Australian Drag Racing Controversy Puts Sport At Crossroads

[SpoolMan]

Major League drag racing in Australia has reached a critical crossroad. At issue is which direction Down Under drag racing goes. Should the sport continue as it is, a mutiny of epic proportions from within the ranks of the professional, or Group 1, racers has the potential of tearing organized competition apart.

By following the racers a precedent could be set which essentially devalues the image of the Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA) as a sanctioning organization. Going in a different direction could empower the sanctioning body, with all parties placing the future of their sport in the hands of a management group whose own members admit they’re incapable of handling all aspects of the sport, from rules enforcement to marketing.

Right now the one common denominator is that all parties agree there’s an issue with the way drag racing is being run and organized at present. This comes at a time when the V8 Supercars, Australia’s most popular racing series, is grabbing market-share hand over fist in a motorsport industry once dominated by drag racing. Essentially the V8 Supercar series has become to Australian drag racing what NASCAR has become to the NHRA.

To understand the issues, you must understand how drag racing operates Down Under.

There are essentially three entities which control drag racing in Australia. ANDRA handles the enforcement of the rules and collects the fees and related taxes from the racers.

Drag Racing Australian Group [DRAG] Limited [Ltd.] serves as the marketing arm for organized drag racing within the country and is spearheaded by the owners of the country's three major tracks, Willowbank Raceway, Perth Kwinana Motorplex, and Western Sydney International.

Last but not least are the Group 1 racers who have banded together, although there’s no official group such as the American Professional Racer’s Owner Organization [PRO] to unify them.

As things now stand the racers are revolting, arguing ANDRA and DRAG Ltd. are doing little to advance the sport to the levels it enjoyed a decade ago.

ANDRA and DRAG Ltd. contend they are doing the best they can in a complex world economy.

full report and links with more news here.

http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-...-at-crossroads

[GTP owner]

It was going to happen sooner or later if the results they primosed did not eventuate. When super sedan licences rocketed up, most of the grass-roots racers really had to think long and hard whether they would continue. It also discouraged super street racers from stepping up to the next level, hence the increase in street meetings (among other reasons), but decline in race meetings.
I could understand the attempt that was made to increase the market when the changes came in, but to be honest they have failed to make any progress with the public. So therefore it is time to go back to the old system or try something new.

[bbcoupe]

Would the fact that ANDRA has had the same management for far too long and is based in a state without a 1/4 mile track have had any influence in it's direction during the past 10 years?

[GTP owner]

Originally Posted by bbcoupe

Would the fact that ANDRA has had the same management for far too long and is based in a state without a 1/4 mile track have had any influence in it's direction during the past 10 years?

Perhaps. They do not get to directly see where their marketing is heading and how it is being perceived

[burnz]

i have to say "what" marketing??
who is lobbying state govco's for more venue's??

and the driver/teams are possibly asking where are we heading? what does the future hold?

[Fireblade]

The CEO of ANDRA, Tony Thorton announced his retirement last Friday, not sure if it was immediate or pending but this could give ANDRA management a bit of a shake up.

[prasac]

some fingers definitely need to be pulled out of some asses. has gone seriously went downhill especially here in Sydney over the last few years, looked like it was on the improve, now who knows.

[bbcoupe]

Originally Posted by F6 FOON

The CEO of ANDRA, Tony Thorton announced his retirement last Friday, not sure if it was immediate or pending but this could give ANDRA management a bit of a shake up.

Finally!

[SpoolMan]

They have more problems just the CEO, WSID racers haven't been paid prize money from the last 2 meets and attendances at WSID and Willowbank are frighteningly low the weather has been a major contributor in both States to much rain on race days..
WSID $1 million in the red, Willowbank $800,000 in the red..

[rubber fire]

they should also look after the racers a bit more an stop putting entrance
fee's up as it is the racers giving us the show we go to watch with out them
there will be no show for us to watch

[FIDDLER]

Hi everyone. Hope all is well!

Just letting everyone know that we will be featuring Phil Lamattina on Speed FM this coming Friday night with some breaking news regarding the Group 1 movement.

I understand this is an important issue for most. This is your chance to professionally speak to one of the people spear-heading the movement.

If you have any questions at all regarding the movement you would like us to fire through to Phil -- PLEASE EMAIL THEM TO - steve@speedfm.com.au

This is yet another opportunity provided by Speed FM bridging the gap between the public and the news! Please get behind this as we are here for everyone!

If you are an ANDRA licence holder, this news is particularly important to you.

Regards

www.speedfm.com.au

[speedfm]

Certainly looking forward to this one. Make sure you all log on and pre-register before 6pm AEST this Friday night (costs nothing at all)




Steve
Speed FM

[Fireblade]

And listen to the Group 1 circus kill the sport.

Make no mistake, the path Phil Lamattina is talking up will kill off all brackets of drag racing outside of Group 1.

