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Topic: Do you remember when?
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December 01, 2015 at
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This message was edited on
December 01, 2015 at
12:17:36 PM by fiXXXer
I know a lot of people on here have been around a lot longer than I have, but I'm what they call a 90's kid. I've been going to sprint car races since before I could walk and the 1990's and 2000's were the years in which I did all my growing up (or lack thereof if you ask my wife). Maybe it was just being a naive kid but I remember back then, race fans seemed a hell of a lot more happy, and far less critical of everything, and everyone. I don't remember hearing too many people bitching about facilities, track surfaces, food, certain drivers etc. like they do now. Obviously there was some of that, probably always has been but it seemed like it was a far less common occurrence. I know messageboards and social media have given people a more public platform but I'm talking just as much about the conversations you have with people at the race tracks and the conversations I've overheard among people. It seems like back then, people were a lot more happy to be where they were and doing what they were doing. They didn't care as much if the bleachers were a bit shitty or if the food wasn't great or any of that shit that seems to be a deal breaker for so many people these days. They mostly went to the races and thoroughly enjoyed being there. Now it seems, way too many people are just too damn picky. They think EVERYTHING should be up to their standards and meet or exceed their lofty expectations and there are too many people who have seemingly forgotten what going to the races is supposed be about. For me, my perspective hasn't changed. It's about first and foremost, spending some quality time with my dad and many of my best friends. Even if its a bad race, we still have fun and we enjoy the hell out of each others company. It's about being there, in the moment and witnessing history. I think a lot of people forget, every time a checkered flag waves, history is made. Someone's name is going into the history books and whether it's a young guys first win, or Greg Hodnett winning another race at Williams Grove, it's still history being made and I consider myself fortunate to be there to witness it. It's about watching ordinary men with extraordinary courage doing something that very few of us would have the balls to do and something even less of us would have the talent to do and making it look easy. Like I said, maybe it's always been this way and I was just too dumb or naive to pick up on it but from what I've seen, in recent years, there seems to be an increasing amount of people who would rather go to the races looking something......anything to bitch about. I think a lot of people have forgotten what it's really all about and I feel sorry for those people who miss out on a fun night at the races with their friends because they're too hung up on the fact that their hamburger was a bit over done or the bleachers could be a little more comfortable or any of the multitude of petty and meaningless bullshit that people occupy themselves with these days. I'm not perfect, far from it, but I'm glad I can still go to the races and enjoy every minute of it even if everything isn't perfect.
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December 01, 2015 at
01:45:44 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: fiXXXer on December 01 2015 at 12:09:10 PM
I know a lot of people on here have been around a lot longer than I have, but I'm what they call a 90's kid. I've been going to sprint car races since before I could walk and the 1990's and 2000's were the years in which I did all my growing up (or lack thereof if you ask my wife). Maybe it was just being a naive kid but I remember back then, race fans seemed a hell of a lot more happy, and far less critical of everything, and everyone. I don't remember hearing too many people bitching about facilities, track surfaces, food, certain drivers etc. like they do now. Obviously there was some of that, probably always has been but it seemed like it was a far less common occurrence. I know messageboards and social media have given people a more public platform but I'm talking just as much about the conversations you have with people at the race tracks and the conversations I've overheard among people. It seems like back then, people were a lot more happy to be where they were and doing what they were doing. They didn't care as much if the bleachers were a bit shitty or if the food wasn't great or any of that shit that seems to be a deal breaker for so many people these days. They mostly went to the races and thoroughly enjoyed being there. Now it seems, way too many people are just too damn picky. They think EVERYTHING should be up to their standards and meet or exceed their lofty expectations and there are too many people who have seemingly forgotten what going to the races is supposed be about. For me, my perspective hasn't changed. It's about first and foremost, spending some quality time with my dad and many of my best friends. Even if its a bad race, we still have fun and we enjoy the hell out of each others company. It's about being there, in the moment and witnessing history. I think a lot of people forget, every time a checkered flag waves, history is made. Someone's name is going into the history books and whether it's a young guys first win, or Greg Hodnett winning another race at Williams Grove, it's still history being made and I consider myself fortunate to be there to witness it. It's about watching ordinary men with extraordinary courage doing something that very few of us would have the balls to do and something even less of us would have the talent to do and making it look easy. Like I said, maybe it's always been this way and I was just too dumb or naive to pick up on it but from what I've seen, in recent years, there seems to be an increasing amount of people who would rather go to the races looking something......anything to bitch about. I think a lot of people have forgotten what it's really all about and I feel sorry for those people who miss out on a fun night at the races with their friends because they're too hung up on the fact that their hamburger was a bit over done or the bleachers could be a little more comfortable or any of the multitude of petty and meaningless bullshit that people occupy themselves with these days. I'm not perfect, far from it, but I'm glad I can still go to the races and enjoy every minute of it even if everything isn't perfect.
