Another "How to Fix Racing" Thread

[jacko241]

When I raced at Jax Raceway in the early eighty's, there were 2 classes, street stock and late model. We typically had 35 plus cars in each class, and it was a helluva show. There are too many classes now. Plus, the cost has put weekly racing out of reach for most of us. I think history has proven crate motors are not the answer. The rules need to be written to accommodate more "junkyard" engineering.

[OldSchool+]

Jacko,

Correct, but literally, de debil is in de details.

At a local track they run big iron with fwd cars. Parity is fair, but as usual, one combo is faster and that is that, at least until the next rules change, and... repeat.

Crates are $3k+-, and it is hard to rebuild any engine for that, I haven't been able to...

Nonetheless, the goals should be cheap (like a crate) and no-one-has-or-can-buy-a-big-advantage (like a crate).

To your point, I believe it would be easy enough to create rules to crate-specs, and then a guy could build or buy, his choice.

[jacko241]

OS, I get what you are saying. I just don't like the idea of spec classes. I think there is a way to write simple engine rules, like stock cast iron heads, maximum valve size, single valve springs, hydraulic cam, flat top piston, wet sump, etc. that would keep cost down and allow some ingenuity. You are right that the engines are the biggest expense, but the stupid ABC body rule is what ran me out of late model. For a guy with one regular crewman, it was too much work week in and week out to try to fit the templates.

[OldSchool+]

These days it is more than body.

Body, Motor, and Chassis are all on their own runaway trains, and unless you catch all of them you get the blue flag with a yellow stripe.

I have heard that it is even harder if one has an "irregular" crewman...

[myron]

In the sportsman for a built motor I have herd numbers from 10000.00 to 20000.00 for a good built motor, that is absurd for that that class. Right now it seems the built is the way to go at NSS if you want to win.

[Weftracing96]

You will not fix racing, especially in this state. Simple demographics. The good old boys are aging and broke,new people haven't come in, and there are way too many tracks running way too many dates. It's just not going to happen, no matter how good intended these threads are.

[OldSchool+]

Took a rare vacation with my son a while back. Toward the end of the trip I expressed regret that it was nearing the end.

"It ain't over til it's over" he replied. I remembered that...

There is at least one track that is trying to grow it's own local fields.

How long will they support only a few cars per class until they consolidate?

And one would think that the cost to field the car--any car--would enter into the equation when doing so.

To your point, the racing money does seem to be spread on the thin side right now.

[jacko241]

OS, consolidation would certainly be a step in the right direction. As far as money goes, with what it costs to race at any level, I am surprised there are still as many people doing it as there are. Weft, I think in the long term you are probably right. On a side note, there are 274 cars spread over 6 groups signed up for the SCCA race I am running at Daytona next weekend. We all paid an entry fee of somewhere between $200-$300 to race for a trophy. Please don't think these are are all high dollar entries. Many of the cars are old Pintos and Gremlins, and other things like that, pulled on open trailers behind a sedan. By the way, you can come watch for an admission of $5.00, and there will be a big party in the Fanzone Saturday afternoon with a live band!

[zerofor]

So Jacko doing the math that's an average of 45 cars per class all paying 2-300 bucks a piece to win a trophy. So what in your estimation motivates a guy to do that in obviously bigger numbers than guys running pretty much any division on a circle track? Because if so DAARA found the solution a long time ago since they race for trophies also.

[zerofor]

And maybe that's exactly it.DAARA and SCCA are clubs.USAC,ARCA are two more well known clubs although they race for more than trophies. Several race tracks I can think of in the Midwest formed clubs when they either opened or converted from dirt to blacktop,motorcycles to cars etc.Probably more in an effort to get drivers to talk other drivers into it than anything else.Now I'm talking a different time.But this happened in the 1940s and 1950s so if clubs racing for trophy's work now and clubs racing for money then both worked they're has to be an in between that should work.

[OldSchool+]

04-- We will wait for Jacko's first hand reply.

I think it is because at the end of the day, month, and year, it is cheaper to race SCCA and you get more track time. The prize money is a moot point, and the tech is a whole different deal, and more predictable.

That said, why do sooooooooo many cars show up at Showtime? Partially for Robert's sparkling words of wisdom. Partially for Danielle's sangria.

But I would suggest it is mostly because it is the roughest place with the most cars, and therefore the hardest to win at. The mental reward (fix?) is great.

And that remains the advantage, with all of it's flaws, of short track racing.

[OldSchool+]

It would be interesting to know what it costs to rent Biflo for a Saturday night.

But as long as there are tracks paying, why go to run for nothing?

UNLESS, it was with a field of 30 like minded peers.

And although the arrows point in that direction, we ain't quite there yet.

[zerofor]

Another thing is fans of NASCAR will tell you they hate cookie cutter race tracks.Then don't come to a weekly track in Florida because you have cookie cutter race programs.First off everybody in the pool on Saturday night.The calendar only knows one day a week here.The same race divisions at every track in the state pretty much with the six and eight car divisions having pretty much the same count from track to track. Heats and features if not features only.Never a pursuit race,crack the whip or if you are only going to run features in the faster classes how about running a six car six lap helmet dash once in a while.Make your track stand apart a little.Does everything have to be the same?

[OldSchool+]

I would suggest that if there are only a few cars and they mostly cannot pass it doesn't much matter what the format is.

And two heat races with half a field--of a total of six--is worse than no heat races, imo.

To your point, I think Auburndale's cone and a total invert is about as good as it is going to get in the artificial excitment dept.

Finally, to each their own, and I know that up north they like other nights of the week, but I would not attend.

Still always comes back to--you either gots cars that run close and you have a decent show... or you don't.

[Don Nerone]

Well all of this sounds good.
The first thing is to have a promoter that can sell the idea.
Sell tickets in a soft market
get the old racers back to the tracks
have promotions that get young new racers playing in your venue
attract local sponsors with a love for the sport
Make the shows events. give the fan something to go home talking about.
keep a clean venue and look like this is the kind of place you would like to spend your money at
All the talk about motor and car rules don't mean anything. It is important to have good people and rules but this tread is not going to save anything.
The racer has a car that he could not afford the first time he built it and telling him to start over wont work in this world.
I know most of you think im nuts but I have done it a few times. Only you can fix it.
Go to ur locale track and race and if you cant do that then help another racer and buy a ticket..
well there you go now wind it up..

don62