insight into the nitro situation (2 Viewers)

[lmhb oyf]

I can't believe that Mr. Gray was allowed to speak on behalf of VP. This guy sounds like a crack addict. Unbelievable.

...Please, don't do this, just sell me the nitro and let's go down the road. Everyone loses and for why? You are already the man. Please, you have nothing else to gain, you're the man.

Please, a lot of people look up to you as a role model. Be the generous person you can be.

Please, sell me the nitro and for heavens sake do it NOW!

Thanks

Wade L. Gray

VP Racing Fuels, Inc.

 

[Nunz]

Drew I agree. My 10 & 9 year old girls sound more mature asking if they can stay up later! How could Shoe even take him seriously? As far as Don holding the sport hostage, I think that's a crock. I may be naive, but the guy has built up a big battery charger company, and has the wherewithall to leverage his success anywhere he wants to make more money. I don't think squeezing a few bucks out of barrells of nitro is his way of adding to his fortune. He's made a huge investment in this sport, I really doubt he wants to bring the nitro classes to their knees.

 

[FABMAN]

Just my opinion! As much smooching Gray was doing in that email sounds as if VP Fuel is going to have to pay Tom C. and Graham L. a considerable sum of money it he fails to supply enough fuel for the season, when a man is on his knees begging, it's probably just about the end of the road.

 

[DrRocket]

It has now become quite obvious to me that the $100,000 fine levied on Don was nothing but a badly disguised attempt by the NHRA and VP to shake Don down for the nitro he has. My guess is that if Don agreed to sell the Nitro to VP, the fine would somehow mysteriously disappear, and the NHRA would explain "It was all just a misunderstanding."

 

[toffer]

As a disclaimer, I've been away from competitive racing of any kind for a long time and I know none of the personalities involved in this particular skirmish nor do I have any real personal or financial interest in this issue other than as a lifelong fan. I will also underestimate whenever it is reasonable to give the powers that be the benefit of the doubt.

However...

As I've always been told, it's usually about the money.

As to the speculation that there might not be fuel racing because of some shortage, I'm doubtful. Let's do our own speculation, and please correct me if I've missed something obvious as I'm pretty good at that.

A. Investment by the sponsors of the top 30 NHRA fuel teams = $750,000 per car/season

I''ll use this because I (unfortunately) don't know jack **** about the IHRA or any other demands on racing-grade nitro, which is something I personally plan to rectify PDQ now that the younguns' are old enough to travel to the races and $750,000/season seems to be the opening bid for sponsorship to (barely) complete the bulk of the races.

B. $750k x 30 = $225,000,000 sponsor investment in NHRA fuel racing

C. RETAIL (inflated?) cost of the disputed fuel that will supposedly alleviate the shortage = approx $350,000

D. $350,000 / 30 = $10,000/team or $416 per race, per team additional

E. Willingness of a Fortune 500 company (or any sponsor, really) to put up with this bull**** for $400 = NONE


Exclusive sponsorship is an idea that actually has some merits, but when its application results in not enough of the sponsor's product to satisfy a reasonable, forecasted demand then shame on them.

I'll gladly contribute my $400 to Don Schumacher or Tim Wilkerson for one race to make this crap go away.

 

[mick]

apparently someone/s had proper foresight and some have not.
this is not surprising; all the parties involved will figure it out
and no racing will be canceled; and it seems some will be embarrassed
and some will be redeemed.

 

[TR]

I can't believe that Mr. Gray was allowed to speak on behalf of VP. This guy sounds like a crack addict. Unbelievable.

...Please, don't do this, just sell me the nitro and let's go down the road. Everyone loses and for why? You are already the man. Please, you have nothing else to gain, you're the man.

Please, a lot of people look up to you as a role model. Be the generous person you can be.

Please, sell me the nitro and for heavens sake do it NOW!

Thanks

Wade L. Gray

VP Racing Fuels, Inc.

Wade Gray is not much of a manager and is a bad spokesperson for VP. What a whiner. I have read this thread and just cannot believe this guy is for real, it is like someone made him up from fairy land. Don Shumacher has these guys by the tereyakis and I think it is great. Don is a real manager and business man and I bet you would never hear him whine like Wade Gray. Go get-em Don. More power to you. Just my two cents.

 

[Gipraw]

No it's not, he's a desperate MORON who let his mouth over ride his brain. Like Brent said, you can't sell what you don't have. He thought he could cut a fat hog in the ass and make a bigger deal than he could produce. Guess what? That failed like a French missle.

agreed. I meant it was hard to form an opinion of him as a good, reputable guy.

he comes across as a complete tool. I wonder if that was the impression he was going for.

 

[mike cummings]

up till now I have watched this nitrogate drama from the sidelines without much of an opinion. After reading the CompetitionPlus article and seeing the reply from VP, I now have an opinion which isn't too high of VP.

It seems that VP Fuels didn't do their job in securing the inventory needed to fulfill their obligations as the exclusive supplier of nitro to the NHRA. Schumacher on the other hand did a good job in securing nitro and now VP is whining and complaining that they were outmaneuvered by Schumacher and blaming Schumacher for their own failures. From what I read, Schumacher is under no obligation to sell his supply of nitro and it is very childish of VP to try to make Schumacher out as the bad guy who doesn't "give a f#@% about drag racing" (Wade Gray's words according to the article). VP is not taking a very professional approach to this problem that is the result of their own poor inventory supply management.

