Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment
 

I don't get the idea of raising the entry fee when it's too much already. Back when I started racing, there were 20 cars just in my class, so here again I don't get the quotas of 60 cars or less in Stock.
I think that the home division hosting the national event, that that division racer gets 24 hour preference to enter, then the rest of divisions can enter.
NHRA say that they will pay the S/SS the extra money with the higher entry, I don't believe it, NHRA will find a way to divert to everything but the racer.

Casey Miles
248H Stock

Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment
 

I think a good place to start is to bump up the quotes for all the nationals , fields make it a 64 car field or more ( I mean would a few more car over a 50 or 60 cars make that much difference ) and take as many enteries as you can could be tried at a few races as a test ? . If they are running class go to a 128 car field , I think we all know some races that would run a national event or two but just don't have the grade points in all of the classes / categories . I never got the quota thing your just turning racers/members / customers a way . Thanks Ken & Lonnie .

Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment
 

Personal opinion: I don't think there has been a lot of NHRA bashing in this thread, and I understand the racers frustration...
I've been doing this off and on for nearly 45 years, I've street raced, bracket raced, super comp raced, and for the last two years have been working on a project to possibly begin racing again...

In that time I have watched the price of racing continue to climb, in the last year alone prices on most of the parts I'm buying have gone up a minimum of 20%...
Some parts reaching the realm of unobtainium...

And yet as entry fees have increased, and what you get for that is gone down in value, the payouts have remained the same for the last what, 30 years?...
As this has happened, the NHRA has become more and more "Top Heavy" in management.
We as members should not be considered "Customers", but rather stockholders...

This is not peculiar to S/SS, but applies to all the sportsman racers...

I hope Mr. Grimm is serious about making things better for the racers, I also don't think he has the power to do anything about the stuff at the top of the organization that is the source of all the anguish of the way many perceive they are being treated.

He's going to have to have a thick skin to deal with this crowd, and understand where everyone is coming from.

I wish him the best in this endeavor, and hope he can help the Class Racing be more enjoyable to everyone and not let it become just another bracket race.

I will weigh in on the original topic of what can be done to make S/SS better, (at least what I think I would like to see) in another post as this one has gotten long and somewhat off topic of original post.

Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment
 

Thanks guys for getting us back on tack. Maybe there is hope after all. Lets try to keep the discussion to the points made in the opening post. We can work on the others issues, but its one step at time folks. I think one of the major steps forward... is having a Tech Director that is willing to listen to us, its not going to change over night.

Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment
 

Given the mode of two races for one tow why not make the first day of the National event a division race and use the qualifying from that race to fill the reduced field for the National event. I don't think the model of Brainerd last year worked at all. That way you get a grade point and a chance to race the National event. It doesn't effect the racers that travel to the "big show" as a semi-pro sportsman but it lets the local a chance to get into the race. Years ago there was a single pit pass with any National event entry the way I remember it. I think that there use to be points for both qualifying and setting a record. The biggest problem I have seen in the years I have raced is the disconnect that the powers that be have to the "members" that are interested in making the "big show" but can't for different reasons, personal, business, logistical.

Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment
 

You were saying something about bashing? I'm trying stay on topic. We can never agree I anything can we. Remember I said some... not all.

Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment
 

Not trying to bash anyone, just stating what has happened over the years, and explain where some of the hard feelings are coming from.
It is not the topic of your original post, so I'll say no more on that subject.

Ken, feel free to PM me if you want to hear more of my thoughts on this subject.

Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment
 

So...
Back to original topic...

1) Yes purse needs an increase. No to increase in entry fees.
Increase quotas? (Never liked the quota thing, but I understand about parking, but sportsman seem to always be parked in the mud anyway, so...)

2) AHFS will never work without letting this be a performance based system.
What I see to fix... Qualified fields, qualifying points/payout, points/payout for setting records. (What ever happened to setting records?)
Any or all of the above.

3)Yes Class winners should be in, (Their class win ET used to place on ladder?)
Quotas should be raised (at least 80) and qualified fields at least 64 cars.
Some races should be possibly more?

4)Shipping weights, probably just leave well enough alone.
Some weird stuff is in there but how far off, really?
What sort of can of worms would that be after all these years?
A/C cars weigh different than no A/C, power vs non power whatever...
Shipping weight is different from title weight and actual weight is neither, so...

RACERS are not the customer...
This is an ASSOCIATION, racers are dues paying members...
(IMO: more like shareholders)
We should all be working to the original goal of making racing a safe enjoyable sport...
AND making NHRA the best place to be doing what we do.

The CUSTOMER is the spectators in the stands, or on the couch watching ESPN...
So... how do we get more folks in the stands?
(subject for another thread possibly)

You are very correct, there will always be disagreement, someone will always go away unhappy...
Have you seen the news lately?...
Hard to get anyone to agree what's for dinner!
But there has to be communication and discussion (sometimes heated!) to make things better.

Again I support Mr. Grimm in his endeavor to make things better, and do hope he has a thick skin, as he will need it to deal with this issue.
Racers live this stuff, and many take it personal.

These are just my opinions and people can agree or disagree.
We still have that choice.

Thanks for giving us a place we can rant and rave about what we love to do, and maybe make racing better most if not all...

Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment
 

Yes, but first let me say, this isn't about ME. I'm not a player here.
This is about Joe Lunchpail that supported NHRA Nat's, Divs. and paid his dues for 50 years. Now retired, and didn't inherit the golden wallet. He now finds himself unable to play the g.p. game.

Maybe so many years or back history required, ONE g.p., this year or last, then he gets 3 days early entry window for the closest National meet .

In other words...NHRA } Dance with the one who brung ya.
(hope that didn't sound critical )

Re: Lets talk NHRA Stk/SS with Lonnie Grim - Ideas - Comment
 

As far as increasing entry fees and payouts, I'd be in favor of larger payouts at the 3rd round on up. Even if it's not significant. I mean for some classes 3rd round is either a Final or Semi Final. They pay the same entry as us 7 rounders.