NSS World Series

[Edm]

In my opinion promotors don't need to pay more, they need to help us make it cost less.

Great point, I've been saying that for a long time.

[Mike Bresnahan]

I've seen tracks that only give a green, white, checkard for practice. I was brand new to dirt and that REALLY made it difficult to learn. But thats part of starting out and paying your dues, and it's the exact same for everybody!!! These days, not many people are willing to do that. They hire a big name driver or crew chief, and try to out-spend their competition to compensate their learning curve.

Even Nascar has seen the negative effects that track rental and testing
has on teams...... Now a guy named Bobby Labonte can jump in a way underfunded #71 and actually be pretty competitive......Banning "testing" by itself won't fix all the local problems, but it sure seems like a pretty good place to start.

[Winger]

Jane that's not even remotely fair....Dirt track conditions can change every three laps, aphalt has no where near the change. Practice does help on asphalt but it's a gamble that has the odds weighed very heavy towards the track on dirt. Dirt practice is more of a car shakedown than it is a setup practice. Don't get me wrong I love a good dirt race, but the difference will always be the same.

I don't get that statement. Are you saying that track conditions on asphalt are the same at race time as during practice? The sun is still out, the shadows haven't moved, no one has dumped a little fluid on the track, no rubber, etc.? Granted that dirt can change significantly but the good drivers can read a track by just walking out on it and poking it during intermission. I've also seen many go out for their hot lap session then come in and change their setups. So I wouldn't say it's just to shake the car down. I think a lot of dirt drivers would like extra practice time to try different setups also. Plus the additional seat time would help. But that just isn't the way it is at the dirt tracks I've attended over my lifetime. I can go to an asphalt practice and watch drivers get more seat time in one nights practice than many dirt drivers will see in a whole season of racing. That is a benefit to the asphalt driver but a huge expense.

[tom77hmstd]

Anything to save us some bucks. A regular working man can't do this any
more no matter how much we love this stuff.But the tracks are not helping much making the back gate pay for everthing. A $35 pit pass is keeping me
in homestead.

[Mike Bresnahan]

Tim, I understand why dirt has limited practice and why 5 laps on pavement isn't the way to go. But, wouldn't you agree we'd have closer feilds of racing if ON RACE DAY ONLY the track was open for a 15min rookie session, and two 30 min open sessions? Period. Same for everyone. As it is now and has been, the fully funded teams can show up anytime and try all new combinations and go thru as many sets of tires as it takes to find that extra tenth or two. Thats why, unless they break in the race, you've got the same 3-4 guys up front every week.

[Tim]

Mike I do get what you are saying, and you are right. To make racing better, you have to keep them on the same page and even the playing field. It needs to be the best racer that wins....not the money. You can buy everything with money but talent. Practice falsifies talent. Just because you can run a fast lap in qualifying (like practice) doesn't mean you can do it side by side with 30 other cars.

[straight up]

those are some great ideas but the track owner isnt going to do any of it .thats how they are making money . by track rentals by cup teams and rental to local rich daddys .they certainly arent making any money during the regular season with 50 people in the stands and 30 cars in the pits . the ONLY way to bring back the racers and fans is to bite the bullet , lower grandstand admission , raise the payouts and level the playing field by whatever means nessassary . write your rules so whether you have $100 dollars or $100 million all cars are equal . as far as practice goes , stop the private sessions for weekly racers , have weekly open practice for all classes so everyone has equal track time .

[Tim]

Lower admission

Payout more

= BIG LOSSES

I get what you are saying but right now racing is a break even business at best. What you spend to break even will be a loss in the end.

I'm not saying that racing can't make money, but it has to show an increase in business before someone takes a look at what your saying.

In my humble opinion, racing is like the chicken or the egg. What comes first, the racer or the fan?

[Frasson118]

I've been saying for several years that all this practice time (for a few) is wiping out any chance for the guys that can't afford to do it like a few can. If you can't afford to rent the track, go to practice night, go through ump-teen tires, plus house and feed everyone for multiple days, then there is NO way they could stay with the elite few who CAN afford it.

This is NOT just a New Smyrna problem... it happens all over the Southeast.

I like Mike's idea of 1 Rookie session, and 2 30-minute sessions... and that's IT. It would give guys a chance that might just hit on something good, and the "elite" might just stumble a bit, making for not only better racing, but a lot more guys who felt like they stood at least SOME chance at running near the front. Nobody likes to haul out to the track knowing they are running for 6th to 8th at best.

GET RID OF ENDLESS PRACTICE & SPENDING!!!!!

[straight up]

right so the tracks gotta break even but the racer continues to go broke ? the tracks making money or it would have closed long ago . exactly my point as to why there are no fans or cars . the track has to share the burden to heal the wounds . unless your satisfied with an empty house . big losses ? the racer gets that every saturday .

[Mike Bresnahan]

Guess this is a thorn in my side cause I haven't posted this much in years....

It won't happen over night, but the tracks need to realize practice of any kind during the week hurts their "race night" product. Every night I'm at the track I have to: Spend less time with my family, expect my crew to do the same, spend more money on tires, fuel, gas for the hauler, drinks, etc. Plus thats one less night I have to work on my car, which means later nights in the shop for me and the guys (even less time with my kids)....
Do you see the trickle effect all this has.....For a HOBBY??? C'mon man, how many of us can keep up that pace only to still be exhuasted and out spent dollar'd before it's all said and done....

If we can make this a HOBBY again (not a job), the car count WILL go up, and racing WILL be closer. A better product means there will be more of a demand to see that product.

[Tim]

Mike I could not agree with you more. If there were a real solution would you come back to asphalt?

[Frasson118]

And how much did you recoup from all that spending?

ZEROOOOOO.

Another thing Mike didn't mention (but I'm sure he knows well), that all those laps on your motor means that it will be that much sooner you need another 30K engine or a 5K rebuild. EVERY lap at speed costs money. And these guys will put in 100 laps of testing, for a 50 lap race....!?!?!? Again, it's the guys who can afford those kinds of things in the budget. For every 1 "elite" team out there, there are 7 or 8 that are not. And 5 of those stay home because they CAN'T win.

I hope this new engine proposal works out, but it's surely not the ONLY thing that needs fixin'.

[straight up]

take a guy who dominates every week and keep adding weight to his car till the playing field is level . that takes money out of the equation and gives the little guy a chance . do this consistantly each week in every class and more cars will come now that they have a chance . enforce the rulebook for EVERYONE .

[tom77hmstd]

Man are you guys right!! Us racers, I guess are a dying breed.
I keep going back because sometimes I (with the help of some
great drivers) can keep up or beat the super spenders.