How can we fix NHRA

[Ken Haase]

Not really all that hard Cyclone. Just tear up a few sections of rails.I'm confident we all know what the 'rail sections' are.

[CycloneFE]

Ken, That will "stop" it but I don't think it will save the train. Oh, I guess I did forget to mention that huh. LOL

[Bob Pagano]

BKSG you dont get it, Dave Ley's program dose not compeat with nhra. As soon as you try and run a sportsmen race that is in direct competition with nhra they will not let there sanctioned tracks run the event. You need to get their approval first and you wont get it. The only way is to dismantle nhra, once its gone you will have all the tracks open for your event. If you dont believe me look it up its in writing.

[Jim Wahl]

What I would like to know is what ever happened to the idea that there would eventually be a Sportsnational race in every Division? Len Imbrogno told me that was the goal, but they haven't added any Sportsnationals in several years. Still only three. Jim

[BKSG1198]

Bob,
I do get it. I never said anything about competing with NHRA. That is like David vs. Goliath for anyone. I understand the whole deal with Dave Ley's association as I help out with other .90 Associations on the East Coast. All I was saying was that we will never have a "Race" at a NHRA track on the same weekend as a NHRA Divisional or National Event in the same area but, we have had Stk/SS, SG and SC at the same track on the same weekend. My point is that "You can't fix NHRA, no matter how hard you try, it is what it is". The easiest solution is to let the sportsman and pros be 2 totally different organizations. 1 with just the Pros and Alky and 1 with Comp down to Super Street. It would prevent people from having to take millions of days off from work in which jobs are being lost everyday, Kepping it somewhat local to save on travel costs and without Alky there we might be able to do 2 races in 1 weekend. I'm just pointing out that if there are other options out there for anybody who still loves NHRA racing without the BS and Frustration.

[Greg Hill]

In 1981 our membership rights and voting rights were taken away by management at NHRA in basically an illegal vote of a small part of the members. Prior to that, we as members had very few rights because the board had to call membership meetings for us to vote, which they almost never did. At present time the board is made up of the four members of top management; Tom Compton, Peter Clifford, Graham Light, and Dallas Gardner. Because management and the board are one and the same the board does not hold management accountable and there is no one to hold the board accountable.

As most of you know NHRA is a non profit 501 C6 corporation. I have done a fair amount of research on this and I can't find any other similar non profit where there is no accountability to anyone. Most non profits have a board of directors that is elected by the members. The board then hires the management to run the company. Usually the President of the organization is the only member of management on the board. The board usually is the one who decides on compensation for top management and also with the general direction of the company. Because the board and management are one and the same management can do what they want and run the company any way they want. Right now I think we all know what it's about and that is maximizing revenue.

NHRA is operating in a way that is illegal for a 501C6 non profit corporation to operate. The only way I see anything changing is for the members to get our voting rights back and vote in a transparent way, for a new board of directors, who then in turn, could hire new management to implement policies and direction that the new board would decide on. As long as the current management is in place they are concerned about one thing and that is making themselves as wealthy as possible.

[Pistol Pete]

Wow, i think there are soooo many things we can do to make our (sportsman racers, this includes S, SS, Comp & the 90's Cars) OWN Organization a better place to race.
SHRA- Sportsman Hot Rod Assoc.

Let's think of the possibilites: Top Stock, Jr. Stock, Top SS, Jr. SS, Handicap Stock,
Handicap SS. I know Top & Jr. Stock faded out here in Div.1 but it's worth a second try.

Pinks All Out fills the stands with spectators, Why ????? is it because you see Heads Up
Racing, & you still can't go under the time that they choose for the final 16 cars.

I would love to have a SportsNationals in each division, that would be cool.

I think another thing we as racers can do at a Points race is put up some x-tra money
(even though we are getting raped as it is) like $30 more.
At our last Div. race at Atco, Stock Elim. had 116 cars.
116 x 30 dollars= $3480.
When you are down to 29 cars, which is after 2 rounds
14 losers get there $30 back, next round losers which will be 7 they get $50 back,
next round losers which will be 4 they get $100 back, next round losers which will be 2
they get $200. Runner up gets $600 & The Winner Gets $1300.
That means there is $10. left for me for running this pot. lol

THIS IS PROBABLY MORE THAN NHRA GIVES US.

If you win, it also sweetens the pot a little more.

This is how the Hemi Shootout started, the racers were putting up there own money.
Of course i think it was winner take all, but i'm not sure.

LET'S BRING ON THE DEBATE FELLOW RACERS.

Pistol Pete Dutko
1374
I/SA

[skills]

Hey pete like those ideas but I don't want the sportsmen to split off. I do enjoy pro stock and fuel which both have issues. Why did top stock and jr. Stock fail.

[Terry Cain]

Greg's got the answer. Since NHRA,for tax purposes is a 501c, they act as an org for "business members". With the amount of sportsman racers, there's no way they can act for "business members". Business members meaning to better the members business.
Do a search and read the requirements for a 501c non-profit org.
If a good lawyer took them on NHRA would probably have to pay back taxes for 50 yrs or so. That would surely break them and a new board could take control.

[Dean Roberts]

Many of you make some good points, but the majority are just complaining and not actually stating what you don't like about NHRA racing, or how to fix it.

here are a few questions, at what tracks do you plan to hold these events? Where will the advertising and promotional dollars come from? have any of you priced the cost for radio, print and TV advertising? Or do you think people will just show up? Plus, where are your sponsors going to come from in this downed economy?

It would take millions in capital to design, launch, operate, and grow a national racing series that would probably operate at a huge loss the first few seasons. You need trucks, trailers, uniforms, insurance, etc. Not to mention a business plan for problems such as lawsuits, multiple rain outs and other essentials. It goes way deeper than dreaming up a few classes and appointing a few qualified people.