2/2/2009

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LETTER OF THE MONTH:

Attempted Robbery in Chandler

A friend and I went out to Firebird for the Test 'N Tune last weekend and were surprised by the large numbers of cars in line waiting to buy tickets. We were also surprised at how many people were, for whatever reason, turning around and driving by us on their way out.

When we got close to the ticket booth we found out why. Admission was $28 per person and parking was another $10. $66 for a couple of fans to watch a dozen each Top Fuelers and Funny Cars make mostly half-track runs? 

Is Firebird unaware of the economy, the state of the nation, the recession, lost jobs,  shattered consumer confidence, the mortgage crisis, etc., etc., etc.?

Trickle-down economics won't work for the sport of drag racing any better than it does for the middle class. Too much greed at the top means the money and prosperity, or at least the opportunity that's supposed to filter down to us po' folks is held in a death grip by the rich or at least well enough off. And when the little guy suffers, when the turnip won't give blood no matter how hard it’s squeezed, then the health of business starts to suffer. Sometimes with catastrophic results.

I'm not going to the sponsor-less Arizona Nationals in Chandler this month for two reasons; 1) I'm still insulted by the notion that Firebird would charge such an outlandish fee for a practice session  (and think of NBA player Alan Iverson questioning, "Practice?  Practice?  Man, we talkin' 'bout practice!"), and 2) because I simply can't afford a Sunday ticket this month. Or more truthfully, the poor taste in my mouth from last weekend will prevent me from going anyway, despite my strained budget, as I've done many times before.

This year a lot of drag racing fans will stay home and watch the drags on TV instead of buying tickets, even if the races are tape-delayed.  We'll buy our beer by the 12-pack at Safeway for $8.99 or less, and buy our jerseys and collectibles off the Internet. We'll send out for pizza or barbecue our own burgers and brats instead of risking gastrointestinal tragedy on overpriced track food. Yes, we'll relish fond memories of the smell of nitro fumes and that ear-pounding, ground shaking blast when the fuel cars rocket down the strip.

And we'll tell ourselves we'll try to make it back to the strip next year if money isn't so tight, and if ticket prices aren't out of reason.

We'll still support the companies that are still supporting racing. We'll buy household products and motor oil and energy drinks and spark plugs and cars and trucks from the companies that are writing big checks because they believe in the sport and value its fans. 

But those companies and businesses that blatantly show no respect for their customers and the plight we're in will get nothing.

William Tybur
Tempe, Arizona

Just who owns the NHRA?

Just Wondering - if the sale of the NHRA Pro series had gone through, what would have happened to the millions of dollars? Would it have gone straight into Compton's bank account as a bonus?

Roger Annabel
California