insight into the nitro situation (2 Viewers)

[Terry]

Yes I am speaking of the monies paid NHRA to be the official fuel (im not even going to guess at that amount).
Lets use a baseball analogy, (you go to your favorite ball park you buy -lets say a Bud, Budwieser paid to be the official beer of XYZ ballpark, I can buy a beer a lot cheaper across the street from the park but since its at the park and they are the official beer of the park then I pay the $8 for a Bud). Its the way the park earns money to keep it my favorite ballpark, and Bud charges me more to pay for the $ given to the park. I wish I could pay $1 for my beer at the ballpark, but I understand why they charge $8 and pay.
Dont get me wrong I am not a big VP fan and I have plenty to say about the NHRA, but I am also a drag racing fan - and I want my sport to thrive.

Good analogy, Don, but lets add another dimension--You are at the ball park, and you want a beer. All that is available is the Bud for 8 bucks. No problem--you go to order one and find out that they only have enough beer for people in grandstand A and you're in grandstand B....then we got a problem, huh?

 

[Don-mon]

I see your point Terry, but being in the fuel industry, I truely belive there is plenty of Nitro floating around to cover NHRA. DSR's supply isnt the only source. VP (I heard) is securing a reliable stream, and I do belive they will do that, if not there are a few other companies that could step in. (this is just my observation) -Don

Nitrohaulic....

you're making too much dang sense... cut that out.

Dudes one eighty out, the Don isn't the one 'Truckin' over Drag Racing... VP is and this farce sits directly in Mister Gray's lap.

Oh yeah, Mr. Clark... I will NOT buy an eight dollar beer at the ballpark, and I will Not buy an eight dollar beer at the drag strip... and for what it's worth, being the Official anything of a sport means nothing to me... either you make a good product at a fair price or you don't. RED BULL could dump a Hundred Mill a year into the NHRA and I still won't buy it, can't get pass the SMELL.

d'kid

Good analogy, Don, but lets add another dimension--You are at the ball park, and you want a beer. All that is available is the Bud for 8 bucks. No problem--you go to order one and find out that they only have enough beer for people in grandstand A and you're in grandstand B....then we got a problem, huh?

 

[PJ]

The baseball park is a good anaolgy except for one major issue. I can choose to have or not to have that $8 beer at the park. (personally I've never been able to bring myself to pay that much).
If I choose to pay that much then thats fine. But is it not a requirement for me to be able to enter the park or enjoy the game.

With the fuel deal. The teams are forced to buy it and therefore are forced to pay whatever the mark up is on the barrel that day. Making a buck is one thing, holding people up at extortion level pricing is wrong.

 

[Don-mon]

Well said as usual PJ, NHRA and VP still need to be fair, (I think they are-on pricing) "I know that opens me up to the fireing squad" I sell race gas and know the margins are not that high (as people might think). You bring in another brand and pricing wont be that different. I cant belive I am sticking up for VP...

The baseball park is a good anaolgy except for one major issue. I can choose to have or not to have that $8 beer at the park. (personally I've never been able to bring myself to pay that much).
If I choose to pay that much then thats fine. But is it not a requirement for me to be able to enter the park or enjoy the game.

With the fuel deal. The teams are forced to buy it and therefore are forced to pay whatever the mark up is on the barrel that day. Making a buck is one thing, holding people up at extortion level pricing is wrong.

 

[PJ]

Well said as usual PJ, NHRA and VP still need to be fair, (I think they are-on pricing) "I know that opens me up to the fireing squad" I sell race gas and know the margins are not that high (as people might think). You bring in another brand and pricing wont be that different. I cant belive I am sticking up for VP...

according to reports and articles on this. The price jumped instantly when VP took over. I don't recall the exact numbers but wasn't Don able to sell in the $400-$500 range. Yet VP was pushing if not over $1000??? Not even close to fair pricing in my world

 

[Rajunz]

This whole "NitroGate" is turning into "Comady Gold"!

..........and why would Bobby Bennett need a printer to publish an online magazine anyways?

 

[TR]

This whole "NitroGate" is turning into "Comady Gold"!

..........and why would Bobby Bennett need a printer to publish an online magazine anyways?

"NitroGate"is a soap opera-AS THE BARREL TURNS

 

[PJ]

Like Nitro through a Test Tube so are the days of our lives

 

[Terry]

Well said as usual PJ, NHRA and VP still need to be fair, (I think they are-on pricing) "I know that opens me up to the fireing squad" I sell race gas and know the margins are not that high (as people might think). You bring in another brand and pricing wont be that different. I cant belive I am sticking up for VP...

Don, nice to have someone posting that really is "in the know" about fuel. I have a question. My buddy Greg Stanley mentioned that a barrel of C25 for the pro stocks is over $900--to a former C14 user (switched when I found equal or better quality for a heck of a lot less money) that sounds like a heck of a difference between C14 and C25. Can you fill me in on this situation?

