Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

I wonder how many people are sick & tired of reading a certain poster's constant bashing, criticizing and just general BS in order to get a rise out of everyone. I'll cast the first YES vote!!!

About the WoO, it's not going anywhere. This isn't the first year that they had less than 12 full-time drivers, and probably won't be the last. Do people (I don't mean the die-hard methanol-in-their-veins folks who post here) actually care if there 10 or 30 full-timers? No. They want to see the big names compete against their local sprint car drivers or maybe just to be there at a WoO event. Sprint car racing is usually very exciting, and even when it ain't it's pretty darned good.

All of you complaining about the WoO, DON'T GO!!! You are in a great minority, so you won't be missed.

I think Vande did a good job of breaking it down and I agree with his diagnosis. I think you also need to keep in mind that alot of the full-time guys are professional drivers and not team owners, like Jesse Keens Q&A article said the other day a full-time driver wants to race because that is when they make their money. For the big team owners, they want them out racing for the economics that Vande went over as well as they need to be able to tell the sponsor how many exposures their name on the car got and more races means more exposures.

As far as the Good Year tire on the front goes, is that really going to keep local guys from racing. I help a guy with a Wissota Mod car and he normally races with a Wissota class motor but he has a USMTS open motor sitting in his garage for just a couple shows a summer. He built it himself and has about $14,000 into it, for just a couple shows a year, the racers even on a budget will spend money to race with the tops in the sport, even if just to say they raced on the same track as the big names. Its not like they can't use the GY tire for the next few local shows as well and get the use out of it.

http://gph.is/XMLGff

A stock car track owner said also that there are no younger fans in bleachers, he said it was all the grey hair old folks that have been coming to track for years. I think there are alot of fans that just want to go to special races. These people go to ncaa finals, nba, kentucky derby, rose bowl, Indy 500, but do not show up for weekly shows, don;t ask me why.

probably this and probably that is almost close here. imo only the woo is going down the tube and how obvious can it be here? they chase locals out with their "sanction fees" just for the distinct pleasure of "being able " to race with them. large promotor fees, 80-120k for a two day show. wtf? last years dirt cup at skagit the locals left to race elsewhere fyi.

has anyone noticed the "cost of tickets" for this years gold cup or tulare show? where will it end..........with 8 teams running the entire season that's where!

i am putting my bet on the ASCS for future growth, hundreds of teams nationwide competing locally or on the road. for the last two years tickets for three nights of racing at the "short track nationals" i spent $45.00 for the tickets and 120+ teams competed. i rest my case here boyz and girlz, 15 dollars a ticket or 45-55 ticket, go figure.

Ascot was the greatest of all time..

West Capital wasn't half bad either..

Life is good...

how many overhead (admin / promotion / offical) salaries can you justify on the payroll when you only have 8 cars on the tour?

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

One could wonder the same thing about the Grove when they get their 800 fans for a regular show when the "circus" or a "Speedweek" isn't in town.

Funny how all the bashers turn to fans when May/July/October comes around. haha

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

many of us are not bashers, naysayers, haters but we do have our opinions, if you don't like our opinions here, don't read them ok?

i have had my opinions over the years but guess what, i still attend their shows when they are close and i will continue to do so. think outside the box here if you can, variable's are good in life, just like the message boards we conribute to........chill baby, chill..

Ascot was the greatest of all time..

West Capital wasn't half bad either..

Life is good...

I remember the days when there were only 6-7 full-time traveling teams. (the 1980's)

To many fans, those were the heyday of sprint car racing....

The Outlaws will survive as long as the "little teams" can still show up and race (and compete if hte track conditions are correct). I have a hard time calling hardly any teams little anymore though, some of the so-called "low buck" teams are spending as much (if not more) on a per-race basis to race locally than some of the traveling teams do. Do you really need a semi truck and 53' featherlite trailer to race 35 miles from your shop?

It is different now than in the 1980's.Back then there was 1 class.Now there are very few areas using the same engines as the WoO's,and most 360 racers don't care to race with them being down by 200 hp.

hmmmm maybe price is a huge reason you dont see the younger crowds. really pricey for a young person.

