Header Retention Rule Revision

[Sean Marconette]

It looks like since our season here in the Midwest not starting for another 2 months has paid off, and waiting to see how this fiasco played out. I can fabricate something and not pay for something I could make myself. It's BS that those whose season started a couple of weeks ago had to endure this crap though.

Sean

[Alex Denysenko]

fortunately we sat on our hands on this one as well After speaking with Bruce about it at PRI he himself didn't seem quite convinced either Personally I hope that Lokar gets hung with several thousand of these things

[Greg Hill]

Who thinks up this s#%t?

[jmcarter]

Summit and Jegs stocked up on a lot of them....they can't be too happy either. I especially hate it for guys like Keith Fulp, Mark Lelchook and other entrepreneurs who provided a service and were making modest profit. You know NHRA made them jump through hoops to gain approval. Now you buy NAPA approved and forego NHRA approved...go figure. Course I hate it for all us little guys who bit the bullet early, as it turns out they have "deluxe" retention.

Whole thing smells of NHRA's law department ran amok and then backtracked, or track operators voiced the concerns of thousands of bracket racers across the country.

[jim powers]

This is complete bull-- does anyone at nhra corporate have even the slimmest idea of what the hell they are doing??? this is a genuine screw job to anyone that abided by the new rules and installed a set of tethers, these people do not have the least concern for the racers---they probably didnt get their payoff so they changed the rules---i really can't believe the gaul of nhra

[Rick Bailey]

Ponder this ! If one can now fab a muffler/exh/collector hanger and that will pass the rules, then why in the hell can't he make his own teather . !


NHRA has really blown this !

Rick

[Mark Markow]

just like we all needed new window nets before , and they changed there mind. how many bought new nets for no reason.

[Bret Kepner]

For all the controversy this topic has raised, I wonder if anybody asked Rod Boertman his opinion on the rule?

Didn't think so.

[Randall Klein]

Look Brett, I admire your history and passion for the sport, however I find your veiled historical snarky comments a little tiring....and not the Boertman comment alone either

At Topeka got ran over by a kid on a mini scooter, at Denver, in the restricted area under the tower, got a rock off a burnout just above the eye, and on and on over 25 years....stuff happens, and if you've been around for awhile there's plenty of danger at the strip

A nanny state tries to insulate all from any possible consequences....maybe those worried about any potential harm should take up curling...oh wait! There was an injury in curling...maybe just stay in bed

[james schaechter]

Originally Posted by Randall Klein

Look Brett, I admire your history and passion for the sport, however I find your veiled historical snarky comments a little tiring....and not the Boertman comment alone either

At Topeka got ran over by a kid on a mini scooter, at Denver, in the restricted area under the tower, got a rock off a burnout just above the eye, and on and on omver 25 years....stuff happens, and if you've been around for awhile there's plenty of danger at the strip

A nanny state tries to insulate all from any possible consequences....maybe those worried about any potential harm should take up curling...oh wait! There was an injury in curling...maybe just stay in bed

True enough.
I am glad NHRA finally opened their eyes to other acceptable solutions to reduce risk and improve safety. Hopefully, they will learn to take a more reasonable approach to this in the future. If you recall, NHRA was suppossed to be dedicated to safety. That does not mean that all risk is eliminated.
I am sure that top management did not want to perform the due diligence that would have landed them where they are now.
I have said it before. The upper management at NHRA should be facilitating the discussions with qualified experts that they could consult within NHRA, their membership, and others. When they stifle this kind of discussion, they are left with a very narrow range of solutions that carry unintended consequences.
It is a shame that NHRA has no regard for the investment in time and resources that some have put forth in making tethers, but that should not be a surprise.
I think the common sense revision is a good one, and I like it. I just hate the way they got there. It is the same process that affects much of their decision making. I love class racing, I really hope that some changes are made in key positions so that the direction of the association meets the needs of the racers and fans. Even though NHRA dominates now, it will ultimately be replaced in some fashion if they continue to miss the mark on every opportunity. Time for a gut check at the top. Maybe the brass will come out to talk at another National event like they did at Indy. Remember that one....