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BITING
OFF MORE THAN HE CAN CHEW?
Darr: I didn't think Pomona's food was that bad. Maple Grove's
food would be overpriced if it was free. I would not feed
it to a dog.
Mike McGuire
BADER BETTER?
IHRA better without Bader? Don't go outside in a thunder
storm.
Stan Ray
IHRA WORKS WITH RACERS
In response to your article, IHRA is listening, I also congratulate
them for taking steps to make changes that should improve
their operation. Their willingness to listen to racers [without
them there would be no racing], track owners [no tracks
to put on a race], manufactures and sponsors [without them,
no money or parts for the racers], and finally the fans
[without them, who also helps pay to put on a race; no fans,
no need to put on a race]. IHRA is finally doing something
that has been overlooked by all in drag racing for many
years, work with the racers and fans, and they will continue
to come back to keep the sport alive.
It has been very evident over the last few years that the
number of racers have left the sport for numerous reasons,
but the biggest reason is cost to keep up with rule changes
so they can stay competitive with the other racers who have
the major sponsors. These are the racers that were always
the backbone of the sport, and it seems each year when more
leave, the sport gets weaker.
Sponsors and manufactures have also been dropping out of
the sport, because if they do not have racers to promote
their products, then fans will not come to races, and that
is the ultimate customer who they want to buy their products.
The fans, this is what it really comes down to, without
the fans [who buy the tickets, food, drink, souvenirs, shirts,
sponsor products, and in a way helps pay for the race],
there would be no major events. Drag race fans are different
from most other sport fans, they know that when they go
to a race, they can mingle with the participants, talk with
them, ask questions, and maybe even get an autograph. Try
to do that at a NFL, MLB, or NBA sporting event.
I have been a drag racing fan for years, also at one time
a manufacturer's rep for two different companies, so my
perspective is a little different on this situation. I have
noticed the decline of drag racing over the years, the number
of racers getting out, the number of tracks that keep changing
sanction bodies or closing. The number of fans that are
not coming to the major races, because of higher cost of
tickets, bad racing, or constant changes that no one knows
or understands.
I have known Aaron Polburn for many years, and I applaud
him for the direction that he is trying to make this sport
more racer, fan, and sponsor friendly. I am sure this will
cause a few problems somewhere down the road, but at least
he is trying, and has the guts to get drag racing back on
the right track. Some of us old timers remember what happened
to AHRA.
Dennis Reese
RIGHT IDEA, WRONG TIME?
I couldn't agree more with your "Who's Listening"
editorial, except for one thing. I think Bill Bader did
listen, but the time maybe wasn't quite right. As sponsorship
dollars continue to be tough to get, what better way for
a fuel dragster or funny car team to get the needed funds
by saying "We'll race 30 plus venues this year."
(IHRA/NHRA). I've been to several Night Under Fire's at
Norwalk, and am a track regular. Force and Bader are close
friends and I wouldn't be surprised to see Team Force at
a few IHRA meets. There's an old saying "Racer's Race!"
when you can offer a prospective sponsor a 50% increase
in exposure, the wallets might loosen up a little.
I think Drag Racing is at another cross road. You can't
have an A series and a B series. I feel like if the Fuel
Funny works, you may see more and more "Listening"
by the powers that be at IHRA to have more pro classes that
run common rules. ASSES in the seats pays the bills and
a PRO SHOW for both associations HELPS the OVERALL exposure
of our sport with the uninformed out there.
NHRA has yet to admit that sport compact hasn't performed
to their expectations, but maybe to keep the manufacturers
interested long term, a combined Pro Stock rules/program
might be a look to the future. The California boys also
need to re-think their Pro Mod abandonment. Then things
may turn for the better.
Thanks for listening.
Gary Engle
Norwalk, OH
NOW IT'S JUST BUSINESS
Dear Burkster,
I only have a few words to say in response to your latest
blast. IHRA is still an ASSOCIATION whereas NHRA is a corporation
and thus is only fixated on the bottom line. Who cares if
it's good for the racers? Is it good for the NHRA?
