Could things be going from bad to worse for JFR? (1 Viewer)

[mw6789]

Nothing lasts forever. It always seemed like there would be a Bud King fuel car. Here's the biggest problem: The dollars it takes to run these pro teams, Pro Stock included. Makes it way more gut-wrenching to lose a sponsor when you have to go find someone willing to spend the better part of 2-3 MIL to be a major sponsor. I think the time has come to re-invent the sport and cultivate a new audience. Us diehards aren't going anywhere. What if Pro Stock became 8 sec wheelstanding musclecars based on the factory rides we can buy? What if we had 30-40 5 sec. fuel FCs showing up to qualify, based on rules similar to the current nostalgia cars? I'm telling ya', no matter how well the economy recovers, finding Army and Ford and Castrol size backing will NEVER be easy. Think about this, was it ever easy during the best of economic times?

Well said Nunzio. Technology is very quickly pricing NHRA professional drag racing right out of business.

 

[Professor Dave]

What if Pro Stock became 8 sec wheelstanding musclecars based on the factory rides we can buy?

That would be easy to do with the drag paks, the Cobra Jets, and the COPO Camaros

What if we had 30-40 5 sec. fuel FCs showing up to qualify, based on rules similar to the current nostalgia cars? I'm telling ya', no matter how well the economy recovers, finding Army and Ford and Castrol size backing will NEVER be easy. Think about this, was it ever easy during the best of economic times?

Also ok, although we could use modern bodies-the key in all the pro classes is for NHRA to take steps to significantly reduce costs. The revenues teams are getting is rising much more slowly than costs are-you don't need a Ph.D. in economics (I have one though) to understand why there are fewer teams racing today.

 

[Toejam]

Let's face it,this could be the end for organized drag racing. Phord pulls out and possibly Castrol. These two alone won't kill NHRA but the whole cluster very well could. NASCAR survives because of TV revenues,NHRA pays to be on TV. The younger generation isn't into cars/racing like previous generations and without them,it's over.I'm usually an optimistic guy but what I'm seeing right now doesn't bode well for NHRA.

Mike I couldn't count the number of times I have heard that argument the
Past 20 years! I do agree fewer younger fans are into cars, but until we start seeing 5,000 fans on Sunday instead of the 15-20,000 we see now, NHRA won't care!

 

[rocketman]

No sense in commenting on Castrol until we know it to be true. But Castrol spends a lot of money at JFR and the more they spend the bigger target they are to the bean counters.

 

[Marchboom]

Nothing lasts forever. It always seemed like there would be a Bud King fuel car. Here's the biggest problem: The dollars it takes to run these pro teams, Pro Stock included. Makes it way more gut-wrenching to lose a sponsor when you have to go find someone willing to spend the better part of 2-3 MIL to be a major sponsor. I think the time has come to re-invent the sport and cultivate a new audience. Us diehards aren't going anywhere. What if Pro Stock became 8 sec wheelstanding musclecars based on the factory rides we can buy? What if we had 30-40 5 sec. fuel FCs showing up to qualify, based on rules similar to the current nostalgia cars? I'm telling ya', no matter how well the economy recovers, finding Army and Ford and Castrol size backing will NEVER be easy. Think about this, was it ever easy during the best of economic times?

This is probably the way to go.

As much as I like the TF and FC class, I'm sure the sponsors are looking at the high cost of paying for all the engine explosions, destroyed mega $$ bodies and all the other associated high dollar items connected to these classes. And the bodies don't even look like the cars they are supposed to represent!

Pro Stock. These are nothing more than slow funny cars and many people cannot relate to them. The best PS action was during the early 70's. Tons of brand loyalty. And there was a lot of, "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" activity.

What happens when the car count only allows an 8 car show? Think attendance will drop?

Make a few changes (make bodies look like real cars, reduce displacement, one mag, smaller blowers, etc) and the cars will slow down. Might even get to go back to 1/4 mile racing. Will we adapt to slower speeds? Hell yes...we did when they went to 1000' racing. Will the racing be more exciting? Definitely! Many more full passes and less engine/blower explosions. Also less down time for track clean up. More cars in each field? There will be when the car owners don't have to ask a sponsor for 3 mil a year.

NHRA and the car owners had better sit down and look at the long range future of our sport before it bankrupts itself.

