NTRA MISSION STATEMENT

NTRA forms this year 2008.
NTRA is formed with the following goals:
(1) To promote and support interest in Drag Racing, generally and HO scale Drag Racing specifically.
(2) To promote and provide an organized and friendly atmosphere of competition, for HO scale slot Drag Racing.
(3) To emphasize “Sportsman” racing, and provide a level of competition with opportunity to Hot Rod and modify production slot cars while attempting to control costs to the competitors at all times.
(3) To provide an organized and fair framework for conducting HO scale drag race events.
(4) To conduct such events in a fair and orderly fashion, with clearly delineated rules which provide for fair competition and equal opportunity for all competitors within their designated class.
(5) To be a disseminator and promulgator of such rules.
(6) To be a disseminator of items newsworthy to the interest of all members.
(7) To be the sole and final arbiter and interpreter of said rules, in the interest of fair competition.
(8) To be approachable on all matters, to seek and consider input from members on all things pertaining to NTRA and all rulings made.
(9) To make any and all rulings, when necessary, with impartiality, fairness, and disclosure, with such rulings made with the intent of overall good for the sport.
(10) To provide a first class and professional experience to all participants with no regard to race, color, creed, or affiliation.

THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT: HAVE FUN and MAKE FRIENDS, RACE HARD, BE A SPORTSMAN.

