Forum: Oklahomatidbits.com General Forum (go)
Moderators:  /  David Smith Jr

I'd like to comment on the OCRS deal. Many thought last year would be the last year of OCRS. But I think this will be. For a few reasons in no order. Mid America is running wingless sprints with a car count based point fund. So if 20 cars register to run the season.........it will be 20,000$$$$. Sounds like a good deal to me. Creek County has a new promoter who really seems to have the track pointed in the right direction. And while their car count isn't great.........it seems solid as there are about 15 weekly competitiors. That might change with Coffeyville's new sprint class, but it might not too. BMS car count takes away a few more Tulsa competitors. ASCS Sooner region has a LOT of Tulsa racers. And it seems new ones from the area are comin into it each year. I really like that as the ASCS Sooner region really is the premier sprint SERIES in the state........while the sprint classes of OKC are the most competitive WEEKLY. And as if that wasn't enough odds stacked against OCRS they have the nerve (and stupidity) to not want OKC based 2 barrel sprinters. I say stupid because it really appears they need each and every car they can get. And it's a shame because I was lookin forward to a certain car owner and driver get into the racing mix against OCRS and to attend OSP for the 1st time......which now won't happen and may never. I think this story/situation is vindicative of the future of OCRS. Hope that man runnin has deep pockets. But at least if the series folds the Tulsa drivers have other GOOD options on where to race. If that isn't to their liking..........I think all SFS fans welcome the addition of more sprint cars at our track. The more the merrier.

Anyone feel free to correct me if I am wrong. But wasn't this guy (sewell) the same guy who thought Ford Focus midgets were the next big thing and they would "invade" the state of Oklahoma?? It was one of the former Tulsa promoters just not sure which.

As for Ada.........it would come as a great suprise to me if they have more than 10 cars at that show. With Coffeyville stepping up their racing program and Carpenter having Creek pointed in the right direction..........I'll be personally suprised if OCRS ever has a 20 car feature this season, and even if they were to have one.........don't see where it would happen consistently. This kind of thing makes me thrilled that we have the sprint racing we do at the Fairground and thrilled that we have the ASCS Sooner Region. Both have great races. And the point of small rant is this.............the head of OCRS has only himself to blame. IMO his best bet would be try to create a 305 series for Oklahoma. Hopefully he would do better with that than he has with OCRS and the now almost gone Tulsa Speedway. this is 1 fans opinion not meant to rile anyone.

BTW does West Siloam have a forum? I'd like to see what the fans up there thought of the 12 car feature they saw sat. night. For their sake I hope it at least had some passing.

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

Another question I have is why don't any of the OKC racers come to Creek County to race? Granted we don't have a ton of racers coming over there, BUT I think Kenneth Walker, BJ Fay, Passmore, and occasionally Mike Goodman race with you guys on Friday nights but none of you guys come over here.

I think the rules are pretty much the same for the 2 bbls in OKC and Creek aren't they? Correct me if I'm wrong.

This isnt a officail board.It started off from Thunder Valley Speedway in Fayetteville,AR. There is alot of WSS stuff on there.Plus Crawford County,Tri State ,North Central Arkansas Speedway.ETC. http://dirttrackracin.proboards42.com/index.cgi

"Back to the Drive"

Kelly -- It seems like they do go up there occassionally, but could it be based on the tightness of the place? I know at one time it had a bit of a reputation as an equipment-eater. I've only been there once myself so i don't know for sure, but it seems I've heard that in the past.

"I'd pay $15 to watch a sprint car sit still."

  I've heard the same thing 5can.   But I do like to watch em run over there. That track is small and exciting at times.  We ran there some when ascs first started and it's tight racing all the way around but really good too.

I too would like to see the guys travel more but the expense is taking it's toll especially the last couple of years.

It's called the OKC posse. Just like in PA, they don't travel.

Got an email from OCRS president Tom Sewell who states that not all SFS champ sprint drivers would be illegal. Only those who run the new set of SFS/Lawton rules, which include the working of the combustion chamber in the Aluminum.Spec head. They will tech anybody in the top five as nothing can be done to the heads. Hence, if you change your heads to that of the rule change that Lanny allowed, you won't be legal in OCRS.

