NHRA regulates off track behavior.........

[Pvt Parts]

I've read this thread and most of you guys are totally off base. These actions and letters are not about you or controlling you. They are a statement of NHRA's position in this matter. First read Dwights posts. They are correct. Here's why. The most valuable asset NHRA has is their non profit designation. That was issued by the IRS because of their declaration of purpose... To educate people about automotive/vehicle safety. Any threat to that standing is a threat to NHRA's existence, at least as we know it. As a result they cannot and will not be associated (in any way shape or form) with high risk, illegal street racing. They can, must and will distant themselves from any illegal activity (especially street racing) and anyone associated with it. Someday something very unpleasant will come out of SO. When it does the attorneys will go after everyone, especially those with deep pockets. (NHRA) Their current actions are a legal issue and not directed at you as a racer. They can't afford to be remotely associated with street racing or anyone who participates.

[Charlie Berner]

The show is all fake it is a scripted tv show! If you look they seem to be racing in a industrial park. Not on the street. They are drag cars not street cars. NHRA is pissed because more people watch that scripted show and not the one they try to script! If you watched fast and loud last year they sponsored top fuel car on the show! They talked about NHRA for 2 weeks. You think NHRA paid for that? I Bet they did! These show are advertising that how they make money. NHRA should work with this show then maybe people will think cars are cool again.

[Tom Meyer]

Not that I condone street racing but to the common joe watching tv how does he know that a number on a car in OK means he races NHRA, or whatever body, Last time I checked I had to give Nhra cash to have that number, if I have a Nhra sticker on my street car and rob a bank will the come after me? I think they are using this wrong and should be saying come out to drag strip where there is safety but Nhra continues to try and get more and more from the racers, seat belts helmets and what ever else, these guys just said we will go play in some other sand box. Here is a response from Nhra on Hot Rod online. Tom

www.hotrod.com|By Thom Taylor

[Nathan Stinson]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

This is real simple. There were people appearing on the show with NHRA class designations and NHRA competition numbers prominently displayed on their cars, and using their real names. NHRA told them that it was unacceptable to do so. NHRA is well within their rights to do so.

The solution is real simple, too. If you want to appear on the show, simply remove all of your class designations and competition numbers, as well as your name on the car if it is there, and don't use your real name.

I don't often agree with a lot of things NHRA does, but this is well within their rights. They have a right to choose who and what their "brand" is associated with. Like it or not, the competition number and class designation is part of their "brand".

I highly doubt much of the viewing audience for SO would know what a competition number is and I also doubt that any of those cars had a NHRA class designation on them. As far as using your name goes, I am not too sure that NHRA can control that. The section of the rule book that is quoted in the letter that is going around really makes me wonder how it applies to the show. While I agree NHRA can threaten and defend all they want and a NHRA license is a privilege, the terms participant and event that are mentioned in the letter and section 1.3.1 of the rule book are clearly defined in section 1.1 of the rule book and I struggle to see how it applies to a reality TV show and the guys involved in it. Now I am quite sure that it pi$$es NHRA off that they get more viewers on a Monday night than the event coverage gets on Sunday night (or Monday morning) but I am not sure this is the way to help that situation by threatening a bunch of guys that are pulling in more views and interest than they can generate.

[Jeff Stout]

This in good humor. Don't shoot the messenger

[FireSale]

NHRA isn't "regulating off track behavior" here. They hold the keys to the starting line and are reasonably careful as to who they hand them to. You can't race without a valid drivers license and street racing would cause that to go away.

The only way NHRA could know you street race is if you got caught, in which case you would have no license and couldn't race anyway. As for being seen on Street Outlaws, I don't really know about that. NHRA would have to admit to watching this show that they condemn. Tough position to defend.

You can do what you want off track, but if you get caught you have more to worry about than going rounds on Sunday.

As for Fast and Furious, Kent had a blow up of street racing when the first film came out. The Washington State Patrol, Kent Police and Pacific Raceway staff worked to urge these kids to take it to the track. The track now has regular High School Drags and a lot of imports show up for T&T. Bremerton runs the Street Legal Drags series as well as HS Drags.