[speedfm]

It would appear you have been dreadfully mis-informed regarding the direction Phil will be taking.

Listen in tonight to have the story set straight by the person spear-heading the movement.

Speed FM

[Fireblade]

Well if he has re-thought the proposal since the Winternationals when it was put to the racers involved then maybe I am, but the person who told me is involved in Group 1 and another bracket and they sat in on the meeting at the Winternationals.

[speedfm]

listen in tonight from 6 to hear the story straight from the horses mouth.

Enjoy!

Steve
Speed FM

[dtomo99]

Gday Guys,

You have got to look at the winters to see how bad things are going. I travelled over from WA just to have a look at our showcase event and pick some brains while im putting together a XF SS/A to race at Kwinana.

Fair enough Sat Group 1 qualifying was drizzled out but to call the whole show off at 8am Sunday morning was in my mind absolutely crazy. Considering it had stopped raining by 11am Sunday and the sun shone bright as Monday this debacle was surely a panic attack bought on a promoter too messed up by the QLD floods!!?? . I was staying with a mate of mine from Brissy who has been involved as a competitor for years at Willowbank and he was dumbfounded by the decision. Sure, we were disapointed the show didnt go on but all we could think off was the crews that had towed from all over Aus to be told to pack up and 'F' OFF because someone **** themselves and pulled the plug on the biggest show in Aussie drag Racing because of a few showers!!! Surely no-one was a happy camper that day. Can anyone actually fill me in on why that decision was made and who's best interests were looked after that day???

[SpoolMan]

They re-run the event last weekend..

[Bluepower]

This will go nowhere.

$500 entry for Junior dragster. What a joke.

[v gate]

i think we were better off 20yrs ago when no one was trying to be professional and we raced for fun and you could get avgas from the pump at og speed shop.

[SLO AU XR8]

Originally Posted by SpoolMan

They re-run the event last weekend..

And, as far as I am aware, still didn't finish the finals. I left at 6pm when it poured down.

[dieseltrain79]

They didnt run the finals , was called off .

[Giant]

Growing the Grass Roots level and increasing the feild is the corner stone of any sport you need strong Grass Roots for the top level to shine. The more competiors the more money for each event which will help keep fees stable.

Run the events smarter and better! at WSID you can't even go watch in your down time due to the fact they don't annonce the class call ups in the spectators area. Toliets are a long way from the grass pits.

Put on a must see show/event make it worthwhile for people and familys to make their way to the strip. With events like powercruise drawing huge crowds shows that it is possible.

Teams and Drivers website page like V8 supercars.

There is a return lane and burnout pad why not use it for down time track cleanging etc. You could have the Monster Engery boys doing tricks on their motorbikes or something.

Make more use of the strips nearly everyday of the year tracks like eastern creek raceway and wakefeild are open and doing business.

Show sponsors value for money the crowds can be so small the place looks empty. Sometimes it feels like there is more cleaners and vendors then crowd.

My mate came along to the drags last weekend all the way there his telling me there is nothing like the sound of V8 supercars now he knows there is nothing like the sound of Drag Cars.

[XRQTR]

Sounds like a serious case of 'beancounteritis'

[dieseltrain79]

Giant , They dont like racers to spectate due to the fact the Scheduling can be changed at any given minute of the day , and is always subject to change .

Last thing people want is being DQ'd for not making rounds , or even worse , Crowds and other racers, dont want to be waiting for someone to get back to move their car due to they are spectating instead .

[SpoolMan]

I have a PDF file that outlines the whole new deal from the newly formed ERS or known as Eliminator Series Racing, Racing will be back at Calder and Adelaide as part of the plan its a complete shake up of the current series.
Apart from the above ERS has a bigger vision and will look after everything including promotion, event calendar, new rules eg: uniformed rain out rule etc.
All tec specs and regulations ANDRA will continue to look after this.

[Road Games]

Damn i had no idea the sport was in such disarray ?!

[Giant]

Originally Posted by dieseltrain79

Giant , They dont like racers to spectate due to the fact the Scheduling can be changed at any given minute of the day , and is always subject to change .

Last thing people want is being DQ'd for not making rounds , or even worse , Crowds and other racers, dont want to be waiting for someone to get back to move their car due to they are spectating instead .

Fair enough just when you waiting for 2 to 3 hours its nice to watch a few runs. If you could hear the call you would have no chance of missing your round. I park in my own allocated pit so no chance of parking someone in either. All makes sense most classes would be bussy working on their cars between rounds anyway.

[Bluepower]

Too many people think that they are bigger than the sport, group 3 and 3 racers are the lifeblood of the sport..........

If they reckon they are going to take on V8 supercars and win from a dollar standpoint, they are dreaming.

[prasac]

i heard the interview the idea for the new series sounds ok. i don't think they will do wrong by the lower Groups 2-6, the amount of racers racing in Group 1 could never fill a complete schedule. hopefully it all works out.