What would you do?

[CycloneFE]

I think Force did mean sportsman, he has 1 1/2 daughters still racing in alcohol dragster.

He He.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by CycloneFE

I think Force did mean sportsman, he has 1 1/2 daughters still racing in alcohol dragster.

He He.

Oh come on.....Just because NHRA calls them sportsmen how can you even consider the alky classes as a sportsman venture ?

[CycloneFE]

technicality Terry, that is all it is.

[Chris1529]

I don't think any of them are talking about sportsman. I think they could remove "sportsman" from the national events and these pros and most average "joe's" out there wouldn't know the difference.

I don't always agree with Paul Page either, but he is right about speeding up the show.


as far as the 4 wide, why don't they still just run two lanes at a time. While one pair is running, the second pair could be getting ready to run. That way the crews, drivers, and fans could see the action better.

as far as the real sportsman goes, I think if you win one round you should get your entry fee back and the purse should build from there. Tracks need to get sponsors to step up to help pay the purses instead of making the racers pay it themselves. Dirt tracks already do that for the most part.

[SStockDart]

I certainly don't have the answers. But until we (Sportsman racers) fill the stands, it isn't going to change for us. And, I don't know why we don't fill the stands. Huge wheel stands, and cars that spectators can relate to. I know time does not go backwards, however, in the early days of Pro Stock, if a track had a match race between "The Grump" and Ronnie Sox, the stands would be full. It didn't matter who was running Top Fuel. Not that way anymore. The spectators go to see the fuel cars. Watch the stands clear out when we run after them. When we are not the ones bringing in the spectators, we are in a terrible negotiating position for larger payouts. At National Events, we are the fill in so something is going down the track while the pros get ready to run again.

As much as some grumble about the new CJ's and Drag Packs, they might be our salvation. This generation can relate to them and perhaps buy a new car based on the performance they saw at the drag strip. Just like I did in the late 60's. In that regard, I would like to see a special class for these cars...........ie: FX

Until then, in my opinion, we will have to pay our own way plus a portion of the insurance premiums that are largely a function of the dangers of fuel cars.

With than said. Yes, I am going to keep racing. When the day comes that I get frustrated and angry with the situation.............I'll quit and go fishing..

[Ed Fernandez]

For the one millionth time,WE ARE NOT A CAR CULTURE LIKE BACK IN THE 1960s
ANYMORE.Excuse me for raising my voice.

[Bob Bender]

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

For the one millionth time,WE ARE NOT A CAR CULTURE LIKE BACK IN THE 1960s
ANYMORE.Excuse me for raising my voice.

x2

[goinbroke2]

I would buy/start a sportman only series which would include;
1) Bracket racing classes 14.90-7.90 in one second increments
2) Stock/SuperStock classes
3) Junior dragsters

I would ensure lots of in-veh camera's were available and have a tv program/show coverage. Have 4-6 camera's along the track for continuous panning and showing/promoting the side by side racing and also high camera's to show a car catching another.
Part of the tv program would be coverage of "tech time" or something like that where successful racers could give tips/explain the intricacies of the various classes. In fact, have a large tent at each track where the filming could take place. That way people could come in the tent and learn something they could immediately use/try. Covering it for TV means those at home could learn too.

Scope would be;
1) Juniors would get the same coverage and hype as a SS/AH or 7.90 dragster.
2) Promote the family values angle and show how easy it would be to start out.
3) Do profiles of racers and have equal time for the 14.90 six cyl fairmont and the $50,000 rail. Both won their respective classes and both are equal of coverage.
4) Very tight with tech, if a car doesn't qualify for pure stock, then he can run Stock or brackets. Weights/fuel always and teardowns if records are set.
5) The winner of each class (S/SS/7.90/8.90/9.90/etc) would run off for a "king of the hill" and be crowned "top Eliminator" each race. (7.90 against a 16sec fwd stocker might be bad but that would be sorted out.)

