Don't get wrong their a few people out there are in tune with the members Jeg's, Roger Brogdon, and maybe some others I have not mentioned. But bottom line is that we pay the salaries of those people who chose to ignore, and say to us take it or leave it, well if that is we as members and consumers need to make some choices. The choices we have may be distasteful but if we don't draw a line in sand it can only get worse.
Nitromater
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NHRA being Investigated by the IRS
- Thread starter SundayNiagara
- Start date
none
Nitro Member
I agree Bruce. There is hope but it is like herding cats.....
Someone mentioned PRO earlier. They have a hard time agreeing on anything and they don't seem to realize they are the show. A few years back, NHRA added an extra race. No discussion. The perfect oppurtunity presented itself. Don't show up for the race and take back some of the power.......never happened.
And as long as corporate America is driven ONLY by the bottom line and consumers all act like ADD victims, nothing will change.
clwill
Nitro Member
I've often wondered this same thing, but with the traveling circus schedule it only shows up near you once a year. If you're a local racer who wants to race a national event, many of us only have one chance a year to do that...
Chris I totally agree, We have to make the choice or settle for status quo. It's a hard thing to tell sponsors hey I'm standing principle to get the right thing done in the organization I belong to, but where do we start, the "PRO" s
are satisfied with deal. I guarantee this though if the circus comes to town and there is noboby there to watch they'll be on a soapbox sooner than the horse left the barn. I guess what I'm saying is that me and you believe that getting that car to turn a go number by mechanical know how, ingenuity, innovation, experience, and pure will is drag racing. Blowing a motor up every other round, poring money down the dry hole is not drag racing.
are satisfied with deal. I guarantee this though if the circus comes to town and there is noboby there to watch they'll be on a soapbox sooner than the horse left the barn. I guess what I'm saying is that me and you believe that getting that car to turn a go number by mechanical know how, ingenuity, innovation, experience, and pure will is drag racing. Blowing a motor up every other round, poring money down the dry hole is not drag racing.
Paul
Nitro Member
Jon, I agree with you 100% that the NHRA is behaving in the manner you summarized above. They are acting as though they privately own the NHRA and they put their own interests at the top priority.
But the NHRA isn't a privately held company and whether they like it or not, they must conform to the rules that bind a 501(c)6 non-profit.
Maybe they are smart enough to have figured out how to skirt these rules and run the NHRA like a private company, ie eliminate all member input, fully control their own salaries and hiring procedures, etc.
But they don't strike me as the brainiest guys in the world and it appears to me that the approach they took to fullly control the NHRA has some serious cracks in its foundation.
Who knows if this IRS letter will cause anyone to take a hard look at these "cracks", I guess we'll find out.
As you've pointed out to me in the past, an additional serious factor is the general apathy of the majority of NHRA members towards any proposed efforts to force a restructuring of the NHRA.
There is a subset of indivduals that care a lot about this situation but most members don't give a poop, or don't think they could do anything about it. This is the one area I give the current NHRA board a lot of credit on.
Through their actions and attitudes, they've done a great job over the years of making members assume that there were some bodies behind a curtain somewhere that actually owned the NHRA, and these bodies were empowering the current board to do anything they wanted.
What's funny is that the bodies behind the curtain are actually ourselves, the members, we are empowering the current board members with our silence, and as you previously pointed out, our naivete'.
I believe with a coordinated effort the members could regain voting control of the NHRA as was originally intended and mandated, but the general member apathy and numbness to the situation makes this a difficult goal.
Tim5636sc
Nitro Member
Just a thought here....
But what if the current incarnation of the NHRA ceased to exist and perhaps split into two different organizations:
1) THE SHOW
2) THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH PROMOTES SPORTSMAN LEVEL DRAG RACING?
I know this was the premise of the original HD Partners sale....but could the concept work? And if so, what would it take to make it a reality?
But what if the current incarnation of the NHRA ceased to exist and perhaps split into two different organizations:
1) THE SHOW
2) THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH PROMOTES SPORTSMAN LEVEL DRAG RACING?
I know this was the premise of the original HD Partners sale....but could the concept work? And if so, what would it take to make it a reality?
Paul I totally agree with your thoughts on this situation with NHRA. I'm fully behind what efforts restore membership control of the NHRA. Now there might be a lot of non racers that are members but the competitors that support this organization should ban together an by letter writing, mass mailings, just simply at the Winternationals stand up sya we aren't taking the bs anymore.
Joe if your correct then is there way to make them give the members a financial accounting the funds utizided to run NHRA. Now maybe I'm wrong or misinformed but the members be given a financial report annually. All I have seen wasw tax returns on the web. Who says there aren't cooking the books.
mick
Nitro Member
IMO pro mods and their assorted classes are the most unique high horsepower
spectacle to happen to drag racing in about the last two decades; they
belong as a pro class, their entertainment value is almost as strong as
nitro fc and tf, the same as the alcohol classes and more than pro stock
and pro stock bike..........nhra would do well to get on their bandwagon
before other series feature them, spikes their attendance weaning more
away from the nhra.
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I agree that there are a number of NHRA "members" who take an active interest in their sport and how it's run. But please, people, get a grip. The odds on orchestrating any kind of boycott is ludicrous.