 

[StockersRock]

It has now become quite obvious to me that the $100,000 fine levied on Don was nothing but a badly disguised attempt by the NHRA and VP to shake Don down for the nitro he has. My guess is that if Don agreed to sell the Nitro to VP, the fine would somehow mysteriously disappear, and the NHRA would explain "It was all just a misunderstanding."

That's kind of what I'm getting too.

 

[BrettV]

I can't believe no one else has seen the obvious. Don DOES want to stop nitro racing! That way Tony will be the champion based on total points (assuming he is the points leader by Englishtown) rather than risking him losing the championship after the Countdown points reset.















JUST KIDDING! Go Don! Show them how real, successful business operate.

 

[stanman]

Fact #1: NHRA's "Official Fuel" programs is simply a means for the NHRA to line their coffers and pass the buck on to the racers.

Fact #2: VP nitro wouldn't be $900+ /barrel or VP C25 wouldn't be $950 /barrel if they weren't the exclusive fuel for competition.

Fact #3: Cost of VP fuels used by sportsman racers such as C12, C14, and others are less than 1/2 the cost of C25 because they must be priced in a competitive market against fuels like Torco, Sunoco, Rocket, and others.

Fact #4: NHRA signed an exclusive contract with VP for the supply of a product that VP does not produce and has no control of the supply.

Call me an NHRA basher again... but NHRA is entirely to blame for this situation because of their constant money grabbing at the expense of the racers.

 

[Terry]

You NHRA basher you! Interesting comparison, Greg. And I sure didn't know C25 was almost a grand a barrel--VP C-12 and C-14 has always been higher per barrel around here than comparable fuels such as Sunoco, Phillips B-33, etc. but there was always an aura created by VP that other brands were inferior in quality to theirs, and thus it was a little scary to strike out and try a different fuel supplier--after a visit with the gang at Shafiroff, that's exactly what I did, saved some money, and had no ill effects either durability wise or performance wise. I think both VP and NHRA needs to be loaned some belts, cause it sure looks like they got caught with their pants down on this one...

 

[megadeth]

Drag Racing Internet Magazine - Torco Racing Fuel's Competition Plus.com - NHRA FUEL SUPPLIER – “THERE’S A SHORTAGE OUT THERE”
This a "must read".

I love it!

I think NHRA will have a secondary supplier of Nitro when all is said and done!

 

[stanman]

You NHRA basher you! Interesting comparison, Greg. And I sure didn't know C25 was almost a grand a barrel--VP C-12 and C-14 has always been higher per barrel around here than comparable fuels such as Sunoco, Phillips B-33, etc. but there was always an aura created by VP that other brands were inferior in quality to theirs, and thus it was a little scary to strike out and try a different fuel supplier--after a visit with the gang at Shafiroff, that's exactly what I did, saved some money, and had no ill effects either durability wise or performance wise. I think both VP and NHRA needs to be loaned some belts, cause it sure looks like they got caught with their pants down on this one...

VP has always been over priced compared to other brands for absolutely no difference in performance or consistency.

You know C25 does not cost a significant $$ amount more to produce than any other VP race fuel. So the only possible reason for the significant cost difference is the fact that it is the spec fuel for the Pro Stock classes and Comp Eliminator.

I can't fault NHRA for wanting to ensure competitors in those classes are not using an illegal fuel. But there are other fuels available that would meet the requirements. NHRA could give the racers three or four options and it would drive the price down.

 

[Don-mon]

Greg it is my understanding that the C25 IS in fact more expensive to produce than there other grades because of it being under tight specs and being an in house blend, Also having an official product or official supplier is found in every form of motorsports and at most tracks, VP is simply trying to recoup some of there large investment- to be the official fuel. Im not saying this is a perfect situation, it just happens, I want NHRA to make money so they can give me the fan the best show possible! If the racer needs to save $$ do it in other ways. IMO -Don

VP has always been over priced compared to other brands for absolutely no difference in performance or consistency.

You know C25 does not cost a significant $$ amount more to produce than any other VP race fuel. So the only possible reason for the significant cost difference is the fact that it is the spec fuel for the Pro Stock classes and Comp Eliminator.

I can't fault NHRA for wanting to ensure competitors in those classes are not using an illegal fuel. But there are other fuels available that would meet the requirements. NHRA could give the racers three or four options and it would drive the price down.

 

[megadeth]

Recoup what extra cost the others produce the same product but sell it for less!
Maybe recouping the cost of being the official fuel, the money they pay NHRA to hold that title, is that what you are talking about?
Competition breeds fair pricing monopolies are never a good thing.

 

[J.C.]

Exclusive contract = Monopoly

 

[Jude]

Greg it is my understanding that the C25 IS in fact more expensive to produce than there other grades because of it being under tight specs and being an in house blend, Also having an official product or official supplier is found in every form of motorsports and at most tracks, VP is simply trying to recoup some of there large investment- to be the official fuel. Im not saying this is a perfect situation, it just happens, I want NHRA to make money so they can give me the fan the best show possible! If the racer needs to save $$ do it in other ways. IMO -Don

Wasn't Sunoco Official Supplier for awhile? Why weren't they allowed to bid for a renewal?

I'm waiting for Q16 or something to be mandated for the super classes in order to provide a more level playing field.

 

[Nick Name]

OK, here is the solution; Mr. Gray should immediately be given a management position within NHRA, then Schumaker should be allowed to sell nitro.

All problems solved.

Jay