Leadfoot
Here to learn
- Joined
- May 10, 2006
- Messages
- 372
As has been the case for as many years as I can remember, from trucks to tractors, from entry level to mod, it seems that there has been no "consensus" on rules.
Every year clubs/organizations vote and change this rule or that rule and one pulling organization that is minutes away from another has different rules and one guy can pull in one and not the other and vice versa, etc.
The biggest stumbling block is everyone tends to think their rules are the best or advocate their rules (or the rules of their club) because they don't want to have to change their truck/tractor yet again and I don't blame them as it can get pretty expensive. Also finding out what you need to change in January for April sucks as sometimes it involves a decent amount of $$$.
One of the big issues I see is we tend to change things in the offseason and people need to adjust for the following year. Each club votes on different rules as different times and it's tough to coordinate. By the time you get everyone on the same page it's too late and you lose pullers because they don't have the time or the $$$ to make the changes.
Over the years I have seen many pullers try to unite different groups only to wind up frustrated (been there myself). Now I know there will never be 100% acceptance but I was wondering if we got different pulling associations to "Pledge" that they would accept a ruling a couple years in the future (to allow clubs and pullers time to adjust) by an indepedent rule maker. Say a group meets this year and comes up with rules for 2012 and that's the first year they take effect. It would give pullers approx. 2 years to plan and save $$ if needed. The first year's rules might be a little dated (depending on technology), but that is easily remedied in the second year (and everyone is still on the same playing field so there would be no advantage/disadvantage).
Many organizations set rules, payouts, contracts, etc., etc. Each organization could set their own purse (as each entity has it's own financial issues), number of pulls, location of pulls, decide what classes to have at each pull, etc., but they would follow the "Master Rules".
The organizing body that sets these rules would be independent of any pulling organization although it would be made of representatives from all across the country. The concern of the body would be to have rules that would benefit the sport of pulling (not one organization over the other). I would almost like to see it be "technical" experts rather than pullers as pullers are often too biased and have a hard time looking at the big picture.
Many clubs end up changing their rules to suit a select few (which may make the class grow temporarily in that region), but it winds up kicking them in the pants years down the road (as the class folds).
Having a rule standard would be easier to tech as EVERYONE knows what is legit and what isn't, it would matter where you pull, or even if you were forced to move (loss of job, divorce, etc. etc.) to a different portion of the country. No more making a 4 hour trek only to find out you can't pull.
It also takes some of the burden off of organizations as they will not be accused of creating rules to cater to one group and/or deter another.
The BIGGEST asset of doing this would be for promotors. With a universal set of rules, they can be assured of a larger number of pullers (and a larger number of fans), which leads to more events and higher purses :rockwoot:
The only reason I could see organizations not adopting this is if they or someone had a personal agenda, is currently cheating, and/or products to pimp that aren't allowed. Adopting a universal set of rules might exclude certain types of turbos (although now they could concentrate on making ones that meet the new rules), NOS, etc. so it may have an impact on a few vendors. While I would hate to see any vendor affected that supports the vehicles used in truck pulling, it shouldn't ruin their business, and if they are smart, they could take advantage of the new rules and create products to suit them.
Thoughts???? Or is this like waiting for pigs to fly.
Every year clubs/organizations vote and change this rule or that rule and one pulling organization that is minutes away from another has different rules and one guy can pull in one and not the other and vice versa, etc.
The biggest stumbling block is everyone tends to think their rules are the best or advocate their rules (or the rules of their club) because they don't want to have to change their truck/tractor yet again and I don't blame them as it can get pretty expensive. Also finding out what you need to change in January for April sucks as sometimes it involves a decent amount of $$$.
One of the big issues I see is we tend to change things in the offseason and people need to adjust for the following year. Each club votes on different rules as different times and it's tough to coordinate. By the time you get everyone on the same page it's too late and you lose pullers because they don't have the time or the $$$ to make the changes.
Over the years I have seen many pullers try to unite different groups only to wind up frustrated (been there myself). Now I know there will never be 100% acceptance but I was wondering if we got different pulling associations to "Pledge" that they would accept a ruling a couple years in the future (to allow clubs and pullers time to adjust) by an indepedent rule maker. Say a group meets this year and comes up with rules for 2012 and that's the first year they take effect. It would give pullers approx. 2 years to plan and save $$ if needed. The first year's rules might be a little dated (depending on technology), but that is easily remedied in the second year (and everyone is still on the same playing field so there would be no advantage/disadvantage).
Many organizations set rules, payouts, contracts, etc., etc. Each organization could set their own purse (as each entity has it's own financial issues), number of pulls, location of pulls, decide what classes to have at each pull, etc., but they would follow the "Master Rules".
The organizing body that sets these rules would be independent of any pulling organization although it would be made of representatives from all across the country. The concern of the body would be to have rules that would benefit the sport of pulling (not one organization over the other). I would almost like to see it be "technical" experts rather than pullers as pullers are often too biased and have a hard time looking at the big picture.
Many clubs end up changing their rules to suit a select few (which may make the class grow temporarily in that region), but it winds up kicking them in the pants years down the road (as the class folds).
Having a rule standard would be easier to tech as EVERYONE knows what is legit and what isn't, it would matter where you pull, or even if you were forced to move (loss of job, divorce, etc. etc.) to a different portion of the country. No more making a 4 hour trek only to find out you can't pull.
It also takes some of the burden off of organizations as they will not be accused of creating rules to cater to one group and/or deter another.
The BIGGEST asset of doing this would be for promotors. With a universal set of rules, they can be assured of a larger number of pullers (and a larger number of fans), which leads to more events and higher purses :rockwoot:
The only reason I could see organizations not adopting this is if they or someone had a personal agenda, is currently cheating, and/or products to pimp that aren't allowed. Adopting a universal set of rules might exclude certain types of turbos (although now they could concentrate on making ones that meet the new rules), NOS, etc. so it may have an impact on a few vendors. While I would hate to see any vendor affected that supports the vehicles used in truck pulling, it shouldn't ruin their business, and if they are smart, they could take advantage of the new rules and create products to suit them.
Thoughts???? Or is this like waiting for pigs to fly.
