clwill
Nitro Member
Excellent point.
Nitromater
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Amazing Jon Asher Article
- Thread starter Rat
- Start date
Excellent point.
Judging by this thread I must be one strange 23 year old. I like old american cars, v8's, hotrods, land speed racing, and most of all drag racing and no I did grow up with it. I think there should be a drag race all day and night everyday. But I also thought it was a good idea to have an all day broadcast that shows every class. Though I remember mentioning that once before and Asher trashed that idea.
I must be crazy though.
I will admit though all this negativity about the future of this sport I love so much is very disilusioning and I find it harder and harder to get excited about what I might read on these great message boards anymore.
I must be crazy though.
I will admit though all this negativity about the future of this sport I love so much is very disilusioning and I find it harder and harder to get excited about what I might read on these great message boards anymore.
How many kids your age are as jazzed about Hot rods as you are?
My whole argument since day 1
He's perfect for the nhra, he's as clueless on somethings and even classless at times as they are.
Exactly. All 5. If it even is cars that they are into it's not drag racing. It's Imports, It's Drifting. I can't tell you how big a following this non sport has. People say drag racing is a waste, not nearly as much as intentionally destroying a pair of tires and acting like we are the best thing that ever drove a car. Drifting can't hold a candle to drag racing.
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I think the difference is that you are too young to have experienced "the other side" of the coin.
This reminds me of the music in our generation from the 70's through 90's versus the digitally generated, lack of talent covering "artists" of today.
You can't possibly imagine just how totally screwed you were when it comes to your generation's music. Just as simular, you can't even begin to understand just how screwed over you are right now by the quality of NHRA drag racing in it's current 1,000' joke of a format without a single rising, relevant, recognizable national star..
When the NHRA and Diamond P productions aired NHRA Drag racing on TV, you guarded the remote with a gun. Today, you turn the channel to something with more drama, like Billy The Exterminater.
When the NHRA circus came to town in the 80's and 90's, if you didn't have a reserved ticket, you might not sit at all. In Fact, the fence line was four deep the entire quarter mile.
Now, nobody cares because there is really nothing exciting to watch.
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Dude, are you ever positive about anything? God....and people think I'm the complainer!
Maybe we all should just say Screw NHRA, quit going let the ship Go down! That way we can all say "We told you so". We can all laugh when Pomona draws maybe 3-4,000 fans on Sunday. And we can start supporting Nostalgia drag racing, NASCAR or Dirt track! I wonder how many Doom and Gloomers live on those message boards???
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I completely agree George is not negative, George has a habit, like myself of wanting to try and make NHRA what it used to be and he's not being a guy who always sees the cup half empty, he's a guy that's always dead on for people who still like to see the NHRA as a body that is still running strong. It's just the opposite, this sport has been facing hard times with every increasing year and once the NHRA actually shows the fans that it actually IS concerned, I will go away just like George. At this point i'm waiting for the day when everyone thinks this sport is fine and teams are spending 5 million a year to go 800 feet with 30,000 in the stands and 100,000 watching every race on tv! Instead of the insult of comments that guys like me usually get for a post like this, it's 2012 when are people gonna wake up and stop this trend that has been going on for years. This was going toward hell long before 2009
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Sounds to me you have already given up on this sport! Your beating a Dead Horse!
Joe, I know you are very passionate, and you spend a lot to attend many events a year. I believe George hasn't given up, he, like all of us, is passionate, and is pointing out the obvious issues that the NHRA is really not addressing. This sport has been on a decline in crucial areas for years: Specators, participants, sponsors, and TV ratings. Ever hear the expression, "Nothing gets better by being left alone"? If the economy got real healthy, real quick, do you really see a bunch of companies coming in to spend millions? Will TV ratings suddenly go back to 2mil+? Will we get an influx of brand new Pro teams being created by new players? Truth is, these things weren't happening before the world crumbled in '08. I'm an eternal optimist, but we need leadership that can think to the future, and out of the box.
George, I feel the status quo is just fine, will you go away now? Oh, one more minor thing, would you please take the other deciple of doom with you, of coarse I'm speaking about the self imposed expert of drag racing,Patrick.
I think the difference is that you are too young to have experienced "the other side" of the coin.
This reminds me of the music in our generation from the 70's through 90's versus the digitally generated, lack of talent covering "artists" of today.
You can't possibly imagine just how totally screwed you were when it comes to your generation's music. Just as simular, you can't even begin to understand just how screwed over you are right now by the quality of NHRA drag racing in it's current 1,000' joke of a format without a single rising, relevant, recognizable national star..
When the NHRA and Diamond P productions aired NHRA Drag racing on TV, you guarded the remote with a gun. Today, you turn the channel to something with more drama, like Billy The Exterminater.
When the NHRA circus came to town in the 80's and 90's, if you didn't have a reserved ticket, you might not sit at all. In Fact, the fence line was four deep the entire quarter mile.
Now, nobody cares because there is really nothing exciting to watch.
