Does anybody really listen?

John DiBartolomeo · 06-04-2019, 05:58 PM

"The concern comes in when we make a suggestion which we feel would benefit our sport and it seems to fall on deaf ears to the powers-that-be."

https://dragracingedge.com/the-blog/...really-listen/

Mike Jones · 06-04-2019, 06:15 PM

I share your frustration. I brought up the idea of qualifying off of a dial or index, for the benefit of the spectator. I was told by D1 rep.,it would be discussed. Have not heard back. I wrote to the newest member of NHRA`s team out West a few months ago, never heard back at all. I`m not the first, certainly not the last. In the mean time, I will try to mind my business.
Mike A114

HSMITH1039 · 06-04-2019, 06:44 PM

As a wise man once told me ......"It's a s**t show"......but John, is that one word or two?......lol......Keep up the good work....Howie

1320racer · 06-04-2019, 07:20 PM

internet forums are all about complaining, debating and name calling.

That said, who here complaining has emailed Glen Cromwell, the President of the NHRA to discuss your issue in a constructive manner?

Mike Jones · 06-04-2019, 07:54 PM

I sent an email to Dave Mohn. He responded and said he would bring it up.
Not sure what happened with the other instance, but I emailed a new guy at NHRA, who came highly recommended by a regular on here. Another person posted that he quickly left the job. I don`t know. I thought it would be an improvement to add suspense to qualifying, by running off a dial or the index. I still think it is an improvement over the current system, especially for spectators. I can live with it either way.
Mike

cicero819 · 06-04-2019, 08:27 PM

John, Billy is right, nobody cares in California. your local Divisional Director is just trying to keep his job.

Billy Nees · 06-04-2019, 06:42 PM

The short answer? No. The members of the B-O-D sitting in the Ivory tower DON'T care. They also DON'T know or understand what we do or why we do it. All that they DO know is that we (Sportsman Racers) are dedicated (I was going to say stupid) enough to keep coming back. They don't even employ people that remotely understand just what it is that we are doing anymore. Why do they need to listen?

The long answer? He-- No. I'm quite sure that being "business" type people, the B-O-D has a business model determining just when the plug will be pulled and "professional" drag racing will come to an end. With that being said, I'm also quite sure that the day "professional drag racing" comes to an end, some forward thinking individual or individuals will create a "Sportsman" HRA in association with the Track Owners and we (the Sportsman Racers) will be just fine.
The car counts at Norwalk and MG can't be ignored and obviously made a significant amount of monies for someone.

Sorry if this got a little OT but as long as they (the B-O-D) are making enough monies to cover their salaries, I don't believe that they feel the need to listen to us, the paying and active membership.

Ed Carpenter · 06-05-2019, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John DiBartolomeo

"The concern comes in when we make a suggestion which we feel would benefit our sport and it seems to fall on deaf ears to the powers-that-be."

https://dragracingedge.com/the-blog/...really-listen/

No never......I have tried three times to get nhra about qualifying, records, and class and they said no every time. I took polls by the racers and it was very positive for the ideas but nhra doesn’t care. So we pound sand and move on .......Ed

rognelson777 · 06-07-2019, 11:26 AM

A quote from the article. " Maybe in the case of drag racing where we all have the passion to see it succeed and not flounder. " unfortunately i do not believe this is always the case. Many racers have their own agenda and want rules changed to benefit them, not the best interest of the sport. One recent item that comes to mind is petitioning to allow a aftermarket small block head because there were no cores available. Many posted there were plenty available. Who did this benefite. Edelbrock?.
Also think about how many racers must contact nhra. Think chain of communication. If you want something done discuss with division rep and stay on their back or division director. When i worked for a large company the only people i could communicate to was my boss and his boss that was it. I emailed president once and had the typical return and discuss with my bosses.