(Signed) The Board of NTRA



In addition to the mission statement, we thought an accompanying article might be helpful in explaining our goals and intents with NTRA.
What is NTRA? Well, for openers it spells National Thunder Rods Association. We chose the name Thunder Rods to express our interest and desire to race and modify for drag racing, Thunder-Jet type slot cars. We recall the hours and days spent in our youth, modifying, hot-rodding and racing these little beasties. Something about the Thunder-Jet design invites and rewards tinkering and parts replacement for the payoff of greater speed and lower elapsed times than those achieved with the stock chassis. In short, they are fun to work on!
Ok, so why do we need another association for HO Drag Racing? Aren’t we further splitting an already finite pie? We don’t think so. Our goal is to create a bigger pie. By focusing on what we call SPORTSMAN racing, by emphasizing lower cost and simpler Hot-Rodding requirements, we think we can provide a gentler learning curve to those who would love to participate, but cannot self-justify spending 100- 300 on a slot car. There will always be, and should always be, race bodies that emphasize what we call Professional class racing. In any endeavor, there are those who will always seek the ultimate in speed, technology and cost. We salute and support them in their efforts. We seek to provide a friendly atmosphere of fair competition for the racer who would like to participate in HO drag racing, without a huge outlaw of time and money. Simply put, this is fun for us, and we want to make it fun for the casual racer, the Junior racer, and yet provide competition for the somewhat serious hobbyist.
Ok so what is SPORTSMAN racing? The NHRA, which is the largest and most long lived full size Drag Racing organization, groups their competitors into at least two distinct Categories: Professional racers, which includes Pro Stock, Fuel Funny Car and Top Fuel dragster; and Sportsman racers: Stock, Super-Stock and several Modified type classes. The Sportsman racer is considered the lifeblood and pipeline that feeds Professional racing. It is an entry level and training ground in addition to being a robust entity unto itself. It is the domain of smaller sponsorships, part time racers, and those who race for the love of the sport. It is in the spirit of the Sportsman Racer that we assemble this series.
We are hosting our first event, The GASSER NATIONALS in March and April. You might view this as somewhat typical of the type racing we are promoting. Gas class cars, or Gassers as they were called in the day, Were typically old Fords, Chevy and Willys coupes and sedans from the ‘fat fendered’ era with Hot rod engines. Throw in a few fifty- seven and fifty-six Chevies, a Corvette or two, and you get the over-all class look. Cars have fenders, headlights, and most other street equipment. These cars were very popular in their day, and there is a resurgence of interest in them, which runs against the tide of some of the perceived ‘cookie cutter’ appearance of top class professional drag cars. Also, we think these nostalgic cars have a pretty high “coolness’ factor.
In keeping with the spirit of these cars we allow selected and somewhat limited modifications to the engine (motor) and chassis. This is standard is utilized to keep costs and labor required within what we feel are reasonable limits, yet still provide plenty of room to Hot- Rod your car. We feel the rules allow a definite ‘fun factor’ without requiring an overwhelming dedication of time and money. In the Future we may offer Super-Stock class racing, which will provide an even easier entry level to competition, yet allow for Hot Rod modifications.
Another facet of this race (GASSER NATIONALS) that is not wholly original, but is very much a part of the current format, is that this event is a proxy race. Competitors prep their cars, and send them by Fed ex or UPS or USPS, and local track owners and drivers compete with YOUR entries. The drivers select blindly from a hat their respective rides each round. It is important to note: the local track operators and staff and drivers are not allowed to enter cars. Why is this beneficial? It gives YOU, the average racer and hobbyist the chance to compete at a National Level without the expense and complications of travel. After all, this is a hobby and none of us makes their living from racing slot cars. (Yes we currently have entries from MAINE to CALIFORNIA)
Will we have ‘live’ races in the future? Perhaps, or perhaps mixed events with live competitors, as well as the local proxy drivers. Your interest level will guide us in that. For now, our format is the proxy race. We anticipate about 2, 3 or 4 events a year at this time and we will follow the lead of racer demand in making any changes to this agenda.
Our pledge to all participants is simply this: We will be guided by racer interest and open to suggestions to improve our events. Any rulings we make as to legality of cars, formats or any related topic, will always be made with an eye toward the best outcome for this hobby. (Will you forgive me if I call it a sport from now on?)
Why have RULES at all? To make US feel important and all knowing and wise? No. The ONLY function of rules and ‘tech’ is to provide a level playing field in clear terms, so that racers have equal opportunity to compete and succeed. (No one wants to bring a pocket knife to a gun fight.) We set rules and conditions in as a clear a set of terms as we possibly can, enforce those rules with notion that that is only fair to all racers, then step back and let you racers ‘go ‘after’ each other. If other classes are ever desired, we will add them at the desire of the racers, and ensure the same level playing field and easy access for all competitors.
After all this emphasis on SPORTSMAN racing, are we at NTRA then saying we are a lesser entity, a bush league, of the greater HO Drag Racing community? Absolutely not, in our estimation. We fully expect and encourage racers from other bodies, associations and sanctions to freely compete in our events as well as their current affiliations. We will always endeavor to stage first class events; with prizes, awards, even entry gifts and anything else we can provide to make your participation a worthwhile experience.
One other item: We do not endeavor to set a NATIONAL STANDARD TRACK LENGTH for NTRA. This is a deliberate decision, undertaken after much thought and discussion. Records will be kept locally by events Drag Strip facilities. We will make recommendations when asked, or explain the various “standard’ alternatives, but we set no MANDATORY standard as a condition of affiliation NTRA or participation at an NTRA event. We do NOT advocate any current tracks who would some day wish to host an event, tearing up, or even necessarily modifying their to track to any conformance. We feel that setting such a standard is cumbersome, unenforceable, and simply leads to division in the racing community. For any event staged, we will provide all track info to the best of our ability, well in advance of the event. Voltages are another source of division and bickering. We have no current voltage standard for the same reasons stated for track length. Current voltages seem to run in the 22-26 volt range, but there is substantial argument in favor of lesser voltages at specific events or classes as well. Again, all ‘standards’ for a specific event will be clearly delineated, before we ask you to enter. We want to make this sport ACCESSIBLE TO AS MANY RACERS who have interest.
To those current bodies in HO Drag Racing: We at NTRA have a policy of friendly co-existence. We have a niche that we feel is not currently addressed, and feel we can provide an entrance to the sport, and a gentle learning curve. We encourage our competitors to race at your events as well, especially when they feel they have the experience to begin to compete in those events. We currently have several ideas for general promotion of HO Scale Drag Racing, which would benefit ALL sanctioning bodies, associations, and affiliations. We at NTRA, and at the Psychoslots Board, pledge to put our money where are mouth is, by posting your events, reporting on the outcomes and encouraging local racers to participate at their nearest facility. We are in this for the good of the sport. Period. We look forward to cooperation and interaction with existing bodies with an eye toward promotion of HO slot car Drag Racing at all levels and venues.
No matter what the outcome of this endeavor is, we at NTRA will never abandon the needs and interest of the Sportsman racer, in this activity.


We welcome comments, suggestions, sneers, taunts, teases and the like. If you just wish to say “this sounds pretty cool” we need to hear that, if it is your reaction.



one more item..............do you NEED to be an NTRA member to compete at NTRA events? Not at this time. Do you need to forsake OTHER organizations to be an NTRA participant?? no!