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I think people have become spoiled (me included). Not every track is going to be an Eldora in terms of amenities. Although I still have yet to sit anywhere, be it a racetrack, stadium, etc, where my ass doesn't hurt after 4 or 5 hours of sitting there! Gotta remind yourself Fixxxer that guys like you and me, and 99.9% of the others on here fall in to the "die-hard" sprintfan category. We'll sit on anything, hold our nose in any stinking bathroom, and eat anything closely resembling food - as long as it's "racetrack" food. It's the ones not like us whose $$ tracks and anybody in the entertainment business are competing for. Sometimes progress (updating your facilities, product you offer) is a good thing.
And, as you pointed out, social media has a lot to do with it as well. Good post! Should get some good discussion going.
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December 01, 2015 at
01:52:48 PM
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It's called "Instant gratification", and most people have become so accustomed to having it that they demand everything be just right (in their opinion).
You can go on the web and see results, or even watch the race you're interested in. Long gone are the days of waiting a week to read about it.
It has to be right effing now!!!!! Otherwise, it's not of interest to people.
I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks
anywhere.
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December 01, 2015 at
02:38:16 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: larsonfan on December 01 2015 at 01:45:44 PM
I think people have become spoiled (me included). Not every track is going to be an Eldora in terms of amenities. Although I still have yet to sit anywhere, be it a racetrack, stadium, etc, where my ass doesn't hurt after 4 or 5 hours of sitting there! Gotta remind yourself Fixxxer that guys like you and me, and 99.9% of the others on here fall in to the "die-hard" sprintfan category. We'll sit on anything, hold our nose in any stinking bathroom, and eat anything closely resembling food - as long as it's "racetrack" food. It's the ones not like us whose $$ tracks and anybody in the entertainment business are competing for. Sometimes progress (updating your facilities, product you offer) is a good thing.
And, as you pointed out, social media has a lot to do with it as well. Good post! Should get some good discussion going.
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Right on. I'm not at all against progress. In fact you won't find anyone who likes "new and improved" more than I do but I also recognize when something isn't broke, why fix it? Even if it isn't perfect or if it COULD be better, if it serves its function and does it well, why waste the time or money on it. You're right about the die hards vs. casual fans. The problem I'm seeing is, many of die hards are also turning into whiny little brats who kick and scream when shit doesn't go how they envisioned it. Heaven forbid they see a "bad" race once in awhile. To me, there's no such thing as a "bad" race as long as I still get to share that time with good friends and family because no matter what, the group I run with is pretty positive. We have fun no matter what because we enjoy each others company. That (in my opinion) is what it's all about.
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December 01, 2015 at
02:56:01 PM
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I was lucky enough that my parents took me to my first race when I was 2 months old and I have been going ever since. I also spent my teenage years in the 90's at the dirt tracks of Central PA and I agree that people need to get over themselves. Since Facebook and Twitter have become popular people have this great sense that their opinion is much more important than that of others. I don't make it to the Grove nearly as much as I would like because I work until 5 every Friday and live over 2 hours away, but when I do get to go I am hammer down on the Turnpike because I can't wait to be at the races and with my friends. Pinky takes a lot of static over the Grove, but in the last 10 or so years they have built bathrooms that are staffed with attendance, and improved pit conditions for the teams. Could the food be cheaper or the seats more comfortable, maybe, but I for one don't think the food is that over priced and the wooden bleachers haven't killed me in 35 years so I think I'll be all right. People, especially some from Central PA, forget how lucky we are to have 3 full time 410 tracks plus all of the specials available to us. Not to mention we get to see almost every top driver in the country over the course of a season with the Outlaws and All Stars coming in for multiple shows. With any luck I'll get to pass the winter on my snowmobile but I'm ready for the Icebreaker now.
