08 observation

[georgep]

Well the season is winding down and it is a good time to comment on the past year.
1. Highpoint was the Modified reunion at NSS. That was the way it was, FUN, TALKING and just enjoying the company.
2. The rebirth of Ocala, Sandy N. TALKING on the forum.
3. The traveling success story of the FMSA bringing 30 cars to Ga on the worst weekend for gas of the year. They know how to have fun racing.
4. The support and posts TRYING to fix the problem.

Now the BAD STUFF
1. USA closes
2. Bickering among the sprint car boys
3. The tire deal at all tracks
4. The loss of fans in the seats
5. Loss of cars in the pits
6. Injury to some drivers that might have been prevented with a better look at their own cars.
7. The fact that a person with a real desire and means to get in the racing game as a track owner is laughed at and then out of reason vision of the value of land. (sorry had to get that one in, still mad)

Now the Outlook for 2009.
1. Forums on vintage racing are more active than ever.
2. DAARA, NVRA and The Garden state group have MORE cars then 50% of the traveling race shows.
3. The dropping of NASCAR by big corporations. More money for the locals and little guys.
4. 2nd annual Modified Reunion.
5. NEW track built in New Jersey and doing well.
6. The increase in Historic car counts driven by drivers who could still run today BUT lost interest in doing so. Craftsmen Truck team will go HSCRA in 2009.

That is my $.02 what is yours?

[Boneman]

Questions for George: what is HSCRA? How will sponsors dropping NASCAR help local racers? Some money may be freed up, but overall the whole pie will get smaller.

Outlook for 2009
Presently we are near the end of a contentious election that looks like it may end badly from my perspective. I think I will be much poorer in 2009 compared to 2008. I am getting more and more pessimistic about it, BUT think back a few years. Why are we so sentimental about our sport as it existed in the late '70's? Economically, our country was MUCH WORSE OFF then we are today: prime rate at 20+%, very high inflation and unemployment. We had every reason to gripe, yet our sport thrived in the 1970's. What is different today?

Kudos to Frasson and his description of the ideal weekend short track car. I think he is right on the money. Wouldn't it be nice to see some movement in that direction in 2009?

Good stuff from 2008
The manager at my home track.
Rusty at Orlando Speedworld has busted his hump for quite some time to attract new fans. Yes, he'll cut the speedway grass and fix the bathrooms, but it seems like his passion is working over new fans. Thank goodness he is on the case. I am sure he has been effective, and who knows what he could accomplish if the quality of our show was consistantly better.

Touring series fall by the wayside.
Sorry guys, I was not a big fan of sending local teams over the road. Hopefully the net result will be more locals staying close and running their home track. I'd rather have a few healthy touring groups instead of a bunch of sick ones.

The Stunt Wars show, the PRI show (on a 1 year hiatus), Crash A Rama, etc.
Clearly, most tracks can't make a go of it operating on a single night. If it takes renting out the facility to make money, so be it.

The overall success of drag racing and road racing
I don't understand it, but drag racing is pretty successful at most tracks. Although it holds no appeal to me, we should look and see what generates interest in that sport. SCCA continues to attract unpaid racers who have to dish out hefty entry fees. Last week at Daytona, there were only 230 cars, way down from the 300+ that usually race.

Tracks brought back from the brink
Consider Auburndale, Putnam Co., CMP and others. Say what you will about them, but remember, the only reason they are open is because of determined, hard-working, risk-taking management. The more tracks we have the better off we are.

[flraceguy]

With many regrets, i have had to take a hiatus myself from driving this year and it is needless to say frustrating as I do so dearly love the sport/hobby/addiction whatever you may want to call it... Recently at NSS there has been an influx of more cars and thankfully a few more fans... Even though the economic times have not been the greatest...

I am optimistic of the upcoming year.. Even though the year may be a poor one for many, many people... Of that I am not sure.. With this election coming up, we are all in a state of Sh$&deep with what is going to come up now...

I have to give Rusty a big "slap on the back" as all the times that I was over there to work on cars for other people, it always seems as if he has been trying his damndest to get more fans and more cars to the track... Rusty it has been a privilege meeting you and I wish you more and continued success.

