Re: Doing an NFL on the NHRA Divisions...
 

If we are gonna fix anything fix the situation with categories being bumped from the national event schedule.

Re: Doing an NFL on the NHRA Divisions...
 

First let me thank all of you who read my thoughts, and secondly those of you who replied back to them. Please know that I didn't do this because it would only benefit me, I did it as an idea for all racers who have to endure long tows to divisional races due to their meager divisional track selections (Hawk), per their geographic locale. Not many of us have the budget to travel as "fletch", Biondo, Zane, and Faul do, so we're limited to what's closest to us. Nor, do we have the time from work, or the budget (Ed & Dick), to enjoy numerous weeks off from work for racing purposes. Furthermore, not all national events have divisional races one week later (i.e. the Mile High Nats., and the 'Vegas Nats #1, or Stock in the #2 race).

I came up with this idea because you eastern racers have it easier (especially Div. 1), because you probably have just 250 miles (at the most, but probably less) separating your furthest events from each other. While you in Div. 3 are probably second closest to your extremes (Stanton, Mi., to Bowling Green, Ky.). I don't mention Div.'s 2 & 4, because they are about right for geographics, which is where div's 5,6,&7 should be...perhaps we should do an N.F.L. by creating a div. 8? My point is why should some divisional racers have to travel 2-3x's as far as others for the same purpose...I don't see much fairness in that, and for those of you who feel like "Ed" does, I guess you don't mind having to spend excess money, and take excess time from your customers (or work), because since you can only claim points from two non-home divisional races, then you have to travel to your home divisions extremes even if they're; 895 miles (Tucson, Az., to Sonoma, Ca), 930 miles Woodburn, Or., to Acton, Mt., or the worst...Denver, Co., to Brainerd, Mn. "1,036" miles!!! Have you guys asked Mike Tueffel, Kevin Helms, or John Mason not to mention me, why we left Colorado? There's your answer! However, we shouldn't have had to do that so we could chase our desires of "less tow time, more race time", or less money spent on tow fuel, more money to spend on other racing expenses.

Lane, yes the western half of the country does have a lack of available tracks, but if the trend of championship chasing racers to densely populated divisions continues, then the revenues that they once offered their former tracks will cause those tracks to go the way of the dinosaur before long (at least their events), and those eastern racers looking for western divisionals to enjoy prior to national events won't have them anymore...is that right? Is that fair? Sad state of America if we no longer care for the masses anymore, but care more for our own...I thought we were the United States of America not the United Divisions of certain parts of America....

I put this out here as an idea of thought, over an issue that has merit to it. If any of you who read this has a better idea, then lets here it, because the NFL did it and thanks to that no longer are the Atlanta Falcons traveling to San Francisco for a (in) divisional game, when only one state separates them from the Atlantic Ocean! What's fair for one should be fair for all (divisions that is)!

Re: Doing an NFL on the NHRA Divisions...
 

I think we'd all like less towing to the races. It was nice when we had 7 Div races and had an option of which ones to go to. I think the tracks that can get the fan turnout should be given the opportunity to host 2 Div races.

I agree with what John said about NHRA getting a percentage or somehow make it more profitable for the host track. Maybe then we might have more tracks wanting to host a Div race.

Re: Doing an NFL on the NHRA Divisions...
 

I dont know what you read into my post but let me give you the real story.You compared my situation with Dick Butler.Dick is a doctor,who at some time raced multiple cars and had a stacker.When I started racing Stock (1999) I worked for Con Edison in NY.At the time I had 1 year to go till retirement.I would have liked to have run Stock earlier in my life but my job and budget ruled that out.You know real life got in the way.I'm sure Dick 's accomodations were much better than mine.I have a gigantic 22' enclosed that I stay in at the track.The car stays out and I utilise it as living quarters.I'm not complaining,I have a bed ,sink w/8 gal tank,3500 and 1000 watt gens.heat,fan for hot nights,shower setup and sanitary facilities.Not a Renagade but it suits me.The point is when I started out in 1999 I didn't thinkthat it wasn't fair that others had motor homes,stackers etc. etc. I just did what I had to do to go racing.
Right now due to circumstances i'm out of a retirement job.If things dont get better I'll just sit out 2009,
just like I did in 2004.People should just stop the level the playing field bull**** and just race within their means.If people feel they cant race enough because of where they live they have 3 choices,move,live with it,hit the lotto.


