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12/20/04
OUR KIND OF GUY
I hope Cliff Gromer will be a regular contributor to DRO.
I've always enjoyed his writing.
Gotta tip the hat to the rest of the DRO writers as well --
very high quality stuff. Any chance Cole Coonce may do an
occasional guest column for ya?
A while back, I seem to recall that you asked a very general
question about people's inclination to pay for a printed DRO
(well, I reckon it wouldn't be O) magazine. I'd subscribe
in a heartbeat, as long as you keep your existing contributors.
Yer doin' damn nice work!
Joe Finn
WHERE IS THE PERSONALITY?
Just got around to reading (Ian Tocher's) article about Whit's
smack on the nose, with a rolled-up National Dragster, by
the powers that be. I fear you are all too correct in your
assessment, and that it will only get worse. Is there no one
in Glendora that gets it any longer? I believe NHRA made an
unrecoverable mistake by adopting a "cars are the stars"
dictum, while not fully capitalizing on the unique personalities
of those who actually make the cars so compelling, by the
individual abilities (tuning, driving, sponsor relations,
publicity, etc.) they bring to the table.
Anyway, enjoyable reading. Keep up the good work.
Regards,
Brad Miner
BRACKETED?
Burk, as usual, you did good.
To answer what to do with the Super class cars, the fast
ones can go run Top Sportsman and Top Dragster, which does
have more spectator appeal than a Super class car. The slower
cars would have to go back to the brackets. Unfortunate, but
the only other avenue I see is what my local track is trying,
a heads up race (no throttle stops) with an index. They are
starting with 5.20 and 5.70 indexes, and early indications
are it will work. But that still leaves out some cars.
Maybe try what IHRA is doing, and have a bracket race? I
for one do not look down my nose at those guys. They deserve
to be there as much as I do. The Super classes have evolved
to the point that the standard deviation is very small and
they are all basically cookie cutter, similar in performance
and looks. And to a spectator, this is boring.
But my question is (and has always been), "Who said
we were supposed to be a spectator draw?" We pay an entry
fee of $250, which covers all costs associated with Sportsman
racing at that event (with 100 cars @ $250 each in each class,
this is not inconsequential money), and payout does not start
until the third round (only the top 25% of the cars get any
money), NHRA is getting a positive cash flow.
Now accountants can shuffle costs to show it losing money
(putting all track prep and personnel costs on the sportsman,
putting a high percentage of the G&A from Glendora on
the sportsman), so I believe the sportsman is floating his
own boat there. Why should he also be partially responsible
for the "butts in the seats" that people pay the
ridiculous amounts of money to see? Now I am "just wondering"!
Do not tell me it does not work, just look at the Sportsnationals
success at No Problem in 2003.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Don't stop wondering next year; I like your website a lot.
Hey, come out and have a cold one with us TD guys at San Antonio
if you are around. I am easy to find, the Pepto Bismol pink
Top Dragster. Always have a cold one ready.
William D. (Dee) Kruse
TD/ET 4030
Well, Dee, I've never tried a cold Pepto Bismol, but I'll
be looking forward to it at San Antonio. Especially after
a hot tamale.--JB
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