Video discussing red flags for NHRA

[GumbyWVU]

I guess we'll never really know about how much attendance has declined (or on what days) since official numbers never have and likely never will be released. Too bad.

 

[Mike]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned how little the manufacturer's midway has to offer nowadays.

I got a free bag of Mission chips though. They were tasty.

 

[mike]

I got a free bag of Mission chips though. They were tasty.

Forty years ago you needed a wheelbarrow to go through the midway -nhra chased by greed all the mfgs.-- away also still paying racer same payouts. But The board still get their raises every year

 

[glofria]

The NHRA Board of Directors and top management have to change. You have
six of drag racing's greatest promoters and entreprenuers held at arm's length.
Don Garlits, Don Prudhomme, Connie Kalitta, Kenny Bernstein, Terry Vance and John Force need to be involved in
NHRA's management, either as Board of Directors or upper management. These guys
were problem solvers and happily thought outside the box. They know how to build successful
organizations. Also, poor performance was never tolerated. Sadly, no NHRA "member" is allowed
a say in management decisions or who will lead their organization.
Bill Bader would make a wonderful, feet on the ground, chief executive.

Most of these names are over 80 years-old if not all of them. Don't think they'd be interested in getting involved. Those of them who do stay active are most likely are happy with what they have on their plate now and can easily step away from it if they so choose.

I watched the video last night and there were some valid points being made; he mentioned that NHRA is a non-profit. It is not. It is a not-for-profit org. The difference is that NHRA has memberships like the Knights of Columbus does.

The spiral has been happening for years now, and like a lot of ventures, has been accelerated by the COVID years. Time to step out of the box and try something new. Otherwise, this is what they teach in business school: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icarus_paradox

 

[Litefoot]

I agree with what you say about the age gap. I do think there are things NHRA could do to get their product into the eyes of the younger crowd. NPK did it. I don’t know what they did but their crowd was much younger than NHRA.

The downtime is a big issue too. During eliminations, the crowd empties during pro stock. The 8-15 minutes of track prep runs the non hardcore fans away. We can’t avoid the prep needed after an incident but if they could shorten up the time between classes that would certainly help.

If I was in charge of NHRA, I would have more night racing where possible. In the past few years, we see a decrease in crowds during eliminations. Friday seems to get good crowds especially when there is a night session. I would have two sessions on Friday with one of them being a night session. On Saturday I would either cut it to one session and first round or have two qualifying sessions during the day but run nitro first round on Saturday night. On Sunday there would only be three rounds of nitro and it could conceivably be a four hour show. A spectator could see second round at 11am, semi’s at 1 and finals at 2:45. Bring the family out and it’s completed in 4 hours. I also see no reason that they couldn’t have a warm weather race run qualifying Thursday and Friday with finals Saturday evening. A tight 4 hour nitro show would work for live TV.

While this isn’t a fix for every race since weather, curfew and lighting wouldn’t always make it possible. I just don’t understand why NHRA has the Sunday day eliminations for every race. I know “PRO” wouldn’t necessarily agree with my ideas, they need to do something to get more eyeballs on the sport.

Interesting thoughts

 

[Litefoot]

Forty years ago you needed a wheelbarrow to go through the midway -nhra chased by greed all the mfgs.-- away also still paying racer same payouts. But The board still get their raises every year

And Bentleys

 

[none]

I agree with what you say about the age gap. I do think there are things NHRA could do to get their product into the eyes of the younger crowd. NPK did it. I don’t know what they did but their crowd was much younger than NHRA.

The downtime is a big issue too. During eliminations, the crowd empties during pro stock. The 8-15 minutes of track prep runs the non hardcore fans away. We can’t avoid the prep needed after an incident but if they could shorten up the time between classes that would certainly help.

