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

Mike is the kind of man I'd go to war for and I'm an old peacenik from the 60's. He has an awareness and humility about him that is much like the typical American and would make the most sense to me. Unfortunately that doesn't always work, arghhhhh.

Happy New Year to yourself and all your PA friends, hope 08' brings nothing but checkered flags and trifecta winners, all the very best, Take It Easy.......

I watch the History Channel more than any other channel out there, but I also watch C-Span probably more than most people. LOL Once in a while, C-Span actually has some really interesting roundtable discussions or sit-down interviews with authors. A couple months ago, C-Span broadcast an interview with author Mark Halperin of Time Magazine. Anyway, Halperin has a book in stores now called "The Undecided Voter's Guide to the Next President."

During the interview, Halperin said that as he was doing interviews and research on each candidate, he purposely tried to find critics and political enemies of each candidate so that the book would not just be an extension of each candidate's P.R. department. While looking for enemies and critics of Huckabee, Halperin said he was struck by the fact that he was the only candidate in either party that really did not have a list of people standing in line to critcize him personally. Even the people that disagreed with Huckabee's politics nearly always mentioned how much respect they had for him.

I was at Barnes and Noble a few weeks ago and bought Halperin's book. It really is an interesting read. It isn't just the same dry biography of each candidate you can read in a million other places. Each candidate is given his/her own section and Halperin divides it up by stating where the candidate stands on all the major issues, areas of potential controversy, how that candidate can win the general election, why that candidate won't win the general election, best and worst case scenario of the candidate's presidency, what to expect if the candidate was elected president, what his supporters say, what his critics say, and various facts, stories and anecdotes.

In Huckabee's section, a lot is made of him growing up lower middle class in Hope, Ark., just like Bill Clinton (Huckabee's father was a firefighter and his mother worked in an office). Even though they are near polar opposites politically and in temperment, Huckabee went out of his way to praise what Clinton was able to do with his life.

"We're dramatically different in lifestyle," said Huckabee."But whether or not you like [Clinton] personally, you have to give him credit for being a kid that came out of a dysfunctional family and an obscure town in the middle of nowhere to become President. Don't take that away from him, because if you do, you take that away from every kid out there just like me: the kid that is an underdog his whole life or grew up on the wrong side of tracks."

listen dude you live in PA and get to see good 410 racing. But I estimate less than 5% of sprint car fans share your "good fortune". In places like yours - the atmosphere and standard were all much more highly set for the 410's versus your 358's. So the opinions of those in these 410 hotbeds are really diluted with the long taught 410 better than 360 idea. When I was a kid I never really knew what type I was wathcing - some had wings - others didn't. And I didn't care - I just loved going.

Of course now I get older and talk more with other fans and stuff - and so even my opinion becomes diluted. If it's viable - by that I mean affordable - for me to see........then I really don't care if it's 360's or 410's - or the non-wing versions of both. I love to watch all of it. I care more about track conditions and then how many they have regularly and which way that trend is going. It really sucks to have to watch a car count drop lower and lower to the point a class may be done away with. as far as track conditions - I'd rather see 20 305's on a mutiple groove tracka nd see passing - than see 20 410's on a rubber down one-lane track with plenty of speed - but no passing. I guess good racing is good racing - no matter what type of sprint.

I think it will be very interesting to see what exactly becomes of the 410 traveling groups. and I think eventually the 360's will be in the same situation. if all else fails - everyone can just move to the best state for open wheel racing (IMO) - Indiana.

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

you came on here complaining how in FloriDUH you must pick and choose between a 360 race and a 410 race scheduled on the same day...and now you are seleting 305s over 410 because of track prep...it must be a real drag to be sitting in Oklahoma without a map or the volition to relocate.

i guess you can always decide to go to the movies instead...it has been tried before.

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

the point of my post was not selecting 305's over 410's............maybe I didn't explain that right.