This is off the top of my head, but there would be more. "Passtime" and "Pinks" both show that slow cars can be as exciting as fast cars if put in the right light. Hell people watch lawnmower racing and belt sander racing for crying out loud!
You don't think people would watch a wheelstanding "A" car chase down a slower car with the camera switching from inside the faster one to inside the slower and then watching the cars converge, then back again? And the announcer would of set it all up commenting on how the slow car gets a head start and then commenting as he is chased down.....

Oh yeah...if I was king...the pro's could go do what they want, I'd be the one making sportsman the one people could identify with. The one with a solid entry program and progression plan. Bring kids in, whet their appitite, give a strong positive influence and as they grow they move up/faster.


If I was King......

[Alan Roehrich]

Interesting proposition.

For Stock and Super Stock only, as that is where we race.

I'd cut the entry fee for National Events to $250, for one car plus driver, and one crew. LODRS races would be $200.

I'd increase the payout for a National Event win to $5000. LODRS races would pay $2500.

The national championship would pay $50K to win, and pay back 5 places, the LODRS Division championships would pay $25K and pay back 5 places.

I'd take a 10% cut of contingency funds for administration only, instead of the massive up front cut NHRA takes now. So companies paying contingency for a win would pay 110% of the payout through NHRA with 100% going to the racer, and 10% going to NHRA to cover paperwork and administration. Contingency sponsors would be given 30 days to pay, at 60 days they go on probation, and at 90 days, they get removed from the list until they make all back payments, then remain on probation for a year. NHRA gets one week to send the check out once they get it.

I'd restructure the points and money. Qualifying would pay $100 for number one, and 25 points, down to 10 points for qualifying number ten. A round win in class would pay 20 points, with an over all class win paying another 20 points, in contested classes. A heads up win in final eliminations would pay a 20 point bonus, so that round would pay up to 40 points. Class wins would pay $200. A national record, both ends, at least 1.0 under the index on ET, would pay $200 and 100 points. You can set the record once in a year, unless it is reset by another racer.

Stock would get restructured, with A being 7.0 pounds per factored HP and having a 10.50 index, with 1.0 pound weight breaks all the way to 24.0, and FWD cars rolled in to the regular classes with a weight and/or HP handicap.

The base requirement for Stock Eliminator would be returned to 50 cars produced as complete licensed street legal vehicles meeting the emissions and safety standards for the date of manufacture. If it doesn't have a VIN, it doesn't meet safety and emissions standards for the year it was produced, and it can't be licensed and insured as regular production line street car, you can't race it in Stock.

New street legal production cars produced between 1990 and 2007 would be allowed to take 300# off of their factory shipping weight, and 2008 and up cars to remove up to 400# off of their factory shipping weight. This would be to allow for removal of emissions and safety equipment not used in racing, as well as to allow for removal of now standard equipment such as A/C, P/S, P/B, and other power options. This would allow newer cars that weigh as much as 3700# to get down to a decent race weight, and get into higher classes, and not have to carry excess permanent ballast. The purpose being to allow the factories to actually compete in Stock Eliminator with real production street cars.

The factory race cars would be moved out of Stock and traditional Super Stock, and into Super Stock classes of their own, A/FX thru D/FX, with A/FX starting at 7.0 pounds and having a 10.0 index, so they could run 9.00 without getting HP, and with all FX cars getting a 10.5" slick. This would allow the new factory race cars to compete in a class of their own to showcase the factory participation, and show how fast they could go. When they can no longer make class at 7.0, they would move to traditional Super Stock classes at 6.0 pounds per factored HP.

Consideration would be given to moving the Modified cars back into their own class, with a structure like Super Stock has now, "shoe polish" racing except for heads up racing between same class cars.

Stock and Super Stock racers would be given an opportunity when they pre-entered to enter a drawing be one of ten Stock and Super Stock racers to be parked in the Pro pit section at each event, to have their cars displayed for the fans in the pits. Announcers would be instructed to mention them being there every time the classes were on the track, and encourage fans to go back and see them.

Television contracts would include the requirement to cover at least the semi-final and final rounds of Stock and Super Stock. As well as in car cameras for participants, and interviews for the winner and runner up.