Ed F.

Re: Doing an NFL on the NHRA Divisions...
 

ED it might be easier to hit the lotto than win a race,I am sorry about your retirement this economy might throw a big curve ball to alot of good hard working people.

Re: Doing an NFL on the NHRA Divisions...
 

There's no question that if you live West of the Mississippi River the dragstrips are fewer in number and many more miles apart. But, you can do all the divisional realignment in the world and it's not going to move any starting line closer to your home. Acton's already drawing as many D5 racers as D6 racers and it's still a major tow for most racers from both Div's. Same thing for Medford, pretty large percentage of Div 7 racers of the total entered. Same holds true for Woodburn. It's customary for the announcer to play up the rivalry between 6 & 7 in the later rounds. In any event, can't you claim 1 or 2 out of division races if you want?

Compared to Div4 and Div5, racers in the East do have it much better in terms of choice. Especially if you add both sanctioning bodies together.

One other consideration is the HUGE amount of land in the West that is public land; BLM, U.S. Forest Svc., etc. That means WE THE PEOPLE own it. However, I'm pretty sure the new, incoming, Eco-friendly administration has no plans to construct any dragstrips on any public land. That would just piss-off you guys in the East anyway (they would all be factored tracks). Not to mention all our tree-huggin', Spotted Owl and snail darter lovin' neighbors.

I haven't done the math, but I'm pretty sure it would still be cheaper to tow 2 or 3 hundred miles farther on average, than it would be to sell your home and move to a part of the country with a higher concentration of dragstrips. It's a trade-off.

Re: Doing an NFL on the NHRA Divisions...
 

How about a totally new concept???

If you want to do it right and restructure then get rid of the vehicles that don't compete for LODRS Championships at LODRS events.

Such as:

TOP DRAGSTER

TOP SPORTSMAN

SPORTMAN MOTORCYLES

TOP FUEL HARLEY???

They have a place to race and it's not LODRS events.

The West Coast events are so loaded up with these non-class vehicles that the real vehicles that compete for points have a difficult time in getting runs.

They converted the LODRS Division 7-7 at Las Vegas race from 4 days to 3 days and gave Stock & Super Stock 2 qualifying hits. Oh yes and by the way a test & tune session was substituted for the 4th day and 2 test & tune runs sold for $100

Shame on you NHRA.

Bob

Re: Doing an NFL on the NHRA Divisions...
 

I believe NHRA is about to get that reality check.
I was at the Pamona Finals and there were some real nasty comments from some of the Pro's during interviews over the loud speaker about NHRA's lack of leadership. They were cut early but if you knew what was going on you could read between the lines of what was not allowed over the speakers.
Also, rumor was almost half of the manufactures midway vendors would not be back for next year due to the economy.
GM is totally gone from the vehicle sponsorship, midway, and Warren Johnson's sponsorship.
There are 8 national events yet to have corporate sponsorship for 2009 so reality may be coming home to roost.
If things with the economy does not improve the NHRA show for 2009 may not be nearly the same as the past.
My 2 Cents

Re: Doing an NFL on the NHRA Divisions...
 

I couldn't agree more!

Re: Doing an NFL on the NHRA Divisions...
 

Sounds like the sportsman racers may become a little more important as both sanctioning bodies will rely on the "back gate" once again for profits. There may be more pit space as the pro's will park it before they race out of their own pocket, unlike sportsman racers who do it because we love it. Who knows...they may be running all sportsman classes w/ no quota before you know it!