By the way, OCRS pays $1000 to win and $225 to start the feature. As we know, OCRS had only twelve cars for West Siloam and that was with Creek County taking off. I like to see no series or division cancelled but in a day when drivers don't travel and have designated Saturday and Sunday as "family" time away from the track, it is hard for any racing series to have strong car counts supported by weekly racers. This can be confirmed by even looking at the ASCS sooner region point standings where there are NO SFS regulars in the top fifteen (average of about thirty to thirty-five a show), only two or three race champ sprints down in Lawton on a weeky basis (Whitworth and both Sellers) and a couple at Brill. This when you have sixty sprints (super and champ combined) that race every Friday night they are scheduled on Friday nights.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

I will say this on the subject, I called Mr. Grable about 2 weeks ago and ask him about the rule change Lanny had allowed and he just went on why did Lanny change it and so on, but would never give me an OK on the rule change we had, to be allowed at OCRS shows, would just say we need cars and we will tech the top 5 , so I thought about it and figured give the other co-owner Mr. Sewell a call and try to get a straight answer from him and he did give me a very straight answer as he tells me that NO WAY would they allow the rule change and he went off on a small tyrant about the same thing Mr. Grable stated of why did Lanny do this ,I just thought guy I don't want to hear it again if you want to know call him and ask him your self, anyway he told me they would tech any OKC car especially since they had some run last year that had it done to their heads, which must have made him a little angry when he found out the rule change and why , then according to what he told me and they would look extra close at all OKC cars that ran in the OCRS shows. I had planned on running OCRS shows at Ada and heck might of even tried a time or so at Caney , since it is travel for me no matter where I want to sling dirt this season, but after Mr. Sewell telling me his info , NO OCRS for me and it is dissapointing as the OSP facility is the closest place to me , NO slingin granulated clay for us this year.

Are you sure that they are still paying 1,000.00 to win and 225.00 to start. I heard they had cut the purse to pay 600.00 to win. The other 2 differences I seen between OCRS and OKC Champ Sprints is that you must run a American Racer right rear with OCRS and you cannot run shaft rockers with OCRS. When I drove modifieds we ran some at Creek County and I didn't like driving on that track. That and it looks like we could tear up some equipment at Creek and it is much further for us than Lawton. Lawton is 75 miles and Creek is 125 miles.

It boils down to this. Too many promoters/organizers with too many variants to the rules.

Imagine if Oklahoma had one set of 360 rules and one set of two barrel rules with the same number of cars and tracks that want to run them now. OKC drivers would have an option or two as would Tulsa racers. Groups like OCRS could do a nice limited series. Tracks like Meeker and Ada could look forward to the occasional special. Fans would benefit, promoters would benefit. Everyone would be happy. Nah, wishful thinking. Makes me wish for the NCRA of the mid-70's. You had the V8 supers and six cylinder modifieds. That was it. Lots of cars. Lots of cooperation. Lots of good racing.

Unfortunately times change and your suggestions won't happen anytime soon. 

Kelly my opinion on OKC drivers when it comes to traveling is just the same as yours. The only reasoning I see is that it is very competitive and close to home. Think what the ASCS Sooner Region would be like if more sprinters from the "premier" track in Oklahoma joined in. Thats why I appreciate what Joe Wood Jr. tries to do especially considering they don't have deep pockets. It's the same reason why I am critical of Chris Burns. I don't know his situation but as good as he runs at OKC why doesn't he run ANYWHERE else? I could understand a lot of the OKC cars not wanting to travel long distances but why not run the Sooner Region? OKC has all these sprinters and yet it's the Tulsa guys that run ASCS. I already know many could not afford to.......but many could and choose not to. Not that I'm anyone to really say but I'd just like to see a small handful of OKC guys get out there with the Sooner Region.

As for OCRS........hopefully they may be more open to other options as their car count gets worse and worse.........................

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

My hopes WILL NEVER HAPPEN. Didn't suggest that they would. Imagine means just that "Imagine". I am more aware that "times change" than almost everyone on this board. If Oklahoma promoters and racers had gone to uniform sprint car rule in 1987, things might be a whole lot different now.

Unfortunately, our economy doesn't support so many different rules/sanctions. It would be great if we could support four different sprint divisions as the recent issue of NSSN outlined. Will never happen.

Lots of cars at SFS between the two divisions but it just doesn't excite me. Getting in FREE next week does. LOL.... Hopefully the mods are on the program.

If if's and but's were candy and nuts WE would all have a Merry Christmas , Don't be so sure your the only one that is most aware on this board of the "time change". Enough said.

Yeah been doing this since I was born. Been from Calif., to Florida and from North Dakota to Houston. And not just in the stands. Most of the time on a race team wining races and championships. Things will never be like they were in the 70's, but promoters could work together instead of always trying to come up with newest and best ideas.

Was the championship in the lawn mower?

Hell yeah it was on the mower. Had to quit though, they got too fast and I got scared.