DO DRAG FANS UNDERSTAND HOW TELEVISION WORKS?
Sadly, it has become obvious they don't. Read a letter, any letter, they are all pretty much the same. The prevailing theme involves how the network is screwing drag racing and the fans by preempting the drag coverage with some other sport. Throw in some blather on how NHRA should stand up to the networks and demand their rightful place in the pecking order, and that pretty much sums it all up. Folks, drag racing is lucky to be on TV, period! I love drag racing, more than I should perhaps. But it makes for lousy viewing as seen through the average TV screen. Something gets lost in the translation. Maybe it's the way it is shown that is the problem. And the sound quality - Oy Gevalt!! Its 2006 already! Hire a sound engineer, someone who can accurately reproduce the sound of nitro. Study some Diamond P tapes. If the sport can be presented in a more exciting and entertaining manner, maybe it will no longer get drubbed in the ratings wars by collegiate softball, the Little League World Series and other offerings. And then, all you fans out there can quit writing those complaining letters. Repeat after me..."It's not the network's fault."
WHAT DOES THE PRO ORGANIZATION DO?
I ask myself this question every time a major sponsor like Miller Beer walks away from the sport. I ask myself this question every time something like the rev limiter comes along. I ask myself this question every time another "exclusive" equipment supplier deal gets inked. And, I ask myself this question every time the gap between the haves and have nots of the pro ranks widens. What does PRO do? I don't know. Do you know? Does PRO know?
WHY HAVEN'T THE TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER AND FUNNY CAR GUYS
STARTED THEIR OWN ORGANIZATION?
They get little if any respect from the sanctioning bodies. Their sportsman brethren would love to see them go away. And they don't even get to go to all the national events anymore.
Speed Channel would probably love to have them, so why not strike out on their own? They would be free to formulate their own rules, split up into more eliminators, whatever. They could even raise their own prize money and prize fund. Hey, they could scarcely do any worse on that count. I mean, why not try to be the biggest dog on the grounds, instead of just another bunch of racers? If the USAR Hooters Pro Cup series rates TV coverage, so should the TA/D and TA/FC racers. I watch the ESPN2 coverage now. I'd sure watch a bigger and better version of this kind of racing. Would you?
ARE ALL DRAG RACERS SUICIDAL?
Of course not, Gilligan! But they do seem to resist the notion of wearing neck restraints, unless someone makes them. Many in the drag racing media take the sanctioning bodies to the woodshed over this lapse in safety preparedness, but I think the weight should fall on the individual racer. I'm a big fan of personal responsibility, but I may be the exception in society. So it may be a more realistic approach to keep torching the powers that be on this issue. In light of how things have been going lately, what with all the chunking tires, foldable Top Fuel chassis and whatnot, why not mandate an eight hundred dollar device that could ward off millions in lawsuits and insurance premiums? Beating the insurance companies out of a few bucks should be reason enough, don't you think? Works for me.
Some things to think about? Definitely. Any answers to be expected soon? Probably not. Not to worry, however. I'll be back next month.
Later! 
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