How would you SAVE CLASS RACING ???

[Ed Fernandez]

4. If you don't like #3, let the single cars make their passes (together to save time) and instead of giving them the coveted wally, give them the cash. I saw on here they were valued at 200 bucks? Give us $150 and NHRA saves $50. Contingency sponsors can abstain from paying the singles that way but at least the singles can get some financial relief for their efforts. Again let that be racer choice, I know some people love to put Wally's in their trophy room.


Bob,they charge us $190 for an extra one.I'm sure their wholesale price is less than half that.

[Michael Beard]

Schaechter is dead-on.

All sides should be trying to figure out how they increase the value of the contingency sponsor. You'd think they could at least list the contingency claims along with the Class winners, so people would actually know who's using what products. At least in IHRA, you can look that stuff up on the website. Yes, cars have the requisite decals on them, but realistically, most Class winners in NHRA don't get photos in the magazine. (All of them do in IHRA, albeit small) A sponsor should get that recognition without having to take out a "congrats" ad in the magazine. It is in the sanctioning body's interest to do whatever it can for the sponsor, since the sponsor is paying for one of the biggest carrots for Nat'l/Div'l level racing. If no sponsors posted contingency, car counts would drop off a cliff.

That being said, I'm afraid Terry's right, too -- there are too many classes to make Class financial viable (particularly with the lack of coverage the sponsors get for it). But, we're back to the majority of racers not wanting to consolidate classes in any way shape or form ('course they just did it anyway for the FWD cars)... so instead of getting something you didn't want that might make sense (even if we don't like it), you're going to get blindsided by something that you also don't like.

While I understand they had to do something, one of my issues with the new Class system is that you have half the field running Comp-style, and half the field running "regular" Class Eliminations against people in their own class, which should theoretically be more apples to apples. In my opinion, either run everybody in their regular Class, or run all class Comp-style. One thing's for sure: we're likely to see disparities in ratings and indexes a lot easier than with just Qualifying. Don't want to become Comp? Then perhaps some more consideration needs to be given to combining of classes in a thoughtful and reasonable manner.

[Ed Fernandez]

Less classes?Go to 1lb breaks?

[tim worner]

To many classes for sure. That figures out to a lot of single runs which the manufactures don't like, and I can't blame them. Why not pay the top 32 qualifiers? That will help the contingency payers with use of product, the horsepower situation and eliminate single runs. May be the manufactures will return to the midway. The way things are now you have a hard time finding racing parts at the track. Someone related to the 90's class winnings. We used to see who is paying go buy what we needed so that we could claim for the year. I was getting $2000 a class win in the 90"s. Certainly made racing a lot better money wise. One of those years I was lucky enough to win class 10 times. Those days are long gone probably not to return. My concern now would be why can't we have better round money? $300 3rd round loser is terrible! 2nd round loser should get his entrance money back and payout per round increased. It is done for Indy. Why not all? Some will say we are not racing for the money. Well with that outlook maybe soon we will be racing for nothing but a trophy.

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

Less classes?Go to 1lb breaks?

Various ideas were discussed at length earlier this winter, and summarily rejected. So instead, we're discussing bandaid fixes for a brand new issue.

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Various ideas were discussed at length earlier this winter, and summarily rejected. So instead, we're discussing bandaid fixes for a brand new issue.

So what's wrong with 1lb breaks to cut down the classes?Those cheap ba$tards can pay out less and give out fewer Wallys.
Speakingof Wallys,notice how in the last few years they're giving them out like they're going out of style.First round losers will wind out getting them if they keep up giving them out for any reason.I believe they were giving them out to fans who won contests at Nats.
WTF.

[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!!!!!
__________________



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.