If I was in charge of NHRA, I would have more night racing where possible. In the past few years, we see a decrease in crowds during eliminations. Friday seems to get good crowds especially when there is a night session. I would have two sessions on Friday with one of them being a night session. On Saturday I would either cut it to one session and first round or have two qualifying sessions during the day but run nitro first round on Saturday night. On Sunday there would only be three rounds of nitro and it could conceivably be a four hour show. A spectator could see second round at 11am, semi’s at 1 and finals at 2:45. Bring the family out and it’s completed in 4 hours. I also see no reason that they couldn’t have a warm weather race run qualifying Thursday and Friday with finals Saturday evening. A tight 4 hour nitro show would work for live TV.

While this isn’t a fix for every race since weather, curfew and lighting wouldn’t always make it possible. I just don’t understand why NHRA has the Sunday day eliminations for every race. I know “PRO” wouldn’t necessarily agree with my ideas, they need to do something to get more eyeballs on the sport.

Chris,

Not arguing, just discussing. The 1st round Saturday conversation has been had for many years. Here's the issue. Let's say Antron Brown is your guy. You either bought tickets or you are a MATCO dealer and you're coming out with your kid to root for Antron, and hopefully get a picture and autograph. Antron lost 1st round Saturday and won't be racing Sunday. Are youy still coming? He might not even be there at the track.

Many of the Pro drivers are not great spectators, and once they get beat, don't stay all day. You would be surprised how many times over the years a Pro racer would text me: "Who won?" because they left after getting beat.

I do agree that there's too much down time, and think there's a solution to that. But I'm not the guy who decides those things. Thought for a minute I might be, turns out No!

Alan

 

[none]

And Bentleys

Which NHRA executive has one of those?

Alan

 

[mick]

speaking of mfg'rs midway, i'm always amazed every year at BIR milwaukee tools has a huge display with stuff for sale,
that almost all fans can't help but walking right by it, yet i'm not aware of an involvement in the sport? who allows this?
does lucas oil allow it? i mean, are there tool mfg'rs other than cornwell tools that had displays of products for sale at indy?

 

[camaro]

Chris,

Not arguing, just discussing. The 1st round Saturday conversation has been had for many years. Here's the issue. Let's say Antron Brown is your guy. You either bought tickets or you are a MATCO dealer and you're coming out with your kid to root for Antron, and hopefully get a picture and autograph. Antron lost 1st round Saturday and won't be racing Sunday. Are youy still coming? He might not even be there at the track.

Many of the Pro drivers are not great spectators, and once they get beat, don't stay all day. You would be surprised how many times over the years a Pro racer would text me: "Who won?" because they left after getting beat.

I do agree that there's too much down time, and think there's a solution to that. But I'm not the guy who decides those things. Thought for a minute I might be, turns out No!

Alan

When are you gonna launch a Podcast? you have a vast amount of knowledge and know just about everyone in the sport, who i'm sure would patronize you as guest. At this point, there are more podcast, these days than people who listen to them, but i figure they are very inexpensive to start and most of all, i think, now that u are not married to any organization, u have the ability to unbiased reporting and opinions? just wondering!

 

[Litefoot]

Which NHRA executive has one of those?

Alan

Didn’t someone at NHRA have one of those in not to distant past

 

[none]

Didn’t someone at NHRA have one of those in not to distant past

Nope.
Alan

 

[Chili]

Chris,

Not arguing, just discussing. The 1st round Saturday conversation has been had for many years. Here's the issue. Let's say Antron Brown is your guy. You either bought tickets or you are a MATCO dealer and you're coming out with your kid to root for Antron, and hopefully get a picture and autograph. Antron lost 1st round Saturday and won't be racing Sunday. Are youy still coming? He might not even be there at the track.

Many of the Pro drivers are not great spectators, and once they get beat, don't stay all day. You would be surprised how many times over the years a Pro racer would text me: "Who won?" because they left after getting beat.

I do agree that there's too much down time, and think there's a solution to that. But I'm not the guy who decides those things. Thought for a minute I might be, turns out No!

