Pro-Trucks

[flraceguy]

One of the things that has happened with the trucks in the last few years is that it is an incubator division to the late model divisions for the kids... It isn't like it used to be where people start out in Strictly's or Super/Street stock cars, then to other divisions...

They start them out young in Carts, then go to trucks, and on to late models... If you really think about it, alot of the drivers we have had in the trucks for the past few years have been the kids and alot of them last year and this year have been moving up... In addition over the last few years, the rules have been changing and they have been allowing more and expensive parts into the division (ex: JW trannys, 9 in vs Stock rear ends, motors, etc. etc.)

It is a great division and I am sure that when the season starts we will find more trucks out there and running... Don't forget, technically this is the "Short Track Silly Season"... I really would love to see more adults getting into trucks as I think it would be a great division if more "experienced" drivers would get into it...

Have a great day all...

[Bigbuck]

Tire rule

I agree, There are way to many class' in my opinion. As for comparing trucks with another class, I would think that they compare more to a sportsman than to an OWM or LM. They have stock clips with wedge bolts,a shock claim, and use crate motors,with automatic transmissions. They are not allowed to use a QC rear,and they are on 8" tires. They where supose to be an economy class, but we all know how that goes. As for tire rules, I heard that in the Carolinas they inpound tires at the end of the night, and allow you to buy 2 new tires the next week. I have also heard that some tracks lease tires for the night. Don't know exactly how that would work,but its an idea

There are tracks in N.E. That allow to buy 8 tires at start of season, then1 a week thereafter. I know, there's pro and cons but at least everyone is on equal tires, the big dollar does not enter the equation, at least as far as tires go..But thenagain if you,re selling tires I guess that's a bad idea.

[modracer22]

There are tracks in N.E. That allow to buy 8 tires at start of season, then1 a week thereafter. I know, there's pro and cons but at least everyone is on equal tires, the big dollar does not enter the equation, at least as far as tires go..But thenagain if you,re selling tires I guess that's a bad idea.

Wow talk about a good idea.

[j2448h]

trucks got priced right out of affordable. why is it when someone comes up with a good idea, it gets messed up. i remember showing up to lanier ga.
and having 70-80 trucks and in florida with the fast series with around 40-50.
but oh no lets change the rules.

[gary laplant]

There still could be good truck count if the track owners would listen some on how to get the trucks back to the tracks, Running them as a truck class will not get them all out to race anymore at one time. Alot of drivers want a small traving series with a good set of rules and a good payout




Gary Laplant

[Frasson118]

Gary says they want a traveling series with a good payout. My question is, who will be paying the extra purse?

The Promoters will have to jack up the standard Grandstand prices, yet I know of VERY few people that enjoy this class at all, let alone asking them to pay more to see it. Asking more money from a fan that doesn't want to see them in the first place, is asking for fans to stay home.

Also, even with a better purse, how many teams are willing to haul all over the state, for an extra $100 or $200 over what their local track pays? The expenses to run them would go up substantially, with each team feeeling it needs new tires every time out to keep up. Add that to the fact that the race distance would likely be much longer than a usual Saturday night show, and it makes it even more UNAFFORDABLE to do it. If they can't afford to run local, they sure can't afford to travel.

The Trucks were never intended to be a "headlining" division, and maikng a traveling series out of them won't turn them into one. They are a "support" class, plain and simple. All past attempts at running a traveling series have failed, not only here in Florida, but everywhere else as well. It just doesn't work.

By the way, I'm not picking on Gary Laplant at all... he seems to have a genuine interest in making this class a success. I just think that the bleeding needs to stop on a local level first, THEN look at a bigger picture.

Maybe there is a need for something like a "division coordinator" or a committee that could work with both the drivers and tracks. Even if there were less shows, that were better supported, at least the fans wouldn't be forced into watching 3-4 truck fields time after time. There is NO excitement in that!

[bubba]

For some reason I have never been interested in the truck division. Yet, it does seem to be the place to spend a ton of money to get your kid into racing rather than the other more traditional classes.

It seems like the epitomy of have/have not classes. The new kids only want to be there for a year or two, till daddy buys that sweet new GARC super late model. Nobody else wants to run them as a "career" and fan interest is probably lacking. I would much rather watch a good sportsman race than truck race - not sure why.

[j2448h]

Funny how the parts series had trucks from All over the southeast trucks did not start as a local class . sealed motors zz4 and quick change started the downfall

[FLMOD12]

There are tracks in N.E. That allow to buy 8 tires at start of season, then1 a week thereafter. I know, there's pro and cons but at least everyone is on equal tires, the big dollar does not enter the equation, at least as far as tires go..But thenagain if you,re selling tires I guess that's a bad idea.

