Jeff Wolf on "Force Hood's absence, lawsuit hurt NHRA"

[BigDaddyB]

NHRA has an annual employee meeting where this kind of thing is discussed. You don't seriously believe that a $100M+ a year company gets by with no plan?

Peter Clifford was CFO, but apparently he has a new title. I'll go out on a limb and say that he is still the one in charge of the purse strings. NHRA has an entire accounting department like any other company that size. What makes you think they don't?

Brent,

I would like to think that you would agree that perception is 90% of what people tend to associate an issue with for or against. The face of NASCAR is Mike Helton, when stuff happens he is man large and in charge. When anything that affects the image of NASCAR Mike Helton is the face you see. Now whether you agree or not this issue of taxes is threat to the sport. Perception, so a simple news release to me does not cut the mustard. In my opinion the President and Mr. Clifford should have been the faces in front the camera's explaining the issue to the public and its members. The man in street thinks that John Force is the face of NHRA he doesn't have a leadership position in the NHRA. I'm a father 4 grown-ups now, but when they were young 16,17,18, you could always smell that there was something rotten in Denmark because you get half a__ answers to pointed questions. Not to say there aren't any stand-up teenagers but they are the excetional not the rule. So believe there is something more tro this than meets the eye.

 

[vegasnitro]

Mike Helton is the "Mouth Piece" of NASCAR. ALL of the power lies within the France family. Helton only goes in front of a camera and says whatever Brian France tells him to, nothing more, nothing less.

The man on the street has ALWAYS believed Petty, Earnhardt, Gordon, Johnson etc to be the face of NASCAR. And that's the way it should be. The France family are not the stars of the show in NASCAR, just like Compton is not the star of the show in NHRA. John Force, Tony Schumacher, Larry Dixon and those guys should be the face of NHRA to the man on the street. That is who he is buying a ticket to see.

 

[Muddy]

It seems there is a small group of people who just won't let this go. It will take months if not years for this to all play out and the final determination announced. In the meantime this pointless and destructive commentary will continue.

I would suggest that NHRA start putting out a member news letter that deals only with NHRA as an orginization and includes nothing about races. Not in National Dragster but a seperate document that covers quartely financials, activities, board decisions etc. Most large orginizztion have a managment letter of some sort. Perhaps it's time for NHRA to follow suit. Perhaps it would quite some of this chatter.

 

[BigDaddyB]

Mike Helton is the "Mouth Piece" of NASCAR. ALL of the power lies within the France family. Helton only goes in front of a camera and says whatever Brian France tells him to, nothing more, nothing less.

The man on the street has ALWAYS believed Petty, Earnhardt, Gordon, Johnson etc to be the face of NASCAR. And that's the way it should be. The France family are not the stars of the show in NASCAR, just like Compton is not the star of the show in NHRA. John Force, Tony Schumacher, Larry Dixon and those guys should be the face of NHRA to the man on the street. That is who he is buying a ticket to see.

Point well take and stars should shine for the organization but who is the point man for NHRA who speaks for all members of the NHRA. Have not seen one step to plate on this issue. Is it a none issue. Does perception play any part in this issue. With a membership of 57,971 people do yoou think there shold be something more tham a press release.

 

[none]

Alan,

You say the vast majority of members believe that the current leadership group is doing a bang up job I would offer this if there is any document out there that documents the accomplishments and progress besides a tax return tell where I can find it. If we are going just the by word of somebody then I have some oceanfront property in Arizona I have for sale with a beautiful view of California Island.

