How would you SAVE CLASS RACING ???

[Eric Merryfield]

Originally Posted by Bernie Cunningham

This is a reprint from post 85, page 9 from Mark's (A56)post

LOTS TO DIGEST FOR SOME PEOPLE !!!!!!!! Some can't even follow along at all, it seems! Thomas, Ken, Dave and others get it.

I want to post a lot but don't have the time right now, I'm outta town at the frigg'in dyno trying to make more power.

Please understand the biggest point here, This is NOT an NHRA plan, there exists a committee that consists of manufactures and NHRA that sits down to figure out how they spend their money with US, the racers, so that when we do well with their products they can spread the word of success. It's costly and a hard concept to believe that it actually works and they've been meeting for years!!!! They are the ones that actually PAY YOU for winning Class, NOT NHRA, they are the fine manufacturers that posted your awards for using their product, PERIOD............................

Current Class Racing has been diluted over the years and, frankly has no significance to the past, you know, the glory days. Lack of payments to us by the manufacturers has been dwindling for years now ( 10 -15 ) and I'm not surprised to see this new deal in this economy.

It was gonna be THIS or NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!! It may even bring in some more manufacturers because it builds more excitement back to them and their products. Send in ya comments because they do need our feed back, elbeit, (sp) sensible and not self preserving!

REMEMBER ONE THING, follow the money!!!!!
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Now, if you had the job of drumming up financial support for Class racing, how would you present it to the 'cash cows', aka the manufacturers that would like to spend their money to pay US, the racers ??????????????

I'm back home and would love to hear some suggestions as I'm sure Charlie at NHRA would as well. He came up with the plan and it could use a few tweaks, no doubt, but he's open to suggestions.

Trust me, from an informed observer, Charlie and the manufactures are doing their best to SAVE CLASS RACING !!! So should we.

Bernie you can pass these ideas along to Charlie and others,

It would be nice to give the manufactures every possible way to participate. I run a business and am starting a mopar performance parts business, and can clearly see where contigency may not provide the return on investment many must have;

Suggestions;

Class only postings, without the elimins, etc.

small class postings....for example Mark or another small business wants to pay $10 per class win using his headers....

With the new program, allow the manufacturer to post in the currently non-paying 8 if they like.....Not everyone will be able to pony up to the double payout races

For the new championship format give manufacturers the option of contributing towards a purse for the 4 winners....Give them advertising space....the NHRA could pitch in too.

Imagine the response that would follow if the following were implemented:

1/2 contingency payout for the 8 qualifying races(something for the racers)(full even better!)

National Class Champions in the 4 classes get 10,000 a piece

And the 4 double contigency races

NOW THAT WOULD GET ATTENTION.

Hopefully these are constructive ideas.

I am certainly effected by the changes, not a bystander, I am finishing a stick car and a GT truck largely off the old class rules this winter.........

Class racing deserves to thrive, not just survive.

Sincerely

Eric Merryfield
Stock 1883, Superstock 1883

[Yo Ken]

I am going to stick this thread to the top, and I would hope that all members keep this discussion civil. Constructive ideas are what we need, if you wish to express your displeasure, please use or start another thread.

I will also list the names of any company that wants to support class racing and has interest in this new program for class racing and its future growth. The list will be in a new thread to be stuck to the top of this forum.

I will start on new page and link it on the main forum for all companies that support class racing once these companies let us know they are interested.

For companies that may read this, Class Racer reaches over 42,000 unique visitors each month with over 200,000 visits from these visitors along with over 2,000,000 pageviews. This is a lot of traffic that's targeted to class racers.

I think it would be beneficial for companies to let class racers know you want there business and are willing to support them.

You can contact me at admin@classracer.com.

Ken Miele

[Ed Wright]

Thanks Ken!

[Michael Beard]

Another idea: Can't pay for Class at 12 events? What about posting for Class (as it was previously contested) at just 3 Sportsnationals and Indy... make them a "destination", something even more special. Additionally, pay contingency for National Records. Get people to truly chase performance and reward them accordingly.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Another idea: Can't pay for Class at 12 events? What about posting for Class (as it was previously contested) at just 3 Sportsnationals and Indy... make them a "destination", something even more special. Additionally, pay contingency for National Records. Get people to truly chase performance and reward them accordingly.

