Vegas National reflection

[ChevyII]

After returning home from Vegas and viewing the national event as a spectator, I had to get a few things off my chest.

A terrible car count; what seemed like an eternity of downtime; a one lane race track and what is up with the fuel crew chiefs and team members holding up the show by constantly parading up and down the race track!!!!! All those yahoos walking up and down the racetrack and tracking whatever crap they pulled up with their shoes. No wonder the track was tractionless! A total GONG show.

I would hate to see what a "newbie" spectator attending their first event would have thought...I guess more time to go for your $6 beer or $8 mixed drink. Ridiculous!!!!

The pits were empty. Comp was down from 45 cars to 23 cars registered from last year. I know the high diesel fuel prices and the state of the economy is shaping where people are going to spend their hard earned $$$ but if I were thinking about attending another NHRA national event, I would say "NOT!" I will stick with racing at divisionals.

I couldn't believe that fans were actually leaving their seats when the Pro stock cars came out to run.

I have been to well over 75 national events as a fan and as a competitor and this event had to be one of the worst I have ever attended. It was so bad we left the track on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and we are die hard drag racers.

NHRA you might want to ask a few racers and spectators what people really think of your show and allow people to be brutally honest! Oh, but I forgot this is the NHRA.

If you do you might get your **** spanked.

A concerned NHRA member.

Mike

[Moparteacher]

I was there ten hours on Friday, all day Saturday, and all day Sunday. I have to regretfully agree with these observations. The oil downs from the top fuelers was one after the other. Saturday wasn't any better. Sitting in the bleachers under the hot sun and only getting to watch a run down the track every twenty minutes was painful, literally.

The pro stockers suffered from a right lane that took out four or five contenders in a row. The top fuelers were blowin' them up at the finish line, one after the other. The sportsman announcer sounded as if he was a computer recording piecing words together to form sentences.
AND
Once again the NHRA failed to capitalize on the opportunity to educate the spectator on the differences between the classes.

The average spectator doesn't know the difference between a stock car, Super stock car, comp car (other than it's a performance based class). I suspect the average fan would ask "It's drag racing, are not all the cars based on performance?"

Sit up in the stands and you hear alot of "why did he leave before the other guy", "that guy has lower time so why did he lose?", and "why do those cars start fast, go slow, and then go fast?"

I brought 40 plus college students on friday. During my Wednesday evening and Thursday classes I took an hour to explain to the students, and these are 18-40 year olds, about NHRA drag racing, the rules for each class, the differences between pro and sportsman, the tree, timing, reaction times, ET's, and so forth. Most of the students were amazed at how much they didn't know. I was not. I heard a lot of "oh that explains it". NHRA does little if anything to inform and educate the fans about the very sport they lead. It takes a true diehard to spend the time and effort to figure out the rulebook, car lettering, indexes, and what makes a wheel standing stocker truley spectacular to watch. What an incredible waste of revenue opportunity. Thousands of sportsman racers, thousands of spectacular cars, thrilling races won by thousandths of a second, and it's all a big mystery to generations of fans and potential fans. This is why Pinks is so damn popular, people understand it.

If the NHRA was responsible for promoting baseball for the last fifty years we would all would be kicking around a white soccer ball as our national pastime.

On more thing. I think I'll invest in Budweiser, specifically Bud Light. More Bud Light was consumed Saturday and Sunday than oxygen.

[Moparteacher]

I mistakenly thought my signature included my name. I does not

Gary Weaver
College of Southern Nevada

[Ed Wright]

>>I couldn't believe that fans were actually leaving their seats when the Pro stock cars came out to run.

They always do. I was shocked first time I saw that. I have a friend that runs NHRA Pro Stock, wne when I go to watch him I just wait until the stands empty to take a seat. Don't have to go find my reserved seat, just sit on the isle where it is easy to get back out.

[ChevyII]

Moparteacher,

Thanks for your reply! Your absolutely right, announcers can make or break an event during down times. I have always enjoyed listening to Frey, Unkefer and Brian Olson because they truly understand the sport and the little guy re sportsman competitor. I sure didn't get that from the guys (other than Frey) they had on the mic in Vegas. In the heat of the day it was blah, blah, blah blah...maybe that's why we left on Saturday.

Ed,

It didn't surprise me the "so called" fans left during Pro Stock because it's been going on for some years now. I guess if it doesn't make enough noise it's time to head for the expensive drinks. During the Pro Stock Truck era it was blatantly happening and now with Pro Stock it's even more pronounced!

On a positive note, I thought Luneack's win in SS with the wagon was impressive. Alan Ellis' new Neil and Parks built altered was well built and cool to see in primer black.

Cheers!

Mike

[Real Racer]

Maybe it was monotone Johnny Moto, the parking guy turned announcer?

Absolutely the worst announcers guild card carrying mope to ever have the missfortune to get behind a michrophone. Dead silence sounds better.

[STK 1045]

Boy, I tell ya after watching this Vegas race on TV to be quite honest I wasn't sure what to think. I'm 47 and have been following Drag Racing since I was 10 but the quality of this product is losing steam. No, offense but "Axeman" on the History channel was very compelling which I switched back and forth from so as to spare myself the endless, mindless **** chat and alot of pointless commentary. And the "one line" racing due to the bad lane I'm sure didn't make alot of sense to the average or new fan. No wonder Kevin Harvick wants to get involved with NHRA, it seems to be getting too much like NASCAR, and NASCAR is becoming to much like the WWF. And posting Vegas odds on TV? And that Countdown to the Championship, no offense but you can only manufacture or induce drama only so much. After the finishes they had in Top Fuel and Funny Car in 2006, I don't understand why it was needed. It just seems kinda silly and unnecessary. In this instant gratification, drive-thru, over-hyped world we live in it was only a matter of time. God, I love this sport, and of course racing, and don't want to give the impression of bashing NHRA in any way but I feel they are heading down a slippery slope. I wonder why HD Partners backed out and who is next in line to steer the ship. And what's up with that Schumacher deal? After NHRA and Schumacher commented on the deal I did see a Super Stocker drive past in the background............. Gotta love that Sportsman coverage! WOOHOO!! Where have you gone Joe Dimaggio LOL Frank Hamer Jr.STK 1045

[Run to Rund]

Remember the "new" stock classes in 1973 and how NHRA finally allowed 9x30 slicks for 1975? The cars actually resembled stock. Super stock was just that, and pro stock still looked something like a more radically modified car but still something like what Bubba had at home. Now stock is like the old super stock, pro stock is not loud and wild enough in its antics to justify it being so far from what Bubba has, so he goes for a snack. Whaddaya think? Am I being too hard on the trends as I see them?

[Ven302]

re Pro Stock,
It is a shame that the costs and reality of ever being able to run one of those cars is all but gone. If you are like me you enjoy watching something that has fierce competition, great rivals, AND brand identification. I was thrilled when I saw the Sox and Martin tribute car, really miss Bob Glidden (anybody really) in a Ford. The cars too have become generic with the front overhang rule, and maybe I am just old but the graphics, Well I liked a car that resembled something you could buy. I will always run to the fence for Pro Stock but I can understand why the have waned in popularity.

[bill dedman]

Post deleted by author