PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Tim Charlet, a.k.a. TIMMAH, will begin a monthly column today discussing life from the grandstands, the not-so-cheap seats in today's drag racing. He speaks from a race fan's perspective, a side often displaced in many commentaries not to mention investigative articles. Charlet will bring ideas as he sees them, from the average race fan's standpoint. - Bobby Bennett

Have you ever been given a present that you will always remember?

Whether it was your ‘Red Rider BB gun’ or the puppy you always wanted, there is always that one gift, for whatever reason, that is more special than the others.

On Christmas day in 1988, I received the best present ever from my Dad. It was my very own (National Hot Rod Association) NHRA membership card. I was 15 years old, and was eagerly awaiting my 16th birthday the following May. As I opened up the box, I did a quick inventory of the items inside:

  PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Tim Charlet, a.k.a. TIMMAH, will begin a monthly column today discussing life from the grandstands, the not-so-cheap seats in today's drag racing. He speaks from a race fan's perspective, a side often displaced in many commentaries not to mention investigative articles. Charlet will bring ideas as he sees them, from the average race fan's standpoint. - Bobby Bennett

“NHRA ... Give the members a Voice”

Have you ever been given a present that you will always remember?

Whether it was your ‘Red Rider BB gun’ or the puppy you always wanted, there is always that one gift, for whatever reason, that is more special than the others.

On Christmas day in 1988, I received the best present ever from my Dad. It was my very own (National Hot Rod Association) NHRA membership card. I was 15 years old, and was eagerly awaiting my 16th birthday the following May. As I opened up the box, I did a quick inventory of the items inside:

    * NHRA MEMBERSHIP CARD/ NHRA competition number for ET racing,        (Comp C751)
    * A hat pin, patch, and sticker that were all ovals with the NHRA logo.
    * A rule book, coupon book and my very own copy of National Dragster Magazine

The final item in the box was the best, a 1988 NHRA Membership T-Shirt.

I wore that shirt darn near every day. I wore it after school, while working on our teams Super Comp dragster at the shop and definitely at the track.

That T-shirt or the video from Diamond P was an added bonus for members for many years.

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When I moved to Colorado in 1996, I sent in my address change and renewal check for $48 to NHRA. When I received my renewal package right before Christmas, there was no t-shirt. My first instinct was to ask my mail carrier if he had it, (before National Dragster was in the plastic pouch, I knew for certain that he read it first). When he said no, I called the office in Glendora to find out why I had not received a t-shirt. After being on hold for what seemed to be an eternity, I was shocked to hear that NHRA had stopped sending out the free membership T-shirt, but they would happily send me one for $10 (plus postage and handling).

It seemed that the value of a membership was suddenly on the decline.

As a fan of NHRA drag racing for the better part of 30 years, I have seen my share of races on the drag strip. However, through the years, I have had some pretty unique vantage points to these races. I have been a crew member of many different types of drag racing vehicles and have watched cars that I have “worked on” go down the quarter mile. In 1996, I became a member of NHRA’s Safety Safari starting line crew and have, with the assistance of a great team of men and women, insured that thousands of drivers and crew members in all NHRA classes remain safe on our tracks. Finally in 2003, I fulfilled a life long dream and became a licensed driver in the NHRA. I have made runs in Super Comp Dragsters, Super Gas Roadsters, low seven second Advanced ET Dragsters, even a Front Engine Injected Alcohol Dragster that decided to spit oil on me at 1000 feet (which according to “RAPID” Randy Baker, driver of the “Nanook” AA/FA, was the day I became a Man). I have developed many friendships through this sport with some of the best fans, crew members, officials, media members and drivers. However, no matter how I attend races, I am first and foremost, A FAN!

I have kept my NHRA membership card through all these years, and like everything in the world, the cost of being a member has risen dramatically. When I first became a member in 1988, the fee was $35. In 1996, it rose to $48 and in late 2008 the cost reached $69 for the same membership package that I received on Christmas day in 1988, (sans the T-shirt).

You still get 48 issues of National Dragster, hat pin, patch, sticker, rule book, a 10 percent discount off any purchase “licensed NHRA apparel,” the right to compete as a driver at NHRA sanctioned race tracks, a life insurance policy, and some of the same membership coupons offered over 20 years ago.