Thats not a bad idea, It would sure cut costs and help the drivers that can't afford to buy tires every week. the tracks just couldn't live off of tire sales.

[gary laplant]

In Oct of last year I had 15 owners that wanted to travel for 2011 with there trucks to have a small series going to 3 or 4 tracks with the same payout and tires/Rules. The payout at a couple of tracks last year was not bad at all for the Pro Trucks. But from what I hear they have drop the purse this year.

There are some that will travel and other that wont but if you have a series of 10 to 15 that will travel and you have 5 to 10 at the local track already the you have a 15 to 25 truck race at least once a month at your track

I promoted some truck races last year and had good truck count for the post part but run into track changing payout and rules which is not good so I stop promoting them.

The payout can be based on truck count 1 to 5/ 6 to 10 and so on.

CCMP alway had good truck count????

I think the OWM should have a small traving series also.

Just my thoughts

Gary Laplant

[RSB]

Funny how the parts series had trucks from All over the southeast trucks did not start as a local class . sealed motors zz4 and quick change started the downfall

They're running quick changes now? Damn, I ran PARTS and FASTRUCK for awhile and one of the biggest pains WAS having to have 4 different rear ends. Why couldn't they have just gone to 9" Ford rears?

[flraceguy]

in Florida Trucks can either run the stock GM rear end or Ford 9" rear ends.. There are places that can run quickchange rearends but they aren't here in Florida.. As I pointed out earlier, the class did start decent but then they started letting the "EXPENSIVE" parts in such as aftermarket trannies, custom rearends, etc. etc. etc.... If the series would have been limited to or been kept similar to the original truck series rules you might have a more affordable class, but you also have to remember that this class has been used as the entry point and jump point for kids to go to Late Models, etc...

[SeminoleWind]

I agree. I think you can trace the downfall of ANY, popular short track division to the introduction of aftermarket parts after the original rules.

I understand the pros and cons, just as RSB pointed out. He had to have 4 rears to race PARTS, versus having just 1 quick change. The point is, if a racer already had 4 rears, then had to go and buy a quick change, the financial hit is the cost of the new rear plus the 4 old rears. The old rears are now virtually worthless.

Here in GA, 1 track has permitted manual transmissions. Definitely a better product the the automatic. However, if you decide to convert, you will be lucky if you can sell the perfectly good automatic for 20 cents on the dollar.

Some other examples I can think of:
IMCA Modifieds-still a strong class, but these cars are now basically late models and their numbers have been steadily declining.

Hialeah Street Stocks-if I remember correctly, these went from pure stocks to Thunder Cars (Sportsman) in a matter of years. Every time an aftermarket part was allowed, the car count was cut.

Lanier (GA) MiniStocks-Pure Stock, when introduced in the early 90's, they had 80 cars and multiple features. By the late 90's, either the rulebook or the lack of it's enforcement, you saw, Holley carbs, racing wheels, lightweight flywheels, built engines, etc. By 2010, 7 cars was a good field.

Unfortunately, I just think it is the constant evolution of racing. Racers always want to go faster and promoters always think that the racers are loaded with the money to do so.

[j2448h]

i completly agree. come up with a set of rules. don't change them.

[fred23]

Evolution and the promoters allowing changes to the rules is the demise of all divisions.........there is a track up north, Todd Mcreary pointed it out, that kept their rules for I want to say 5 years and then revisited them with the drivers to decide if changes were needed.
If tracks would pick 6 classes, I would prefer 4, and set the rules and keep them constant, the classes would grow. If a driver wants to go faster or drive a more adjustable car, then they can move up to a class that fits their needs. You can't adjust classes and rules to fit the drivers, the drivers need to drive in the class that is good for them.
The other constant in racing is that money will always play a factor no matter what the rules are.......unless you put a claim rule on entire race cars, someone will spend money to buy the best equipment and motors possible and buy tires every week. It is just human nature.
A tire rule would be smart especially with barcode technology but then you are getting into the track owners pocket. Although, I still beleive that if you had a tire rule of one tire per week, more people would buy tires on a regular basis......
If a racer wants to have the greatest technology and most HP and buy tires every week, they should race SLM's. That is what they are, the best of the best. But the problem is that then they can't win races on a regular basis. There is a guy, and this is not to pick on him, that paid $14,000 for a super stock at NSS. I have seen some super stocks that I wouldn't pay $1400 for. We are trying to sell our crate latemodel turn key for $12,000. It isn't the greatest piece but it is a very good car. Sat on the poll of the last Super race at Citrus. My point is that a super stock should never cost more than a legitimate SLM/Cratemodel ......But people will spend whatever is in their means to have the best equipment and that won't change unless the tracks write the rules to keep it in check.