Here is a questions for you guys and girls,
Would you join a racers union so that the race organizations play fair from racer to racer regarless of money, backing or influence? Simple yes or no. This may be a big issue for SEMA this year and for the 2004 race season!!!! I will go into details if there is a good response.

 

I think that it would be nice, but were do you start? What sanctioning bodies would participate?Would corporate companies get involved? Were is Jimmy Hoffa?
Oh and yes I would join.... Jason

 

See that's just it. The sanctioning bodies don't participate in a Racers union. It is all controlled by a panel of people that represent the racers as a whole. This way no matter what race you attend, you know that the racers union will make the sanctioning body abide by the rules that they have set forth. We can have appointed speakers, one for every organization ( NHRA, NDRA, IDRC ) this way you have a rep. at every race nation wide!!!

 

You`d obviously need all the big names to give it the thumbs up to really make it effective, which won`t be easy due to certain sponsors and their corporate alliances with certian race organizations. I`d like to hear more about it..

 

I just feel that we as racers should be taken care of more than we are today. We make these people what they are and without racers, you get no fans, without fans you get no sponsors for the series, and so on. The NHRA big boys have a union in which they have a speaker that meets with the NHRA to discuss issues and clarification on items at every race. This is how it should be and I really think that it will take our sport a step further. I know of numerous companies that are ready to get this underway, all we need is support from the street class racers.

 

I'm in. Equal playing field = Better racing!! IMO

 

I think its a great idea. It would make things a lot better for all racers. Right now if a racer gets screwed there isn't anyone they can turn to for help. Having a union would make things more attractive for potential sponsors also.

 

Vince, here is what I dont like about the union thing. It can stop me from racing or make us boycot a race and I never want to be like that. I agree with all you said and the bullshit that goes on. I hate it. But like I said on the other post, nopi is not like this. NOPI is a great place to race and have fun. If you stoped going to NHRA and started racing the ndra, you would see how awesome it is. I only see the union thing being good for nhra, as you dont or wouldnt need it for nopi events. With yours and the B. brothers help, we can make the ndra the place to be and have everyone race there. We dont need to race nhra and put up with the crap they dish out to the little guy. It just takes participation from guys like you to help ndra get the prestige of what the nhra logo has.


Modified by ninesecrx at 10:24 PM 9/22/2003

 

could'nt have said it any better.
#3

 

Well Said Mike!

 

I am not out to try to ruin anyone or to try to make anyone miss a race. If the sanctioning body is so insistant on pissing off 90% of their racers, then maybe we don't want to be innvolved with them. A union won't make things worse, it will make them better even if the sanctioning body is a good one to deal with. Negotiations, polls, inquiries, etc. can all be applied directly from the union to the organization without worrying about the message getting misconstrued on the way. I just want to see this sport gett bigger, better and more fair as time goes on. I think a union will aid in that process by delivering solid ground for the racer to stand on, getting everyone involved is a different story.....

Think about this though, as sponsors see the racers unite as one driving force, they will be able to speak directly with the racers as a whole for a more in depth perspective of this sport. This way, more money can be brought in based on performance of a team and it's components rather than by how much exposure they get because of their backing or because of the racing organization they attend.

 

 

Also, in a union that means getting equal or fair pay to everyone. Vince, you guys gonna share boost mobile and dub with me? I could use some money. I just dont see how a union would work with the wau sponsors work in this market?

 

See, you are assuming at the union thing without hearing what it entails. Everyone is still for themselves as far as sponsors go, but we are all together as far as rules and bias's go with the race organizations. This does not mean we share our earned sponsors, it just ensures equality at the track!!!

 

I definately agree with Mike...

 

im not trying to argue with you Vince, just giving my ideas here...just so you know. If its a true union, it would have to set wages and share sponsors. Look at it like this...if im getting paid by a sponsor a million dollers a race, the track officals can talk all the crap they want on me cause im still doing ok. Do you think the big guys making some real money are going to obide by this and not race cause some of the little guys arnt getting treated fair? I guess maybe if you told me some of your ideas, maybe it might make a little more sense. But when people have different sponsors and their own agendas, I cant see it working. And please, this is probably just me playing devils advocate. I am not trying to be argumentative.

