A number of racers were upset over the potential cancelation of the NDRA Pro Stock class. After much debate and eventually reinstating the class, most of you who strongly voiced your opinion still are a no-show.... My question is why did you lobby for a class that you aren't or won't support anyway. For those racers that have shown up....we thank you and we hope you have a great season.

 

Youare exactly right Mr. Nopiman. Everybody went apeshit when it wasnt included in the roster of classes but none of the bitches have shown up to race. Where is Brauning and InlinePro? Where are all the cars that were under construction last year? Plenty of time to get them finished.

 

It seems like the all motor guys are not showing for neither nhra or nopi, are all the b-series guys are changing their setups or just attending local events.

 

Norris, Saul and Leslie have lived up to thier promises, but will be no shows in MD.

Good chance for someone to come in with a B-Series motor and clean up on the prize money this weekend.

Good luck to everyone.

 

I know of a few guys that think its waste of time because you guys are just going to put the class on the chopping block again next season and a few others that are changing up their engine program to try to be competitive again. Or maybe your are watching the slow death of your sport. Every year the turn out is smaller and smaller.

 

I am working on the my car and will have it ready as soon as possible!
Late decisions on your part gives the racers less time to get are cars ready.
NOPI has done such a good job to support me in the past makes me won't to rush and get my car done.

 

It isn't just the racers who spoke up. It isn't just the racers opinions that matter. That was a strong class and the second the attendance fell you guys made the decision to drop it instead of researching and identifying the TRUE reason why the attendance fell in 2005.

There are more eligible cars for that class than any other pro class. So maybe there is a better way to market the class or get racers out there? Of course the fans and racers of all motor were going to complain if you drop the class. It is one of the favorite classes in the sport. Did you expect to get a pat on the back????

I am one of those "bitches" who wanted the class to stay around, yet has not been out to a race this season. By the end of it...it just left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths. NHRA All Motor is doing just fine.

The class has gone through a major transition the past couple of years. It was an entry level class budget wise....and now that has shifted to SportFWD. It shifted from a 10.50 - 11.50 class to a 9.70-10.20 class...and along with that it shifted from a $30,000 a car class, to a $70,000+ a car class. This isn't a "slap a bigger turbo on and turn up the boost when you need more power" class. We are just in the middle of the transitional period. SC Drag racing as a whole fell on its face (as far as sponsor money, not attendance)...and now it is coming back and bigger than ever.

Two years ago you could put the car in the trailer, grab a cheap hotel, and do some of your testing at an event for under $500. Now it costs $1500 to go to an event if you don't break any parts.

When you are running a business and you have a 5 year history with a $10 million backlog...then all of the sudden you have 2 quarters with a $4 million backlog, but you know the market potential is there...do you just quit and get out of the business?? No...because your backlog is likely to climb right back to where it was. Find the reason and fix it.


If I wasn't a "bitch" and had a 100% complete and tested car TODAY...I would be on my way to NHRA Atco Friday morning. They want this class to succeed and they have a positive attitude about it. They have a long-term plan...not just a plan for this weekend.

NHRA Moroso - 9 cars
NHRA Virginia - 8 cars
NHRA E-town - 8 cars and a side by side 9.7 final
*ALL QUALITY COMPETITORS...not just people showing to make some passes*

Looks to me like the class is doing better than ever....so maybe you guys should stop pointing fingers at all the "bitches" and start asking yourselves some questions. Instead of, "where's all these bitches?" how about...."There are nearly 100 cars eligible for this class across the country....how do we capture that market and get those cars to the track?"

We know how hard you and Glenn worked to save the class...and people appreciate it. Just give it some time


Modified by 4piston at 10:50 AM 5/17/2006

 

Well the class has a 2 year deal, but with out racers showing up, the sponsor is going to move the money to a class with more racers in 2007.

Basically, if they want a place to race, they need to show up and race.

The Import vs. Domestic deal has really taken off, and those guys care about racing not the politics of the whole deal.

The slow death of my sport? I don't see drag racing dying anytime soon.

 

And for Glenn....we got the car to the shop and the wheels are turning full steam again! Building a house, paying for a wedding, and building a Pro Stock car all at the same time is exhausting!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NDRATECH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The slow death of my sport? I don't see drag racing dying anytime soon. </TD></TR></TABLE>Import drag racing not drag racing in general. For those of us that have been around for 8 years or more its easy to look at the turn out of fans and racers from year to year and see the decline. Every year there is less and less people and then when the add a deal like you guys pulled just a few months before the season stared it doesnt inspire alot of confidence that its a good idea to through money into a car that wont have a class next season. You tried to delete the class and alot of people think you will again. Again its not like there arent any prostock cars out there they just dont want to run were they dont feel totally supported.

 

yes i lobbied for the class but due to transpo issue i stated i could only show up to the west coast events. glad to see they kept the class and i hope as the year goes on more racers step up and go to the events! good luck nopi and racers finish those cars and lets show everyone what pro stock used to be!

 

I work for a Drag racing Association, not an Import Drag Racing Association.
I hope you are'nt implying that I have not been around long.

If you are, you are sadly mistaken.

As far as the racers not wanting to race where they are not supported, that is BS. A true racer races every chance they get, not when someone comes to town that did'nt hurt thier feelings. If I had been in that situation, I would travel around trying to take NOPI's money at any event I could.

It all falls under the getting even not getting mad phrase.

 

I will be at MIR for Pro Stock, just hope I can run an 11 and not look too stupid trying to do it. Car has only been on the track once since last season and I have to give it some more love.

Either way, it runs and made some clean passes, just not as fast as it needs to go yet!

