Drag Racing Bail Out
Its the Dragpocalypse.
A mass exodus of sponsors and teams from the full tour and from the racing world entirely. You think it might have the attention of the stiffs in Glendora, no? Oh no, not at ALL.
Let's see....
David Grubnic. Hillary Will. Doug Kalitta. Doug Herbert. Hot Rod Fuller. J.R.Todd. Tommy Johnson Jr. Melanie Troxel. Warren Johnson. Kurt Johnson. David Connolly. Bob Vandergriff. Angelle Sampey. Tom Hammonds. Jerry Toliver.
... all series regulars, all on the sidelines. The list continues to grow by the day.
Competition Plus did an excellent comparison piece on the situation, with Don Schumacher and Don Garlitz commenting on the current economy and its similarities to the Energy Crisis of the 70's. Jim Oberhofer, crew chief for Kalitta Motorsports weighed in as well. Everyone is talking about it, but the NHRA continues to ignore them all... ignore the very people whom make their existance possible.
At least Wally Parks addressed the issues presented in the 70's with an action plan. What is the current suits' action? Raise prices for the sponsors and teams in effort to "ensure profitability to the NHRA for 2009."
Are you KIDDING me?
For a Non-Profit company, they sure are dedicated to padding their bonuses at the expense of the core of their business model... the SHOW.
Worried about affecting ticket sale value by cutting qualifying sessions or other cost-saving measures for racers, what is going to happen when that expensive spectator ticket buys only a 8 car show? Personally, I'd rather see 3 rounds of a full field rather than an empty pit row and repetitious qualifying. Cut the events to 2 days. Helps with travel and ticket expenses both for teams and for fans.
And raising pricing for hospitality? If the pits are going to be empty anyways, why not offer MORE for less in efforts to cort sponsors into seeing that the NHRA is indeed a viable marketing and promotional tool?
As it is, the limitations and stipulations made by the NHRA have made sponsorship activation a very tedious and sometimes unworthwhile exercise. They should be opening the floodgates right now instead of snapping them shut for their own profitability. Instead, we send corporation after corporation packing with the attitude "Why Bother".
Why should a corporation participate in the NHRA? Yes, its a very cost effective motorsports marketing tool, but with the hard-arm of the NHRA law in place, these corporations are realizing all too quickly that you get exactly what you pay for.
Exclusivity contracts that benefit only the NHRA sponsors, non-compete ordinances that effectively shut-out the free market competitiveness that could renew friendly rivalries which flourished in the hey-days of the sport. Instead of running off the U.S. Air Force or all the energy brands, how much more attention could they bring to the sport by seeing the drag racing battle of the brands take place? Remember the beer rivalries? Miller Lite vs. Budweiser. What about Army vs. Air Force vs. Navy? Or Rockstar vs. Sobe vs. RedBull vs. (insert booming energy drink company here)?
Even their superhero idols at NASCAR are working with their teams and the sponsors to ensure the survival of their sport. But NHRA brass continue to keep their heads planted firmly in the shifting sand. Why not search for a more relevant business model? Why not step OUTSIDE the box for a minute?
Instead look at other ideas, such as the American Drag Racing League, and LEARN something. ADRL tickets are GIVEN away. Series sponsors see a huge captive market, and are given ample opportunities to promote and use their motorsport tool to generate their results. They aren't slapped with fees and limitations.... The ADRL also listens to the needs of its racers. Racers also are not victim to fees and limitations and costly rule changes with class mandated components. It encourages aftermarket companies to compete for its racers business, and rewards participants with Official Sponsor rights that do not mandate usage, but REWARD it.
No, the NHRA cannot give away tickets. But they can cut the prices to increase the VOLUME. Or they can look outside the box to give value to fans. A giveaway: Buy 2 get one free? The seats would be empty without it, why not at least TRY?? Contests to engage fans in the season to win tickets would be great as well.