Michael , I was under the impression that runs of 1.19 under at Divisionals and Opens (including altitude tracks) would get you an instant hit, thereby putting an end to the majority of record setting.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Alan Roehrich]

Consolidate classes, to an extent, (say, 1.0 weight breaks, starting at 7.0 for Stock) pay points and money for top ten qualifying as well as class wins, contest class at every event, but only pay points and money for contested wins, singling for class only gets a trophy, and only if you run 0.500 or more under.

That gives companies an incentive to pay, because they pay people trying to go fast, and those people buy parts from them. It puts performance back in the eliminator, while still leaving some of the "dial under/break out" intact to keep money from becoming totally dominant.

We need a better balance between performance and "bracket mode" in order to make class racing more attractive from a sponsor stand point.

But it won't happen, the very suggestion of consolidating classes (especially merging FWD classes in) will result in vehement protests. As will the suggestion that class wins and qualifying pay points and money.

The other thing that is absolutely necessary is promotion of the class racing itself. That is something that is even more completely out of the hands of the racers. It has been proven that the classes can put on a show, and draw a crowd, but like anything else, it must be properly promoted, instead of ignored because there is some level of difficulty involved.

[Bob Don]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Consolidate classes, to an extent, (say, 1.0 weight breaks, starting at 7.0 for Stock) pay points and money for top ten qualifying as well as class wins, contest class at every event, but only pay points and money for contested wins, singling for class only gets a trophy, and only if you run 0.500 or more under.

That gives companies an incentive to pay, because they pay people trying to go fast, and those people buy parts from them. It puts performance back in the eliminator, while still leaving some of the "dial under/break out" intact to keep money from becoming totally dominant.

We need a better balance between performance and "bracket mode" in order to make class racing more attractive from a sponsor stand point.

But it won't happen, the very suggestion of consolidating classes (especially merging FWD classes in) will result in vehement protests. As will the suggestion that class wins and qualifying pay points and money.

The other thing that is absolutely necessary is promotion of the class racing itself. That is something that is even more completely out of the hands of the racers. It has been proven that the classes can put on a show, and draw a crowd, but like anything else, it must be properly promoted, instead of ignored because there is some level of difficulty involved.

Alan - GREAT stuff. I've always felt qualifying well deserved something (even though I am a bottom feeder).

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Michael , I was under the impression that runs of 1.19 under at Divisionals and Opens (including altitude tracks) would get you an instant hit, thereby putting an end to the majority of record setting.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Yet another reason to have a real *incentive* to set records. We used to get points for up to 2 records a year in IHRA, but that went away. What's the incentive in NHRA, or is it just the certificate/bragging rights?

To be honest, I don't understand the concern over HP hits. You either build something to go fast or not. If you get hit with HP, running just as fast with more weight is STILL an accomplishment, or you go to another class. Performance is all relative, and it's really power to weight, not the ET/mph on the scoreboard. Hey, don't want the contingency money and bragging rights? -=shrug=- Don't set a record. So... why build a fast car in the first place then?

If HP hits are truly a concern, then why the fuss over Class? Same deal. Go fast, get hit. It should be a badge of honor.

$.02,

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

To be honest, I don't understand the concern over HP hits. You either build something to go fast or not. If you get hit with HP, running just as fast with more weight is STILL an accomplishment, or you go to another class. Performance is all relative, and it's really power to weight, not the ET/mph on the scoreboard. Hey, don't want the contingency money and bragging rights? -=shrug=- Don't set a record. So... why build a fast car in the first place then?

If HP hits are truly a concern, then why the fuss over Class? Same deal. Go fast, get hit. It should be a badge of honor.

$.02,

Mike,
The problem is, if we were to decide to take a hit, it makes us less competitive with the combinations in the class that decide not to take a hit.

If you get hit, and the other combinations don't, guess what happens when you meet them heads up in final eliminations? You got hit, they didn't, now they hold the winning hand. Especially if they are already faster than you. Records don't pay points or money, and they'll never pay nearly as much of either as you can win for winning a race.

So, set a record, get hit, don't get paid anything, or very little, at best, and then get beat heads up during final eliminations by the guy who didn't set the record and get hit.

Sure, the record sounds great, especially from the engine builder/crew chief point of view. But from the owner/driver point of view, winning a race sounds better.