41 replies to this topic

[LernervillePRDirector]

Nice to see three first time winners on the BRP tour lately. Congrats to all three. I noticed the car counts have been in decline this year however. Of course they've been doing so for years, like some other divisions. But this year, outside of the Mercer race, there really hasn't even been a full field at any of the other events. The big upside of this tour was to provide full fields with increased purses with either modest or no ticket price increases to fans. If you're not any kind of modified fan, and it's more than okay not to be, there's something out there for every dirt fan, please don't provide the usual "Modifieds Suck" ..."People don't care".."You couldn't pay me to watch em" crap. I think we all know the fan base is much smaller than those of Sprints/SLM's/Crates..etc I just wanted to see what some reasons are according to drivers/crew/board members/fans 1. Purses are no longer attractive? 2. Not enough cars to go around? 3. Tire rules-Hoosier? 4. Schedule doesn't fit time off from full time job? 5. Schedule conflict with other tracks? 6. Only interested in using resources towards point races at home tracks Thanks for the feedback.

[Hot Dog]

I think everybody has different reasons why they don't follow the tour as much as they used to. We had a few reasons why we've missed races, the first few were due to not having our motor back yet, and then we missed Expo and Dog Hollow because of work. Expo we would have never gotten there in time to feel comfortable and not rushed getting prepared, and Dog Hollow because a race 2 hours away on a Sunday night at a track that has a rep for running late was just a bad idea. I can only speak for our team and not the others though. I will say the purses aren't what they used to be and it just doesn't have the draw it used to.

[BaconBits]

1. Purses are no longer attractive?
2. Not enough cars to go around?
3. Tire rules-Hoosier?
4. Schedule doesn't fit time off from full time job?
5. Schedule conflict with other tracks?
6. Only interested in using resources towards point races at home tracks

1. Racing purses were never all that attractive. You're always going to spend way more than you'll ever earn. Besides, it's been proven many times that you can pay a mint and still not get any cars.

2. There aren't many modifieds in western PA anymore.

3. Tire rules are here to stay.

4. Most BRP shows are on weekends. I don't think full time jobs affect it that much.

5. There are way, way too many specials going on for modifieds up in New York and Canada and out east at Grandview, Big Diamond and New Egypt these days, so the chance at getting random New York cars at BRP shows goes down exponentially.

6. The weekly tracks aren't exactly getting full fields, either.

[KartRacer1]

Nice to see three first time winners on the BRP tour lately. Congrats to all three. I noticed the car counts have been in decline this year however. Of course they've been doing so for years, like some other divisions. But this year, outside of the Mercer race, there really hasn't even been a full field at any of the other events. The big upside of this tour was to provide full fields with increased purses with either modest or no ticket price increases to fans.

If you're not any kind of modified fan, and it's more than okay not to be, there's something out there for every dirt fan, please don't provide the usual "Modifieds Suck" ..."People don't care".."You couldn't pay me to watch em" crap. I think we all know the fan base is much smaller than those of Sprints/SLM's/Crates..etc

I just wanted to see what some reasons are according to drivers/crew/board members/fans

1. Purses are no longer attractive?
2. Not enough cars to go around?
3. Tire rules-Hoosier?
4. Schedule doesn't fit time off from full time job?
5. Schedule conflict with other tracks?
6. Only interested in using resources towards point races at home tracks

Thanks for the feedback.

I have always enjoyed seeing the Modifieds and with the weather forecast being up in the air for Ohio, we ended up going to Eriez for the BRP Mod/Patriot Sprint Series. The track up there was great for the modifieds and Chris Haines really made that race interesting when he got the jump on lap 14 on Skip Moore. Now I always wondered why they dont get more cars especially when they start getting closer to some of the New York tracks like last night at Eriez. I didnt know if the purse was not big enough to attract more of the New York cars or if there was a better paying race within New York. I think that the series is great and I try to make a handful of races a year, however I think that maybe in an event to get more cars, try slightly higher purses paired with an additional top tier class or series?

[Kid Roberts]

Like I have said before, I think the entire region needs to go to 358's. Sharon and Mercer would have to work something out, but I think it would benefit the entire modified scene. Most of the modifieds that come from NY/CA are 358's anyway.

[Hot Dog]

Like I have said before, I think the entire region needs to go to 358's. Sharon and Mercer would have to work something out, but I think it would benefit the entire modified scene. Most of the modifieds that come from NY/CA are 358's anyway.

How exactly is alienating all of the guys with big block motors gonna solve anything?

[Curtis86]

The economy plays a big part. The big blocks are not cheap to run with the 358's being somewhat cheaper. Tire rules factor into that. Open tire rules help cause it gives you a choice. Americans are cheaper than the Hoosiers Plus I can get more life out of them. Thats the biggest weekly bill of expense. Another problem is there are more guys leaving the division than we have coming in. You either jump into the 358's or bigblock divisions which are both highly competitive makes for a steep learning curve. Racers need a place to start and get their feet wet and have the chance to learn. The west-penn mods were a good place to start but Vicki put an end to that. Its time for guys to have a place to start . Im and sticking my neck out and am starting a new division that can maybe bring new guys into the mods. Been talking to mod drivers and they think its a great thing. Already have the rules made up and started handing them out. Gonna be a 602 crate motor mod classs that is keying on budget. Goon be a driver exclusion rule that keep the majority of the current drivers out of the division so guys can move up to it or start racing there and have a chance to run up front. Anybody interested can contact me by calling. 724-866-8832. Rob curtis

[Kid Roberts]

How exactly is alienating all of the guys with big block motors gonna solve anything?