Lots of changes with my home track, NSS... Management, events, series... I hope that the continued effort to tech the divisions and keep everyone on the fair and square keeps up... Good luck to the new manager and I wish you all the success in the world and I hope that the 2009 season is a good long one like always.... I am hoping that 2009 is going to be a good year, because I will be back running at NSS and OSW God Willing .... (Not too mention anywhere else...) and money willing....

I have to agree with Boneman on the touring series, it is hard enough to get the money and the time to run our home tracks without trying to travel hours and hours away every week to run... Mind you, I would love to see the series succeed or at least have finished the year out before going on Hiatus, but... People are having some tough times and running all over hell doesn't help the pocket book...

I to this day don't understand what brings people out on the dragstrip..... It is a neat thing to do, as I have run drag before, but those suckers are expensive and it is such a "quick" thrill that is gone way before it started almost... Especially if you blow that $40,000.00 drag motor up and have to start all over again... At least with Circle track you get to have some longer fun and camaraderie with all the other racers.... Note to myself and all... I am a die hard Circle tracker....

I hate to rehash things, but.... I understand how business works quite well (at least that is what is says on my degree), but changing tire requirements more than once per season, let alone during the middle of the season is an economic hardship alone for some racers... I think that the tire choice has been made for the better, now let's let it go for awhile and see how things shake out.... Give em hell guys and gals....

Even though we have lost some tracks, it is encouraging to see some new tracks being built and old ones redone to succeed... Now RACERS, let's all support our tracks and get them to be huge successes again... .


Enough ranting and reliving for the moment...

Have a great night all... .

[AJ14]

The more race tracks we have the better is absolutly right . Believe me , there are several tracks that are dangerously close to having to close up . Can't be said enough , fans and racers have to show up , have to pay for tickets and entry fees , have to buy some overpriced concession food , maybe a hat or t-shirt , racers have to buy a little track fuel , maybe a tire or two . Yeah , it takes money for all of those things . But instead of going fishing , go to a race track . Instead of going out to dinner with the wife , go to a race track . Instead of a vacation , put the money into the race car and go to the track . At this point , an extra 50 paying fans and another 10 race cars might very well mean a race track being able to last out the season and open up again next year . This isn't a revolutionary idea by any means , and i might sound a little radical here , but take a long look at the USA pictures , there is very little keeping your favorite local track from the same fate . And everyone reading this board has the ability to do something to stop that .

[georgep]

HVSCRA Historic Vintage Stock Car Racing Association. Run with teh Historic Vintage Sports Cars.
Might have the wrong letters but they race the old Cup cars.

[georgep]

Drag Racing, Scca

No not a bunch of guys dressed like women
To go to the drag race all you need is a CAR, HELMET and shoe polish to put on your number.
The local strip in SC draws 150 to 200 cars of which 30 to 40 are REAL track only cars everything else is street legal.
Want to drag race? Family Car, Wal Mart helmet and off you go.

Circle track is in limbo for now. No matter WHAT class you get into you must have:
Trailer, Tow vehicle, GOOD Safety gear plus your required go fast parts.
Drag Race:
CAR, you driver there, $50.00 Helmet and $2.00 for shoe polish and you are racing.
That is the truth for now.
Calling a spade a spade SCCA is what racing was in the 1950's a bunch of people racing for the fun of it and the glory. The SCCA pro classes are not as large but the 4 cylinder gang is alive and well.
Went to the Walter Mitty in Augusta and they had over 400 cars and NO PURSE just trophies and bragging rights.
Sorry to be blunt but racing is like the failed housing market some people bought a $250,000.00 house on a budget for a $75,000.00. Same as a Super Late Model with the backing for a Mini Stock. Race what you can afford and stay out of the yard where the big dogs are.

[flraceguy]

Hey George I will agree with a bunch of what you said. one of the problems with drag racing is the true lack of safety in a good majority of the cars... if they were required to have cages and true safety equipment you would see a dramatic decrease in the volume of cars present.

As for racers that are racing in divisions they shouldn't... (speaking from someone who used to be able to afford and did well in higher divisions. But due to a divorce and tough times at work, I will be extremely happy to afford strictly or maybe super stock when 2009 comes around... in fact I would love to be in super when speed weeks comes around.. but again I am racing in the division(s) that I can afford...)

maybe some people should go back to the divisions they can afford... they would be able to race more and be much more competitive in those divisions...

some people don't understand that racing is not just about competition, it is also about camaraderie with other racers and camaraderie with the fans that support all those racers.....

have a great night all...