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

I posted this on the thread about Tony retiring but I thought I would put it here for those that don't go to other threads.  It is me thinking out loud about something I have talked about for many years and would sure like to see happen.  What do you folks think, can it happen, why or why not and if you want to trash it, that's fine too, I will just consider the source and move on.  All the best, Take It Easy.....

Wednesday nights, 10 times a year (mostly in July and August) Eldora hosts a series of it's own with full-on Live TV support with about 35 of the best winged and non-winged drivers in the country (yes you can do both).  If a TV deal does not come through then perhaps MAV-TV or some other PPV thing can happen.  What sprint car fan sitting at home on a Wednesday wouldn't be interested in watching some of the best in the business, both winged and traditional sprinters have at it at the Big E.

With Tony now owning Eldora  (I started thinking of this more than a decade ago) and soon having the time to run this series himself (hires someone for next year) this has to be a possibility if analysed closely and with the right amount of $$$$.  I truly believe you could get commitments from some Posse stars and Knoxville regulars for the winged deal and you're not far from the traditional boys who often are based out of IN.

I believe if properly promoted, advertised and run that the time is right to bring a whole lot of new people (I'm looking at you Mr. NASCAR fan) into this fold, especially with where the Cup series is these days.  Now is the time to make this happen, it's been quite a while since I spent time with Tony talking about racing etc. but maybe, just maybe somebody brings this to his attention and it can be reworked into a real event.  If you can sell this to the drivers then you can sell it to the fans as well, I believe that!

Anthony ol' friend, make this happen, it makes too much sense not to....

PS  It will be a key to determine who gets to participate, invite only (with a commitment) makes the most sense, we don't need 75 cars, that will not work....

It sounds great to me! Unfortunately, finding someone to broadcast it may be a problem. Your idea sounds somewhat like the old Thursday Night Thunder, or other shows on TBS. Loved those shows, but unless you're NASCAR, it's doubtful that you would find somebody to pay the huge investment needed.

What would the viewership be like? I know that the "hardcore" fans would watch it, but how many would pony up the money for a Pay-Per-View? I couldn't, and therefor wouldn't.

I hope something similar happens, but I just don't see it for free/over-the-air.

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

Man I would love it.  Don't know if it can be done profitably right from the start, but it would be great if something like this did work out.  I would drive my wife nuts if live sprint car races were on tv again.  That being said, I will have to dump my current provider since they have had problems making friends with pretty much every network on the air and do not currently carry MAVTV.

  (Talking to you DISH!) 

While on the subject, how do I sign  a contract to get programming thru a provider and if I break the contract, I owe mass quantities (Coneheads) of money.  But they just pull programming off the air that was part of the contracted package deal that I signed, with no penalty.   ???    I know there is a "subject to change" clause but at some point wouldn't you think a law would prevent this?   Or, I would be allowed to break my contract if the package changes.  ?????

Tony has made a lot of good connections over the years.  When you think of companies like Home Depot and his friendship with John Morris of Bass Pro Shops I think you may be surprised what he could get out of these people on a test and try basis.  Heck, the PPV option would be strong if priced right.  Most esciting track in the country with the best wing and non-wing guys in the middle of the week, HELLO what else you gonna watch??  If $20 bucks for this kind of entertainment mid-week is too much for some I feel bad for your situation, sorry....

And only water the top

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?

I'd never give you grief about any of your ideas (you're one of the good guys) but do have some questions that someone might be able to answer.  Up here around the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin weekly shows aren't drawing like they used to, most racers are weekend warriors and have to watch their budgets closely.  Most drivers that run with regional series, up here it's NSL and IRA, are working Monday through Friday and car owners don't have unlimited resources to run many mid week specials.  I guess my question is are there enough racers with sufficient backing to do this on a weekly basis down in that area?  By enough I'm not talking something akin to a local mid week special that draws 25 cars and a ton of B Mods to pad the back gate.  In order to attract Sprint Car enthusiasts as subscribers to PPV there would have to be (a) enough cars with some big names and (b) it's a work night so not many are going to sit up until 1am to watch a PPV and the show would have to move along.  Just one of those reality checks that I am in the habit of bringing up whenever new ideas are presented. 

Stan Meissner

Live on TV has never worked for sprint car racing, it's just history.   On top of that, just because Tony is retiring from driving full time doesn't mean he's going to have tons of extra time to devote to something like this.   He will still be an extremely busy man.  

TV and or PPV hold the key to making this happen along with the influence of one of the most successful race car drivers in history.  Tony could start his own production deal, don't ever undersell his abilities and he will have lots of time to pursue this, especially if it was a priority.

Stan, this isn't about low buck operations running once a week, this is about getting the best in the business running at one of the best tracks in the country one night a week, take off the goggles.  This requires many things but none of which are unattainable.  If he had his current driver, a Mr. Schatz if I remember plus a nearby big name in Steve Kinser and a friend named Samuel Swindell that would be a good start and the USAC guys would be a piece of cake with their schedule lacking these days.  Of course it wouldn't be easy, I know of few people who love a challenge more than Tony does which is why I will always hold out hope that somebody makes something happen midweek when you have such a crowd to draw from.  A girl/guy can dream right, lol.....

It would be very cool,  and I think Smoke is capable of shaking up the sprint car world with something like this, but I am not holding my breath.    The Slick 50 series and Thursday Night Thunder were both similar to what you propose and both seemingly failed.    Maybe with his corporate ties something like this would standa  better chance?   

The Slick 50 Series had a lot of competition on a Sunday afternoon and no chance to succeed as a result.  Thursday Night Thunder didn't have the stars the potential Wed. Series would have.  Without said 'stars' it is a no-go obviously.

This is obviously not an easy thing to have happen or it would have already been tried and likely failed.  Tony is the key and he already owns the track to host it at.  Tony wanted his own Cup Team, that happened, Tony wanted Eldora and got together with Earl and that happened, never underestimate his abilities to make stuff happen. 

This is merely something I would like to see happen, doesn't mean it ever will but it would be great for the sport and open it up to a whole new group of racefans which can only benefit the sport in general.  I only wish it was 20 years ago in my world and this would be a nice challenge, c'est la vie....

One way to keep some drivers in the area would be to up the purse in his own series and schedule accordingly.  The WoO really only has 12 touring regulars anyway, what if a few left and raced around the Midwest with his group?  or go a little way for weekends in PA. or with the NSL?  (no big commitment with just one series).   I've said for years that the sprintcar world lost a hell of a lot when we lost Fred Brownfield!!  Remember, he had some guys going with him..........this could be akin to that, just not a ntl. tour.  Oh yea.....remember when the IRA would come to Attica?   Tony could do some "home and home" stuff.....like around the Royal and K-ville.  Just some ideas.....God, I'm thinking'  like Mike now!!!!!!!

Bubzilla approves this thread.

(Hi Mike and Stubb).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

No matter where you go, there you are.

Hey Bub, been way too long old friend, AZ is the place to be soon and keep those Cardinals playing the good D, they are on my fantasy team, lol.

Stubb, there are many ways to make this happen and working with the All-Stars wouldn't be a problem, would it?  It's about time for regional racing to work, heck PA has made it happen for the most part for decades and OH is almost the same.  They key is getting some stars involved and generally they will go will the $$$$ go and Tony and a few friends could make that happen also.  Hey Rome wasn't built in a day, or that's what I heard, smarter folks than me can do this.....

Only has 12????

Keep It Real