Alan

I understand your point on drivers and teams being eliminated early from an event. Maybe they should come out Saturday instead! . I like a good discussion especially somebody with your insight and inside knowledge from all the years working with NHRA. I love NHRA and want it to thrive. I found myself leaving the stands during PS and PSB qualifying this past weekend so I could walk the pits. I was way more interest in PM and Alky eliminations than a PS session during the heat of the day.

I would love the hear your thoughts on how to lessen the downtime during an event if you were in charge. Track prep while necessary so see the performance and safety that we expect, slows down the flow of the show. I have no answers and NHRA has tried to fill the void with Jason Logan and others to keep the fans entertained. While I don’t mind it, most people leave the stands and don’t return until nitro comes back.

I do think one of drag racings biggest issues is the length of the show. Now I don’t want to see 8 car fields or less classes but I think the general fan does or wouldn’t even notice. I just wish NHRA would try some different things to see what works better. Yes it might keep some spectators from coming certain days but I don’t know if it would hurt the overall numbers. I think the diehards would still go all 3 days. I think it could boost the Saturday crowd because there is more racing to see and most don’t have to work on Sunday so an evening first round would work great. I think the current 6-7 hour finals does keep some away. Cutting it down to 4 would allow fans that travel 3-4 hours away a chance to get back home for work on Monday without being exhausted. If the race ended by 3pm I would feel comfortable booking that 7pm or later flight out on Sunday night.

 

[ironpony]

With the last 2 events at National Trail, Darana, Friday qualifying and Saturday finals is kinda nice. At events with a few hour drive it would be nice to get home Sat night and chill Sunday before going back to work. Although I am retired so it doesn't matter anymore.

 

[n/a]

I attended Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and while I experienced a lot of pros and few cons, I’d like to mention a few things that I came home with.

First off, the pros since there were too many to list, but here’s a couple;

• Impressive facility
• The weather was an anomaly (no humidity and upper 70’s)
• Not a single oil down in 3 days
• Good people everywhere
• 10 minutes of informative conversation with fellow mater and “clutch can expert” Tony Smith
• So many many more !!!!!

Secondly, the cons;

• $77 entry fee per day (a surprise I was not expecting)
• Loud speaker system was just a nuisance (needed ear protection just for that)
• Food prices, $10 for a small corn dog and $8 for a single slice of pizza ($15 for a 16oz beer, glad I do not drink)
• Cigarette smoke (disgusting)
• The idle time between the 3rd and final round of nitro (they board us to death for over a half hour giving a tool box away to a lucky sportsman winner)
• Bathrooms and port-a-potty (at least pump the porta’s out each day so they do not fill up)
• The right lane went away for the last round of nitro

Ok, flame away folks.............................

 

[Litefoot]

Nope.
Alan

My bad Alan, thanks for facts,

 

[Mike]

Mark Jones, so what if someone at NHRA drove a Bentley??

 

[Litefoot]

Mark Jones, so what if someone at NHRA drove a Bentley??

Mike, I have felt that the NHRA brass have lost touch with Wally parks vision for racing, lost connection with the racers and more concerned with their pay check, not a good way to say that, not fair to that manufacturer as a example, that said I still hope for the NHRA to find a way to grow in the future

 

[BOO BOO]

"Racing Jack" His latest name , is nothing more than a internet creeper who post stuff just to try to get clicks. Don't fall for this guys BS , he's burned a lot of bridges during his short time on the internet.. Delete , Delete, Delete

 

[Mike]

I understand your point on drivers and teams being eliminated early from an event. Maybe they should come out Saturday instead! .

I do think one of drag racings biggest issues is the length of the show. Now I don’t want to see 8 car fields or less classes but I think the general fan does or wouldn’t even notice. I just wish NHRA would try some different things to see what works better.

How about running the race on Saturday night? I get tired of the reply "...but about the back gate?" What about it? There is no reason a Friday-Sunday race couldn't be Thursday-Saturday.

They could still have sportsmen. Run 2 rounds of pro quals Friday, one mid-morning Saturday before it gets too hot, and do R1 at 6pm.
This may not work in the fall when going against college football, but t ciuld be an option in spring and summer races.