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December 01, 2015 at
11:53:56 PM
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Great post fiXXXer! It all started for me as a kid in the late fifties....and 60's....through high school...and into adulthood when I was able to travel quite a bit and visit many race tracks and see many WoO and All Star races. Still to this day......for me there's nothing more exciting than heading for a sprint car race. I think for those of us with a lot of years going to the races, it's because back in the day, there was no coverage. That has been touched on already in a previous post......for me, I could hardly wait for my next issue of OPEN WHEEL to hit the mailbox. And even that was a month or so behind with racing results. So when the opportunity to go to a race arose, I WAS READY FOR SOME RACIN! Everybody has opinions, but I think when you are starved for something that you have a passion for, you simply appreciate it more when you do have it. We didn't have weekly racing here. It was either Jackson, Fairmont (both MN) or Sioux Falls. But yearly here at the Clay County Fair years ago was one of the biggest weeks of dirt racing in the midwest every Sept.....until that began to go away as costs rose and racing changed. It is coming back here now, after Dollansky convinced the Fairboard 10 years ago to re-do the track and bring the WoO in for a show each year. Also, and most importantly in my mind.....I went to the race track for the racing. Whatever the food was, was an added attraction. There's something about racetrack food that, sorry complainers, I can't say I've ever had to spit any out at any race track, ever! As for the bathrooms....some are better than others, but when we visited my grandparents (both sides) on the farm when I was a kid....we went to the outhouse. So I don't complain about the restrooms, either. But yeh, some are pretty poor. Even though I will share opinions, and voice what I think can be positive changes to consider for the sport I love, you will never see an outright complaint from me. I'll accept what I can have and enjoy the hell out of it.
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December 01, 2015 at
11:56:06 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: fiXXXer on December 01 2015 at 12:09:10 PM
I know a lot of people on here have been around a lot longer than I have, but I'm what they call a 90's kid. I've been going to sprint car races since before I could walk and the 1990's and 2000's were the years in which I did all my growing up (or lack thereof if you ask my wife). Maybe it was just being a naive kid but I remember back then, race fans seemed a hell of a lot more happy, and far less critical of everything, and everyone. I don't remember hearing too many people bitching about facilities, track surfaces, food, certain drivers etc. like they do now. Obviously there was some of that, probably always has been but it seemed like it was a far less common occurrence. I know messageboards and social media have given people a more public platform but I'm talking just as much about the conversations you have with people at the race tracks and the conversations I've overheard among people. It seems like back then, people were a lot more happy to be where they were and doing what they were doing. They didn't care as much if the bleachers were a bit shitty or if the food wasn't great or any of that shit that seems to be a deal breaker for so many people these days. They mostly went to the races and thoroughly enjoyed being there. Now it seems, way too many people are just too damn picky. They think EVERYTHING should be up to their standards and meet or exceed their lofty expectations and there are too many people who have seemingly forgotten what going to the races is supposed be about. For me, my perspective hasn't changed. It's about first and foremost, spending some quality time with my dad and many of my best friends. Even if its a bad race, we still have fun and we enjoy the hell out of each others company. It's about being there, in the moment and witnessing history. I think a lot of people forget, every time a checkered flag waves, history is made. Someone's name is going into the history books and whether it's a young guys first win, or Greg Hodnett winning another race at Williams Grove, it's still history being made and I consider myself fortunate to be there to witness it. It's about watching ordinary men with extraordinary courage doing something that very few of us would have the balls to do and something even less of us would have the talent to do and making it look easy. Like I said, maybe it's always been this way and I was just too dumb or naive to pick up on it but from what I've seen, in recent years, there seems to be an increasing amount of people who would rather go to the races looking something......anything to bitch about. I think a lot of people have forgotten what it's really all about and I feel sorry for those people who miss out on a fun night at the races with their friends because they're too hung up on the fact that their hamburger was a bit over done or the bleachers could be a little more comfortable or any of the multitude of petty and meaningless bullshit that people occupy themselves with these days. I'm not perfect, far from it, but I'm glad I can still go to the races and enjoy every minute of it even if everything isn't perfect.