Drag racing has become a business and no longer bears any
resemblance to the sport it was once, in its and our infancy.
The sad truth is we cannot turn back the clock and any yearning
for the past is futile at best. No amount of wishing will
make the NHRA care about the racers or, heaven forbid, the
fans, at the expense of the business concerns that drive
their existence today. NHRA will never listen because they
have no ears and don't need them, apparently. What if they
put on a drag race and nobody came?
Mike Gamache
Montreal, Canada
HOW MONSTROUS
I didn't see the episode of Monster Garage where they crush
a perfectly good '49 Anglia under the guise of "entertainment."
As a matter of fact I try to avoid Monster Garage as much
as possible as it's an INSULT to anyone with a clue in the
auto world. Nothing personal against Jesse James as I guess
he is a pretty decent metal fabricator from what I've seen,
but the show concept is geared toward the bizarre, to attract
the clueless, with confrontational TV and abusive in-your-face
attitude, typical of a lot of youth and TV shows these days,
in my experience.
Evidently the producers of this and similar shows like American
Hotrodder (the worst-of-the-worst), American Chopper, etc.
have no concept of decency. Their only motivation is MONEY.
Money is the motivation with abuse and disrespect for people
as the "entertainment factor." Destruction of
perfectly good property is the "icing on the entertainment
cake" so to speak. The abusive demeanor of Paul Sr.,
who has a heart of gold but the self-control of a mosquito,
with rule by intimidation the order of the day, causes untold
long-term psychological damage to his family and employees
along the way. For that he gets paid millions a year...
Paul Sr. must have studied at the School of Employee Abuse
operated by the Professor of abuse and dysfunction--Boyd
Coddington.
When I see Paul Sr. use a perfectly good Ford Expedition
to crash through the walls of their old office and demolish
it before moving to their new location, it's clear that
they have lost touch with how fortunate they are to have
landed a deal for MILLIONS on American Chopper. How many
homeless people in the U.S. alone would be thrilled to have
a running auto, especially an almost new Expedition? How
many folks along the Gulf Coast would be thrilled to have
a roof over their heads, and yet we see this unconscionable
destruction on TV of perfectly good cars or buildings, in
the name of "entertainment."
Everyone associated with these shows needs a LARGE reality
check instead of a large PAY check. Send them ALL to Alabama
or Louisiana for 6-12 months with nothing but the clothes
on their back - no cell phone, no credit cards, no money,
and no way out for 6-12 months and let them see how ignorant
it is to destroy perfectly good things in the name of "entertainment."
See if they have a "clue" after walking a mile
in other peoples' shoes.
Many folks in the U.S have life way too easy and have lost
touch with decent personal values and respect for property
and people. TV shows that promote this type of behavior
should be ignored, but instead the TV producers are laughing
all the way to the bank because many TV viewers are so bored
they actually enjoy this CRAP.
Randy Hubbard
P.S. And speaking of TRASH TV - PINKS gets my vote for
the most insulting TV program ever on so-called drag racing.
All these folks do is TALK TRASH. They wouldn't know how
to drag race if you painted them a picture. It's no surprise
this TRASH TALK is a TV hit. Non-drag racer people probably
think this crap is what actually happens at a real drag
race. What a SICK joke Pinks is.
HITTING THE NAIL. . .
They should drop a 10,000-pound weight on Jesse James's
head.
Mark Williams
Denver
ROLAND COULDN'T GET THE ENGINE
TO START?!
I've got to agree with your assessment of the recent episode
of Monster Garage. Not only did they trash a classic, but
the fact that someone like the legendary Roland Leong was
made to look like a failure. . . .
I have lost all respect for Monster Garage, Jesse James
and the Discovery Channel!
Jim Cole
Dallas, TX
BONEHEAD MOVE, JESSE
I'll NEVER watch that show again. In fact, it would be a
good idea to contact all of the manufactures that contribute
parts to his show and let them see where all their hard-earned
dollars are going, into a junk yard to be crushed! What
a bonehead! He obviously has no appreciation nor respect
for a classic.
Game, set, match. . .you're out-a-here!
Bob Mendenhall
Lakeside, CA
