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1/8/04
Wondering already
in the new year
Just Wondering ... Am I the only
old geezer that occasionally gets a pretty good buzz going,
puts one of Steve Evan's "Be There" tapes into the stereo,
opens a cold one, closes his eyes and takes a trip back in
time to "the good old days." If you haven't tried it yet I
suggest it as a belated Christmas present to yourself.
Just Wondering ... How come Angelle Savois got so
much help from the NHRA publicity department (deservedly
so) and Reggie Showers seems to be getting only the minimum?
Just what are the criteria for getting support from the
NHRA PR arm when a successful, popular racer needs help
getting a sponsorship?
Just Wondering ... Am I the only one who sees a
similarity between the "show" at import drag races (i.e.
bikini contests, stereo sound contests, car shows, neon
lights, keg parties) and what used to go on at "Van- ins"
during the Sixties? Funny thing is despite that drag racing
was a small part of both of these events, hard-core mags
like Hot Rod, PHR and even SS&DI gave the van parties coverage
in their pages.
Just Wondering ... What's up with the "downsizing"
at NHRA? First they downsize the number of national events
for alky cars, then the Pro Stock Truck class goes. They've
let staff go in the marketing and publicity departments,
National Dragster and the race support staff. They've even
"downsized" the National Dragster magazine itself. They
have told the Pro teams that there will be at least a two-year
freeze on purses. Yet the party line is that NHRA is "financially
sound." Something just doesn't add up here. This doesn't
add up considering the fact that NHRA is re-paving the Gainesville
surface to half-track and adding a lot of other improvements.
Just Wondering ... Why is it that most sanctioning
bodies want everyone on the staff to dress alike? Isn't
drag racing all about individualism? I'll bet there are
a lot of officials and employees at drag racing national
events that would just as soon be less recognizable more
often that not.
Just Wondering ... Instead of wasting the time and
money they are litigating the Pro Stock Truck fiasco, why
don't the parties involved get together in a smoky room
and resolve this problem -- and quit damaging the sport
they all claim to love?
Just Wondering ... Do the ex-Pro Stock Truck racers
that are suing NHRA -- and as a result harming racers who
had nothing to do with that fiasco -- really want to go
down in drag racing history with the same stigma attached
to their reputation that Top Fuel racer Herm Petersen has?
Just Wondering ... Am I the only one who just doesn't
care anymore who drives for John Force in 2004?
Just Wondering ... Why doesn't NHRA follow the IHRA's
lead in trying to find rides in the Pro classes for young
drivers, drivers that the Gen-X and Gen-Y consumers and
advertisers can relate to and get behind?
Just Wondering ... Why is it that NHRA apparently
is intent on competing with their racers for apparel and
souvenir sales? Drag racing fans generally don't buy trash
and treasure branded with the sanctioning body's logo; they
want stuff with their hero's face or car emblazoned on it.
If NHRA won't give the pros a raise how about letting them
make more money on apparel and NHRA still keeps getting
their 20 percent.
Just Wondering ... Why doesn't NHRA let some of
the higher profile sportsman racers like Frank Manzo, David
Rampy or Ashley Force have a trailer on the Midway where
fans can buy souvenirs from their favorite sportsman stars?
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