Bruce,

NHRA recently sent out a poll to 12195 of it's members who are licensed to compete. It ask if changes were neccessary in the class in which they compete. If the racers (members) are unhappy with the way things are being done, now's your chance to be heard! so what happened? 59.9% didn't even bother to respond. Over 50% of those who did voted for no change. This was brought about by some vocal racers who made the noise to be heard. They didn't even wake up the majority and those they did outnumbered them. I understand that this is a competition question, not a business one, but the principal is the same. If you're are unhappy you scream about it. If you're happy, you stay quiet. How many are screaming? Buy my count, not many

Oh and btw with the car Jeremy worked on they could be late at the tree and still win most of their races-LOL

Alan

 

[mick]

............If you're are unhappy you scream about it. If you're happy, you stay quiet. How many are screaming? Buy my count, not many.........

i would surmise most regular nhra competitors do not have time to scream
because they are busy running their businesses - they simply put up with
increasing fees because they are addicted to racing and the
residual socializing at events.
they have bigger problems to address at their own businesses

 

[vegasnitro]

i would surmise most regular nhra competitors do not have time to scream
because they are busy running their businesses - they simply put up with
increasing fees because they are addicted to racing and the
residual socializing at events.
they have bigger problems to address at their own businesses

12,195 questionaires were sent out to licensed competitors. How many of those folks have raced in the last year? The last 5? I would say that the 40% that responded to the questionaire are active competitors with some skin in the game, no matter how busy they were at work.

Racers, by nature, are problem solvers. Seems every trip down the strip gives them more pieces to a never ending puzzle. He who solves the puzzle quickest wins. If they thought there was a problem, they could certainly identify it. Some of them have already thought of a solution or 2. Let's hope that the 40% that took time to respond are heard and considered.

 

[BigDaddyB]

Bruce,

NHRA recently sent out a poll to 12195 of it's members who are licensed to compete. It ask if changes were neccessary in the class in which they compete. If the racers (members) are unhappy with the way things are being done, now's your chance to be heard! so what happened? 59.9% didn't even bother to respond. Over 50% of those who did voted for no change. This was brought about by some vocal racers who made the noise to be heard. They didn't even wake up the majority and those they did outnumbered them. I understand that this is a competition question, not a business one, but the principal is the same. If you're are unhappy you scream about it. If you're happy, you stay quiet. How many are screaming? Buy my count, not many

Oh and btw with the car Jeremy worked on they could be late at the tree and still win most of their races-LOL

Alan

Alan you are a great poster and I have no argument with the majority of people who believe the racing operations should not change from what they are now. What is troubling is 7,137 found it not compelling not to vote. With 5011 people chosing to vote. With well over 2500 from all classes saying no change. Am I right in my figures. It just like any election whether be city, county, state, national or NHRA majority rule. That's the name of the game. But your correlation over to business might be a stretch because we have no polling data to begin to reference our opinions. Sure I like to race in the NHRA, but do like how I am being treated as member that seems to be the big question. Well if its that fast I'll stay in my own zip code! LOL

 

[none]

Chris,

You might be right, but I would think that if you're not racing anymore you wouldn't renew your license. I let mine go when I didn't race for a year and didn't know when I would be hitting the track again. And therefor I wasn't asked to participate in the poll.

Bruce,

I understand what you are saying but there really doesn't seem to be a mass revolt here. Just a very few making a lot of noise.

I know this isn't a perfect comparison, but I liken it to a disgruntled employee who just wants to create a headache for the organization. I know of people who get mad at the boss so they complain to the labor board. If you know what I mean.

I'm mad, so I'll sic the IRS on them. That'll show em!

Alan

 

[BigDaddyB]

Bruce,

NHRA recently sent out a poll to 12195 of it's members who are licensed to compete. It ask if changes were neccessary in the class in which they compete. If the racers (members) are unhappy with the way things are being done, now's your chance to be heard! so what happened? 59.9% didn't even bother to respond. Over 50% of those who did voted for no change. This was brought about by some vocal racers who made the noise to be heard. They didn't even wake up the majority and those they did outnumbered them. I understand that this is a competition question, not a business one, but the principal is the same. If you're are unhappy you scream about it. If you're happy, you stay quiet. How many are screaming? Buy my count, not many

Oh and btw with the car Jeremy worked on they could be late at the tree and still win most of their races-LOL

Alan

Alan,

Can we agree on this that NHRA needs to be more transparent on its doings in the name of the members. Example, just an example now, You been cheating on the wife and she finds out about it in the local newspaper. Not a good thing! Might have to dodge few golf clubs. My thing is why is it that all things we are gabbing about came thru a release of the tax returns. I have problem with CEO being a member of the Board of Directors. Objectivity becomes a question in my mind. If their is director making over $300,000 for one hour of work, an one director making $100,000 for forty hours, I'll hire the best guy for the job but there will be some parity in the pay scale. The only I can bring to memory, vividly I might say, in the Army when things go good well the brass was there to accept the crerdit, and when it went in toliet they were there to take the heat. A visble leader is always easier to follow.

