2009 Sportsman Schedule???

Alan Roehrich · 09-04-2008, 11:08 AM

Lucky guess, I suppose. Okay, so they include them, who does THAT send home, and how often?

I said it before, but I'll repeat it now. I'm all for people having a place to race, whether I'm a fan of their class or not. But we can't all race at the same place at the same time.

National Events and Division points races have already become terribly diluted, this will only make it worse. If those classes are added, one of two things will happen. More classes will sit out races, or races will get even longer.

Well, they don't rotate classes at LODRS events, so those will get even longer. But these days what sportsman racer has time for a FOUR day LODRS event, much less 5 or 6 of them a year? Yes, we're seeing Top Sportsman and Top Dragster at LODRS events now. But what will they add next?

As it stands now, at many National Events, one sportsman class sits out each year. The Charlotte race is supposed to be the debut of the premier facility in the country. Guess who WON'T be there. A sportsman class, Stock Eliminator. If you don't get to a National Event a day early, odds are you might not get parked in time to get through tech and make the first time shot if you run Stock, or Super Street. We went through that at Atlanta this year. Drive all night, get to Atlanta at 2AM, get up to get parked, wait for the pro rigs to get parked, rush in, get parked, unload, go to tech, and miss the first time shot. Well, if you make most or all National Events a day longer, a day early becomes a day late, and where does that leave you?

NHRA needs to learn and understand you cannot be everything to everyone. They need to learn that once you run off a certain group of fans and racers, usually hard core people, they don't come back. Then the new wears off of your fad, and those fans and racers you gained go away. But those hard core people don't all come back. In fact, 1/2 them never come back.

NASCAR will find this out when the new wears off of them in California. But it'll be too late, because the tracks in the heart of NASCAR country will have been bulldozed and replaced by malls and subdivisions, and the fans will be out fishing.

Years ago, there were a couple of 4 wheel drive truck pulling classes, the hard core fans loved them, and there were plenty of trucks. Truck and tractor pulling got "discovered". Then they brought in two wheel drive trucks that were really just tractors with "funny truck" bodies, and monster trucks. The "new" fans loved it. But then there was no room for the 4 wheel drive trucks anymore, so they were sent packing. And they took a lot of fans with them. The new has worn off of 2 wheel drive "trucks" and monster trucks. But the old 4 wheel drive guys all quit, and they're doing something else now. And the fans all discovered other hobbies and other things to do with their time.

The lesson is already there, the question is, will NHRA pay attention?

Jim Wahl · 09-04-2008, 12:00 PM

Very well written and to the point Alan! But as we all know, NHRA is slow on the uptake and will probably continue to make the decision that they think will make them the most money right now, period. Jim

Spencer · 09-04-2008, 12:48 PM

"But what will they add next?"

How about sport compacts, nopi, bikini pagents, arm drop/pinks? :-)

Bruce Noland · 09-04-2008, 08:01 PM

Alan,
Good post.

Jim,
It always comes down to the money..doesn't it? More is never enough.

Jim Wahl · 09-04-2008, 09:22 PM

One word Bruce...."GREED". Jim

Gary Smith · 09-04-2008, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

The lesson is already there, the question is, will NHRA pay attention?

Most likely...at the first...and last... race where the stands are full and the pits aren't. Because the next race won't have fans...and no racers willing to return.

Similar situations:

CART-USAC-IRL fiasco: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champ_Car
IMSA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interna...ts_Association

09-04-2008, 11:08 AM	#1
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,111 Likes: 1,570 Liked 1,814 Times in 413 Posts	Re: 2009 Sportsman Schedule??? Lucky guess, I suppose. Okay, so they include them, who does THAT send home, and how often? I said it before, but I'll repeat it now. I'm all for people having a place to race, whether I'm a fan of their class or not. But we can't all race at the same place at the same time. National Events and Division points races have already become terribly diluted, this will only make it worse. If those classes are added, one of two things will happen. More classes will sit out races, or races will get even longer. Well, they don't rotate classes at LODRS events, so those will get even longer. But these days what sportsman racer has time for a FOUR day LODRS event, much less 5 or 6 of them a year? Yes, we're seeing Top Sportsman and Top Dragster at LODRS events now. But what will they add next? As it stands now, at many National Events, one sportsman class sits out each year. The Charlotte race is supposed to be the debut of the premier facility in the country. Guess who WON'T be there. A sportsman class, Stock Eliminator. If you don't get to a National Event a day early, odds are you might not get parked in time to get through tech and make the first time shot if you run Stock, or Super Street. We went through that at Atlanta this year. Drive all night, get to Atlanta at 2AM, get up to get parked, wait for the pro rigs to get parked, rush in, get parked, unload, go to tech, and miss the first time shot. Well, if you make most or all National Events a day longer, a day early becomes a day late, and where does that leave you? NHRA needs to learn and understand you cannot be everything to everyone. They need to learn that once you run off a certain group of fans and racers, usually hard core people, they don't come back. Then the new wears off of your fad, and those fans and racers you gained go away. But those hard core people don't all come back. In fact, 1/2 them never come back. NASCAR will find this out when the new wears off of them in California. But it'll be too late, because the tracks in the heart of NASCAR country will have been bulldozed and replaced by malls and subdivisions, and the fans will be out fishing. Years ago, there were a couple of 4 wheel drive truck pulling classes, the hard core fans loved them, and there were plenty of trucks. Truck and tractor pulling got "discovered". Then they brought in two wheel drive trucks that were really just tractors with "funny truck" bodies, and monster trucks. The "new" fans loved it. But then there was no room for the 4 wheel drive trucks anymore, so they were sent packing. And they took a lot of fans with them. The new has worn off of 2 wheel drive "trucks" and monster trucks. But the old 4 wheel drive guys all quit, and they're doing something else now. And the fans all discovered other hobbies and other things to do with their time. The lesson is already there, the question is, will NHRA pay attention? __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

09-04-2008, 12:00 PM	#2
Jim Wahl Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5,844 Likes: 666 Liked 683 Times in 129 Posts	Re: 2009 Sportsman Schedule??? Very well written and to the point Alan! But as we all know, NHRA is slow on the uptake and will probably continue to make the decision that they think will make them the most money right now, period. Jim __________________ Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 NHRA D2 National Open Stock Champion 1982 NHRA D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association.

09-04-2008, 12:48 PM	#3
Spencer Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: McKinney , Texas Posts: 16 Likes: 3 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 2009 Sportsman Schedule??? "But what will they add next?" How about sport compacts, nopi, bikini pagents, arm drop/pinks? :-)

09-04-2008, 08:01 PM	#4
Bruce Noland VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,855 Likes: 83 Liked 444 Times in 145 Posts	Re: 2009 Sportsman Schedule??? Alan, Good post. Jim, It always comes down to the money..doesn't it? More is never enough. __________________ Bruce Noland 1788 STK

09-04-2008, 09:22 PM	#5
Jim Wahl Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5,844 Likes: 666 Liked 683 Times in 129 Posts	Re: 2009 Sportsman Schedule??? One word Bruce...."GREED". Jim __________________ Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 NHRA D2 National Open Stock Champion 1982 NHRA D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association.