Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

Read on Strange Engineering FB page, they are upset with NHRA and I guess will not award contingency, Perfectly Strange monies? Anyone read or know more about this than I?

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

I think almost all manufacturers are upset with NHRA on this subject. You see, they must post a dollar amount for contingencies. Whatever is left over after paying contingents is kept by NHRA. And you thought that Ponzi schemes were bad?

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

Perfectly Strange money went away a couple of years ago.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

They posted that they will come up with some form of private contingency for racers. Said Nhra wanted to hit them for 13k. Typical Nhra running off another sponsor like Mark Williams a few years ago.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

The other thing that Jeff from Strange posted on facebook. Was that they quit a couple of years ago because NHRA would not negotiate any of thier fees. Recently they were contacted and from what it sounds like NHRA had reconsidered and was willing to talk. But it ended up all being BS. and that really pissed him off. I dont blame him for not wanting to continue.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

Don't blame them one bit. If more sponsors would post private contingency awards it could set a trend and maybe NHRA would get the message and not be so greedy. But they have some big salaries to pay and I think that is what is the driving force behind thier money grab.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

Real shame , Strange was one of NHRA's stand up sponsors .
Always one of the first checks to arive .
Hope Jeff deciedes to do something privately .

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

"The only regret I have is that I wasted my breath to negotiate...
I have waited to respond- because I was insulted by the proposal.. I just do not see enough benefits for 13K a year... I can be more specific, but the fact that racers display the "NHRA/Strange" decal is of little importance to me... What we discussed was a program that racers displayed a perfectly Strange decal and more importantly- display a Strange suspension, axles and brakes decal on the vehicle- because they use the product. We thouroughly discussed my motive and not wasting anymore breath on it - I also talked at length, that branding was of the utmost importance and then I receive your proposal- obvously I was heard, but not listened to... Eric... I realize that you have to answer to others, so I don't want to take this out on you, but I got my hopes up that we could work something out- beneficial to both of us, but regrettably the win:win does not work with NHRA. I just do not negotiate at an insulting starting point - so please tell the powers to be to GO F**K THEMSELVES - we will carry on..." Jeff Strange

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

Why does NHRA simply refuse to adjust to the economic times? They still think it is pre-2008.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

Why don't sponsors pay without going through NHRA?

Is it because we can not be trusted to run the decal and use the product?

I have not and still don't get it but what's new

Ron

BTW Jeff - we use all three products as well as the aluminum rear end chunk

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

One thing about it, everyone has something Strange on their car. I don't know all the details of NHRA's requirement for being a sponsor, but I have heard. Seems there should be some room for adjustment or negotiations for the racers sake if nothing else.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

Fully agree with Jeff.....you know the first thing that flashed into my mind was how nhra was like the obama gov vs a private company.
"Give us more"
But it has to make fiscal sense for my company
GIVE ME MORE
That would make me uncompetetive, ruin my company
GIVE ME MORE!
Fine, I'll move my HQ to another country and you'll get no taxes at all!
GIVE ME ...WHAT??? OK, SOMEBODY ELSE, GIVE ME MORE!


"GO F**K THEMSELVES " exactly!

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

Wondered how long bit would take for Obama to be mentioned. LMAO!

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

I'm not taking sides in the least, but when I look at a company with a customer base like Strange is $13,000 really what the problem is ???

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

I heard the $13k was the fee to just hand out the Perfectly Strange money.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

bingo....you're asked to pay a lot of money to hand out money, been brewing for a while and Jeff just had enough. You'll notice that Strange is no longer solely focused on drag racing for it's revenue.........privatizing contingency could gain some serious traction with Jeff's public display of dis-satisfaction

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

This is just another example of the greed of NHRA to the detriment of the racers. How many companies don't pay contingencies that use to? How many companies would still pay if it was more affordable and there weren't these BS payments? Look at the salary schedule of the top 10 or 12 people in NHRA. These folks will ride this ship right into the ground before they change.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

it was also mentioned on FB that SV-1 carb people were offered a chance to make their carb NHRA approved for Pro Stock for a 50K fee. That is just outrageous http://shop.whiteperformance.com/med...STEMS_CARB.jpg
http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j...14529454698078

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

From what I've heard from other manufacters reps this is just the tip of the iceburg.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

$13,000 is not enough money for you to be concerned how it is spent?