I know exactly what you are saying and whats funny is I don't actually listen to the music that comes out today I listen to the stuff from back in the day because I like it better. I also agree on the diamond p coverage I have seen diamond p footage and its GREAT!!! I also watch all the time as much drag racing broadcasts from the 70's and 80's that I can find on youtube.
George, I feel the status quo is just fine, will you go away now? Oh, one more minor thing, would you please take the other deciple of doom with you, of coarse I'm speaking about the self imposed expert of drag racing,Patrick.
Why don't you stop taking a shot at people like a 5 year old and voice an opinion about why YOU think this sport is fine, It's just so much more easier to attack isn't it? You guys can just remain clueless as you watch sponsors leave, stands get more empty and tracks get shorter. I'm not expert, I never said I was one, and how dare you try and take what my opinions are (right or wrong it's a free country, well I paid a dollar for it here) and tell me that I advertise myself as a genius and and expert. Your that naive? Anybody that needs to go away is you and you can come back when you dont make untrue assumptions about people and can learn to have an educated discussion. All this is, is just an open neutral attitude descussion and you have to come out this way. I take it Jon Asher is going to get alot of hate mail from you.
The Fact remains, you either support this sport the way it is, or you don't! Pretty simple really...if any of you think NHRA is going to fly you out tomorrow to Glendora to hear your suggestions you need to get a life! It ain't happening...
Did you ever think that's what's wrong? Corporations hire consultants all the time to take a look at the company and see how it can succeed. Can the NHRA try that? Can the NHRA actually value what they claim their "very important fans" and at least LISTEN to options instead of not listening at all. They stay in there building trying to fox problems on the outside from the inside. They need OUTSIDE help.
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Since nobody commented on this the first time, here you go!
Les
Nitro Member
Right on Billy!
Drag Racing dies if we let it die!
This is my response:
[vbtube]wwAA01SN3j8[/vbtube]
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Johnny Ringo
Nitro Member
I attended the Indy Nationals last year (2011) with my wife, who had never attended a drag race. Last time I was there was 1970 driving Snake's FC. We sat in the "Top Eliminator" grandstands at $350 a seat. It did include a few catered meals that must have been left overs from the local Cracker Barrel. We bought a couple of seat cushions that as soon as you sat on them turned into concrete. No disrespect, but watching Garlits racing Gwinn in electric dragsters and a weak wheelstander made me sick! It kinda reminded me of a third rate carnival act.
We very much enjoyed TF, FC and Pro Mod's. When Diane experienced the first FC pass, it pretty near lifted her out of her seat. Her eyes got so big they nearly touched. Gasping for breath she looked at me and said, " I'm glad I didn't know you when you were doing that for a living"! Got a good laugh from that comment.
The races were good, but the sideshows sucked!
We very much enjoyed TF, FC and Pro Mod's. When Diane experienced the first FC pass, it pretty near lifted her out of her seat. Her eyes got so big they nearly touched. Gasping for breath she looked at me and said, " I'm glad I didn't know you when you were doing that for a living"! Got a good laugh from that comment.
The races were good, but the sideshows sucked!
indidad- The Guy- Uncle Steve
Nitro Member
Joe, I can tell you one story from first hand experience.
My oldest daughter, she'll be 27 this year, raced in a Jr. Dragster for several years in the mid-90's. We raced where we could in the area at the time. Milan and Ubly in Michigan, Grand Bend in Ontario, and a couple times at Norwalk.
I bought the car used for around $2000 TK, it came with a flatbed trailer that was just big enough. Keep in mind, it was one of the first LJ Jrs made, chromoly tube and aluminum panels. Only glass was the nose. No titanium or carbon fiber. By the time we painted it, updated SFI, bought a helmet and accessories, I probably spent $4000-$5000, just to get started.
A buddy of mine who also had a kid in a Jr, eventually asked about joining forces. He had an enclosed trailer, I had a generator. He had some tools, I had some tools. We shared travel expenses, bought race fuel and supplies in double quantities for volume discounts, etc.
Bottom line though was the "bottom line". Eventually, the cost of being competitive exceeded the "YTD overtime $ earned" line on my paycheck. We all know for what it cost me to get started might get you a used JR today.
These days, my daughter is still interested in racing. But there's career, family and reality in general to consider. My buddy's "kid" is an engineer at Roush, and recently bought a roller (not sure of maker). He's 23 and will race as long as he's making some money. (Unless there's a woman in his future that says otherwise)
Not sure what percentage of kids initially exposed to Jr Drag Racing in the 1990's have stuck with racing. Jr Todd, Richie Stevens, Erica Enders come to mind. Sure there are more at the Pro level that I'm missing. Also sure there are several in the sportsman ranks.
There are also the one's that raced because dad thought it was cool, and the kid hated it.
Finally, there are two NHRA Pros in my family and I can't speak for them. But I bet despite racing providing them with an income, neither is telling any of their kids to follow in their footsteps.
With that said, I agree that you have a good question.
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