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The Original Michael
The NTPA website says "World Pulling International, Inc. has managed the National Tractor Pullers Association for more than 30 years. WPI is a stockholder's company that not only handles the business affairs of the NTPA, but also includes a marketing department and a publications division.

A staff of 15 dedicated professionals work in the Worthington, Ohio headquarters or from a satellite office. The other ingredient in making an event successful includes hundreds of workers and trained volunteers essential in producing an NTPA sanctioned event.

Even though both boards have unique aspects to their function to the business of professional truck and tractor pulling, they work together..."

My understanding is WPI was formed in the mid '80s when NTPA was (or almost was) bankrupt. After 30+ years, is WPI really needed?
What would be the real world impact if WPI dissolved and NTPA handled it's affairs?

1 additional random observation-
"World Pulling International," besides being a redundant name (think 'American Association of Dodgeball of America' if anyone saw the comedy movie Dodgeball with Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn) is a misnomer.
Ever since a certain TWD puller's incident crossing the border to St. Hyacinthe over a decade ago, NTPA no longer sanctions events outside the U.S. Perhaps when it was formed there were dreams of having a true international group, but the U.S. and Europe would have to do a lot of mutual compromising to ever agree on rules and class weights. I don't see that happening.

Also, there is pulling in Australia and Brazil, but nowhere near the level of North America and Europe. One can go to youtube and find lots of Indian tractor pulling, but in India they hook 2 tractors together and do a tug-of-war instead of pulling a sled.

Who will be the first puller to build a Pro Stock with Mahindra sheet metal?

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Tomah winner


Also, there is pulling in Australia and Brazil, but nowhere near the level of North America and Europe. One can go to youtube and find lots of Indian tractor pulling, but in India they hook 2 tractors together and do a tug-of-war instead of pulling a sled.

Who will be the first puller to build a Pro Stock with Mahindra sheet metal?

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OH1979er
NTPA will never exist again as it’s own entity. Under the dark of night and without a vote from the member states then President of NTPA Loy Thomas and then WPI CEO David P. made a back room deal that sealed NTPA’s fate forever. There used to be two sets of financials one for NTPA and one for WPI and NTPA was slowly paying off its debt and was going to be its own entity again. On that fateful winter night of December 04 or 05 Loy Thomas signed the NTPA over to WPI in perpetuity meaning NTPA would never stand on its own two feet again. It was around this same time you started to see the mass exodus of member states, it started before then but was a huge reason for OSTPA leaving. I’m not sure the move was even legal as a vote for perpetuity by the NTPA member states never even took place, it was a back door deal that forever solidified the DPS way of doing things and the good ole boys club we have all come to admire so deeply. (Yes that admire part is sarcasm) It was at this same winter meeting DPS stood up and while not verbatim basically said any decision is a business decision and WPI calls the shots now.

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So What is it
Mr. Thomas

As it appears from you remarks you seem to have another side of the story. So what is your side? You seem to not really dispute OH1979er remarks and besides that why does there need to be a big cover up about it? It is a given that DPS was not the best thing for NTPA, but he sure did make WPI.

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The Original Michael
the U.S. and Europe would have to do a lot of mutual compromising to ever agree on rules and class weights. I don't see that happening.

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Doc
Some thoughts:
NTPA was without funds and sponsors in the late 1990's. WPI was formed as the business end pulling, handling all income and sponsorships. NTPA was the rule making body. PERIOD. The Cope/Skoal days saw KENDALL MOTOR OIL, CHEVROLET TRUCKS, as sponsors of NTPA pulling, but the sponsorships were all SIGNED and administered by WPI. Anything to due with money=WPI....anything with pulling rules ONLY NTPA. NTPA had NO Signed sponsor contracts or even a check book. WPI is still relevant today because it manages and administers the membership program (NTPA participants) and provides the function for NTPA Rules making.
The NTPA BOARD has zero control over the WPI.
Some member states left in the early to mid 90's for lots of different reasons. However, during that time no single group (membership or other pulling promotional body) had any more effect on pulling than WPI. By the mid 90's USHRA, ATPA, OSTPA, Illinois and Iowa all found their niche in the pulling world.