There are too many options that would bring at least some ounce of relief to the current situation. Way too many for Glendora to be sitting idle. Perhaps Garlitz is right, perhaps this too shall pass, but at what cost to our sport?
Its not something any of us should take lightly. After all, there are no bail outs in drag racing.
A mass exodus of sponsors and teams from the full tour and from the racing world entirely. You think it might have the attention of the stiffs in Glendora, no? Oh no, not at ALL.
Let's see....
David Grubnic. Hillary Will. Doug Kalitta. Doug Herbert. Hot Rod Fuller. J.R.Todd. Tommy Johnson Jr. Melanie Troxel. Warren Johnson. Kurt Johnson. David Connolly. Bob Vandergriff. Angelle Sampey. Tom Hammonds. Jerry Toliver.
... all series regulars, all on the sidelines. The list continues to grow by the day.
Competition Plus did an excellent comparison piece on the situation, with Don Schumacher and Don Garlitz commenting on the current economy and its similarities to the Energy Crisis of the 70's. Jim Oberhofer, crew chief for Kalitta Motorsports weighed in as well. Everyone is talking about it, but the NHRA continues to ignore them all... ignore the very people whom make their existance possible.At least Wally Parks addressed the issues presented in the 70's with an action plan. What is the current suits' action? Raise prices for the sponsors and teams in effort to "ensure profitability to the NHRA for 2009."
Are you KIDDING me?
For a Non-Profit company, they sure are dedicated to padding their bonuses at the expense of the core of their business model... the SHOW.
Worried about affecting ticket sale value by cutting qualifying sessions or other cost-saving measures for racers, what is going to happen when that expensive spectator ticket buys only a 8 car show? Personally, I'd rather see 3 rounds of a full field rather than an empty pit row and repetitious qualifying. Cut the events to 2 days. Helps with travel and ticket expenses both for teams and for fans.
And raising pricing for hospitality? If the pits are going to be empty anyways, why not offer MORE for less in efforts to cort sponsors into seeing that the NHRA is indeed a viable marketing and promotional tool?
As it is, the limitations and stipulations made by the NHRA have made sponsorship activation a very tedious and sometimes unworthwhile exercise. They should be opening the floodgates right now instead of snapping them shut for their own profitability. Instead, we send corporation after corporation packing with the attitude "Why Bother".
Why should a corporation participate in the NHRA? Yes, its a very cost effective motorsports marketing tool, but with the hard-arm of the NHRA law in place, these corporations are realizing all too quickly that you get exactly what you pay for.
Exclusivity contracts that benefit only the NHRA sponsors, non-compete ordinances that effectively shut-out the free market competitiveness that could renew friendly rivalries which flourished in the hey-days of the sport. Instead of running off the U.S. Air Force or all the energy brands, how much more attention could they bring to the sport by seeing the drag racing battle of the brands take place? Remember the beer rivalries? Miller Lite vs. Budweiser. What about Army vs. Air Force vs. Navy? Or Rockstar vs. Sobe vs. RedBull vs. (insert booming energy drink company here)?
Even their superhero idols at NASCAR are working with their teams and the sponsors to ensure the survival of their sport. But NHRA brass continue to keep their heads planted firmly in the shifting sand. Why not search for a more relevant business model? Why not step OUTSIDE the box for a minute?
Instead look at other ideas, such as the American Drag Racing League, and LEARN something. ADRL tickets are GIVEN away. Series sponsors see a huge captive market, and are given ample opportunities to promote and use their motorsport tool to generate their results. They aren't slapped with fees and limitations.... The ADRL also listens to the needs of its racers. Racers also are not victim to fees and limitations and costly rule changes with class mandated components. It encourages aftermarket companies to compete for its racers business, and rewards participants with Official Sponsor rights that do not mandate usage, but REWARD it.
No, the NHRA cannot give away tickets. But they can cut the prices to increase the VOLUME. Or they can look outside the box to give value to fans. A giveaway: Buy 2 get one free? The seats would be empty without it, why not at least TRY?? Contests to engage fans in the season to win tickets would be great as well.