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I like your attitude
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December 02, 2015 at
05:10:43 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: fiXXXer on December 01 2015 at 12:09:10 PM
I know a lot of people on here have been around a lot longer than I have, but I'm what they call a 90's kid. I've been going to sprint car races since before I could walk and the 1990's and 2000's were the years in which I did all my growing up (or lack thereof if you ask my wife). Maybe it was just being a naive kid but I remember back then, race fans seemed a hell of a lot more happy, and far less critical of everything, and everyone. I don't remember hearing too many people bitching about facilities, track surfaces, food, certain drivers etc. like they do now. Obviously there was some of that, probably always has been but it seemed like it was a far less common occurrence. I know messageboards and social media have given people a more public platform but I'm talking just as much about the conversations you have with people at the race tracks and the conversations I've overheard among people. It seems like back then, people were a lot more happy to be where they were and doing what they were doing. They didn't care as much if the bleachers were a bit shitty or if the food wasn't great or any of that shit that seems to be a deal breaker for so many people these days. They mostly went to the races and thoroughly enjoyed being there. Now it seems, way too many people are just too damn picky. They think EVERYTHING should be up to their standards and meet or exceed their lofty expectations and there are too many people who have seemingly forgotten what going to the races is supposed be about. For me, my perspective hasn't changed. It's about first and foremost, spending some quality time with my dad and many of my best friends. Even if its a bad race, we still have fun and we enjoy the hell out of each others company. It's about being there, in the moment and witnessing history. I think a lot of people forget, every time a checkered flag waves, history is made. Someone's name is going into the history books and whether it's a young guys first win, or Greg Hodnett winning another race at Williams Grove, it's still history being made and I consider myself fortunate to be there to witness it. It's about watching ordinary men with extraordinary courage doing something that very few of us would have the balls to do and something even less of us would have the talent to do and making it look easy. Like I said, maybe it's always been this way and I was just too dumb or naive to pick up on it but from what I've seen, in recent years, there seems to be an increasing amount of people who would rather go to the races looking something......anything to bitch about. I think a lot of people have forgotten what it's really all about and I feel sorry for those people who miss out on a fun night at the races with their friends because they're too hung up on the fact that their hamburger was a bit over done or the bleachers could be a little more comfortable or any of the multitude of petty and meaningless bullshit that people occupy themselves with these days. I'm not perfect, far from it, but I'm glad I can still go to the races and enjoy every minute of it even if everything isn't perfect.
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I agree with everything you said. Like you said social media now gives people an audience. Before, one person might complain to someone and the conversation died there. They get it off their chest and move on. Now someone complains on the Internet and hundreds of people are there to add fuel on the fire. Look at Twitter, Facebook or even boards like this. You can post something positive and you will get a few responses and disappear. Post something negative and it will go on for days. Last year people couldn't get enough of the All Star vs a Renegades discussion. This year was great for the All Stars, the schedule for 2016 looks good and people still want to look for the negative in the situation. I also believe that people because they are more willing to be negative online with secruity that they take that negativity with them everywhere. Its not just sprint car racing, it's life.
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December 02, 2015 at
11:48:29 AM
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I'm waiting for someone to accuse you of "bitching about bitching"....
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December 02, 2015 at
12:35:42 PM
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Personally, I will sit at any racetrack to watch the racing, but die-hards alone won't pay the bills. I think some people "bitch", while others are looking long-term and want the improvements so it attracts new faces to the grandstands so a racetrack is still there to go to in 5 years....
Been to Pleasanton, KS where the lighting was so bad that turn #2 was completely dark. Went to Eldora when Earl had 3 pushtrucks with their headlights on illuminating turn #2 during the King's Royal. Didn't dampen my experience one bit. Now on the flip side, what if someone who had never been to a race had that as their first experience, think they are coming back for more?
