Have racecars become boring?

[Frasson118]

I agree Todd. I think there was one pass in the top 5 the entire race. I think Jessica Murphy and Brandon Johnson swapped spots (maybe even twice), but other than that, the top 5 were unchanged for 200 laps.

Time-trials, with straight up starts suck for a racefan to have to watch.

This isn't a Rick Bristol slam... it's the policy that sucks, and happens at far too many races, at way too many tracks. The only one with any balls the whole night, was Kory Abbott in the Legends class. Qualified for the pole, but started last. And he was pickin' em off steadily until he had mechanical problems (I'm guessing... he pulled off under caution, and never knew why).

[Osmosis Jones]

Hammertime!

Straight up starts SUCK!

200 laps is an awful long time to watch a practice session.

Make them race. The real racers will appreciate it.




See? I can write short ones too Jerry. LOL

[chassisdude]

I have been told many times that they don't care how I did it up north, but I raced in the 80's and my son is still racing in Ohio, Pa. Mich. and have always had big inverts for the races. Was fortunate to be fast and always started last back in the 80's now the son racing and at different tracks inverts from 8 to 12. I really think that is how it should be. Make a driver show his or her talent and let the fans see a race..

[ancrdave]

This is an idea I've wanted to see tried... I almost got Bert Ashelman to go with it a few years ago for Florida Pro Series races, but it would work out great for an event like the Charity Truck race...
Instead of the usual boring qualifying (which was held way before any fans were in the stands) here's what you do... By the time the drivers had run 12 hours of practice, four trucks were already toast... Limit practice to about 1 1/2 hours total on Friday and 1 hour on Saturday... Just kidding about the 12 hours, but there was still way too much practice time... Then, instead of time trials have a series of qualifying RACES... With a 32 truck field, run 8 ten-lap qualifying races with 4 trucks in each one. The line-up would be determined by a blind draw or perhaps by the date of each competitor's entry (first entry would start on the pole of heat one etc. - that would certainly get the pre-entry deal going strong...) The winners of each race would then draw pills 1-8 to set the first 8 starting spots with the second place finishers drawing pills 9-16, to set their order in the line-up... The remainder, plus any late entries on Saturday would run a B-main to set the field...
Now you have a SHOW without having to add alot to it, especially on Friday... plus you more than likely will get a very "racy" starting line-up... Two 200 lap races and the fast qualifier has sat on the pole and led every lap... time to DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT... No slight on Rick Bristol... It's tough enough just putting this deal together... this is just a suggestion that could carry over to other Series etc. and make for a much more interesting evening for the fans....

[tedrichard]

"Make 'em hard to drive", what do you mean by that? 8" tires on a SLM? Yeah, that would be hard to drive, but it is too silly of an idea to take seriously.

Open Wheel Modifieds already have engine rules that are WAY more wide open ( cube per pound of car weight and pretty much anything else goes ) than SLM rules and they seem to be getting by on 8" tires just fine.




If the cars are "too easy to drive", then I suggest changing classes. No driver is going to claim that a winged sprint like the TBARA is easy to drive.

easy to say ... as long as you're spending someone else's money. when you're funding it out of your own pocket that's a whole different kettle of fish.



Oh, and by the way, the tone of your message, implying that my ideas are stupid, comes perilously close to the definition of a "flame". Imply? No, you pretty much flat came out and said it. "too silly of an idea to take seriously."

come on now, take a deep breath. no need to nuke him just yet. we get more verbally rambunctious than this face to face in the pits. with people we like, even.



anybody else notice that consensus for inverting? i bet it would have improved the truck race a bunch if Gorham and the rest of the top 20 had started from the back. we'd also find out who can drive. 200 laps is plenty of time for a good driver with a good car to make something happen.

not that i'm saying Gorham can't drive, he just didn't have to prove it Sat night. aside from avoiding backmarkers, he was pretty much just turning qualifying laps.

Yep, you're right on the money on all counts. I was probably a bit too sensitive on the "flame" deal. And inversion is the only way to go to insure a good show for the fans. It's easier to come up with a system for a weekly show than for a traveling series, but it can be done.