comp + article
- Thread starter dutch52
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vegasnitro
Nitro Member
I assume you are talking about Tracy Renck's article about reducing costs, a quote or link would be nice in the future.
If you are talking about that article, there is nothing new there. It has been rehashed here thousands of times for over a decade. Genies don't go back into bottles. Drag racing now costs what it costs. No large team is going to be willing to reduce their shop's capabilities or obsolete their inventories after spending all of that money. NHRA does not have strong enough leadership to implement a set of rules that would be good for the sport no matter how much crying came from the big shops in Brownsburg.
If you are talking about that article, there is nothing new there. It has been rehashed here thousands of times for over a decade. Genies don't go back into bottles. Drag racing now costs what it costs. No large team is going to be willing to reduce their shop's capabilities or obsolete their inventories after spending all of that money. NHRA does not have strong enough leadership to implement a set of rules that would be good for the sport no matter how much crying came from the big shops in Brownsburg.
ocdart
Nitro Member
Which article? Tracy Renck's "TIME FOR RACE TEAMS, NHRA TO PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER FOR A MORE ECONOMICAL SERIES"?
If this is the article you're referring to, then I couldn't agree more. Not only because of the tighter sponsor money availability following COVID-19, but just to bring more teams into the sport.
I've thought for years that I wouldn't mind at all to see nitro engine rules basically the same as current nostalgia rules: single magneto, smaller fuel pump and eliminate the traction control devices. This would cut costs, slow the cars down, and make the driver more of a factor.
Some would call these giant steps backward. But are they? I believe it would lead to more innovation because racers are never content with the times and speeds they're running - and the historical time period that nostalgia Top Fuel and Funny Cars are based on were not known as the "GLORY DAYS OF DRAG RACING" for not being exciting.
In fact, eliminate the delay boxes/throttle stops from all classes. Drag racing was never based on cars intentionally falling on their faces right after leaving the starting line.
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That statement right there is the crux of the problem with rising costs. The inmates have been running the asylum for so many years now that there is probably no going back.
Once the worst of the Wuhan virus is behind us, you are going to see a lot of companies changing their business models. What those changes will be is unknown. But, things will not be the same.
NHRA had better wake up, grow a set, and think about where they want the sport to be in 10 years. Then they need to establish tough rules to ensure future success of the business. If the race teams don't want to make those changes for the betterment of the sport, who is to blame should racing be shut down?
There is no reason for the fuel teams to continue trying to rotate the Earth on every run. I'd rather see a side-by-side run in the mid 5s, instead of one car running a 3.70 and the other a smoke filled boomer.
I care more about seeing close racing than what numbers come up on the top end boards.
Once racing starts up again, how many people are going to be able to afford to take themselves, much less their families to the races? A lot of people are hurting right now. And it's going to take a long time until people have enough disposable income to be able to afford a day or two at the races.
What's more scary to me is the fact the United States has been shut down without a single shot being fired in anger.
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- #6
ted, i like your response .. the main reason i quit goen to the races is LOWER car count . i LOVED tad/tafc as much as nitro .. today , its hard to get a full field of nitro and tad/tafc .. i believe vegas and charlotte should only have 1 race each .. there r too many races !! i got TIRED of seeing car after car after car smoking the tires .. when i went to dallas for the spring nats and amarillo for the w finals , i recall most all cars made a full pass .. also , back in the late 90's LOTS of teams had well known sponsors , now, not 1 beer company is envolved .. lets face it , the part time teams r keeping a 16 car field ALIVE .. we need them to b involved on a regular basis .. i agree with ted , maybe slowing the cars down will also help increase car count .. lets face it folks --- spectator attendance is all important ---- i c smaller crowds OVER ALL every yr .. n closing : goen to a natl event seeing 70 fuel cars and 40 ps for 5$ a day ---- its gone --- but man it was the "high lite of the yr " ..
James
Nitro Member
I think your confusing delay boxes with throttle stops. Not a fan of either.
So why not go to a 2 day show? Q on Friday, Race on Sat (night if possible). I'd rather watch an 8 car field than nothing, if it has to come down to that. And I'd rather see 1/4 mile, which is very doable with a calmed down combination. If a nitro team was restricted to 8:71 blowers, one mag & even keep the clutch management system, I would bet dimes to donuts someone would find a way to run very low 5's, if not 4.90's. Maybe a bit less glue, cuz I know it costs the tracks $$ for that stuff. Flame away.....
Another thing to consider is how many tracks will survive? The ones that have missed their national race will be hurting for sure, and losing half a season of weekly bracket racing will hurt too. Racers may need to decide whether to drive hundreds of miles to race, or to hang it up. Except the prices for race cars will tank.
Nhra also missed the boat w some sort of online sim/gaming, all of the other sanctioning bodies are still in the eyes and ears of the fans. Iracing has exploded and because of this i think road and circle racing may see a nice influx of new competitors and fans.
if nhra goes to a 3 day schedule, what happens to the sportsman racers who pay to play?
if car manufacturers or other big corporations are being hit hard will funding be there for racing? If nhra loses one big fuel team in either TF or FC it could kill the class.
lets hope the country gets moving asap
if nhra goes to a 3 day schedule, what happens to the sportsman racers who pay to play?
if car manufacturers or other big corporations are being hit hard will funding be there for racing? If nhra loses one big fuel team in either TF or FC it could kill the class.
lets hope the country gets moving asap
No flames here Cliff.
Everything you mentioned has been talked about for years, but NHRA has yet to implement even one of those changes.
We always hear about how much it will cost the big money teams to make those changes.
They complain that it will take a lot of effort to learn the new combination.
And NHRA does nothing.
How long ago did Dale Armstrong make his suggestions to slow the fuel cars? He’s one of the smartest people to ever tune a fuel car and NHRA did nothing.
Now you have combinations with six disc clutches, monster dual fuel pumps, blowers that cost as much as a small home, and a pair of mags that could power a small city.
NASCAR made big changes to their allowed combinations. The big teams complained but the changes were put into place. Their sport has, so far, survived.
NHRA likes to copy NASCAR, so why doesn’t someone in Glendora show a bit of intestinal fortitude and make the obviously needed changes to ensure the sport’s future success?
ocdart
Nitro Member
Thanks...fixed my post
ocdart
Nitro Member
Take a look at Jon Asher's article, "Another Failure To Lead", posted on Comp+ today.
The following portion of the article is 100% right on...
"A very long time ago I was taught a valuable lesson about marketing and promotions by an individual then in a top executive position in a company generating about a half-billion in annual revenue. There had been a temporary downturn in the company’s fortunes, so management responded by not only dropping just about every promotional program they were involved with, they fired the staff people who ran them in a misplaced effort to save money. The argument against doing so was that, when times improved, those companies who had kept their names in front of the public would come out ahead in the long run, and those who remained quiet would have far more difficulty re-connecting with the public."
I hope somebody/anybody at NHRA headquarters in Glendora is reading, realizing, and getting ready to take immediate action with any information about the future.
The following portion of the article is 100% right on...
"A very long time ago I was taught a valuable lesson about marketing and promotions by an individual then in a top executive position in a company generating about a half-billion in annual revenue. There had been a temporary downturn in the company’s fortunes, so management responded by not only dropping just about every promotional program they were involved with, they fired the staff people who ran them in a misplaced effort to save money. The argument against doing so was that, when times improved, those companies who had kept their names in front of the public would come out ahead in the long run, and those who remained quiet would have far more difficulty re-connecting with the public."
I hope somebody/anybody at NHRA headquarters in Glendora is reading, realizing, and getting ready to take immediate action with any information about the future.