 

[clwill]

NHRA recently sent out a poll to 12195 of it's members who are licensed to compete. It ask if changes were neccessary in the class in which they compete. If the racers (members) are unhappy with the way things are being done, now's your chance to be heard! so what happened? 59.9% didn't even bother to respond. Over 50% of those who did voted for no change. This was brought about by some vocal racers who made the noise to be heard. They didn't even wake up the majority and those they did outnumbered them. I understand that this is a competition question, not a business one, but the principal is the same. If you're are unhappy you scream about it. If you're happy, you stay quiet. How many are screaming? Buy my count, not many

Alan, that was a pathetic poll, and is a terrible example.

• It was sent with no warning whatsoever, just suddenly showed up in the mailbox.
• It was sent to email addresses that weren't necessarily active (I know many who said they never saw it, others who said it went to an old unused address), and since there was no history of regular NHRA communication on that channel many ignored it.
• It came from a "west coast guy" which had most of the people in the east questioning the motivation (check out the threads on Class Race or YB, for example).
• It had minimal preamble ("This is what this poll is about, this is who's asking, this is what it will be used for, this is why your vote matters"), so no one knew what the point was.
• The poll itself was terrible, that asked one poorly worded question and offered three crappy choices, none of which answered the question people had in their mind (would changing the index make the sport better, if so what should we change it to).
• There was no open-ended option ("tell us what you think"), so the answers were open to only NHRA's interpretation.
• In the end, most I know, said "keep it the same" just because it was easiest.
• And finally NHRA never formally acknowledged the poll, or the results. No publicity before, no formal documentation of the results.

If this was the key example of NHRA reaching out to the membership to get input, it was an abject failure. NHRA needs to consult with people who know how to do this kind of thing, and not just toss pooh over the wall, and see what happens. And CERTAINLY not assume the results mean anything other than "see, we told you so", which is the childish response you're giving us now.

BTW, a 40% response rate is awesome. You'd have people dancing in the halls in most market research companies if they got that kind of return.

 

[BigDaddyB]

Alan, that was a pathetic poll, and is a terrible example.

• It was sent with no warning whatsoever, just suddenly showed up in the mailbox.
• It was sent to email addresses that weren't necessarily active (I know many who said they never saw it, others who said it went to an old unused address), and since there was no history of regular NHRA communication on that channel many ignored it.
• It came from a "west coast guy" which had most of the people in the east questioning the motivation (check out the threads on Class Race or YB, for example).
• It had minimal preamble ("This is what this poll is about, this is who's asking, this is what it will be used for, this is why your vote matters"), so no one knew what the point was.
• The poll itself was terrible, that asked one poorly worded question and offered three crappy choices, none of which answered the question people had in their mind (would changing the index make the sport better, if so what should we change it to).
• There was no open-ended option ("tell us what you think"), so the answers were open to only NHRA's interpretation.
• In the end, most I know, said "keep it the same" just because it was easiest.
• And finally NHRA never formally acknowledged the poll, or the results. No publicity before, no formal documentation of the results.

If this was the key example of NHRA reaching out to the membership to get input, it was an abject failure. NHRA needs to consult with people who know how to do this kind of thing, and not just toss pooh over the wall, and see what happens. And CERTAINLY not assume the results mean anything other than "see, we told you so", which is the childish response you're giving us now.

BTW, a 40% response rate is awesome. You'd have people dancing in the halls in most market research companies if they got that kind of return.