Aren't there more 358's in the area? Didn't Swartzlander switch to one? I'm just asking.

[LernervillePRDirector]

The economy plays a big part. The big blocks are not cheap to run with the 358's being somewhat cheaper. Tire rules factor into that. Open tire rules help cause it gives you a choice. Americans are cheaper than the Hoosiers Plus I can get more life out of them. Thats the biggest weekly bill of expense. Another problem is there are more guys leaving the division than we have coming in. You either jump into the 358's or bigblock divisions which are both highly competitive makes for a steep learning curve. Racers need a place to start and get their feet wet and have the chance to learn. The west-penn mods were a good place to start but Vicki put an end to that. Its time for guys to have a place to start . Im and sticking my neck out and am starting a new division that can maybe bring new guys into the mods. Been talking to mod drivers and they think its a great thing. Already have the rules made up and started handing them out. Gonna be a 602 crate motor mod classs that is keying on budget. Goon be a driver exclusion rule that keep the majority of the current drivers out of the division so guys can move up to it or start racing there and have a chance to run up front. Anybody interested can contact me by calling. 724-866-8832. Rob curtis

Good Luck with this Rob! I hope it does well, good idea.

[Hot Dog]

Aren't there more 358's in the area? Didn't Swartzlander switch to one? I'm just asking.

Its about 50/50. And Swartzlander has a big financial backer that not everyone else has. The small blocks aren't at a disadvantage with the current ruleset. And they aren't any cheaper either. If they are its not by much.

Edited by Hot Dog, 03 September 2012 - 12:00 PM.

[Curtis86]

Aren't there more 358's in the area? Didn't Swartzlander switch to one? I'm just asking.

Brian has a big smallblock in . Over 410 ci

[Kid Roberts]

Hmmmm...alright. The 602 sportsman idea is a good one. You could probably snag some NY guys for that.

[Curtis86]

Good Luck with this Rob! I hope it does well, good idea.

Thanks. Something has to be done to bring guys in. Some of us have tales about it but I guess I am gonna be the one to push it. Only way I will benefit from it is preservation of the class. Im gonna promoted it and tech it with help. So far everything for feedback has been positive and I hope the current drivers help support it cause its building for the future.

[Kid Roberts]

My dad just said he'd back the idea if he had a ride. I hope it takes off. The mods put on some of the best racing in the area. I wish there were some more specials for them.

[Hot Dog]

Thanks. Something has to be done to bring guys in. Some of us have tales about it but I guess I am gonna be the one to push it. Only way I will benefit from it is preservation of the class. Im gonna promoted it and tech it with help. So far everything for feedback has been positive and I hope the current drivers help support it cause its building for the future.

We'll have a car there for sure. This seems like a great deal and thanks for taking the bull by the horns Rob.

[ramey36]

1 through 6. Obama.

[#1Cgeislerfan]

Its about 50/50. And Swartzlander has a big financial backer that not everyone else has. The small blocks aren't at a disadvantage with the current ruleset. And they aren't any cheaper either. If they are its not by much.

I find it interesting that that talented of a driver with that backing did not run any BRP races this season.

[#1Cgeislerfan]

It looks like Brian Weaver and Dave Murdick will have a great battle for the BRP title with just 8 points separating the two drivers heading into the final two races at PPMS and Lernerville! Only 20 points back is Jeremiah Shingledecker. =)

[Skull]

I find it interesting that that talented of a driver with that backing did not run any BRP races this season.

From what I have heard, it is because of the Syracuse fiasco a couple of years ago. I don't remember the nuts and bolts of it, but that's supposedly the reason why he doesn't support the tour.

I like the tour concept, but they started getting a little out of hand scheduling races at Tyler County (which I enjoyed), WVMS, and Little Valley, NY. I thought the reason behind it was to promote BB's in our area. To that end, they couldn't land events at some of the tracks where it would have made sense like, Thunder Mountain, MCS or Hummingbird because the sanctioning fee is/was too high.

[LernervillePRDirector]

From what I have heard, it is because of the Syracuse fiasco a couple of years ago. I don't remember the nuts and bolts of it, but that's supposedly the reason why he doesn't support the tour.

I like the tour concept, but they started getting a little out of hand scheduling races at Tyler County (which I enjoyed), WVMS, and Little Valley, NY. I thought the reason behind it was to promote BB's in our area. To that end, they couldn't land events at some of the tracks where it would have made sense like, Thunder Mountain, MCS or Hummingbird because the sanctioning fee is/was too high.

Agreed. Though it is probably a good idea to at least get to 1 different place every season outside of Lernerville/PPMS/Mercer/Sharon. Having said that, the scheduling of the King Memorial with Mercer running their 358's on the same night puzzled me. There are only so many NE Mod style cars to go round. And the Sunday night shows have had good racing by everyone's account, but low turnout. I know that no schedule will be perfect, but some of the decisions seem like they had to work out a last resort event, instead of desired nights/destinations.