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In 1988, the NHRA had a hospitality tent that members could visit (with one guest) grab a seat in shade, get a cool beverage and a free copy of National Dragster at every national event. Today, according the NHRA.com website you receive “Admission to the exclusive NHRA Membership Hospitality Center at select NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events (Pomona – two events, Gainesville and Atlanta).”

In 1988, without an NHRA membership, I could pick up the phone, dial 1-900-468-NHRA and have Dave McClelland tell me the results of the race (for 95 cents per minute, but it was worth it). Today, without being a member, I can log onto four different websites, and get darn near, “instant results” of all the classes running at any NHRA national event, and even some Lucas Oil divisional events as well.

Making a comparison of membership benefits over the past 20 years, why am I still a member? The reason is printed on the back of the membership card.

“The party to whom this card is issued is an enrolled member of the National Hot Rod Association, pledged to support the aims and principles of automotive safety and fellowship in which this organization’s activities are based.”

This statement was written many years ago, and even though the basics premise of our sport has not changed, the direction of the NHRA has made an abrupt “U” turn.

In 1988, Don “the snake” Prudhomme, set the national record in funny car at 5.30 seconds in 1320 feet. NHRA drag racing was broadcast on TNN, produced through Diamond P sports, and NHRA had roughly 80,000 paying members (depending on which marketing figures you go by).

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In 2008, Tony Schumacher ran the quickest run of the year, (3.771 seconds) on a 1000 foot race track. NHRA drag racing is broadcast on ESPN 2, and NHRA has roughly 80,000 paying members. It seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Perhaps I should compare our paying membership of the NHRA to another popular non-profit organization, and all we need to do is remove one letter.

The NRA (National Rifle Association) has a membership base of over four million card carrying members. Their annual membership fee is $35, and with that fee, you are given these membership benefits:

    * 24/7 defense of your Second Amendment freedoms
    * Official NRA members - only shooter's cap
    * Your choice of monthly NRA magazines
    * Membership card and decal
    * Insurance for you and your guns
    * Invitations to "Friends of NRA" dinners, other special events and more...

DID I READ THAT CORRECTLY? I GET A FREE HAT? It sounds pretty similar to our NHRA membership doesn’t it? However, in my research of this organization I found one particular membership benefit interesting.

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“All fully paid Lifetime members and Annual members with five or more consecutive years of membership, who have attained the age of 18 years and who are citizens of the United States of America, can pick up their voting credentials authorizing them to receive a ballot for the election of the 76th Board member. The credentials will also allow the member to vote on issues on the floor during the Annual Meeting of Members. Annual members, whose membership is verified, will also receive a ballot to vote for the 76th Director. When voting credentials are verified, members will be given appropriate voting information (with instructions). To be eligible to vote, a person must be a member of record on or before the 50th day (March 27, 2009 this year) prior to the Annual Meeting of Members.”

To summarize, if you’re a member of the NRA, you get to vote for the leadership of your organization. As paying members of the NHRA, providing over $5.5 million dollars in membership revenue to our non-profit organization annually, we have the obligation to “Support the aims and principles of automotive safety and fellowship in which this organization’s activities are based”, yet we have no say in the “organization’s activities” or those who lead the organization. I believe it’s time for that to change.

I am challenging the directors of the NHRA to put OUR money, where their mouths are. If they truly believe that they are doing a good job, and that the direction of our sport is trending up, then this membership benefit should not cause any problems. This would provide a voice for the membership base. It’s the same membership base that provides all the employees of the NHRA with their salaries, medical benefits, and keeps them working in glorious Glendora. It is the same membership base that represents at least 25 percent of the attendance at NHRA national events. They support the drivers, owners, crew members, vendors, sponsors, track owners and their employees by purchasing their products, merchandise or attending races at their facilities. They watch the shows on ESPN 2, they sign in daily to online e-zines like Competitionplus.com and websites like NHRA.com. In essence, these 80,000 members keep NHRA alive. I think we all would like to see changes in the direction of our sport; the only way that is possible is for the membership to have a say in the leadership of our organization.

NHRA, I am asking you to take care of the people who take care of you. Give them a voice, a vote and provide true value to their membership.

Oh, and one more thing, why don’t you throw in that “Great looking NHRA membership T-shirt”.

As with any new endeavor, I will be learning as I go, and I ask you all for your suggestions, and idea’s that you might have for future columns. Please send your idea’s to Tim5636sc@msn.com . I very much look forward to hearing from you and hope that you will tune in each month for Timmah’s perspective … ”FROM THE GRANDSTANDS”.