I feel so sorry for Kenny Bernstein!

[bobby]

Originally Posted by Larry Munk

Some of us guys who may not be all that old had friends or neighbors who raced Top fuel out of 2 car garages on regional levels. I remember Chealsie Street Pubs they were really good and well run. Best Nacho's you ever had at a Mall Joint. The point being when kenny sold his soul to the corporate devil he boxed the oldtime real racers out with cubic bucks. Maybe he should have stuck with wreckers and resturants and not have screwed dragracing into the ground. Some of us youngsters remember funny car dryhops, John Collins, Tim Groose and a score of other real racers who got priced out of competition. POOOOOOOOOR kenny

Not a KB fan and not defending him in any way, but anybody could have screwed dragracing into the ground.

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

I think there's one other pertinent fact that is being overlooked, here.

There's an AWFUL LOT of FAT to be trimmed from the budget of these Pro teams before they throw in the towel for a lack of sponsorship money.

I am well aware of the high-dollar 18-wheeler stacker/machine shop trailer rigs that have become the norm for the mega-monied teams that populate the Pro ranks, today. They have that stuff because it's nice to have, and show off their opulent lifestyle at the pleasure of Budweiser, Skoal, or whatever $$$$$$$ $ponsor they may be enjoying at the moment. It makes everybody involved look financially healthy and happy.

But, just how NECESSARY is all that high-dollar merchandise? Didn't Top Fuel operate much the same as it does today ON THE RACETRACK when the norm was a gooseneck Chapparal pulled by a 454 Dually? The Crews still worked on the cars between rounds, like they do today, and the only real difference between then and now is the convenience of having a place where the crew chief and driver can go to escape the curious eyes of the fans, and a place to do some machine work and check the computer readout from the last run. Clutch work can be accomplished outside... I've seen it done.

What I'm trying to say is, if the financial parameters of funding a Pro car have to be scaled down to the level of the 1970's..... then, SO BE IT! SELL the 18-wheeler, the whole take-it-with-you machine shop and go racing like racing was before the mega-budget influx of sponsorship money hit the scene with the advent of the Budweiser, Winston, Pepsi, and other non-existent corporate sponsors, today.

Tow vehicles and mega-buck pit-area perks don't make the race car a bit faster... but, they eat up a LOT of cash.... as do outrageous salaries for crew chiefs.

I can't imagine that a really good crew chief on a Fuel operation being paid more than a quarter of a million dollars, annually. I'm sure several make more than that, but really... until he pulls of another "Alan Johnson."

So, I think that the real answer to the financial crisis is to scale back expenses to the point that Pro racing is affordable to do, and to have NHRA re-align the national event schedule to minimize travel expenses, since fuel is a big part of the budget, now.

I think Pro racing can be made affordable on a much-reduced budget if the people who design the program will exercise some common sense and put together a racing budget that mirrors today's reality.

You don't NEED a $500,000.00 truck to haul a 2,300-pound car to the strip.

Bill,

I used to drive to the strip, take the slicks out of the trunk and bolt them on and after the race put them back in the trunk, then I graduated to flat towing, to a flat bed trailer, and finally to an enclosed trailer.

Now stock racers are showing up with $800,000.00 motor homes and stacker trailers.

It just seems to be a natural progression to escalate to a better rig as the money gets better. Is this not what the pro's have done.....the more money the better the rig. I was a gofer and tire wiper for Garlits for a very short while in the '60's when he towed an homemade inclosed trailer with a chrysler stationwagon.

The massive influx of money by sponsors calls for the best performances and a lot of wins, which in turn means more spare parts and engines to maintain that winning record so they can get more money for next year.......it's like a giant dragon...the more he eats, the more he needs food....but someday there will be no more and I think that's where the NHRA is going...one day it will have eaten itself!

Tree

[bill dedman]

That day may be arriving more quickly than anyone anticipates.

WHEN IT HAPPENS, will we see a return to common sense spending for all this stuff; gooseneck trailers and duallys in place of the 60-foot long, 18-wheel stackers with onboard machine shops, or do you think the Professional community will simply pack it in and Professional category drag racing as we have come to know it, will cease to exist, (rather than return to the grass-roots modus operandi of the '70s????)

It's gonna be fun to watch, whatever happens, 'cause it's definitely coming. Dunno exactly when, but they have killed the goose that laid the Golden Egg. At least, it would appear that way.

[Tim Kish]

You'll have a few teams that can still put the money together so the low buck dually guys may make it to an event or two and MAYBE you'll get full fields with those low-buck locals. But as long as ONE team has a big budget others will either have to try to be at the level to compete or park it. I see 8 car pro fields in the not too distant future.

[CycloneFE]

Hey Bill,

If you go to Atlanta or Joliet you will see the Duallie in Top Fuel. Chris Karamasines is entered. If all those sponsors drop, Chris stands a chance, he is one of my hero's, right up there with Garlits.

I saw Chris up at Joliet recently, and he had run his best ever but had to quit, his slicks were down to the cords, God love the man!

[Larry Munk]

Originally Posted by bobby

Not a KB fan and not defending him in any way, but anybody could have screwed dragracing into the ground.

Bobby no offence but go back and read Billy's opening post.