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December 02, 2015 at
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Reply to:
Posted By: fiXXXer on December 01 2015 at 12:09:10 PM
I know a lot of people on here have been around a lot longer than I have, but I'm what they call a 90's kid. I've been going to sprint car races since before I could walk and the 1990's and 2000's were the years in which I did all my growing up (or lack thereof if you ask my wife). Maybe it was just being a naive kid but I remember back then, race fans seemed a hell of a lot more happy, and far less critical of everything, and everyone. I don't remember hearing too many people bitching about facilities, track surfaces, food, certain drivers etc. like they do now. Obviously there was some of that, probably always has been but it seemed like it was a far less common occurrence. I know messageboards and social media have given people a more public platform but I'm talking just as much about the conversations you have with people at the race tracks and the conversations I've overheard among people. It seems like back then, people were a lot more happy to be where they were and doing what they were doing. They didn't care as much if the bleachers were a bit shitty or if the food wasn't great or any of that shit that seems to be a deal breaker for so many people these days. They mostly went to the races and thoroughly enjoyed being there. Now it seems, way too many people are just too damn picky. They think EVERYTHING should be up to their standards and meet or exceed their lofty expectations and there are too many people who have seemingly forgotten what going to the races is supposed be about. For me, my perspective hasn't changed. It's about first and foremost, spending some quality time with my dad and many of my best friends. Even if its a bad race, we still have fun and we enjoy the hell out of each others company. It's about being there, in the moment and witnessing history. I think a lot of people forget, every time a checkered flag waves, history is made. Someone's name is going into the history books and whether it's a young guys first win, or Greg Hodnett winning another race at Williams Grove, it's still history being made and I consider myself fortunate to be there to witness it. It's about watching ordinary men with extraordinary courage doing something that very few of us would have the balls to do and something even less of us would have the talent to do and making it look easy. Like I said, maybe it's always been this way and I was just too dumb or naive to pick up on it but from what I've seen, in recent years, there seems to be an increasing amount of people who would rather go to the races looking something......anything to bitch about. I think a lot of people have forgotten what it's really all about and I feel sorry for those people who miss out on a fun night at the races with their friends because they're too hung up on the fact that their hamburger was a bit over done or the bleachers could be a little more comfortable or any of the multitude of petty and meaningless bullshit that people occupy themselves with these days. I'm not perfect, far from it, but I'm glad I can still go to the races and enjoy every minute of it even if everything isn't perfect.
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I don't think people are any more or any less disgruntled than the past. The difference is now people have a vehicle for voicing those gripes where everyone can read about it. This can have a negative effect however I truthfully believe it's more positive long term. There are some promoters who choose to operate in a less than savory fashion and they're now having light shined on them in a way that can have a profound impact. Gone are the days of operating in the shadows and thinking you can't be held accountable. There are definitely some negatives but to my eyes the interaction of the fans with the people in charge of our sport can have good positive results for fans and racers alike. Promoters must embrace this fact and meet the challenge of social media interaction head on. The more they try to opt out of it and hide the more they will suffer the wrath of the instant feedback.
Cheers!
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December 02, 2015 at
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Reply to:
Posted By: henry chinaski on December 02 2015 at 12:42:57 PM
I don't think people are any more or any less disgruntled than the past. The difference is now people have a vehicle for voicing those gripes where everyone can read about it. This can have a negative effect however I truthfully believe it's more positive long term. There are some promoters who choose to operate in a less than savory fashion and they're now having light shined on them in a way that can have a profound impact. Gone are the days of operating in the shadows and thinking you can't be held accountable. There are definitely some negatives but to my eyes the interaction of the fans with the people in charge of our sport can have good positive results for fans and racers alike. Promoters must embrace this fact and meet the challenge of social media interaction head on. The more they try to opt out of it and hide the more they will suffer the wrath of the instant feedback.
