SPORT COMPACTS ARE EVOLVING
Mr. Hawthorne, Please do not take all of
what is being directed to you on this subject
as hate mail. We in the import arena are upset
with many, many things at this point in our
development. We have seen NHRA take away street
class; we have seen the domestic industry
and drivers flood our scene in droves. Is
this where we want to be? Yes and no. We want
the cash flow the domestic teams enjoy. We
want a fair playing field. We want more advertisement
for our races. Are all of our wants going
to be meet? No, and those that think they
will are crazy. We have many racers that have
made this scene what it is and they have nothing
to show for it. They have had many doors shut
in there faces and most of those doors have
been closed due to their inexperience in the
sponsorship area.
Most of the teams from "back in the day"
are not the ones bitching. Most of them are
steadily evolving into what is needed to retain
sponsors and get the respect they have been
striving for all these years. Lisa and Gary
Kubo, Ron Bergenholtz, and others have played
their cards right and have been rewarded but
it took many years to get there. Most of the
import racers and teams are short sighted
and don't know better. They find it frustrating
that they go through the same sleepless nights
before the races and feel the same butterflies
at the line, but racing beside a 300k plus
racecar and losing before the 330 mark is
awful.
We see way too much money being dumped into
the "corporate" racer. From the better trailer
spots to the gate entrance being easier for
them to the favoritism shown by the event
coordinators. We are looking for an even playing
field, a fair race. We probably will not get
this, but we still want it. I do see where
the NHRA has tried to even it some. The weight
penalties for aftermarket Trans, to the banning
of the 3 rotor in all motor.
Don't think all is overlooked , its just
less remembered when G.M. or DODGE pulls up
with 3 trailers and 6 back-up motors and trans
and a full lab. Adam Sawuaratari pulled up
years ago, and an insider on him, he did nothing
for the import industry and caused a shake
up in every business that put money into us.
I know I'm rambling here at times, but these
are things that are bothering the racers in
the industry.
Here's a recap, if NHRA wants to put more
butts in the stands.
-
put more money into advertising
i.e.: more than 2 weeks notice to the local
shops. Make banners and flyers for shops
that sign up.
-
think long and hard about
bringing back street tire class in its original
form.
-
bring the top 2 or 3 of each class into the "domestic" race
arena, from a mobile dyno show off to a
special running like the event you now have.
-
more money into the payouts
and round for round payout, qualifying should
pay to show.
-
restrictions on turbo and
body panels within reason. No ugly funny
car wings allowed turbo trim maximums. And
a real enforcement of these rules.
-
a real interest in making
this work out, there are more reasons than
just our low dollar, always breaking, and
non-sponsored cars that's causing low turnout
and low return on investment in this series.
It takes money to make money. And the company's
sponsoring these teams should be a-little
more interested in the sport growing, I
know of how they work and who you know makes
a difference.
Please do not think all of us are pissed
enough to walk away from your series, but
if nothing is done soon and I mean soon there
will be less and less in the stands. Your
organization needs to sit down and bring some
new and old things to the series and get some
people in there that know this industry and
what it needs to grow and the most important
thing, make some money.
Thank you for your ear to pull....
Regards.
James Williford
MOVE 'EM TO COMP?
Darr, I read your article about SC's. For
3-4 years NHRA had tossed the idea of adding
Pro RWD-FWD in Comp. But I guess the NHRA
tech guys don't have the "Smarts" to catch
cheating in those classes! I personally could
care less about those cars, but if it increases
the under 25 demo at NHRA races. I say go
for it!
Joe Sherwood