I'm trying to say that all forms of open wheel dirt track racing are great - especially if conditions (track and weather) are good. The point I was trying to bring up about 360's and 410 schedules was the conflict of 410 races during 2 big 360 events. no conspiracy theory - it's common knowledge that these series don't work together very often (if at all).

as for being stuck in Oklahoma. I love it here. mostly due to my family and friends. but as for what you were saying that for - the racing is great in Oklahoma and I enjoy the hell out of it. between OKC and the ascs sooner region and other specials that roll through now and then through here and Texas - I have a blast. Yes I do think the local racing is better in Indiana, Ohio, PA, and Cali............but it would be very odd to not be at races down around my parts. It would be a shock to not see a full race season here in the lower plains. And to not go to OKC every week would be just weird. been going there since I was born - probably like you with PA tracks - I have to say - no matter what - it will always be my favorite track. but speedweeks in the upper midwest would be awfully fun to see.

Movies pass time in the offseason fairly well however. but never see more than a few a year (at theatres). But on the flip side of that coin - Oklahoma has great benefits. Had the Tulsa Shootout Sunday night - and got the Chili Bowl in less than a week. If I was further north - in the parts all consider better - this would not be the case.............

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

Wesmar, how many new 410's did you guys build in 07?

Geeze, I saw ONE movie in all of 2007, does it matter if it was in Piqua, OH on the night of the Kings Royal, lol. I'll see one more in 2008, likely the same night if the track is the same on Friday as it was this year.

Thanks for the info single, a good man is desperately needed in the mansion on Pennsylvania Avenue. Sheesh, I just now realized the Prez is Posse too, arghhhhh. Take It Easy....

Put this in your "4-bar" pipe and smoke it! With 811 c.i.d. and 1,690 hp you won't hear any more baloney, or is it bologna, about un-hooking anything!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Mikey, Kenny, Duane, Jerry, Chas A, John, Mike...may 2008 bring you and yours continued health and plenty of great racing.

Race the car three races.  If you don't like it , for 
any reason, return it, without damage, and we'll 
refund all your money, build you a new car, or better 
yet, bring me someone else's design and I'll use that 
to build your next ride!

This one's being updated.

Heck, if we want to go back in time let's bring back the term "Super Modifieds" and take the wings off of all of them and let 'em race. Of course that is an absurd statement, although wingless Sprint Cars are by far my favourite.

Yes us fans can tell the difference in 410's and 360's. 410's have all the latest and greatest and are faster and the 360's have better races, in this fans opinion. The 410's are Cup calibre while the 360's are ARCA calibre.

I'm all for reducing the size of the wings and all the on board adjustments. Just makes for closer side by side racing. But as far as combining all into one class that's just freaking nuts. Plenty of demand for multiple Sprint car classes just as there are multiple fender classes.

I agree with most of what you're saying. Though there seems to be a lot more demand for 360s instead of 410s around the country by a long shot... at least 4 to 1.

"410 cubic inch sprint cars will, and should be, a thing of the past. After putting in two separate seasons (2003 & 2007) of racing the 360 motors with less expensive ASCS heads and steel blocks, I fully understand why track after track seem to be saying so long to local 410 cars." -Jeff Swindell

 
 
 
They don't even know how to spell sprint car 
much less chromoly...http://www.ycmco.com

Yes, it is easy to understand. A promoter runing 360s only has to pay about half the purse of a 410 race, yet the front-gate admission is generally only two or three dollars cheaper.

358's/360's the future of the sport? Yeah, they've made a good "retirement community" for guys like Wright & Jeff Swindell. Face it, if you're not in the 360's hoping some day you'll be in a 410, what are you out there for? If you want to be the best & run with the best, you'll be doing it in a WINGED 410!

So now everyone that straps in to a Sprint Car has to be looking to make a career of it? That is absurd. I would guess 95% of the sprint car racers in this country do something else to make a living. And I suppose that if I play in my local golf tournament, I should be striving to be the next Tiger? Just because we race within our means does not mean we do not race with the will and determination to win every race we enter. Only a select few individuals will ever make their living driving a Sprint Car, but because we don't, that makes us non existent in your mind?

Sure, some guys go out & do what they can afford, and that's fine, and others do it just so that they can race or go out and have fun.

Most racers do what they can afford, which is the basis for this conversation anyway. Rising costs and substandard purses will only push out the Joe Schmo's with regular jobs that used to be able to afford to race. Do you think the people with money really care what we all think about rising costs? Their answer would be the same across the board, "poor people have no business in racing". The only reason for any concern for them would be a lack of local filler cars to justify the purse. I suppose some of you would rather watch 12 of the best 410 drivers over 50 ASCS sprint Cars.

