9/21/05

COLD RECEPTION

I read your article with great interest about the tv rating of NHRA. Here's what happens in Canada. First of all, NHRA is carried on TSN (out west we call this the Toronto Sports Network. When TSN carries NHRA it is usually from 3 to 5 days after the event. If it is during the daytime it can be pre-empted by any other sport (i.e. tennis, golf, or any other sport). What happens is that you may have 15 to 60 minutes missing from the ESPN programming. If it is early in the morning (1 am to 2 am) a 3-hour program can be cut done to 2 to 2 and a half hours. Usually they cut out the first round of Funny Car (nitro). They have cut out other parts - so you don't get a full broadcast.

Now they are carrying TSN - HD. That's okay if you can get HD programming. So, one misses the qualifying round - (example, Indy).

I have, up until this year, voiced my protest directly to NHRA. Guess what - nothing has been done.

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I have been an avid drag race fan since the fifties. Now in Canada that is something. TSN is only interested in any sport that involves ICE and a bunch of overpaid idiots. I have pointed out to TSN and NHRA the involvement of Canadians in the sport and business of drag racing - Graham Light, Bernie Fedderly, and a whole host of other people involved in the professional business. On the sportsman side where I reside (Regina Saskatchewan) we have a number of people in the Super Stock (Abe Loewen) and Stock, Super Gas who are at the tracks all over the U.S.

It needs to be pointed out that ESPN has had a stake in TSN, whether that is true now I'm not sure.

One needs to look at the IHRA and Speed. I'm having a helluva time trying to figure out what races are run when and what classes are shown when.

The whole sport of drag racing needs to be turned upside down and given a big shake. I'm sure the marketing people with NHRA and IHRA couldn't sell a heater to an Eskimo.

Alex Brooks
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

TAPE DELAY . . . AND THEN SOME

I agree with you 100% about the pre-NHRA broadcasts. Maybe people aren't watching because they're tired of waiting til 10PM to tune in for a 2 or 3 hour show, and then have to watch the last period of hockey, soccer, football or some other really important sport like Little League baseball or billiards!

I travel a lot on the weekends and tape the races to watch during the week. You don't know how many emails I've sent to NHRA over the past couple of years. Now I save my heart and just set the VCR for an extra hour of record time to offset the previous event that is sure to run into NHRA time. No delays for NASCAR, IRL, or even Formula 1 (races live at 5AM).

I still think that NHRA had much better coverage on the old Nashville Network (and much better color commentators!)

Well, that's my 2 cents worth. Thanks for listening.

Kenny Shane
NY, NY