There are too many options that would bring at least some ounce of relief to the current situation. Way too many for Glendora to be sitting idle. Perhaps Garlitz is right, perhaps this too shall pass, but at what cost to our sport?
Its not something any of us should take lightly. After all, there are no bail outs in drag racing.
Posted by Erica Ortiz on Thursday, January 08, 2009 at 9:02 AM | Permalink 
Ms. H&H: Spot on post. Sadly NHRA is not alone in restricting the type of sponsors it allows to compete in the sport, NASCAR does it too. This has to stop if either sport wants to survives and grow. I loved watching the Beer Wagon Wars and nothing thrilled me more then to watch the Bud car trailer that other car :) Red Bull has a ton of cash to spread out in the world of racing. Sorry but you are not welcome here in the NHRA!
The NHRA has to get a hold of cost also. While I am no fan of “spec” racing it does have advantages, one being able to reduce costs. Which one of those suits in the ivory timing tower thought raising the cost of hospitality was a bright idea when company after company are laying off people just to survive? How can they afford to entertain when it is hard enough to maintain?
As far as the number of days for the event goes. I would be very happy to watch three rounds of qualifying on a Saturday instead of having to take a day or two off work just to catch all of the racing plus the cost of lodging. What does it cost to run fuel car one round? Maybe three or four grand and that is IF they don’t blow it up to bad. Lets see that can save them what possibly 125K or more a year alone? That buys a lot of diesel.
Lastly, and I don’t want to come off wrong here, but they need to get back to the full 1320. I understand and feel for the drivers and want nothing but their safety first and for most. But the fact is the tracks are what need to change to make the biggest impact on the safety of the sport. Mandate full length safety barriers, F1 style sand traps and clear all friggin’ cranes and such stuff off of the side and ends of the race track. Speed didn’t kill Scott, it was the impact with the stuff at the end of the track that killed him. These cars are still blowing up at a 1000’ just as big and bad as they always have and always will. I feel that silly rev-limiter is to blame for most of this. Who in their right mind would want to make a fuel motor, set on kill, to start mis-firing? And they wonder why they are “just holding on” that last 320’!
I’m not going to pretend I know all the answers, there are must smarter people then I in charge. But it is clear those who are in charge are worried about one thing, their own pockets, racer or fan be damned.
Best of luck in your racing this year.
fasthair
Posted by
fasthair |
1/08/2009 2:34 PM
I agree! As you saw from my post last year, I haven't been happy with the way the NHRA is heading. Ticket prices for fans are an extra expense that many can't afford right now anyway. But the choices they are making to line their pockets now are going to backfire in the long run. Every time I hear about the new changes they are making, I rethink how many days I want to spend at the races, or if I want to go at all.
And I agree with Fasthair, I feel cheated out of that last 320'.
Posted by
MzHartz |
1/09/2009 9:04 AM
I agree! As you saw from my post last year, I haven't been happy with the way the NHRA is heading. Ticket prices for fans are an extra expense that many can't afford right now anyway. But the choices they are making to line their pockets now are going to backfire in the long run. Every time I hear about the new changes they are making, I rethink how many days I want to spend at the races, or if I want to go at all.
And I agree with Fasthair, I feel cheated out of that last 320'.
Posted by
MzHartz |
1/09/2009 9:04 AM
What a shame. The suits could be using this recession as an opportunity to stand out with affordable entertainment, and promote the sport. Too bad they don't seem to care.
Posted by
Devilish Southern Belle |
1/12/2009 9:15 AM
"What a shame. The suits could be using this recession as an opportunity to stand out with affordable entertainment, and promote the sport. Too bad they don't seem to care."
Ditto. It's really sad to hear that this is happening. I mean of all events, this is much-awaited. People are seemingly indifferent these days.
Posted by
Used Car |
1/16/2009 12:44 PM
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