRacingActionOnline.com

05-14-2010, 08:05 AM	#26
Gary Smith Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 820 Likes: 9 Liked 132 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Lack Of S/SS Magazine Coverage John DRA is certainly the exception these days. Yes, they could always do more sportsman material, but it's way more than any other magazine. Sadly though it's not found anywhere except our local Barnes & Noble news stand. __________________ Gary Smith "another broke racer spectating"

05-14-2010, 08:59 AM	#27
BlueOval Ralph Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 852 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Lack Of S/SS Magazine Coverage This is not competely true The original lure of class racing was never in winning the eliminator; the objective for the construction of any vehicle was to win class…period. As the focus shifted toward winning the eliminator, the emphasis to most novices became placed on bracket racing. In fact, there were very few places to compete with a sportsman machine in a heads-up, no-breakout format, (outside of contemporary class eliminations in Stock and Super Stock Eliminators), from (roughly) 1980 through 1995. When the resurgence in street car racing came to the forefront of the media fifteen years ago, a rudimentary group of three classes in the original National Muscle Car Association led to a wave of new heads-up categories under a variety of rules and sanctions which blossomed into a huge change in the sport’s basic complexion. …or so it would seem. This is not competely true, In those days you Had to win class to run the Elminator. Case in Point 1977 US Nationals B/SM 39 cars in class. If you were at SS& DI it was your car that won Class & Elminator. [ Last edited by BlueOval Ralph; 05-14-2010 at 11:44 AM.

05-14-2010, 09:15 AM	#28
Bob Don VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Greater Boston Posts: 1,495 Likes: 1,116 Liked 900 Times in 191 Posts	Re: Lack Of S/SS Magazine Coverage Arlen Fadely won B/SM that year with his SS&DI Project Car (Maverick). Back then, they had class runoffs in Modified and Comp as well as SS and S. Imagine that! Now you've got me all nostalgic about Modified Eliminator! __________________ Bob Don 128 SS

05-14-2010, 10:04 AM	#29
Evan Smith Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Tampa Posts: 400 Likes: 7 Liked 115 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Lack Of S/SS Magazine Coverage Bret, That might be the best post ever written on this board. It really sums up the state of NHRA/IHRA Class racing and shows that there other options if you want to race, no matter what "style" the eliminator. Evan __________________ Evan Smith 1798 STK

05-14-2010, 10:42 AM	#30
B Aceves Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 457 Likes: 1 Liked 7 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Lack Of S/SS Magazine Coverage Bret, I understand were your coming from with some of your info, But im just curious to know when you say that the 10.5, 8.5, and all the other heads up classes with unlimited rules on power adders and mods is the MODERN DAY CLASS RACING, Have you guy's that write all the article's ever done any type of statistics on how many of those type of car's actually are out there as opposed to a NHRA. IHRA type S/SS car throughout the country? __________________ Bob Aceves, 746 E/SA A&M motorsports