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You're very right but I wasn't talking about people exposing a dirt ball promoter. That's a good thing and needs to happen. If people have a legitimate concern, then yes. We need to talk about it and put the fire under their asses. What I'm talking about is the incessant whining and bitching by people about everything that doesn't suit their particular preferences even if there's nothing thats necessarily wrong with it. For instance, many tracks I've been to have the piss trough in their men's restrooms. I don't particularly like those and if it gets pretty busy, I'll be the guy waiting on a stall to open. I'd much rather piss in a toilet. Just my preference. A lot of people don't have an issue with nudging up there beside someone else letting a piss loose, but me, I gotta have a little space. Do I bitch about it? Do I think Lincoln Speedway needs to abandon the piss trough design to suit my peeves? Nope. Like I said, I'll wait for a stall. No big deal. Some people however, truly think that they're so important that if they don't like it, everyone else doesn't either and it should be changed and if it isn't changed, well "Lincoln Speedway is shit and not only am I not going back but I'm gonna run my mouth on Twitter about it and go on a messageboard and see how many other people I can recruit for my cause." Never mind the excellent racing you saw and the efficiently run 3 division program that was done in just 3 and a half hours. And never mind the fact that they do provide alternatives such as porta Johns and the bathrooms have a few private stalls for those who need to sit down or are a little gun shy like I am. I think having a voice on social media has made people think they're a lot more important than they actually are too. Give someone a couple hundred followers and a like and/or retweet from a driver and it goes to their heads and now they think they just need to flap their gums every time the track gets slick or the races run a little later than usual or about any little thing that doesn't suit them. Of course that isn't everybody but from what I see and hear, its too damn many and they're doing damage to our sport.
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December 02, 2015 at
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I grew up at Ascot in the 70's, those were the days 
I think the internet makes (u fill in the blank)
Ascot only ran one class, most nights it was 40-50 cars, with 8 lap inverts for both heats and mains. It seemed like they ran 3 times out of the month, and had a great civil war series with Norcal with stars like Leland McSpadden, GP, etc
The car were gorgeous, all hand painted and lettered, and lots of chrome.
Drivers had personalities, no PC police either, and the stands were packed.
our local guys like Deano, Buster, Oskie, Bubby Jones often could beat the outlaws when they came to town, but Sammy and Steve were damn awesome without the wing too.
Fast forward to today, USAC took over, they only run once a month for the most part, low car counts, 6 car inverts for heats and mains, that MAKE IT MUCH LESS racey, Motor costs are sky high.
About the only thing the same, the purse  that guys race for.
So instead of unified 410 non wing division, we now have a bunch of splintered now wing series with different engine rules.
But I still love short track racing and try to go as often as I can.
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December 02, 2015 at
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I was watching the Memphis WoO race from 1988 on Youtube the other night. Watch it and you will understand why people are grouchy now. Notice Sammy about 30 degrees sideways on a perfect cushion and hammer down front wheels dancing.... notice chrome and gold leaf lettering glistening....... notice Luna's equaly beautiful yet totally different peice because of a reasonable rule book running him down..... notice TV coverage capturing the excitement........ notice nothing made in China........ notice true talent behind the wheels instead of chasing the lies called NASCAR. Fans deserve a decent crapper at least since the chinese clones for race cars are usually riding around the bottom or through the middle at best like stock cars on a parched surface. It didn't matter if the food was lousy and you had to pee in the parking lot when track records were being broken by truly special equipment and drivers. Its abvious to my why people are always complaining. They aren't just dicks they probalbly remember when things were truly special.
Luna's Ford engine style that won 2 WoO titles and 3
Kings Royals before a weight rule against the best EVER
in their prime and now DOMINATES super dirt late model
racing is no longer allowed/wanted in a WoO sprint
car.... Was Luna a miracle worker?
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December 02, 2015 at
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Fortunately I am almost 70 years old and have enjoyed alot of different eras fron Toby Tobias vs Leroy Felty to Ray Tilley against Bobbie Adamson and Mich on to Kenny Weld vs Jan Opperman on to Lynn Paxton vs Smokey Snellbaker and Keith Kauffman To Doug Wolfgang against everybody to Fred Rahmer vs Greg Hodnett and Lance Dewease
The Outlaws ALWAYS HAD kINSER VS sWINDELL and early on Wolfgang now its more or else Shatz against the field.
The promoters need to realize that car owners are not in just for fun they can not continue to lose money or in the future there will not be any cars for the great talents of today and tomarrow to drive.