 

So let's see, the concensus is that everyone thinks that we don't need a governed body to speak directly with the race organizations so that if you think something is F'ed up, your on your own instead of having hundreds of racers like you on your side to combat the bias toward big $ deal sponsors? Alright then. Seems a little selfish to me because this just enforces the fact that every racer is out there for themselves, and not for the love of the sport to make it fair and equal. Yes, I agree that racers have a big ego and want to win, but a union would not change that at all. The only reason people would not want to join something like this is because they think that they will have a better chance than someone else to get something they want be it rule change, exposure, etc. Agreed that NOPI does pretty well for the racers, but numerous Pro and street racers have expressed the fact that having a union would make it alot easier for the small guys to play on a level playing field.

Mike, I know what kind of person you are and I know you hold racing very highly, but it's like any other relationship. If they do it with you, they will just as easily do it to you meaning that if you are the one that gets the bias today then maybe tomorrow someone with more $ or more pull will come in and guess what, now you are the one that is out of the loop. It's that easy and a union won't let that happen.

 

dont assume that union means equal pay for everyone..... I belonged to local 400 for 7 years thru high school and college. A union is representation for basic right's and fair pay, not equal pay. A union would make sure you had safe and fair working conditions, unbiased representation in matters of discrimination, discplineary actions, grevances, so on. A union has a direct voice, that can help you be heard as a colective, a voice is louder when people are all behind it. Vince can explain better, I went to public shcool and have trouble expressing my self, so do not pick me to be the speaker for your union....Jason


Modified by littlebluecrx at 4:26 AM 9/23/2003

 

I hear ya...maybe with some more info I can give more of an opinon on it. But I agree with what your saying, its just like a girl. If you meet them when they are cheating on their boyfriend, whats to say that when they are with you, they wont cheat with the next guy. I do agree that some kind of organization with reps. would be a good idea though. I guess it might make "us" the import racers stronger if we band together. But as you know all to well, import racing has a lot of back stabing. Even if we were banded together, id still see the racers going behind backs and doing messed up things. We would have to have a way to stop this. It could get ugly real quick.

 

Haha Jason, its funny. You always think you have trouble talking or expressing what yor saying. But I can you this, when I do get the chance to hear you on stage at the nopi events...you speak well and always thank the people and sponsors...I think you do a great job. But I agree, I guess id like to hear more about it...cause I guess the idea scares me. Im ill admit, I dont know much about the way they work.

 

a union "could" have helped racers get paid easier and quicker from IDRC last year. i could see good in that.

 

Unionization? I dont know...gotta think about that one...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ninesecrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">im not trying to argue with you Vince, just giving my ideas here...just so you know. If its a true union, it would have to set wages and share sponsors. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Mike - I think What Vince is talking about is more like the Major League Player Association or the NFL player Association... not like the United Iron Workers Union... there is a differance...

Those guys represent the players as a whole but they don't dicate who is sponsored by who... but they do help the players get an equal cut of say TV money or something like that... but it is still a union of the players in this case the racers...

I am sure that we would be into it...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DVSshoeco &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Mike - I think What Vince is talking about is more like the Major League Player Association or the NFL player Association... not like the United Iron Workers Union... there is a differance...

Those guys represent the players as a whole but they don't dicate who is sponsored by who... but they do help the players get an equal cut of say TV money or something like that... but it is still a union of the players in this case the racers...

I am sure that we would be into it...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Exactly!!! I have some things that I will write up with some people. Please feel free to e-mail me your comments or concerns about this issue and I will try to get the word out to everyone.

vince@goldeneaglemfg.com

Thanks and lets all be professional about it.........

 

Yeah, I agree. The idea has some strong points. But the thing that scares me is the strike like they had in baseball. I just wouldnt want to see something like that happen.