The type of street racing depicted in the films is considerably more dangerous than street drags. I grew up in Ohio near Detroit Dragway and Milan. There were more than a few remote country roads with marked off 1/4 miles on them.

Dale

[D.Johns]

http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-...-win-situation

[SSGT Mustang]

Here's something for the folks having trouble understanding the issue.

From the first sentence in the "About" statement on the NHRA website. I quote: "When Wally Parks founded the NHRA in 1951, he worked to get racing off the city streets and highways and into safer, organized venues."

Again, that's the first sentence.

So.

1. NHRA is a club founded for a reason.
2. The club has rules.
3. As a member of the club, you are required to follow the rules.
4. Break the rules, lose your membership.

It really is that simple.

You can rant all you want about how stupid, evil, money grubbing, whatever, the NHRA is, but in this case the only thing that they've done is act responsibly. Like a parent to a child. They have enforced an important rule, regardless of what anyone thinks.

But, it's not just a rule. It is the basis of their Mission Statement.

Do some of you honestly expect NHRA to come out and say that Wally Parks had it all wrong, and street racing is actually the right thing to do?

No. They took a stand against something that is not only illegal, but totally contrary to their guiding principles.

In this day and age where anything goes, where there are no rules or boundaries left to be bent or broken, NHRA did the right thing.

They deserve credit not scorn.

[Jeff Stout]

Originally Posted by SSGT Mustang

Here's something for the folks having trouble understanding the issue.

From the first sentence in the "About" statement on the NHRA website. I quote: "When Wally Parks founded the NHRA in 1951, he worked to get racing off the city streets and highways and into safer, organized venues."

Again, that's the first sentence.

So.

1. NHRA is a club founded for a reason.
2. The club has rules.
3. As a member of the club, you are required to follow the rules.
4. Break the rules, lose your membership.

It really is that simple.

You can rant all you want about how stupid, evil, money grubbing, whatever, the NHRA is, but in this case the only thing that they've done is act responsibly. Like a parent to a child. They have enforced an important rule, regardless of what anyone thinks.

But, it's not just a rule. It is the basis of their Mission Statement.

Do some of you honestly expect NHRA to come out and say that Wally Parks had it all wrong, and street racing is actually the right thing to do?

No. They took a stand against something that is not only illegal, but totally contrary to their guiding principles.

In this day and age where anything goes, where there are no rules or boundaries left to be bent or broken, NHRA did the right thing.

They deserve credit not scorn.

I agree with what your saying here. But why did they start and stop with letters to the SO participants? The letter your quoted with the first line from Wally Parks is only part of the rule. What about section 1, 2, 3 in regards to conduct? If you feel NHRA is going in the right direction then why stop with SO members? What about any NHRA license holder that has a DUI, Domestic Violence, rapist, child porn? Should NHRA right letters and threaten these folks? According to the rule and the way its written these people should receive letters also. You pick and chose the ones you want to punish. If your going by the letter of the rule then go by it not when it fits your cause.

[SSGT Mustang]

Originally Posted by Jeff Stout

I agree with what your saying here. But why did they start and stop with letters to the SO participants? The letter your quoted with the first line from Wally Parks is only part of the rule. What about section 1, 2, 3 in regards to conduct? If you feel NHRA is going in the right direction then why stop with SO members? What about any NHRA license holder that has a DUI, Domestic Violence, rapist, child porn? Should NHRA right letters and threaten these folks? According to the rule and the way its written these people should receive letters also. You pick and chose the ones you want to punish. If your going by the letter of the rule then go by it not when it fits your cause.

I understand what you're saying, and maybe that's where they take it. I don't know. They are headquartered in California.

In this case, though, I think that they did the right thing. Some of those are known guys, and the cars are real. They had to do something.

Everyone's bashing NHRA. Maybe they should be bashing the guys doing the show.

Talk about money. Nobody on that show would care if it was cancelled if they didn't stand to lose money from the deal. Maybe a lot of money. Instead, they place the blame on NHRA for their own decisions.

I'm not surprised one bit. That's the way it goes today. Blame the people enforcing the rules instead of the person breaking them.