24 replies to this topic

[Walt Wimer]

I took a quick look at the 20 some tracks running in the western PA area and I think Lernerville is the only track in the entire area with just 4 classes.  All the rest have 5-6 with only ONE top class.  Lernerville's  program, set up Don Martin decades ago,  is unique for the entire country and doesn't really even fit in at all with the problem.   All the rest have just one top class with 4-5 "Support" classes.    And many of them have one or two of those classes that are drawing ten cars or less a night.  Decent car counts can be had when running six classes, just look at Mercer!!   But such is not the case most places. The promoters need to cull out one or two of their less supported classes and after a year or two the other classes should grow more and the "back gate"  should recover!!

 

Just MHO

 

GOOD RACING To all!!

 

Walt

[pittbull_033]

Evolution is the killer of dirt track racing. Older people talk about "the good ole days"  Well these good times only saw a limited amount of divisions. Perfect example is Marion Center. I have no clue how many different late model classes that place has but instead of having a Huge field of maybe super lates. They have watered down classes that spreads the car count. While i dont think any of those classes are hurting for car counts it the principle that instead of having 40 latemodels in one class they have 10-20 in seprate classes.  Another example is Sprint cars, 270, 600, midget, limited, 305, 360, 410. Can you imagine the increased car count if 410s and 305s were the only options. How about Mini stocks and pure stocks, Before ministock came on the scene the lowest level was pure stocks and many of the low buck guys that are now racing minis would most likely have a pure stock in the garage. Also how about the series that have been made in such a way that the only place a car can run and be legal is a a sanctioned track.  The difference in rules from track to track doesnt help either. All the tracks should come together and run 1 set of rules and stick to them. That way if a racers want to go race 3 night a week he can and be leagl at all venues.   I guess what im trying to get at is there is simply to many classes and not enough car owners. The classes used to be more concentrated and car counts were up. Now every division has a spin off which just spreads the car count even thinner.

[flash49]

These reasons these lesser divisions have proliferated is because not enough owners can afford Super Late Models, 410 Sprints, or Big Block Modifieds.  It's really not rocket science.  People have to run what they can afford.   Get used to it, things aren't going to be changing any time soon. 

[Skull]

These reasons these lesser divisions have proliferated is because not enough owners can afford Super Late Models, 410 Sprints, or Big Block Modifieds.  It's really not rocket science.  People have to run what they can afford.   Get used to it, things aren't going to be changing any time soon. 

 

That's a half truth, at best.

 

The real reason these economy classes have proliferated is that they are a ready built means for promoters to lower their back gate. There have always been classes for racers that couldn't afford the so called big three. 6-Cylinder Modifieds, Street Stocks (Claimers) and Semi-Lates were pretty much all that was needed. Most 410 drivers started out in carts, and for years that was good enough. Now we need a 305 Sprint division.    Today there are four times the number of support classes. It's gotten out of hand and, as much, if not more than anything else, it is slowly killing the sport.

 

 

[flash49]

Yeah, but the big three were lots cheaper back then.  Why would an owner run a Crate Late Model for the smaller purses if he could afford to run a Super?   Skull, I know you hate Crate racing and long for the good old days, but they're not coming back.  The reality is, many of the folks in this division wouldn't be racing at all if they had to shell out for a Super Late Model.  I still say the problem is a matter of economics.