I have tried to cover a lot of different subjects during this racing season. The one that got the most notice was the contingency controversy, followed closely by the track insurance articles. This month I will update those two subjects and share a few more ideas and opinions on where our sport has been and is going.

CONTINGENCY

The contingency articles got everyone from IHRA, NHRA and the manufacturers all worked up. What I did was tell you, our loyal readers, what my personal experiences were on collecting the contingency money I had earned and was owed for from an IHRA Holley Sportsman race in Quick Rod. I named the companies that paid promptly, slowly and in some cases not at all. Then all sorts of racers wrote to me about their problems concerning contingency payments.

To make a long story short, there was a major problem when it came to racers getting paid for their contingency decals they displayed. I got hundreds of emails and several letters directly from IHRA, NHRA and the manufacturers who posted the contingency awards. The bottom line was IHRA, NHRA and several manufacturers agreed there were problems. Everyone involved told me about plans to improve methods of product verification, time involved to get checks issued, etc, etc.

Well, as luck would have it for this racer/editorialist, I won an IHRA National event in May, 2002. Here is what I found out about the "new ideas", the "improved plans." In most cases I received my payments much slower than in 2001. Could it be because I brought this "sensitive subject" out in the open? I don't think so. I am still owed contingency winnings of $600 from one company. They have the serial numbers of the two products I use and I have sent pictures of the car in the winner's circle displaying their decals. Why haven't they paid? I have no idea.

Six other companies took in excess of 90 days to make their payments. Sure, it is nice to get paid, but since I earned it and they got the benefit of the exposure of being on a winning car they should pay a lot faster.

I think there are a few reasons for slow payments that can be linked back to two basic problems:
1. Getting the verification forms filled out at the event by the IHRA or NHRA officials and put in order and sent out in a timely fashion to the manufacturers so they can make payment.
2. Racers claiming products they don't use but because they displayed the decal they expect payment. This means the manufacturer has to spend up to four times the time getting everything straightened out. Actually, if you don't have the products and especially if you don't display the decal it should be DENIED.

I have given the problems a lot of thought and there is no magic answer that can fix the situation. There are some procedures and rules that might make it easier to enforce. Here is a short list of ideas that might help:
1. Racers fill out a "contingency claim sheet" and turn it in at tech or send it in to IHRA or NHRA before the event so it can be filed under the car number. If that racer ends up in a final, the form is already filled out and can be checked quickly.
2. One problem is verifying if the product is actually used on the car. Get rid of that rule, unless it is something that can be visually checked, like tires, headers, wheels, air filter, valve covers, etc. If the decal is on the car for the final round and is in the winner's circle, you should be paid. If you have conflicting decals, like Valvoline Oil and Royal Purple both on the car, then you violated the "claim contingency sheet" you filled out and your entire claim is thrown out! My feeling is you should be paid "on the spot - at the event" by IHRA or NHRA. Then they can send in an invoice to get paid back by the manufacturer as per the terms of a contract.

I do want to be VERY CLEAR on one thing about this subject. I have had NO PROBLEMS with 80 percent of the manufacturers. It is the 20 percent that just won't cough up what they owe that seems to spoil the experience. You have to spend so much time trying to get paid by three or four companies it is easy to forget the companies that paid right away, like #1 Stop Products, K-Motion, AutoMeter, MSD, Comp Cams, Hughes, Richmond Gear, Moroso and BG Fuel Systems. All these companies paid within 45 days.

It's been five months since I won and it is still not done. Can you imagine the hassles a guy like Dan Fletcher goes through just to get paid for what he has already earned? Sure he makes a lot of money BUT he spends it like crazy to keep two national championship caliber cars running and traveling all over the country.

I have to take a stance similar to the one Jeff (Editor of DRO) talked about in Burk's Blast this month. This will be the LAST you hear about the contingency problem. A lot of racers did have stories about their problems but nobody really has an answer. If you win a regional IHRA or NHRA points race or a National event, be prepared to use your email and fax machine for about five months in an effort to get the contingency money. I hope the manufacturers and sanctioning bodies work it out so racers can be paid a lot quicker.

TRACK INSURANCE

The next subject that needs some follow-up is the track insurance story. I can tell you this about the entire insurance industry. It is in big-time turmoil. Their investments are getting hammered by the falling stock markets and sluggish economy. They are still recovering from the September 11th disaster in New York City then come the hurricanes and flooding to Southern states. All companies share in those losses to protect each other and the country from the huge problems that would occur if a major insurance company would go bankrupt and leave thousands of people without payments to rebuild.

The largest insurance companies are the ones who can underwrite a sport like drag racing. They are under pressure to get rid of "risky business" or to increase rates to almost unaffordable levels. The local tracks will be the first to get it, and they did in 2002. That is one reason a lot of tracks scheduled so many Test-n-Tunes rather than a normal bracket race. Test-n-Tune rates are lower and can be part of an annual negotiated flat fee.

It is this writer's opinion that eventually the tracks with the smaller weekly events, say under 150 cars, will be pressured through race day insurance premiums to run eighth-mile events. It has always cost less to insure these shorter (thus lower top speed) events. They just are not as risky, plain and simple. Can you still get seriously injured in an eighth-mile race? YES. Should you have the same safety requirements if it is "safer"? YES. It is just a matter of looking at how long (in seconds) the participant is "at risk" in a quarter-mile race vs. an eighth-mile race.

I actually hope the IHRA and NHRA get tougher on their safety requirements for next year. Why can a racer go 10.03 at 138 mph in the quarter and not need a Competition license or a certified chassis? But a car that goes 9.98 at 138 mph requires chassis certification, the driver to be in full double layer safety clothing and all sorts of other specific rules. How about saying if you go 125 mph in the quarter-mile and over 100 mph in the eighth you need chassis certification and better driver protection? I think it is a great idea and the cost WILL NOT keep anyone from racing.

Another item I think should be mandatory is an onboard fire extinguisher for EVERY CAR that goes down the track. Maybe cars that run over 150 mph should have self-contained fire suppression systems for the driver area, fuel cell area and engine area. Are these cheap? NO! Are they worth it? YES.

Part of the safety problem is emergency vehicles and rescue vehicles "supposedly" supplied by the tracks. I have been to a lot of race tracks over the years and have owned a couple for 15 years. I was as guilty as the other track owners. The tracks just DO NOT have what it takes to handle an emergency. There are a few tracks that really take it seriously. In my area it is Tri-State Raceway in Earlville, IA. They have a fully staffed ambulance and a completely outfitted emergency response truck about 500 feet past the finish line. It has fire equipment, rescue tools and the staff to get it done.

So many tracks I go to have an ambulance (with nobody in it) and no rescue truck anywhere near the finish line area -- the first place it will be needed. Why not? Because it costs a lot of money for trained employees to run these vehicles and the insurance company does not require the tracks to have them. With the speeds the ET bracket cars now run every week I hope the tracks will improve their safety equipment. If it costs another $2.00 or $3.00 per entry or $1.00 per pit pass...SO WHAT? It might be YOU that needs to be pulled out of a burning car!

I'll put an end to what I thought would be a short column this month. As usual, once I get going I don't know when to "let off."

If you are lucky enough to be where they are still racing, I hope you win some rounds. If your tracks are closed as they are around here, I hope the off-season goes well.

See ya at the PRI Show in Indy!

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