Present day WPI/NTPA is run and managed by a group of less than 10 full time staffers. When people ask what WPI NTPA should be doing now, my answer is hire more people.....marketing, social media, tech services, administration, are just some of the areas in a modern day sanctioning body.
The current staff of WPI has been solid in their work keeping the membership association going on a day to day basis. The staff cant just go spend 72,860 dollars on some project. The staff reports to the WPI Board. So yes, the WPI is important to pulling, just as NTPA is. The business and the brand working together to continue the unique all American Motorsport of Truck and tractor pulling.

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TripleAlphaProcess

Some thoughts:
NTPA was without funds and sponsors in the late 1990's. WPI was formed as the business end pulling, handling all income and sponsorships. NTPA was the rule making body. PERIOD. The Cope/Skoal days saw KENDALL MOTOR OIL, CHEVROLET TRUCKS, as sponsors of NTPA pulling, but the sponsorships were all SIGNED and administered by WPI. Anything to due with money=WPI....anything with pulling rules ONLY NTPA. NTPA had NO Signed sponsor contracts or even a check book. WPI is still relevant today because it manages and administers the membership program (NTPA participants) and provides the function for NTPA Rules making.
The NTPA BOARD has zero control over the WPI.
Some member states left in the early to mid 90's for lots of different reasons. However, during that time no single group (membership or other pulling promotional body) had any more effect on pulling than WPI. By the mid 90's USHRA, ATPA, OSTPA, Illinois and Iowa all found their niche in the pulling world.

Present day WPI/NTPA is run and managed by a group of less than 10 full time staffers. When people ask what WPI NTPA should be doing now, my answer is hire more people.....marketing, social media, tech services, administration, are just some of the areas in a modern day sanctioning body.
The current staff of WPI has been solid in their work keeping the membership association going on a day to day basis. The staff cant just go spend 72,860 dollars on some project. The staff reports to the WPI Board. So yes, the WPI is important to pulling, just as NTPA is. The business and the brand working together to continue the unique all American Motorsport of Truck and tractor pulling.

Purely a curiosity question. Why don't they combine as one? I know PPL is actually two separate orgs too. My checks come from a different business than PPL.

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Doc
Some thoughts:
NTPA was without funds and sponsors in the late 1990's. WPI was formed as the business end pulling, handling all income and sponsorships. NTPA was the rule making body. PERIOD. The Cope/Skoal days saw KENDALL MOTOR OIL, CHEVROLET TRUCKS, as sponsors of NTPA pulling, but the sponsorships were all SIGNED and administered by WPI. Anything to due with money=WPI....anything with pulling rules ONLY NTPA. NTPA had NO Signed sponsor contracts or even a check book. WPI is still relevant today because it manages and administers the membership program (NTPA participants) and provides the function for NTPA Rules making.
The NTPA BOARD has zero control over the WPI.
Some member states left in the early to mid 90's for lots of different reasons. However, during that time no single group (membership or other pulling promotional body) had any more effect on pulling than WPI. By the mid 90's USHRA, ATPA, OSTPA, Illinois and Iowa all found their niche in the pulling world.

Present day WPI/NTPA is run and managed by a group of less than 10 full time staffers. When people ask what WPI NTPA should be doing now, my answer is hire more people.....marketing, social media, tech services, administration, are just some of the areas in a modern day sanctioning body.
The current staff of WPI has been solid in their work keeping the membership association going on a day to day basis. The staff cant just go spend 72,860 dollars on some project. The staff reports to the WPI Board. So yes, the WPI is important to pulling, just as NTPA is. The business and the brand working together to continue the unique all American Motorsport of Truck and tractor pulling.

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OH1979er

Some thoughts:
NTPA was without funds and sponsors in the late 1990's. WPI was formed as the business end pulling, handling all income and sponsorships. NTPA was the rule making body. PERIOD. The Cope/Skoal days saw KENDALL MOTOR OIL, CHEVROLET TRUCKS, as sponsors of NTPA pulling, but the sponsorships were all SIGNED and administered by WPI. Anything to due with money=WPI....anything with pulling rules ONLY NTPA. NTPA had NO Signed sponsor contracts or even a check book. WPI is still relevant today because it manages and administers the membership program (NTPA participants) and provides the function for NTPA Rules making.
The NTPA BOARD has zero control over the WPI.
Some member states left in the early to mid 90's for lots of different reasons. However, during that time no single group (membership or other pulling promotional body) had any more effect on pulling than WPI. By the mid 90's USHRA, ATPA, OSTPA, Illinois and Iowa all found their niche in the pulling world.