Alan, Alan

Why can't be a little bit more straight up about what we offer as good intentions on making the NHRA the best organization in drag racing. You only make it hard to accept the stuff that comes out of Glendora.

 

[clwill]

Further to the survey, it was not clear who got it. I am a licensed SC racer, I did not get one. Neither did dozens of others (again check forums that racers frequent).

In an effort to understand who did get it, I checked with my division office, they told me you had to race at a national event to get one. Then I was told, no, just a divisional. Then, wait, no, any active license, you didn't have to been at a race. So I checked my email address with them, it is correct, but I've never seen a single email from NHRA, including my license expiration email, which I'm told I should see.

I'm guessing an email with little more than "Dear Racer" and a link hit many people's spam filter.

But my daughter who races did get one. She forwarded to me. So I answered it for her. So much for "this link is uniquely tied to your email address", it never asked me to prove anything.

In short, this survey was a disaster. And NHRA should conclude precisely nothing from it. Except perhaps that they need to oil up the rusty mechanism that gets feedback from its membership...

 

[Raconteur]

I'm guessing an email with little more than "Dear Racer" and a link hit many people's spam filter.

I got one of those surveys, have never driven at a National Event or Divisional Event, crewed at both, but have been a member of NHRA for over 25 years.

So, what?

 

[clwill]

I got one of those surveys, have never driven at a National Event or Divisional Event, crewed at both, but have been a member of NHRA for over 25 years.

So, what?

So that makes it even worse, is "so what". Who did they ask?

 

[BigDaddyB]

I got one of those surveys, have never driven at a National Event or Divisional Event, crewed at both, but have been a member of NHRA for over 25 years.

So, what?

Darr,
The question is will the letter given to the IRS will hurt the NHRA. Yes it will because you see in this forum a person has postulated that the NHRA conducted a survey of its competitors. The results showed that a masjority of the competitors were happy campers.

Their position is that there are some troublemakers in this forum who would not like to see a better NHRA. My position is this, the NHRA has not been transparent enough to conduct a survey, post the results of said survey, and make the members aware of their conclusions about said survey. If you can't have creditability and accuracy then what you have is conjecture and misinformation. If you can't a take survey an do the thing right it only leads me to believe that there other things that have been half a___ done.

 

[none]

O.K. You guys are right, that was not the best example. Sorry but the results were published.

I still contend that there are a few who are complaining loudly, and most are happily staying silent.

Alan

 

[none]

Alan, Alan

Why can't be a little bit more straight up about what we offer as good intentions on making the NHRA the best organization in drag racing. You only make it hard to accept the stuff that comes out of Glendora.

Bruce,

I love a good discussion or debate, but please don't talk to me like I am three years old.

btw Are you an NHRA member?

Alan

 

[clwill]

O.K. You guys are right, that was not the best example. Sorry but the results were published.

I still contend that there are a few who are complaining loudly, and most are happily staying silent.

I apologize, I do see the results were "published" with a small blurb on the NHRA web site (NHRA Story » NHRA Super-class poll results released). Maybe they could have sent the same message BACK to the list of people they sent the survey to? Pushed it out on the twitter feed? Facebook page? Had you or a PR guy come here and put it out? Rather than bury it on the news section of the web site?

Interesting to note that, despite what you insist Alan, the majority of Super Comp racers voted for a change in the index (55%), they just didn't agree on what to change it to. But because the questionnaire was so terse, that got lost, and the NHRA could shout "see everybody's happy".

 

[none]

Christopher,

I'm sure that you can find fault with whatever NHRA does. And I admit that I don't think they do everything exactly right. I hope you would agree that everything they do is not wrong either. Or maybe you think it is.

So let me put your own question to you. How would you change Super Comp? I'm being serious. You say NHRA should have asked the open ended question. I'm sure you have seen the results when that has happened before.

I may be wrong but, my understanding is that the sportsman advisory council made the determination on the question before it was sent out. I do know that they were heavily involved in the process. But if you posted on any site “How would you change SC?” do you really believe that you could get a consensus? Without limiting the options?

Alan