Posted for Ricky Brooks Auburndale

[exnyer]

"Why de-tune the supers to run with the sportsman? If we wanted to run with the sportsmen we would have built them and saved a truck load of money."--Exner

You answered your own question: To save a truck load of money.

To be sure, I highly respect the folks that make the $acrifice to run a late model, and love to see and hear them run. Drove all weekend to watch the late models--twice.

But I believe it is going to take care of itself--the track owners are going to move to sportsman for relatively guaranteed high car count and lower purses, and the high dollar SLM is going to largely go away.

Back in the day, 30's model sportsman 6 cylinder cars went to V8s (like my avatar). They called them modifieds. Then they let special built tube frame bobtail modifieds run--essentially sprint cars. Then all the old cars got parked. Then the class died for decades due to expense and lack of cars. Now, save for an economy class of these cars at East Bay (I think), they are extinct.

Sell it now, build a winning Sportsman, take a nice vacation and/or pay down the mortgage with the change...

First, why do you care how WE spend OUR money? No one is forced to buy or build a super, we choose to. If people want to save money, well, racing is definitely not for you. As far as the track owners getting the sportsman for the high car counts.... how many were at Auburndale? The supers will never go away, say all you like but them and the mods bring in the crowds.

Second, you guys have to get rid of this mentality of "Back in the day" Yes, 30 years ago racing was big, but times have changed, car counts are smaller, crowds in the stands are smaller and every cost of racing has just about doubled if not tripled in some cases.

It will not be like it was "Back in the day" for some time if ever again.

[OldSchool+]

Ex,

For sure, how you spend your money is 100% your business.

And further, my point is admittedly selfish. I like big fields and close racing.

Perhaps you are well funded and so the expense is a non issue. If so, seriously, more power to you.

But, in all classes and for all time there are the JD McDuffies, folks that are in over their heads and the kids need new shoes, but they are trying to borrow money for a new shock or etc. It is still their business. But if the overall costs are less, maybe there will be more heros and less broken hearts.

Regarding "back in the day": It is possible, and the Sportsman class proves it.

Again, though, am not trying to disrespect you or your peers, sir.

[OldSchool+]

ps--re: car count--Imagine all Sportsman, Pro lates, SLM, etc, on the track at one time.

More accurately, all the money used to field those cars on the track at one time. And since the Sportsman guys cannot spend more...

[exnyer]

Ex,

For sure, how you spend your money is 100% your business.

And further, my point is admittedly selfish. I like big fields and close racing.

Perhaps you are well funded and so the expense is a non issue. If so, seriously, more power to you.

But, in all classes and for all time there are the JD McDuffies, folks that are in over their heads and the kids need new shoes, but they are trying to borrow money for a new shock or etc. It is still their business. But if the overall costs are less, maybe there will be more heros and less broken hearts.

Regarding "back in the day": It is possible, and the Sportsman class proves it.

Again, though, am not trying to disrespect you or your peers, sir.

It is all good OS no disrespect taken,

Just get tired of hearing, well lets slow these guys down and have them run with this class..... it gets old after a while.

The only time you will see big fields is for a big race, what weekly show has had more than 20 cars in it at any track recently?

I still stand behind my statement, there is too much racing going on and the money is not there to support a big field of cars every week, race less and have bigger fields. It does not matter what class you race in it costs money.

[Weftracing96]

It is all good OS no disrespect taken,

Just get tired of hearing, well lets slow these guys down and have them run with this class..... it gets old after a while.

The only time you will see big fields is for a big race, what weekly show has had more than 20 cars in it at any track recently?

I still stand behind my statement, there is too much racing going on and the money is not there to support a big field of cars every week, race less and have bigger fields. It does not matter what class you race in it costs money.

Umm, Showtime every week? Not too sure Ex is even on a Super team. He never seems to want to mention it. And OS, you really think Ex knows who J.D. McDuffie is?

[exnyer]

Umm, Showtime every week? Not too sure Ex is even on a Super team. He never seems to want to mention it. And OS, you really think Ex knows who J.D. McDuffie is?

Now, why do you have to start with me?

First of all you have never asked me how I am involved with the supers, not that it is any of you're business anyways. But yes, I am involved with a super team and I also have one.

I was unaware that I had to post my resume up here for your approval.

Well, come on Weft, name the classes that had over 20 cars?

Stop being a message board troll.

[Weftracing96]

I'm honestly just giving you crap. Purely just for fun. I didn't think you would respond so quickly. But let see, NSS is always over 20
sportsmans, Fastruck has had over 30 at Desoto and always at least 26 this season there. Lowest total Showtime for Fastruck was 20. And Showtime regularly has 20 in OWM, Mini Stocks, and Street Stocks.

[exnyer]

Ya, it has been a long day, spent the last 7 hrs working in the rain, not too happy!

Fastruck is a series, there will always be good car counts with a series, I do not remember the OWM car counts, the mini stocks, they fluctuate, I looked on speednet and there are one week there was 25 and the rest of the weeks there was 15 or 18.

The last time the sprints ran there I think there was 15 of them?

When was the last sportsman race at showtime?

[OldSchool+]

Why would there "always" be more cars with a series?

Seems like, here I am, car owner, with my expenses and obligations...can I afford/want to go race...or not.

Whether Bobby (sorry Bob) calls or Yoho posts a purse, what is the difference?

Look, it is not only car count. Whether there are 12 or 22 cars is not as important as how many "good" cars there are fighting for the win. 8 is great, 6 is good, even 4 is fine.

But when it gets down to one or two running away...the fans notice, and the promoters notice the fans noticing.

I would not be doing the "save money with 5k motors" soapbox thing if there were plenty of owners with 100K budgets, but they slowly seem to be dwindling.

Eventually, Governor's Cup type events will be it, and then...

In fact, a year or so ago there was a debate involving Yoho running the "World Championship of Late Models" or something (it was three days ago and I don't recall the actual name), the thought being "who is he to claim a World Championship event, that is Governor's Cup territory?".

No debate this year. On the 31st of October I saw a 25 lap late model race at Inverness that was as good as either of the special events this past weekend.

IMO, the late models are at a tipping point. Find more good cars--or figure out how to make more existing cars capable of running for the win, or the Promoters will look elsewhere for a full field.

Again, keep in mind that I have traveled a considerable distance to see three late model events in two weeks. I am not the enemy here, only the (possibly misguided) messenger.