01/06/06

A FEW SIMPLE QUESTIONS

Jeff, once again you prove WHY you rule with your insight and no holds barred view of the NHRA and Drag Racing itself!

A decade or so ago a fellow named Ken Rose (I think) wrote a book called "How to get Rich and Still be Decent Human Being." Well the NHRA and most Pro racers get the former but NOT the latter.

NHRA's recent appointments to their management team has been from the "ball and stick" genre of sports; not a racer in the bunch. This is an odd rationale considering that the most watched sport in America is now NASCAR and not baseball!

If NHRA really wanted to advance its business with its usual "f*ck the racer and fan attitude" why do they not go and draft key executives from NASCAR, the outfit they so want to emulate?

Hmmmm...I think that is because NASCAR "gets" the fact that a quality experience and product is required for the racer, fan, sponsor and TV audience. They have a class act and makes GOBS of money but deliver something worthwhile.

As far as racers are concerned, NHRA has tied its wagon to someone and pandered to them shamelessly such as ...Force, Glidden, Muldowney...gee one for each generation. I think that a lot of Pro racers think that the NHRA is God and their meal thicket and will not stand up to them.

How about a Winternationals strike? A NO SPONSOR Nationals, legal action, a REAL union or a US Nationals boycott? This would not happen because in spite of the bravery the racers show on the track (and many have me in AWE), they have no balls when it comes to standing up to NHRA and all the BS!

Now how about THIS...when hot rodding started after the second world war there was hot rodding but NO NHRA...well, a business plan could be set into motion that would start a new Pro oriented Racing Association! I mean, why not? NHRA does not own all the tracks and IHRA does a stellar job for the sportsman (I like these guys, but the pro show is lame).

If the racers wanted to take all the bitching energy and transmit it into real action they should come up with a plan approach a France, George or that "other" guy that was supposed to buy the NHRA and start anew?

There...try that or be damned to swamp water parking with know-nothing corporate "guests" sucking champagne in a corporate suite paid for by YOU...the racer.

Derek Goldthorp
Editor, TorqueandRPM.com
New York

QUESTIONING THE RULE

I would like to plant a seed in everyone's ears about one of the NHRA new rules. The rule I am in non-agreement with is the ruling from the 2005 book stating that the drivers of vehicles running faster than 9.99 and are running a blown alcohol engine front mounted of course full bodied car with OEM or applicable firewall must now wear an SFI 20 suit with all the extras i.e. 15 funny car boots and 15 gloves. I think perhaps if you were running on the cutting edge of the 7.50 mark, okay, then I see the need. BUT when you are just breaking the 9.99, mid-9's here with a full tail wind I think there should be an amendment to that rule. If you are running injected alcohol or even a blower on gasoline it is okay to use an SFI 5 and run right up to 7.50 yes an SFI

5, where is the justice in that? I am not against safety in anyway but this rule could be relaxed a bit. Last year we got info from an unnamed div 6 tech that that law we were inquiring about was a misprint? And it would be remedied for '06. The law was supposed to be for extended tech and no one was enforcing it.

I haven't contacted NHRA yet, but it would look as though they figure some of the drivers in this position may have already purchased new suits last season and best not to change the rule and upset the cart anymore than it is. Another way to make money for the equipment manufacturers and suppliers, keeping them happy will in the end feed the coffers of the NHRA.

There, I vented! Keep up the great work and have a great '06 season.

Jim Graham
British Columbia, Canada