Just my 1 cent (inflation figured in).

 

[cephus]

I have been talkin to a crew chief and we r thinkin of building a TF car with
small blower 2 mags or 1 which ever works smaller pump and go have some fun,, not tear up stuff,,may even qualify some time, it wuld be great if NHRA wuld let this be a possible combination and let the nitro b at 100% have that crack just a thought

 

[HEMI6point1]

I have been talkin to a crew chief and we r thinkin of building a TF car with
small blower 2 mags or 1 which ever works smaller pump and go have some fun,, not tear up stuff,,may even qualify some time, it wuld be great if NHRA wuld let this be a possible combination and let the nitro b at 100% have that crack just a thought

Why not just run an A-fuel car in the Lucas Oil series?

 

[vegasnitro]

I remember where I saw the oil floats on water experiment. My kids 5th grade science class!

Density—Sink and Float for Liquids | Chapter 3: Density | Middle School Chemistry

Put simply: 1) Oil does not mix with water, 2) Oil floats on water.

17% of the spill was directly recovered. 32% was burned, skimmed or naturally dispersed. 25% EVAPORATED. 26% was "other" - mostly meaning it couldn't be found. (According to NOAA)

NOAA - Federal Interagency Group Issues Peer-Reviewed 'Oil Budget' Technical Documentation

And to put it into further perspective - what couldn't be found amounts for less than 1 month's natural seepage into the Gulf. And the scientists assume that some very, very fat, happy oil eating microbes finished off the rest.

Fun times? Hardly, 11 guys died - but my point is that when people wave about opinions about "big business sticking it to the little man" and "greedy profiteers" and other such nonsense not based on fact, you have business reconsider their commitment to investing in your town, your country and YOUR SPORT.

The LAST thing we should do as a fan community is bash car manufacturers oil companies and the TV stations that carry the sport. Surely that makes sense to you? Surely you know that sponsors read these boards? And others?

Thank you sponsors for what you do for NHRA and our favorite teams. Without you we'd be watching Street Outlaws with the rest of the rabble....

I agree that oil floats on water ... at sea level at ~ 1 atmosphere of pressure. At 1 mile down, the game changes quite a bit from a physics standpoint. I will leave it at that.

I also agree that we shouldn't be slamming manufacturers for coming and going in the sport, it is what they do. Manufacturer participation in every motorsport is often the subject of market forces that have little to do with on track action or how well a team has represented the brand (or how long).

Perhaps I did come across too angrily towards BP, but I do feel they have largely gotten a free pass for that spill. I highly doubt the spill has anything to do with Force potentially losing their sponsor (BP has over 100 Billion in cash reserves), the REAL issue is can NHRA and the professional teams provide a business model to sponsors where true ROI can justify the dollars they are spending. Once that equilibrium is met, sponsor participation and manufacturer participation will increase.

I also agree that BP should not be defrauded for the spill, and I hope perpetrators are punished to the fullest extent of the law.

I do thank sponsors by steering my consumer dollars towards their products.

 

[cephus]

want to but no close races in div 2 anymore,, Gainesville fl only close race
divisional or national

 

[vegasnitro]

Ignorance tends to breed contempt.

As does information. I provided 2 credible sources that contradict BP's claims. I also know a petrochemical engineer that worked on the spill in '11 and '12 ... let's just say he doesn't have very many nice things to say about what is going on down there, from the dispersant used on the surface to the inactivity of the cleanup of the bottom, he said every time they looked they found more oil than they anticipated to find down there, by quite a margin, and we are talking about a year and a half after the spill, and miles away from the spill site.

No matter which side of the fence you are on here, and I am by no means an environmentalist, I am all for damming rivers and building nuclear power plants and drilling in Alaska, but that oil spill and it's affects will be dealt with for many, many years to come and can't possibly be left to one entity (BP) to tell us all is well when there is a profit motive. <- that is one hell of a run on sentence LOL.

 

[mick]

wouldn't look for another 20+ year sponsor (never say never i guess), but force will get a LOT of companies
giving him more than a look....IMO the man was very smart to build his team with daughters and robert; at times like
this he can still sell the force name, even if he walks away from driving, the daughters & robert are firmly in place
to carry on the winning name.