 

[JT]

I buy all of my nitro from Dale Pulde. The last barrel I got was 55 gallons at last years price of $750. Since then he has raised the price to $900 I believe. I'm not sure what his price is on the new 40 gallon drums, but I will be finding out soon enough. I will never by VP. One it is only 90% and I mix my own, and two it is too expensive. Right now the Outlaw Fuel Altered Association has no problems with nitro supplies. It seems to be only the NHRA races that are having problems. I haven't heard of any problems from the IHRA side where there is no mandatory supplier.

 

[Nitrohaulic]

Like Nitro through a Test Tube so are the days of our lives

How about "through a down nozzle"?

 

[Smiley]

I buy all of my nitro from Dale Pulde. The last barrel I got was 55 gallons at last years price of $750. Since then he has raised the price to $900 I believe. I'm not sure what his price is on the new 40 gallon drums, but I will be finding out soon enough. I will never by VP. One it is only 90% and I mix my own, and two it is too expensive. Right now the Outlaw Fuel Altered Association has no problems with nitro supplies. It seems to be only the NHRA races that are having problems. I haven't heard of any problems from the IHRA side where there is no mandatory supplier.

Are the other suppliers still selling 55 gallon drums, or are they also only 40 gallons?

 

[Don-mon]

Terry I dont know if i'm "In the know" but from what I was told the C25 is mixed to an end result blend wich is suposed to be a dead on fuel, meaning the specific gravity and dielectric are right on every time, to do this they have a lot more hands on when blending, and blend in smaller batches, this coupled with the before mentioned re-couping of there sponsorship $ equals a higher price, hey I use a 114 fuel also and though the SG may vary slightly it usually dosent show in the et slip, when every .001 counts you buy the top shelf stuff - keep in mind also, that VP sends 2 or 3 big trucks staffed with people to every national event (thats an expense) you will alway be able to buy race gas cheaper off site.

Don, nice to have someone posting that really is "in the know" about fuel. I have a question. My buddy Greg Stanley mentioned that a barrel of C25 for the pro stocks is over $900--to a former C14 user (switched when I found equal or better quality for a heck of a lot less money) that sounds like a heck of a difference between C14 and C25. Can you fill me in on this situation?

 

[Nitrohelper]

I haven't heard of any problems from the IHRA side where there is no mandatory supplier.

The former Nitro supplier for IHRA didn't have the funds to pay for a container that was in the USA. It looked liked Milan was going to be a bad problem.
Three days ago a deal was worked out by a top fuel driver to purchase that container, and the three that are now on a ship from China. This will give the IHRA cars the fuel they need to run. The fuel is being sold for $900 a drum, which is reported to be his cost.
Maybe we can get some of this for our N/FC match races too.
Also the Nitro for the Canadian races is already in Canada.

 

[chief]

Not to start anything. But could that former nitro supplier be torco??????

 

[jackass]

Back in the 90's i did time at the NHRA events selling VP fuels...out side the gates... we weren't allowed on the properties...

During this time.. going to trade shows and other events... several people within VP said they would NEVER pay to be an official fuel. to qoute one person... "why pay some one to take money from us".

I know right before VP became "Official" fuel supplier several PS teams complained that other mfgrs were selling them inconsistant fuels. and were also complaining that VP was selling fuel that was" not to spec".. i got chewed on for that one... and i was just the guy at the pumps...lol...

I would love to know the specifics of the VP/NHRA deal...just to be curious.... since at the time they said they would not pay to be the official fuel... wonder if their thoughts changed or something was fixxed to suit them.....

And as Songas said..... Wade Gray is an "interesting" fellow no matter what the subject.......lol..

either way this is going ot be a blast......

 

[Ma Green]

From what I've been told, what Virgil Hartman says in the second paragraph of his post is correct. Especially if there are currently shipments on the way from China and others able to purchase them. Gee, anyone else smell a rat!

No wonder NHRA management got in bed with Mr. Wade. They both seem to have the same mentality.....which is very scary. Hang in there Don. They'll have to apologize to you yet!

And BTW, Schumacher is sending a truck of nitro to Bowling Green for the Reunion. Who says he doesn't give a d--- about drag racing.

 

[Terry]

Hi, Pat! Long time no posts! I never got the opportunity to tell you how much I enjoyed watching your son on the broadcast--man is he a storehouse of knowledge--I'd love the opportunity to visit with him sometime!

 

[JT]

Are the other suppliers still selling 55 gallon drums, or are they also only 40 gallons?

Last I heard was that all of the remaining 55 gallon drums were sold.

 

[clwill]

Last I heard was that all of the remaining 55 gallon drums were sold.

I think they're 55 gallon drums, but just 2/3rds full.