If the professionals can't get themselves organized enough to hold fast on a single issue (Perhaps you may remember how they folded after the 3-Wide race in Charlotte after loudly proclaiming they'd never do it again? Hmmmm?), then why would you possibly think Sportsman sitting out a national event will work? There are a helluva lot more Sportsman to convince, organize and "police" to make sure they don't show up, and personally, I don't see anything like that happening. Ever.
I do think it's possible to bring about SOME changes to NHRA. The trick is in:
1. Finding an executive who will actually listen to your problem and then fight for you.
2. Being able to explain your complaint/problem without losing your self-control to the point where you start shouting incoherently.
3. Finally, focusing in on what's really a minor problem, because you're not going to bring about major changes.
When it come to making a dent in the corporate world there's nothing like the written word. If you've decided a corporation, or maybe NHRA, is doing something you don't agree with you can certainly boycott an event or a corporation's products, but unless you write and tell them that, they won't know and won't care. In theory, at least, if enough people write to NHRA and say, "I'm not going to the Winternationals because..." maybe someone will pay attention.
Jon Asher
If the professionals can't get themselves organized enough to hold fast on a single issue (Perhaps you may remember how they folded after the 3-Wide race in Charlotte after loudly proclaiming they'd never do it again? Hmmmm?), then why would you possibly think Sportsman sitting out a national event will work? There are a helluva lot more Sportsman to convince, organize and "police" to make sure they don't show up, and personally, I don't see anything like that happening. Ever.
I do think it's possible to bring about SOME changes to NHRA. The trick is in:
1. Finding an executive who will actually listen to your problem and then fight for you.
2. Being able to explain your complaint/problem without losing your self-control to the point where you start shouting incoherently.
3. Finally, focusing in on what's really a minor problem, because you're not going to bring about major changes.
When it come to making a dent in the corporate world there's nothing like the written word. If you've decided a corporation, or maybe NHRA, is doing something you don't agree with you can certainly boycott an event or a corporation's products, but unless you write and tell them that, they won't know and won't care. In theory, at least, if enough people write to NHRA and say, "I'm not going to the Winternationals because..." maybe someone will pay attention.
Jon Asher
Von Halen
Nitro Member
I totally agree with Mike about the Pro Mods. It is ludicrous that these morons haven't been able to figure out how to incorporate them into every event. Oh wait, maybe they can't afford to add them. 
Whether anyone wants to believe it or not, those Pro Mods are a major attraction.
This regime, in my opinion, is not doing what it takes to bring people to the races. They are pushing out the longtime fans like myself, and aren't doing a very good job of replacing me. I haven't been to a race since the last 1/4 mile race at Norwalk a few years ago. I don't anticipate going back anytime soon. If they did something like bring the Pro Mods out full time, I might have to reconsider. As it stands now, I doubt I'll ever go back. I refuse to contribute one red cent to those outrageous salaries.
Whether anyone wants to believe it or not, those Pro Mods are a major attraction.This regime, in my opinion, is not doing what it takes to bring people to the races. They are pushing out the longtime fans like myself, and aren't doing a very good job of replacing me. I haven't been to a race since the last 1/4 mile race at Norwalk a few years ago. I don't anticipate going back anytime soon. If they did something like bring the Pro Mods out full time, I might have to reconsider. As it stands now, I doubt I'll ever go back. I refuse to contribute one red cent to those outrageous salaries.
mick
Nitro Member
the salaries of the nhra board do not bother me one bit.
they have a responsibility to run the nhra to the best of their ability
and are paid accordingly; they will make some mistakes along the way.
they also have individual responsibilities to look out for numero uno with
retirement on the horizon........there's not one of us that is any different.
good for all of them to have achieved their positions.
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Jon I agree with putting them on notice that we members are not happy is a good idea. You know Jon you'll surprise at what people can do when pushed to limit of common sense. Now I read that there are 35,000 license out in the membership. I be prepared to offer that the most 3500 race on a regular basis in National events, Our audience has been brought down to a manageable level to influence. For PRO's they back down on one account because Bruton Smith was reported to displease with their response and would re-evaluate is involvement in drag racing. Whether that was true or not it was enough make PRO run off with theeir tails between the legs. The is a quote and might not say right but when good men do nothing evil is able to prevail.
What is this we can provide monies for to retire on that they did not take care while they were working. One of the is the ex president of NHRA who got paid over $600 a year. Man, legalized theft should be a crime.
Tim5636sc
Nitro Member
Well, If I had my wish and could make a "SHOW" organization I would include:
- Top Fuel
- Funny Car
- Pro Stock
- Pro Mod
- Nostalgia Funny Car
Then these classes would alternate at Events...
- Pro Bike
- TAD
- TAFC
- Top Sportsman
- Top Dragster
Everything else should fall under the banner of the National Hot Rod Association. GRASS ROOTS RACING where Comp Elim is your quickest category and is highlighted due to the extreme engineering involved here.
Classes like Stock, Super Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Brackets are also highlighted. Having special events such as car shows, technical and manufacture midways, law enforcement driver safety training and education programs is what I see as the "MISSION" of a not-for-profit NHRA. Seems to me this is how it started and why the NHRA received the original NOT-FOR-PROFIT status.
I know i'm dreaming here, but what would it take to make it a reality?