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December 02, 2015 at
05:27:34 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: minthess on December 02 2015 at 04:20:38 PM
I was watching the Memphis WoO race from 1988 on Youtube the other night. Watch it and you will understand why people are grouchy now. Notice Sammy about 30 degrees sideways on a perfect cushion and hammer down front wheels dancing.... notice chrome and gold leaf lettering glistening....... notice Luna's equaly beautiful yet totally different peice because of a reasonable rule book running him down..... notice TV coverage capturing the excitement........ notice nothing made in China........ notice true talent behind the wheels instead of chasing the lies called NASCAR. Fans deserve a decent crapper at least since the chinese clones for race cars are usually riding around the bottom or through the middle at best like stock cars on a parched surface. It didn't matter if the food was lousy and you had to pee in the parking lot when track records were being broken by truly special equipment and drivers. Its abvious to my why people are always complaining. They aren't just dicks they probalbly remember when things were truly special.
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I have a true appreciation for all things you just mentioned. I love non downtube chassis. They are in my opinion, the best looking sprint cars ever. As far as I'm concerned, hand painted graphics are by far the nicest. Vinyl graphics are ok but I can't stand wraps. They look cheap to me and I don't like then. I love chrome headers, wheels etc. and I HATE black wheels. I hate the fact that a lot of our young talent gets gobbled up by NASCAR. I'm not crazy about chassis being made in China. I'm an American and I love America and like all things, I wish sprint car chassis and everything else in the world was made in the USA. I love and appreciate the past as much as anyone can who was born in 1985 like I was. The heroes of the past that I didn't even see race are heroes of mine. I'll sometimes spend hours watching vintage sprint car footage on YouTube or one of the many DVD's I have and the talent of those guys back in the day never ceases to amaze me. But, things change. That was then, this is now. Just about everything in life is uncertain but one thing that is inevitable and unstoppable is change. It's 2015 not 1985 and almost everything is different. That was a different time and a different era and we can't nor will we ever be able to, turn back the clock. Sprint car racing today is better than anything else out there in my opinion. Is it better than it was back then? There's no answer to that question because that's 100% opinion. It's in the eye of the beholder. You love Ford motors but guess what? They're an inferior 410 sprint car motor in comparison to the Chevy. Even when Luna had his car, there were hardly any Fords out there. His team deserves the utmost credit for making something different work like they did. The fact is though, everything is different from what it was and you don't like it. Nothing wrong with that. It's your right but does coming on this board and being negative towards damn near everything about today's sprint car racing do any good? No it doesn't. If sprint car racing doesn't do it for you anymore, maybe you should find something else to do. I don't mean any disrespect by that but the fact is, its not going back and it never will so you've got 3 options: accept it for what it is, find another form of racing to watch or start your own sprint car series and do it your way. Bitching about it and being negative about it on a messageboard doesn't do a damn thing to fix it.
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December 02, 2015 at
08:07:23 PM
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I've been around sprint car racing since the 70's. You just had a couple of tv channels you could pick up with rabbit ears. Now you have 1000 channels plus infinite internet at your fingertips 24/7. Competition for the entertaiment dollar is at an all time high when both parents have to work full time jobs to make ends meet and their spare time itself is more limited.
Lincoln still gets as big of crowds as ever though. There are still plenty of race fans. Twice as many people are also racing themselves in 50 different classes now. Twice as many gokarts classes now, plus you have micros, speedsters and legends cars. A bunch of different types of sprint cars. Same for late models and modifieds. You name it, they have been racing it. mini vans, school buses, etc. There are plenty of people that are still into racing.
That's how you know the 410s have priced themselves out of the market because most people would rather be racing them if they could. The people that are interested in running one and the talent pool available from all those other classes is twice as much as it used to be, but most don't have the money to move up. Same for the owners. You used to have little guys fielding cars. Now it takes a couple of major sponsors to run a car. They would rather be fielding their own cars instead of sharing a wing panel. All those little garages and businesses that used to run a sprint car loved to do it as much as anyone. They have been priced out of it just like everyone else. Twice as many people want to be involved now and half as many people can afford it. That's why they are in all those other classes.
