I feel so sorry for Kenny Bernstein!

bill dedman · 04-12-2009, 05:08 PM

I think there's one other pertinent fact that is being overlooked, here.

There's an AWFUL LOT of FAT to be trimmed from the budget of these Pro teams before they throw in the towel for a lack of sponsorship money.

I am well aware of the high-dollar 18-wheeler stacker/machine shop trailer rigs that have become the norm for the mega-monied teams that populate the Pro ranks, today. They have that stuff because it's nice to have, and show off their opulent lifestyle at the pleasure of Budweiser, Skoal, or whatever $$$$$$$ $ponsor they may be enjoying at the moment. It makes everybody involved look financially healthy and happy.

But, just how NECESSARY is all that high-dollar merchandise? Didn't Top Fuel operate much the same as it does today ON THE RACETRACK when the norm was a gooseneck Chapparal pulled by a 454 Dually? The Crews still worked on the cars between rounds, like they do today, and the only real difference between then and now is the convenience of having a place where the crew chief and driver can go to escape the curious eyes of the fans, and a place to do some machine work and check the computer readout from the last run. Clutch work can be accomplished outside... I've seen it done.

What I'm trying to say is, if the financial parameters of funding a Pro car have to be scaled down to the level of the 1970's..... then, SO BE IT! SELL the 18-wheeler, the whole take-it-with-you machine shop and go racing like racing was before the mega-budget influx of sponsorship money hit the scene with the advent of the Budweiser, Winston, Pepsi, and other non-existent corporate sponsors, today.

Tow vehicles and mega-buck pit-area perks don't make the race car a bit faster... but, they eat up a LOT of cash.... as do outrageous salaries for crew chiefs.

I can't imagine that a really good crew chief on a Fuel operation being paid more than a quarter of a million dollars, annually. I'm sure several make more than that, but really... until he pulls of another "Alan Johnson."

So, I think that the real answer to the financial crisis is to scale back expenses to the point that Pro racing is affordable to do, and to have NHRA re-align the national event schedule to minimize travel expenses, since fuel is a big part of the budget, now.

I think Pro racing can be made affordable on a much-reduced budget if the people who design the program will exercise some common sense and put together a racing budget that mirrors today's reality.

You don't NEED a $500,000.00 truck to haul a 2,300-pound car to the strip.

04-12-2009, 05:08 PM	#17
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: I feel so sorry for Kenny Bernstein! I think there's one other pertinent fact that is being overlooked, here. There's an AWFUL LOT of FAT to be trimmed from the budget of these Pro teams before they throw in the towel for a lack of sponsorship money. I am well aware of the high-dollar 18-wheeler stacker/machine shop trailer rigs that have become the norm for the mega-monied teams that populate the Pro ranks, today. They have that stuff because it's nice to have, and show off their opulent lifestyle at the pleasure of Budweiser, Skoal, or whatever $$$$$$$ $ponsor they may be enjoying at the moment. It makes everybody involved look financially healthy and happy. But, just how NECESSARY is all that high-dollar merchandise? Didn't Top Fuel operate much the same as it does today ON THE RACETRACK when the norm was a gooseneck Chapparal pulled by a 454 Dually? The Crews still worked on the cars between rounds, like they do today, and the only real difference between then and now is the convenience of having a place where the crew chief and driver can go to escape the curious eyes of the fans, and a place to do some machine work and check the computer readout from the last run. Clutch work can be accomplished outside... I've seen it done. What I'm trying to say is, if the financial parameters of funding a Pro car have to be scaled down to the level of the 1970's..... then, SO BE IT! SELL the 18-wheeler, the whole take-it-with-you machine shop and go racing like racing was before the mega-budget influx of sponsorship money hit the scene with the advent of the Budweiser, Winston, Pepsi, and other non-existent corporate sponsors, today. Tow vehicles and mega-buck pit-area perks don't make the race car a bit faster... but, they eat up a LOT of cash.... as do outrageous salaries for crew chiefs. I can't imagine that a really good crew chief on a Fuel operation being paid more than a quarter of a million dollars, annually. I'm sure several make more than that, but really... until he pulls of another "Alan Johnson." So, I think that the real answer to the financial crisis is to scale back expenses to the point that Pro racing is affordable to do, and to have NHRA re-align the national event schedule to minimize travel expenses, since fuel is a big part of the budget, now. I think Pro racing can be made affordable on a much-reduced budget if the people who design the program will exercise some common sense and put together a racing budget that mirrors today's reality. You don't NEED a $500,000.00 truck to haul a 2,300-pound car to the strip. __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 04-12-2009 at 05:23 PM.