The SCC Interview: Mike FerraraLast year, there were three major import drag racing series-NIRA, IDRC and the NHRA's growing Summit Import Drag Racing Series. Last November, NIRA merged with the NHRA, effectively leaving only the long established giant of traditional drag racing, the NHRA, the energetic, always growing and still young IDRC and the very new NDRA in the game.
Michael Ferrara, 31, has been the national director of the IDRC since September 2000. We asked him about the new realities of import drag racing.
Sport Compact Car: What was your first impression when the NIRA and NHRA deal was announced?Michael Ferrara: Overall, there were mixed feelings about the acquisition. On one side, we thought the racers would definitely benefit from having fewer total races to campaign in during their season. We also see that there's only enough industry and sponsor support for maybe two organizations. The closer we get to two, the better. We also saw it as an advantage to the racers; the rules were much closer since we were working with the NHRA back in 1999. We ended up with two organizations with very similar classes and similar rules.
SCC: Did the IDRC notice any direct reaction among racers and sponsors to the deal?MF: We benefited directly from the merger because we picked up sponsors from NIRA for the IDRC series.
SCC: Do you foresee any rule changes because of the deal?MF: We don't look at what the NHRA is doing and then try to be like them.
SCC: What do you see as the differences between the IDRC and NHRA?MF: Number one, we got involved in the sport because we have a passion for it. We know the movement and we've been promoters of it.
Second, the NHRA has a completely different business model. The NHRA relies on individual tracks to be promoters of the events. At IDRC, we're promoters and producers. That's why I think we've had great success in turnouts. The NHRA makes the same amount of money for an event if it gets 10 or 10,000 people to show up. It doesn't have an incentive based on spectators. In the IDRC model, 50 to 60 percent of our revenue is based on gate [attendance]. We have a real incentive to get people to come.
SCC: Where do you see the rivalry with the NHRA heading in the long-term?MF: I think ultimately the tracks will find our business model more attractive. And sooner or later, the NHRA will have to adopt something similar. When that happens, the NHRA won't just be making money on the import scene, but will have to invest back into the series. That's where the real competition is headed.
SCC: What are you most excited about in the IDRC for 2001?MF: We're trying to be very inclusive. Whether it's old-school guys in rotaries on the East Coast or the latest sport compacts on the West Coast.
From the event standpoint, our events have been widely expanded. In addition to the heads-up drag racing, we've built up the SR-1 team challenge to help stem street racing and get the street racers to the track. We've also expanded the Mequiar's Movement One car show and the 2002 IDRC Starter girls will be at every event.
We're trying to make it so there's more stuff for the people who are there. And attract people who might just come for, say, the car show and turn them into drag race fans.
Rumors&Lies* Legendary GM engine builder and longtime drag racer John Lingenfelter has announced his intention to go racing in the NHRA's Sport Compact Drag Racing series with both his cast-off Chevy S10 ex-Pro Stock Truck and newly built front-drive Cavalier. However, those plans may change quickly.
* Look for Ford's SVT to offer its Focus as both a three and five door in 2003. And a supercharger may appear on the car in 2004 to boost output of the 2.0-liter engine beyond 200 hp.
* Audi, which has been a fiscal sore spot for owner VW, actually turned a profit last year of about $1.14 billion.
* The Oldsmobile Aurora has been named "Car of the Decade" by some outfit call eMOTION! Reports.com. Obviously, it's wrong.
* During February, 26, 802 new cars were sold in Thailand. That's up an astonishing 36.2 percent from last year's. Thai cars are similar to Japanese cars, but spicier.
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