I could always just run brackets if no one else shows up!

Who do you know will be there anyway:

Inline Pro, Fred Highland?
Mark Brauning?
Eliot racing?
A few of the local air cooled guys?
Rodrigez racing.
Paradise.
The orange bug.
A few of the other VA cars: neon, Dan!
I wish I could remember who was who!

I think most of the big teams are going to ATCO. You should see them the rest of the season! I wish I could make more events but with my medical condition, work and new location it just won't happen. I can barely get to do what i need on the car.

It will be a great weekend all around either way, girls, sun, and fast cars, what else do you want?

I will make some calls to the air cooled people I know and see who is coming!

I just want to have fun and make some passes, right now, could care less about winning. Even though the new trophies are really cool!

Anthony
A True Class Act!

 

to be honest, I really dont know what the hype is all about in the PRO Class. We're waiting for just a small handful of racers to show up when the time should be focused on GRASSROOTS classes to bring in more new racers and budget teams. PROs bring in credibility to an event, but when it comes down to it, its still the average racer who keeps the industry alive.
I know you guys have street classes, Im not saying you dont, but we need to hype that up more than anything.

Heads up 14 and 13 sec index? You never know, theres alot of guys in that range that are potential attendees.

The only guys that are going to get into the PRO classes are the ones that have put in their time for years and finally able to step up. What the industry should focus on is to NURTURE the new racers and slowly bring them up one class at a time. Highlight the Brackets, Index Classes, Street Heads Up, then finally PRO. I really dont see racers at the track these days that have the drive to really move up like we used to back in the day. I've always believed that the SUCCESS of an event is the turnout of the brackets and street classes, NEVER the PRO classes.


Modified by exospeedAMcrx at 11:46 AM 5/16/2006

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NDRATECH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I work for a Drag racing Association, not an Import Drag Racing Association.
I hope you are'nt implying that I have not been around long.

If you are, you are sadly mistaken.

As far as the racers not wanting to race where they are not supported, that is BS. A true racer races every chance they get, not when someone comes to town that did'nt hurt thier feelings. If I had been in that situation, I would travel around trying to take NOPI's money at any event I could.

It all falls under the getting even not getting mad phrase.</TD></TR></TABLE>no no I was just saying for those of us that have been around for several years the decline of Import drag racing is very noticeable.

Now if you dont think what you guys tried to do right before the season started has anything to do with the low turn out then why is the turn out better at the NHRA events? I have always liked NDRA events but to cut classes or change the rules right before the season is set to start real screws people that have spent alot of money and time over the winter setting up cars for the next season. If everyone knew you were truly in for more than just this year I promise things would be different but again there are alot of teams that think you will just try to cut the class again so whats the point. If you truly care about the allmotor guys then listen to what they have to say even if you dont like it as long as they arent being disrespectful.

 

The racers on here will tell you that I care about racing, not just some of the classes, but all of them. And I listen to what everyone has to say, racer or not.

As far as what has happened? Lookofsky only races with us every now and then, same for Mohler, Padilla, Skunk 2, and a few others.
The main stay for us has always been Norris, Saul, L&B Racing, Leslie, Elliot, and a few others.
A few of these teams are rebuilding, and working on a limited budget, so we understand that, but what NOPIMAN is asking, is where is everybody else?

 

just to add: NOPI for still being there to have events for racers to go to.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by exospeedAMcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> PROs bring in credibility to an event, but when it comes down to it, its still the average racer who keeps the industry alive.

Heads up 14 and 13 sec index? You never know, theres alot of guys in that range that are potential attendees. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree fully with that, look at all the bracket racers that follow the NHRA powerade series and other events. There are so many contingencies for them to win and make money off it is so worth it for them to travel to events. NOPI currently doesn't have any contingencies available for the brackets, that was dissapointing to see, especially when you have to pay a membership fee to get any winnings!

MIR usually has a lot of bracket racers, that should help attendance!

 

So should the Domestic cars in some of the Pro Classes.

Pro Street Tire : 8+ cars
Pro Compact : 6-7 cars.
Pro Outlaw : 6-7 cars

So, good luck to everyone this weekend, no matter what you drive or what you race in.

 

glenn check your im

 

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1625096

i tried to raise that question in my post, but it never really got discussed....

 

I can't wait, wish it was friday already and i was on the plane headed up!

This event will be better then you expect it to be! there is a lot of other things going on in the area this weekend but it will still be good.

I wish I could do more for you in pro stock but it just isn't in the cards for me.

I am pushing myself just to make the events i do. Mainly, only doing it as therapy to keep my mind off how F-up I am physically right now from being over in the middle east.

Anthony

 

Don't get me wrong...

We're expecting a HUGE turn-out. Promotions are underway and the responce for this event is really unbelievable. I understand that there is another race nearby that will split the field of racers. Believe me we tried everything to avoid this. There were other dates that were conflicts also but we moved events around to make it better for all involved. I cannot say the same for the competition. Never the less we're going to PARTY................................RACE......... ....................CAR SHOW..........................and generally BLOW IT OUT!!!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NOPIMAN &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Don't get me wrong...

We're expecting a HUGE turn-out. Promotions are underway and the responce for this event is really unbelievable. I understand that there is another race nearby that will split the field of racers. Believe me we tried everything to avoid this. There were other dates that were conflicts also but we moved events around to make it better for all involved. I cannot say the same for the competition. Never the less we're going to PARTY................................RACE......... ....................CAR SHOW..........................and generally BLOW IT OUT!!!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>


and I can't wait

 

this is a very busy weekend. there is a huge car show in Ocean City maryland as well.