Present day WPI/NTPA is run and managed by a group of less than 10 full time staffers. When people ask what WPI NTPA should be doing now, my answer is hire more people.....marketing, social media, tech services, administration, are just some of the areas in a modern day sanctioning body.
The current staff of WPI has been solid in their work keeping the membership association going on a day to day basis. The staff cant just go spend 72,860 dollars on some project. The staff reports to the WPI Board. So yes, the WPI is important to pulling, just as NTPA is. The business and the brand working together to continue the unique all American Motorsport of Truck and tractor pulling.

Doc,
Your history is way off and the best thing for you to do is stick to the mic. NTPA went bankrupt twice. Once in the 70’s at which point debentures were sold to the pullers and they were bailed out. The second time was around 84,85 right after the Wrangler days and at the time I believe it was Dave Grimm running the show. It was at that point WPI was formed and shares were sold for $5,000 a piece. So no sir it was not the late 90’s, also as stated above there were in fact two sets of books. WPI and NTPA, NTPA was working it’s way out of debt and the original intent was they would be their own entity again. That all changed that fateful December day, in the dark of night, cold winds blowing across Ohio, at the Sheraton at the Crosswood in Worthington, Ohio that Loy Thomas without the consent of the NTPA member states signed NTPA over to WPI in perpetuity.

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Doc Riley


Some thoughts:
NTPA was without funds and sponsors in the late 1990's. WPI was formed as the business end pulling, handling all income and sponsorships. NTPA was the rule making body. PERIOD. The Cope/Skoal days saw KENDALL MOTOR OIL, CHEVROLET TRUCKS, as sponsors of NTPA pulling, but the sponsorships were all SIGNED and administered by WPI. Anything to due with money=WPI....anything with pulling rules ONLY NTPA. NTPA had NO Signed sponsor contracts or even a check book. WPI is still relevant today because it manages and administers the membership program (NTPA participants) and provides the function for NTPA Rules making.
The NTPA BOARD has zero control over the WPI.
Some member states left in the early to mid 90's for lots of different reasons. However, during that time no single group (membership or other pulling promotional body) had any more effect on pulling than WPI. By the mid 90's USHRA, ATPA, OSTPA, Illinois and Iowa all found their niche in the pulling world.

Present day WPI/NTPA is run and managed by a group of less than 10 full time staffers. When people ask what WPI NTPA should be doing now, my answer is hire more people.....marketing, social media, tech services, administration, are just some of the areas in a modern day sanctioning body.
The current staff of WPI has been solid in their work keeping the membership association going on a day to day basis. The staff cant just go spend 72,860 dollars on some project. The staff reports to the WPI Board. So yes, the WPI is important to pulling, just as NTPA is. The business and the brand working together to continue the unique all American Motorsport of Truck and tractor pulling.

Doc,
Your history is way off and the best thing for you to do is stick to the mic. NTPA went bankrupt twice. Once in the 70’s at which point debentures were sold to the pullers and they were bailed out. The second time was around 84,85 right after the Wrangler days and at the time I believe it was Dave Grimm running the show. It was at that point WPI was formed and shares were sold for $5,000 a piece. So no sir it was not the late 90’s, also as stated above there were in fact two sets of books. WPI and NTPA, NTPA was working it’s way out of debt and the original intent was they would be their own entity again. That all changed that fateful December day, in the dark of night, cold winds blowing across Ohio, at the Sheraton at the Crosswood in Worthington, Ohio that Loy Thomas without the consent of the NTPA member states signed NTPA over to WPI in perpetuity.


WHAT YEAR was THAT?

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Josh
Not really he jumps to whatever will get him on tv weather it’s atpa monster trucks whatever