 

[rckymtn3]

From the earliest interviews I can remember about Force (ND SSDI etc) when asked what he did at home to relax, he always spoke about his love of movies. How he would spend his days off in movie theaters, for hours on-end, usually with one of his daughters, watching almost any film that came out. I could see a strong potential in a large film company or theater chain movie wraps for the car to promote upcoming films, and a tie-in TV show having Force critique films. They (film companies) already get into bed with all sorts of manufacturers during filming and after post, for the promotion of films. I could see it easily becoming a new way to generate "buzz" which is still an aphrodisiac to most film execs. Potential is there, but you never know. I'm sure John Force and family will be just fine no matter what their direction. I didn't watch the original "driving Force" so I really have no idea if another reality program with John would work. But I swear, if he sat for a half hour talking about current film I would watch just to laugh, not to mention possible interviews with cast members where they can't get a word in edge-wise.

 

[DrRocket]

From the very humble beginnings of his long career, John has shown an amazing knack to land on his feet, no matter what kind of curve ball he's been thrown.

I think he'll figure out a way to do that again.

 

[Jeff]

As does information. I provided 2 credible sources that contradict BP's claims. I also know a petrochemical engineer that worked on the spill in '11 and '12 ... let's just say he doesn't have very many nice things to say about what is going on down there, from the dispersant used on the surface to the inactivity of the cleanup of the bottom, he said every time they looked they found more oil than they anticipated to find down there, by quite a margin, and we are talking about a year and a half after the spill, and miles away from the spill site.

No matter which side of the fence you are on here, and I am by no means an environmentalist, I am all for damming rivers and building nuclear power plants and drilling in Alaska, but that oil spill and it's affects will be dealt with for many, many years to come and can't possibly be left to one entity (BP) to tell us all is well when there is a profit motive. <- that is one hell of a run on sentence LOL.

Chris, you erupted on something that you rely on every day. Certain facets of the life we enjoy requires HUGE sums of capital and a measured amount of risk taking. Understand that these people are not trying to kill the planet, but they also make mistakes, and generally try their best to fix them (aided by government oversight at times). Your original post made no sense. I don't have an issue with your subsequent clarifications .... But you've got to appreciate more of the complexities of our technological age. I know you are not living in a tent ...take a look at the trash at your curb and consider your own contribution to the ecology.

We all try pretty hard not to abuse Mother Earth. The oil patch is full of people who spend every available moment enjoying the outdoors .... Please don't assume that we are people who will do anything to make a buck.

 

[Larry]

Saw on another forum someone blaming Courtney's Photo shoot for Ford Pulling the plug .
I think it's just the race on Sunday buy on Monday thing .
Makes business sense to me .
Also not so many explosions and loss of life with your name on the net forever .

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

I have been talkin to a crew chief and we r thinkin of building a TF car

I hope U do Guy, keep us posted if U do please.

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Saw on another forum someone blaming Courtney's Photo shoot for Ford Pulling the plug . .

Could very well be, but we'll never know 4 sure.

 

[TooTall999]

Saw on another forum someone blaming Courtney's Photo shoot for Ford Pulling the plug .
I think it's just the race on Sunday buy on Monday thing .
Makes business sense to me .
Also not so many explosions and loss of life with your name on the net forever .

So how would Courtney's photo shoot affect Larry Morgan and Bob Tasca?

 

[Larry jr.]

Interesting read,.... Employes' of Haliburton were who caused the oil spill in the gulf, as they were the contactor for BP at the time, BP pick up the tab as it was they're oil that spilled.



Force was switching to Top Fuel anyway, He made the anouncement several years ago Ford told Him No.

They remeinded John they sponsor Him to drive a Ford Mustang funny car NOT a dragster and If he wanted to continue the deal He had better stay in the funny car........... He has. Apperantly now that Ford is leaving JFR, John will persue His dream of winning championships in both Funny Car and Top Fuel.

I just don't see how its a problem.

 

[The Counterfeiter]

Apperantly now that Ford is leaving JFR, John will persue His dream of winning championships in both Funny Car and Top Fuel.I just don't see how its a problem.[/QUOTE]

Problem . . . nah! By then 66 years old, never driven a T/F car (that I know of) and would be competing against DSR, Al Anabi, Kalitta, Vandergriff, Lucas and Torrence (which reportedly will be another two car team) for that championship. What could possibly go wrong? -