Do you think guys like Lasoski, Shane Stewart & Lucas go drop in a 360 and beat these guys 'cause they have better equipment than those that do it all year long? Hell no, it's because they have MORE talent!

I'll give you this one to a certain extent. Yes they have an abundance of talent, but don't you think that racing 70 to 80 times a year all across the country has to help somewhat? We race against some guys in ASCS that talent wise I would put up against those guys given the same circumstances, but they only get 35 to 40 races a year to hone their skills. You have got to give some credit to the talent of the top 360 drivers. (and don't forget the OKC Spring Nationals 2006)

You're never going to see a 358/360 guy strap in a 410 and win the Knoxville Nationals, Grove open or the Kings Royal.....and the same goes for the wingless USAC guys.

Yeah but third wasn't too bad eh? Your ego aside, you can't tell me that the Johnsons and Rilat don't have the talent to race at a higher level (we already know your feelings about Wright)? If not, there must only be 5 people in your little circle of good (meaning 410) drivers.

I have no comment on the Tony Stewart thing, don't much care for him either way, but I do think he is one heck of a driver.

I will not remember guys like Stutts & Layton for what they've done in a 358, but rather what they accomplished in a 410.

That's your loss. I am sure they won't lose any sleep over what you think. Talent is talent, it does not matter if it is in a mini stock or formula one. I am pretty sure that fame is not the carrot for most people in this sport anyway.

Mulch, by your own definiton, Smitty watches minor league ball on a weekly basis as his locals can't compete with the Outlaws 'cept for one track.

He has no clue about Tony either as embarassment is the last thing that keeps him out of 410's, from converations I can tell you it's more like common sense.

360's have been putting on great shows for many years and those that have seen enough Knoxville 360 Nationals and 410 in the same year will tell you which show was more often better and it ain't the bigger one.

For years Eldora ran the NRA 360 sprinters with Outlaw shows but after consistantly putting on more exciting shows, especially the feature, they were dropped and only recently brought back.

For sprint car racing to survive it needs the variety it currently offers and even then it may be iffy, who knows? Other than the few 410's left in PA maybe we'll see only touring 410's in the rest of the country and the weekly racing virtually all 360's, were not far from there already, in a winged sense.

Whether it's the $$$$ required or the promoters I'm not sure, but those that can't see a trend here can't see the forest for the trees either, c'est la vie. Take It Easy.....

So Miguel....

I hear you're enlisting! Army, Navy, Air Force, or are you gonna make us all proud and become one of the Few/Proud/Brave....the MARINES???

"As long as I can have a fast boat, a margarita 
machine and can light my hair on fire, I'll be just 
fine."

Jason Giambi

For singlefile - not too much difference in weekly 410 and ASCS Regional purses. Maybe a little more on top with the 410 but 3rd on back pretty close to the same.

But that's not exactly a fair comparison, either, to compare the purse of touring 360 clubs with the weekly purse at a 410 track. If you want to have a fair comparison, then compare then the purses at weekly 410 tracks and weekly 360 tracks. Here in PA, we run 358s instead of 360 but the weekly 358 tracks that headline with the division pay about half what the 410 tracks pay. I am pretty familair with the purses are at the weekly 410 tracks throughout the country, and generally speaking, the weekly 360 tracks pay about half what the weekly 410 tracks pay. Of course, there are exceptions.

The only trend I see is YOU befriending great people you once considered FRIENDS! Have you burnt all of your bridges yet?

As for Stewart, I'm sure he isn't ALLOWED to run the 410's....sorta like you weren't ALLOWED to attend the Kings Royal in '07. The track was fine on Friday, wish it woulda been the same on Saturday night.

The one common factor in all of your comparisons seems to be "Outlaws". There's where you're going wrong pal, because we have a much better product here in the "minor leagues"!

Don't look now, but I think Fred has more dates scheduled in Florida for February than Kaeding & that "squirrel" Kevin Swindell have combined! LOL

_

of course Guiliani has a lot of money - he hardly needs campaign donations after the amount of money he made off wackos flying planes into big buildings. when looking at all who have profited and the power they currently enjoy - well it kinda makes you wonder.................

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

get out your tin foil hats folks!

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