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

Strange is about 20 miles from me- I know a lot of the guys in there---constantly working and developing new parts for Nascar-they have realized the continuous money potential of Nascar and stock car racing in general. Drag racing for the most part is a one time deal-- you buy some axles they never need to be replaced--buy a center section once in a while--- many companies sell ring & pinions so why would they want to invest in something like that??? Nascar on the other hand usually has "no budget" when it comes to replacement parts--- they replace stuff every weekend after every race and carry a boat load of spares too. I think they are weaning themselves off of drag racing and focusing more & more on "stock car" racing-- I've met Jeff on many occasions and he is not dumb he is following the money trail-Strange does not need NHRA it has a well known name and will survive without NHRA---NHRA on the other hand needs Strange as well as the other manufacturers to survive and keep revenue coming in-- my 2 cents on it FED 387

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

Agree, very well stated.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

$13,000 is not the point. If it was $10.00 it would be the same. Its the fact that NHRA is not negotiating at all. Its pressure to pay is ridiculous and leans more to intimidation than buisness. I wouldn't pay them anything. Some buisness could be hurt by this non-payment if their product would not be on "the list" of acceptable replacements but the fact that you have to PAY to have your product approved for use,,, I am not sure about the integrity of this aspect.
Seems to me if you have enough money to pay NHRA you could have anything approved for use in any class. Bribery comes to mind here!

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

This whole scenario reminds a conversation I had many years ago with Art Morrison. If many remember, he used to advertise a full page in ND and also pay contingency. NHRA changed the terms of contingency and advertising to the extent he had to stop doing so. It did not affect his business since he moved his business towards street rods.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

[QUOTE=
Seems to me if you have enough money to pay NHRA you could have anything approved for use in any class. Bribery comes to mind here![/QUOTE]

And now we have Cobra Jets with Yates Heads running in stock...

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

I can see Jeff Strange's point. The NHRA makes Strange display an NHRA/Strange decal that doesn't benefit Strange from a product standpoint. Strange wants to see decals with the Strange name along with the product the racer bought and uses on his race car. Strange is just trying to optimize their advertising dollar. What is happening to them now is they are flushing their advertising dollar down the drain due to a lack of product exposure.
The NHRA needs to be careful. Race component suppliers can easily implement a private contingency program and cut them completly out of the loop.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

If companies were to privatize contingency could NHRA make racers not display a decal on car ? I don't know. This came to mind when I was selling VP in Phoenix. I presented a bid to a local stock car association and did Sunoco. Sunoco won the bid and everyone had to run the Sunoco decal and could NOT run a VP decal on car or they wouldn't get paid. This happened on a local level but the racers went for it.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

^This is what came to my mind.

Try to run a Pepsi decal on you car and see what happens! Its in the rule book that you can't have a carbonated soft drink other then Coke. :(

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

I have wondered when I would be asked to remove my Pepsi flag I put up on my trailer! It has not happened on the divisional level. Yet!

Good luck to Strange. First MW, and now Strange. Is Moser next? Most all cars going down the track have aftermarket axles, it just does not make sense to keep running sponsors off. But the ones making these decisions need to take a step back and look at the big picture.

Sean

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

Why don't manufactures just have you fill out a form when you purchase a product that you compete in Drag Racing give them the car # and screw the decal, do it private ? If NHRA won't let us run the decals because of that I'm more than happy to take all that crap off my car !
I don't think running a decal really makes a huge impact on the product we use when there are O Frign people in the stands when we race !!!
But the fact is I spend my money on the product …...

