National Dragster

[Joe Greek]

Am I the only one that is disappointed in the new National Dragster??
The WinterNationals, there were no pictures of rounds in eliminations in
any of the sportsman catagories. There is no National records & no National indexes.
I hope it doesn't stay this way. Personally, I would like a little more info on the
Sportsman catagory.
Joe Greek
#1222, P/S, S-10

[GarysZ24]

No you're not, and I agree! Moreover, I'm not happy about the contingency/purse postings that used to be in the souvenir edition, not being in them so far either...at least they weren't for the recent AZ nats....I too hope this doesn't continue...guess it's time for a phone call to the mag....maybe a bunch of us should do that, since there's strength in numbers...

[Conway Witten]

What a joke..They actually charge money for this! It is no longer a news source for racers; it is now a way to attract more of the public to go watch their lame 1000 ft racing. It is so bad that I lined a bird cage with last weeks and the birds won't even crap on it! The manufactures will wake up and realize that the racer is no longer reading it and (I hope) pull their advertizing money. It is treated like a "People" magazine now.

[Chris DeGidio]

Not happy with it at all.I never thought there was enough sportsman coverage,but I also don't like to have to go on the internet to read the rest of ND.

It looks like they are trying to make it somewhat like a magazine,and it fails in that area too.

[442OLDS]

I will have to agree with this.The last National Dragster with coverage of the Winternationals was quite disappointing.I used to look forward to the National event coverage of all Sportsman classes with photos of at least the semi and quarter-finals.Maybe there was some better coverage at NationalDragster.net,but I didn't look.I spend too much time online as it is,I don't need to have to go to yet another website for information.

[Christopher Stewart]

I miss the National Record pages too.

[Superfan1]

As others have mentioned, I definitely miss the National Records and Class Indexes.

[Adam Strang]

I leafed through half of it this morning and saw the pic of Shauls car and thought well maybe they`re trying .Wow was I wrong,saw the Sportman coverage with the three pics for each section and no quilifing and threw it the trash. WEAK.

I wonder what the reason is with removing the records and indexes,does it really save that much paper?

[Bob Lasko]

This is a e-mail recieved from Phil Burgess after I e-Mailed him the link to this thread.
Bob Lasko


Hi Bob,

Thanks for the link. We’re already aware of this thread and have been monitoring it for constructive feedback.

It’s our belief that the current Sportsman package we are presenting differs from years past – a necessity once the print schedule changed – it still offers an equitable (if different) amount of coverage.

The main motivation for these changes was the print schedule change to bi-weekly. In an internet and TV world., a weekly magazine long ago stopped being a news vehicle. Once we were able ourselves to accept that premise – as we ask of the members and racers who get their info first elsewhere anymore – the tone and content of the coverage had to change, too.

Although stats were trimmed to the quarterfinals on, all of the previous rounds are available online and it’s our belief that anyone who really cared about those stats surely has already reviewed them online and is not waiting for the print issue to see them. Because the issues are bi-weekly, any indexes we publish could have been superseded or changed in the weeks between issue and, again, all of that is online. We do recognize in print the individual record setters in the Lucas Oil divisional coverage.

The new weekly Sportsman columns include a look at everything that’s going on in the class, and not just the national results. It also includes LODRS coverage and mini features. This is EVERY week, which was not even the case for Sportsman results previously.

We’ve also added a Sportsman personality feature and an up-front two-page color-spread Sportsman Hot Shot in EVERY issue, things that were seldom part of the whole contents. Every event has a beautiful color spread Featured Flyer that is always a Sportsman car.

Additionally, there are more Sportsman-car photos in the photos pages and in a dedicated photo gallery online after each national event.

We understand that change is difficult for everyone, but we think that given the framework of the current print schedule, we’re offering as good – some might say better – a Sportsman package as ever.

National Dragster has always provided the best and most complete Sportsman racing coverage of any publication, and we believe that it still does. The staff loves the Sportsman racers and Sportsman racing, and we remain committed to showing that love. It might not be in the manner they’re used to, but I believe it it’s still head and shoulders above what any other magazine –print or digital – does for them. We’re proud of that.

Feel free to share my comments with the group.

Thanks again for the link.

Phil


Phil Burgess
Editorial Director
NHRA Publications
626.250.2315
NHRA members get National DRAGSTER. JOIN NHRA NOW!



From: Bob Lasko [mailto:lasko@optonline.net]
Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2013 2:01 PM
To: NHRA Web Email
Subject: nhra

[Rich Biebel]

I have been reading ND for as long as I can remember. For about 10 of those years I did not race and reading the weekly ND was a way to stay informed about the sport and was a highlight of my week......

The modern day version of ND is nothing like it once was and I agree about them posting old pictures.....It is cheap easy filler and serves no purpose other than to add pages.....Ads and old pictures.......and the event reports are jammed together with as little page space as they can come up with...

If I wasn't required to buy a membership to race.....I would not spend the $$

I get ONE car magazine anymore and it is just about the same deal.....ALL ads and pictures.......

Phil Burgess.....if your reading this.......You can see your paper is not getting high marks from some of us veterans......

I'd take an old black and white edition from the old days over the color picture version of today in a heartbeat....