Plus also on the money end of it, most racers are born gamblers. Drivers and car owners alike. They love to race, but they also love to out smart people for the cash. The cash was half the appeal just like any gambling. Out smart them in the shop and at the track. Now the cost of the sport does the opposite. It really detracts from it and takes a lot of the fun out of it. Even a $10,000 Outlaw win doesn't mean much anymore because everyone has to spend so much. That is an engine rebuild anymore. Much less what a local purse pays. You used to have the illusion of making a little money if you were good enough. Now it is such a waste of money you are totally dependent on handouts. It takes half the fun out of it for drivers and car owners alike.
F' the Outlaws and their 18" wide gummy tires, their 2" wickerbills and their $800,000 budgets.
They don't even know how to spell sprint car
much less chromoly...http://www.ycmco.com
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December 02, 2015 at
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Posted By: fiXXXer on December 01 2015 at 02:38:16 PM
Right on. I'm not at all against progress. In fact you won't find anyone who likes "new and improved" more than I do but I also recognize when something isn't broke, why fix it? Even if it isn't perfect or if it COULD be better, if it serves its function and does it well, why waste the time or money on it. You're right about the die hards vs. casual fans. The problem I'm seeing is, many of die hards are also turning into whiny little brats who kick and scream when shit doesn't go how they envisioned it. Heaven forbid they see a "bad" race once in awhile. To me, there's no such thing as a "bad" race as long as I still get to share that time with good friends and family because no matter what, the group I run with is pretty positive. We have fun no matter what because we enjoy each others company. That (in my opinion) is what it's all about.
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I am always amazed by the people who complain because they saw a bad race. Like every race you go to should be an all time classic! Hey, there have been a lot of boring Super Bowls, World series, etc. Look at how many regular season stick & ball games suck. You don't catch a trophy bass everything you go fishing. But 1 bad show at a race track is the end of the world for some folks. As for me...I don't like to see rubber down racetracks but still the worst race I ever saw was better than anything else. I would rather see sprint cars go around the track single file at high speed than watch the best of ANY other sport. Because I was at the racetrack! All my troubles and cares fade away as soon as I pull onto the Marion County Fairgrounds every Saturday. Been like that for me since I was a,kid and my folks were taking me to the jalopy races.
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December 02, 2015 at
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Reply to:
Posted By: oswald on December 02 2015 at 09:33:18 PM
I am always amazed by the people who complain because they saw a bad race. Like every race you go to should be an all time classic! Hey, there have been a lot of boring Super Bowls, World series, etc. Look at how many regular season stick & ball games suck. You don't catch a trophy bass everything you go fishing. But 1 bad show at a race track is the end of the world for some folks. As for me...I don't like to see rubber down racetracks but still the worst race I ever saw was better than anything else. I would rather see sprint cars go around the track single file at high speed than watch the best of ANY other sport. Because I was at the racetrack! All my troubles and cares fade away as soon as I pull onto the Marion County Fairgrounds every Saturday. Been like that for me since I was a,kid and my folks were taking me to the jalopy races.
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Yep. A bad sprint car race still beats anything else on earth. I'd kill to drive on to the Marion County Fairgrounds just one time. We have a really nice circuit here in Central Pa but Knoxville is without a doubt, the capitol of sprint car racing. One of these days.........
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December 02, 2015 at
11:26:08 PM
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Two main issues here: racing & eveything else. I totally agree with FiXXXer on people whining about facilities. When I go to a racetrack, I'm not looking for a 5 star hotel, or a gourmet restaurant.... just good racing
& Oswald is right about quality of races; some sporting events are great, others not so much. Thats life
A couple of the other guys are longing for "the good ole days" & I can see that too, but Cubic nails it on that one: its all about the $$$, which tends to ruin lots of stuff. Look at drag racing: back in the 1960s, it was all different wild & crazy homebuilt cars (or at least unique pro racers) Now its all ultra hi tech big $$ rocket sleds, its a spectator sport rather than a participant sport, has no interest for me whatsoever.
I have no idea how to change that, other than totally go back to 60s rules: run whatcha brung, total inversion, but I doubt if that would ever happen....
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