Lets Root Cause the Detriment of Class Racing

[james schaechter]

Originally Posted by bubski

One of the most detrimental trends Bubski is concerned with !! Is the lack of racers goin for the National Record when you just made the quickest and fastest passes in the history of your class yet refuse to put it to the tech test and get the certification for it !! Isn’t this a Performance based Class ?? What happened to the pride in having National Record holder spelled out on your car ?? There used to be 20 plus cars at the Dutch and similar fast Opens and Divisionals 20 years ago to break and set records !!

It is pretty clear that the head bean counter-CEO only wants to collect money, but will not support any effort to incentivize racers to push the performance of the cars. Heck, they say they are in a great financial position on one hand, but won’t spend a few clams to publish records as they once did.

They lament the lack of employees to provide tech services. That is a real issue and the current generation of tech officials are retiring. Knowing that, NHRA has not done anything to recruit, train and retain the next generation of tech officials.

I think NHRA leadership misses the motivation factors that keep racers spending money and striving to improve performance of their cars. Motivation that also drives parts sales and contingent opportunities. They only look at the cost and inconvenience from their point of view.

Maybe, as racers, we should collectively consider crowd sourcing money and or prizes to be awarded to record setters?

If NHRA won’t do it, they can’t stop racers and fans from doing it.

I know one could also say that the new gen of racer has not the technical expertise to tear down and rebuild their car at the track, and that is a fair statement.. That being said, they are racers and I am sure more would learn what to do if it was worth it to them.

Bubski. You make some good points, your grammar is improving as well. Isn’t it time to come out of the closet?