COMP461 said:
... On the DHRA web site the Fastest diesel in the world is bottom of the list , and the fastest diesel truck is not even there. ...
Not one word was on the DHRA site about Scott , or myself , both DHRA members , and both setting the world on fire with the accomplishments and recognition of the rest of the world.
This is the main reason I , and others have pushed so hard to get a place where we can run , with rules that will be stable , and the Flem Flam and underhandedness will be a thing of the past. I have been offered a comp ride starting in Houston in a few weeks , but I will still be helping get these diesel classes in place . with great people like Scott Bentz , William Fletch , David Lot ,and many others and engine builders like John Russin and RAYMAC , I feel obligated to help right the terrible direction that this train had been going in and bring it in the the light of this great sport Wally Parks made for us , NHRA Drag Racing.
I can maintain my silence no longer. There seem to be a number of misconceptions concerning the DHRA, and it seems they are being propagated here. The Diesel Hot Rod Association, Inc. , is incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mr. McBride and I co-founded the business in 2003, and we are the sole custodians of the business; in fact, for most of 2003, the entire business was in my name and ID, personally. Until very recently, he and I have been solely responsible for its operation with, the help of a few dedicated volunteers. Eric has handled the promotion of the business and the scheduling of events; he has been responsible for the motorsports aspect of the business. I have handled the financial books, member services, merchandise, web site maintenance, printing and publishing of rule books and other matter, and information management. I've been responsible for the 'inside' operations. Nearly all of the work I've done has been done in-house (literally), because we haven't had the funds to hire it done.
Most of you reading this know that DHRA is a young company, though you might not have realized just how small it is. DHRA, Inc. , is not a large company or even a business of moderate size. We don't have a news department combing motorsports news for diesel-related records and events. We don't have a PR department polishing our image. We don't have a technical department overseeing rules development. We don't have a sales department wooing potential sponsors and selling gobs of web site and rule book advertising. We don't have a bevy of vice presidents making sure everything gets done when it should be done. There are now four of us working full-time to grow DHRA. We all strive to present DHRA as a responsible, professional business.
If you believe our web site is lacking a certain class of information, then by all means email us the block of information. It might take me a while to figure out how and where to put it in the website, but it will be installed eventually. Like the rulebooks, the website has structure and organization - things can't just be added willy-nilly.
I am aware of a number of people who have bones to pick with Mr. McBride personally. That's OK; no one of us, including Eric and myself, is perfect. However, disparaging and diminishing DHRA, Inc. , in an attempt to belittle Mr. McBride really only serves to annoy me, because it's *my* business and livelihood that's being harmed. If one is going to disparage the DHRA, I'd really prefer it be because he has a legitimate beef with DHRA, not because someone *else* has a beef with Mr. McBride.
Next, it would seem that some folks want to have an instant national diesel performance presence, so they can perform in front of tens of thousands of cheering, awe-struck fans. It ain't gonna happen today. It can't happen without people to compete, vehicles with which they can compete, vendors and suppliers to provide the parts, and fans to support the industry. Perhaps the competitors are there, but the vehicles are not. Until there is a large-enough base of racers and equipment, NHRA are not going to specify a class for diesels; they have their hands full with their current classes. That's why we created DHRA.
Eric asked, and NHRA told him to create a sanctioning body for diesel-powered vehicles. We did that. NHRA have approved the DHRA as an ASO. And SFI have approved our rules and requirements. We have been building the foundation for diesel-powered drag racing and sled pulling classes and events. Without this foundation, the rest cannot be built.
Moving along, there seems to be a misconception that Eric changes DHRA rules as he sees fit, on whatever whim he has that day. Or minute. This is false. Any rules changes made have only been made after receiving input and advice from drag racers and sled pullers. The rules have been reasonably stable for two years now. Have we made structure changes? Yes. Divisional drag racing was failing, because there aren't enough racers to support it and it was far too much effort to ask of unpaid, un-reimbursed volunteer directors to travel to and run every race. We changed to member tracks, because enough racers let us know that they would rather race at their local tracks rather than travel 800 miles for a race; this change also eliminated a good bit of work load for us.
The DHRA is not going away. We are growing. We've signed our first major sponsor (Gold Eagle's DieselPower! additives). We have the 10-pull DieselPower! Sled Pulling Series this year. We have 10 member tracks signed on for this season in the DieselPower! Drag Racing Series. We are still on track to achieve the goals we laid out two years ago. Building a racing industry takes time. And dedication. If you want to know what DHRA is all about, read our mission, vision and core values statements. These statements define our focus.
If you disagree with our goals, methods, achievements, et al, then, by all means, form your own diesel motorsports organization. But please remember that growing your organization is much more productive than tearing down someone else's. If we focus on growing our organizations, the net result will be that diesel motorsports will grow that much faster as a whole.
Finally, I, too, see most of the 'East Coast v. West Coast' as naught but childish taunting. It certainly isn't based on low-altitude versus high-altitude operation, because that's nothing but a problem that can be solved with the proper application of engineering and technology. Were it a friendly rivalry, the two sides would meet from time to time in organized, sanctioned competition, with both sides returning home afterward "licking their wounds"; but that hasn't happened. No, it's nothing but childish taunting and boasting. Diesel Thunder at IRP happens in June. Truck Fest happens in July. Sounds like two fine opportunities to build a proper rivalry.
Neal
Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
and to hellll with the animosity games 