06-04-2019, 05:58 PM	#1
John DiBartolomeo Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Beaver Springs, PA Posts: 494 Likes: 1 Liked 1,282 Times in 159 Posts	Does anybody really listen? "The concern comes in when we make a suggestion which we feel would benefit our sport and it seems to fall on deaf ears to the powers-that-be." https://dragracingedge.com/the-blog/...really-listen/ Attached Thumbnails __________________ John DiBartolomeo DRC Race Products DragRacingActionOnline.com

06-04-2019, 06:15 PM	#2
Mike Jones VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,125 Likes: 1,179 Liked 684 Times in 289 Posts	Re: Does anybody really listen? I share your frustration. I brought up the idea of qualifying off of a dial or index, for the benefit of the spectator. I was told by D1 rep.,it would be discussed. Have not heard back. I wrote to the newest member of NHRA`s team out West a few months ago, never heard back at all. I`m not the first, certainly not the last. In the mean time, I will try to mind my business. Mike A114

06-04-2019, 06:44 PM	#3
HSMITH1039 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 38 Likes: 0 Liked 52 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Does anybody really listen? As a wise man once told me ......"It's a s**t show"......but John, is that one word or two?......lol......Keep up the good work....Howie

06-04-2019, 07:20 PM	#4
1320racer VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,628 Likes: 160 Liked 759 Times in 379 Posts	Re: Does anybody really listen? internet forums are all about complaining, debating and name calling. That said, who here complaining has emailed Glen Cromwell, the President of the NHRA to discuss your issue in a constructive manner? Last edited by 1320racer; 06-04-2019 at 07:24 PM.

06-04-2019, 07:54 PM	#5
Mike Jones VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,125 Likes: 1,179 Liked 684 Times in 289 Posts	Re: Does anybody really listen? I sent an email to Dave Mohn. He responded and said he would bring it up. Not sure what happened with the other instance, but I emailed a new guy at NHRA, who came highly recommended by a regular on here. Another person posted that he quickly left the job. I don`t know. I thought it would be an improvement to add suspense to qualifying, by running off a dial or the index. I still think it is an improvement over the current system, especially for spectators. I can live with it either way. Mike

06-04-2019, 08:27 PM	#6
cicero819 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Aylmer Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,087 Likes: 31 Liked 69 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Does anybody really listen? John, Billy is right, nobody cares in California. your local Divisional Director is just trying to keep his job.

06-04-2019, 06:42 PM	#7
Billy Nees VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: On a hilltop in Pa. Posts: 4,506 Likes: 3,613 Liked 7,854 Times in 1,750 Posts	Re: Does anybody really listen? The short answer? No. The members of the B-O-D sitting in the Ivory tower DON'T care. They also DON'T know or understand what we do or why we do it. All that they DO know is that we (Sportsman Racers) are dedicated (I was going to say stupid) enough to keep coming back. They don't even employ people that remotely understand just what it is that we are doing anymore. Why do they need to listen? The long answer? He-- No. I'm quite sure that being "business" type people, the B-O-D has a business model determining just when the plug will be pulled and "professional" drag racing will come to an end. With that being said, I'm also quite sure that the day "professional drag racing" comes to an end, some forward thinking individual or individuals will create a "Sportsman" HRA in association with the Track Owners and we (the Sportsman Racers) will be just fine. The car counts at Norwalk and MG can't be ignored and obviously made a significant amount of monies for someone. Sorry if this got a little OT but as long as they (the B-O-D) are making enough monies to cover their salaries, I don't believe that they feel the need to listen to us, the paying and active membership. __________________ Billy Nees 1188 STK, SS I'm not spending 100K to win 2K

06-07-2019, 11:26 AM	#9
rognelson777 Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 376 Likes: 20 Liked 135 Times in 74 Posts	Re: Does anybody really listen? A quote from the article. " Maybe in the case of drag racing where we all have the passion to see it succeed and not flounder. " unfortunately i do not believe this is always the case. Many racers have their own agenda and want rules changed to benefit them, not the best interest of the sport. One recent item that comes to mind is petitioning to allow a aftermarket small block head because there were no cores available. Many posted there were plenty available. Who did this benefite. Edelbrock?. Also think about how many racers must contact nhra. Think chain of communication. If you want something done discuss with division rep and stay on their back or division director. When i worked for a large company the only people i could communicate to was my boss and his boss that was it. I emailed president once and had the typical return and discuss with my bosses.