Nitromater
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NHRA Laying off some people??
- Thread starter Toejam
- Start date
HEMI6point1
Nitro Member
Let's hope it's Compton.
Bobby Bennett
Nitro Member
luxexpress
Nitro Member
Randy
Nitro Member
Sponsorships for one thing. No more shootouts, ie Big Bud Shootout, etc. All money makers for the NHRA.
They don't seem to understand the basics of operating in this economy; that if you charge less, you will make more. I'd rather have standing room only at $15 or $20 a head, than a mediocre crowd at $55 to $60. It's really not rocket science. Let them in for less than half what you're charging now and you'll sell more shirts (which NHRA gets about 40% of), you sell more $7 corn dogs, and you may actually have a big enough crowd that may make it worth while for someone to step up and fill the sponsorship gaps.
Obviously.... They dont understand either...
MIKE LARSON: What sources of income are down? All of them! The spectator turnout at Charlotte was abysmal, and Virginia was no better. And inclement weather has negatively impacted numerous NHRA races.
Entry fees are also down despite NHRA’s gouging of the sportsman racers with higher fees. Just look at the national event sportsman racer turnouts. They’re down.
Sponsor fees are also markedly down because NHRA has been unable to sell reasonably priced programs like the Funny Car Showdown and Top Fuel Classic. Those programs generated good fees for NHRA.
And my sources also report that total NHRA “membership” is in decline because, probably, of the economy. People can’t afford the price of National Dragster unless they’re truly hard core.
JOE SHERWOOD: This guy would know about spectator turnouts because he’s a hard core, knowledgeable fan who attends numerous races. He sees it from the grandstands and in the pits, and is in a good position to know.
GREG DUFFIELD: Great concept, but you’re telling it to people totally hooked on the almighty dollar, particularly when it comes to themselves.
And have you seen the announcement from IHRA? They may survive short term, but they are over in terms of being a legitimate racing organization.
By the way, a total of 18 full time and contract employees were aced yesterday.
Funny, I keep waiting for announcement that Compton, Gardner, et.al. are lowering their own compensation rates…
Oh, how naïve I am!
Jon Asher
Entry fees are also down despite NHRA’s gouging of the sportsman racers with higher fees. Just look at the national event sportsman racer turnouts. They’re down.
Sponsor fees are also markedly down because NHRA has been unable to sell reasonably priced programs like the Funny Car Showdown and Top Fuel Classic. Those programs generated good fees for NHRA.
And my sources also report that total NHRA “membership” is in decline because, probably, of the economy. People can’t afford the price of National Dragster unless they’re truly hard core.
JOE SHERWOOD: This guy would know about spectator turnouts because he’s a hard core, knowledgeable fan who attends numerous races. He sees it from the grandstands and in the pits, and is in a good position to know.
GREG DUFFIELD: Great concept, but you’re telling it to people totally hooked on the almighty dollar, particularly when it comes to themselves.
And have you seen the announcement from IHRA? They may survive short term, but they are over in terms of being a legitimate racing organization.
By the way, a total of 18 full time and contract employees were aced yesterday.
Funny, I keep waiting for announcement that Compton, Gardner, et.al. are lowering their own compensation rates…
Oh, how naïve I am!
Jon Asher
Bill
Nitro Member
A few months ago, Compton announced that EVERYBODY at NHRA was subject to a 10-percent pay cut, IMMEDIATELY...
That means he's been attempting to survive in this economy, on only about $630,000 a year... poor baby...
And you expect him to suffer yet ANOTHER CUT????
HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
That means he's been attempting to survive in this economy, on only about $630,000 a year... poor baby...
And you expect him to suffer yet ANOTHER CUT????
HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
my friends call me Zappy
Nitro Member
BULLS EYE Greg.
I hate to see anyone loose a job, but, if nhra want to save $$ get rid of team powerade, (what an embarrassment)
Oh, I'm under no delusion as to how they think in regards to money. It's not just in the NHRA either, but it seems like the more money people make the dumber they get. I guess they get so blinded by greed and their own needs that they lose sight of the big picture.
Yeah, in my opinion the IHRA deal is done. I know this isn't an IHRA thread, but they would have been better off shedding the Nitro program altogether for a few years and just maintained their focus on door slammer / sportsman racing which would be more cost effective and probably relieve some of their cash outflow. The vast majority of IHRA tracks don't host national events anyway, so they would have still maintained that income just maintaining those memberships and running their divisionals. Instead of making wholesale changes that seem ridiculous when you first look at them, they could have maintained some semblance of credibility as a legitimate sanctioning body. It's just a matter of stepping back for a spell and making sure you survive during these times. Now it just seems like it's going to be a circus. Again, just my opinion.
A few months ago, Compton announced that EVERYBODY at NHRA was subject to a 10-percent pay cut, IMMEDIATELY...
That means he's been attempting to survive in this economy, on only about $630,000 a year... poor baby...
And you expect him to suffer yet ANOTHER CUT????
HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
I know you are venting on Compton here Bill ... This is not really a joking matter. Virtually every fulltime employee of NHRA was hit with a 10% pay cut (unless they were let go) which has been in place almost a year now. You may not know how widespread this was. Start with National Event fulltimers from Marketing, Tech Services, National Dragster, Safety Safari, etc. Throw in all 7 Division Directors, all 7 Division Tech Directors and any full time support staff. These people all have families and bills to pay just like we do. These people know what Tom Compton makes, but they also know he is the Boss. It is that way all around us no matter what type of business it is. Would you storm into your bosses office and ask what sacrifice he might be making during these hard times? My answer would be NO, but maybe you like living on the edge.Most people here don't seem to want to admit that NHRA is a business first and foremost. Get over it, the low buck days are gone and over. This is a big boys game now not the recreational sport it started as. it is called evolution. Executive level leaders are compensated in a manner that reflects thier status within that Business not outsider personal feelings. Compton is probably under paid when compared to Presidents of other companies of a similar size/stature.
I work for a company that sponsors a Sprint Cup team (Hint #16). Last year when they announced no raises for ALL salaried employees, I was angry but I understood the economics of the WHOLE situation and I still had my job. The first thing many of my colleagues argued was that if the company can afford 10's of millions of $$ to sponsor a race car and title rights to a race, what about raises. Not me. By the way ... we also handed all customers a 4% across the board price increase this past July. You don't necessarily get through tough times by slashing income sources. It is typically done by cutting / controlling COST. The unfortunate part is that usually that means jobs first, then you control indirect spending next. It is how our Economic system works.
As somebody said earlier in this thread, do you like the new IHRA? Basically a glorified touring show now just like monster trucks and the WWE. Let NHRA take its course ... it is not going anywhere, it just has to weather a tough time like the rest of us.
In turn, all of us should be respectful of the many who have had to make real financial sacrifices to operate this sport instead of trying to convince others you as a fan have made some great sacrifice. A great boss I had some time ago told me ... "You will never be successful if you spend your time sweating details you have no control over. Doing so, will just mark you as a complainer, but things will still be the same when you come back tomorrow."
mw6789
Nitro Member
I would say all of the above. When you are struggling to make house payments, entering or attending an NHRA event would be low on the list of priorities. As someone stated earlier on another thread, I am afraid we havent seen the worst of it yet--regardless of what the Obamanomics spin masters spew out.