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

If John Force or Don Shoemacher signs a pepsi sponsorship all will be able to drink what ever they want.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

As a business owner I would opt out. The whole point of contingency stickers (in my view) is the manufacture gets exposure from the cars that don't win as well as the winners!

More stickers the better chance another racers would be compelled to use that product.

Just thinking out loud...

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

For basic contingency posting NHRA charges roughly $7k. For added programs or posting more products there is an additional fee.

There was an added minimum payout that had to be met. Not sure if that still exists but if I recall correctly it was $17k. So if you posted contingency for $7k, and only paid out another $7k, you owed NHRA the difference of $10k. From a financial standpoint I could see them wanting your racers to NOT win, realistically I think there wasn't any real motivation one way or the other.

I like a percentage plan. Every manufacturer puts up a specified amount up front, when a claim gets paid NHRA pays the racer, takes 15% for administration, and gives the company back whatever is left at the end of season. You could pay racers right at the track. And the only way they make money (other than interest from sitting on the upfront cash) is to encourage people to run your products and win.

I would even be ok if any minimum wasn't met the leftover money goes toward National Dragster ads for the product. Why not deliver somethign of value to help marketing? An ad costs them very little but has a high perceieved value.

of course I also think there should be a parts submission fee for reviewing a product and if approved that money goes toward ads on NHRA.com or National Dragster. To me things like head studs should have been legal in Stock long ago, why not put together a plan for someone like ARP to launch the product in the Stock ranks that involves a submission, review and ad plan?

If you took the copntingnency money and pooled it, that could be someones full time job and sponsors could get more out of it. As could racers.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

In regards to stickers on cars. don't forget we our pit friendly to the fans that walk around and look at the cars and ask questions. We are always asked what products we use and seeing those decals on the cars goes a long way in the decision of a racer or fan as to what products he buys.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

Clueless!

The decal is everything. I am sure that your parts purchase makes the manufacturer happy. But, do you really think that your purchase warrants a contingency?

Tim has it right. The car show sells parts. Thats the bottom line. If we represent the parts in a positive manner the manufacturer has the potential to sell to the masses. Every time a fan walks into your pit space and asks about your car your positive feedback sells parts.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

From my (a manufacturer) standpoint....the decal is not "everything". While it is located in that sea of decals you have on your car and the customer sort of sees it, that's great.....but what's "everything" is that you the racer, or builder offer that positive feedback to the inquiring spectator on what components make you successful -- hopefully the ones used on your vehicle and you do have that decal displayed. Word of mouth is what sells components, you being successful results in other racers looking to you for guidance / advice, I doubt that other racers even look at your decals.......

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

Decals can enhance a car or ruin the looks of a great paint job. Racers, chassis builders and engine builders know which products work, are reliable, last and help us go fast.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

Maybe the word "everything" was too strong. But basically you just repeated the rest of my post.

I have had manufacturers that don't post with the NHRA but know that I run their product ask me to display their decals. So, I know that the decal is VERY important to some. I also know that a lot of companies love to see their logo on TV and in print. I am also sure that they don't give me logo T-shirts just because they feel sorry for me!

Do you guys pay if the decal isn't present?

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

Don't kid yourself, decals, banners, T shirts, etc. play a significant part of the advertising dollar spent for a manufacturers product. It is all about name/logo and product recognition. When a customer is searching for a product, the name of a manufacturer that the customer recognizes from advertising is more than likely considered.
Do you think Budweiser would give the NFL, NHL and MLB long dollar and not display their banners and electronic displays? I think not.

Re: Strange Engineering/NHRA dispute
 

I had long heard that was the way things were done, I always just shook my head and thought WHY? Things being as they are I would think NHRA would be extremely receptive to any and all sponsors proposals...especially if they get to keep any funds not paid out. Wonder if the mob has heard of this program? It is a shame mainly since it appears that they (NHRA) already has money from the sponsor, the win or runner up should leave that race with all monies contingency included instead of having to wait for it.