We need more sprint car racing at our home track.

Yep! It's hard to afford a $35 ticket to see the Outlaws once a year when you spend over $100 a month on a smart phone with internet and texting. Plus there are 1000 other things kids would rather do than go to a track, like Facebook or everything else that they have at their fingertips.

Kids want what they want, when they want it, which is NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It isn't like it was when we were young and there were just 3 TV channels available and we had none of the other distractions/outlets that are out there now. We learned to wait for the good things, and were happy to partake when they came around. I remember waiting all year to get to go to the IMCA races at the State Fairgrounds, even though we went to the local track during the year too.

Tracks need to get the younger ones out for the weekly shows to get them interested, then maybe they will want to come to see the big boys go at it. You have to get that initial interest going before you can hope to see them at a special.

I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks 
anywhere.

Not a good comparison at all. It's about value. $35 for a night of racing isn't comparable to a month-long phone plan in terms of value.

It WAS different back in the 70s and 80s when you had a small number of travelers and you'd get a hundred locals show up from everywhere to "race the best", hell they used to have the old super modifieds show up and put a whoopin on "the boys" every once in a while. But today, most of the "locals" get out of the way and let the "Outlaws" have at it. Oh
I long for "Back in the Day".

You're right I would much rather spend $35 on a WOO show than a years worth of cell phone use! Just sayin'

Bring back Santa Fe, and LaSalle .

Yep, how about "Quick Nick" blowing that sucker up, running about 100% nitro, Yeeehaaaa that was fun! Those days will be no more, but for those that had the chance to witness such events, we can only dream of yesteryear. By the way, the only Super Modified Driver to every beat the World of Outlaws in a "A main event". That I know of.

everybody is right and wrong at the same time.

but reading amongst this thread - what do we know for sure? costs to race are too high. convenient to stupidly blame government and economy, but the real issue is the economy of racing. What this sport has done to itself is wreckless and self destructive. purses/payouts still reflect 1980's number - but yet the blue collar guy is gone people!!!

The only way to get them back is to get the cost out. these "aces" you guys love so much ARE THE PROBLEM. They have found access to big bucks and enjoy the advantages they roll into the track with. Sure Donny Schatz, Meyers, Kinser, Swindell - among the very best this sport will ever see (esp kinser)......but lets be honest with oursleves - these guys have a huge $$$ advantage over the rest of the field. talent too of course - but also $$$.

It's not just the blue collar guy that is out - hell for what blue collar is these days - they cringe at the $35 ticket price. But it's also the guys who make real good money. maybe 100k a year or so. and they have a little help, some very nice family and friends that are passionate about it. Even with a little help this guy is spending 60-70% of their fun money to do this, they aren't going out there with top of the line everything. because they still want a life outside of the track. maybe take a vacation or two, maybe start savin' $$$ for their kids tuition - or maybe they really enjoy lake trips and have a cheap boat. When this guy is goin out with a 20k motor (already too much money) and he is gettin' his doors blown off at local and regional events by guys with top of the line 410's or Don Ott 360 motors........

say goodbye to the guy. His passion will remain, but he can't explain to the misses what they are doing out there. what is to really gain nor how he's even going to have a shot to win anymore - instead watching kids with silver spoons in their mouth fly right by with 50k in advantages. Yes sir - this guy will enjoy more time at the lake and show up as spectator often. and while he still loves it - it still hurts him he can't do it. so this dream remains.

It's not just the blue collar guy that is out. It's several levels above him - that make a lot more than he does - and they dont even really have a chance either. perfect place for them is racesavers right now (if in the right area) - or just any open wheel class you can run for less than 20k. probably more like mini sprints.

best point I have seen in all of this is the lack of kids at these tracks. That is a HUGE underscored problem that most aren't caring to address. for godsake's every track should be working with local t ball leagues, little leagues of every kind - get EXTREMELY involved in the community and schools. they better start doing this........ or..........clock keeps tickin fellas

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would