58 replies to this topic

[The Legend]

As a side note I don't consider it retirement when a guy quits a hobby that he isn't making any money at. NFL players retire , NASCAR drivers retire , guys who race cars that are not netting a profit sufficient enough to make the time involved worth it are quitting not retiring

[BaconBits]

Korte's retirement has nothing to do with money. It's less about money with Birkhofer and Smith. Birky is burned out from racing all over the country. If money was such a concern, he wouldn't have spent the hundreds of thousands of dollars it takes to switch chassis. Smith mentions money in his reasons, I know, but he also spent hundreds of thousands to switch chassis. He also listed family time and distance from races amongst his reasons. He lives something like 6 hours from the nearest late model track. 6 hours.

It's getting tougher for big late model teams to keep going, no doubt, but these guys stepping away isn't indicitive of the sky falling. There's plenty of reasons they quit, but all anybody wants to cite is costs. Thats naive.

Edited by BaconBits, 08 October 2014 - 07:00 AM.

[Space Racer]

These guys like to race.  If it wasn't so ridiculously costly, they would still field cars and run locally when they have the time.  But no one can justify that for the payoffs.    The system is very broken, and its probably not going to get fixed and the division will continue to dwindle.  Don't think cost is a factor?  Look at car counts 5 years ago compared to now! 

Edited by Space Racer, 08 October 2014 - 08:09 AM.

[The Legend]

Josh where are you coming up with hundreds of thousands to switch chassis ? Birky puts his own stuff together and has a load of product sponsors. I bet he's Into a rolling chassis of his choice other than longhorn or Bloomquist for 15-20k . But let's say he's paying full ticket for everything a roller is costing him 35k. How many did he buy ? 8 ??! Im assuming he bought 2 maybe 3 then he still had his mb customs cars to sell for at least 20k per. I would bet if someone wrote birky a check for 300k and told him he has to race 30 times where ever he wants I bet he would be on it in a second. The problem with that Roland ride is birky wouldn't be in charge of everything and there's outside pressure to race at certain events and expectations of winning. If Blankenship retires it's not money related but you can't ignore the almost zero percent chance of turning even a minimal profit. If a guy has a real business to support himself that's a different story but if he's living off the race car it's almost impossible. And you have to realize guys at that level are smart guys and would be able to make 100k plus working a regular job in the real world .

[BaconBits]

Josh where are you coming up with hundreds of thousands to switch chassis ? Birky puts his own stuff together and has a load of product sponsors. I bet he's Into a rolling chassis of his choice other than longhorn or Bloomquist for 15-20k . But let's say he's paying full ticket for everything a roller is costing him 35k. How many did he buy ? 8 ??! Im assuming he bought 2 maybe 3 then he still had his mb customs cars to sell for at least 20k per. I would bet if someone wrote birky a check for 300k and told him he has to race 30 times where ever he wants I bet he would be on it in a second. The problem with that Roland ride is birky wouldn't be in charge of everything and there's outside pressure to race at certain events and expectations of winning. If Blankenship retires it's not money related but you can't ignore the almost zero percent chance of turning even a minimal profit. If a guy has a real business to support himself that's a different story but if he's living off the race car it's almost impossible. And you have to realize guys at that level are smart guys and would be able to make 100k plus working a regular job in the real world .

It was more of an arbitrary number I came up with. He's probably got 3 or 4 cars. You figure the cost of spares and such, by the time all is said and done, he might have 100k tied up the switch.

Birky is burned out. Sure money played a role in his "retirement", but it's not the only thing, as everybody makes it out to be. He's just over the grind. The cost made it a little easier to walk away.

Because if he was truly passionate about racing still, he would have been all over Roland's offer.

[race ace]

real carpenters build whole houses not just decks ....just saying .

[Space Racer]

So car counts have declined across the country because drivers are burnt out and nobody else new wants to field a  Super Late Model?    The COST is the biggest problem in this sport right now!

[The Legend]

Race Ace . You really don't understand ... My carpentry skills are from another planet . There is not a roof on a house anywhere that I can't frame faster and more precisely than anyone out there , you bring me your best trim guy and not only will I run crown faster than him 3-1 but my shit fits so tight it looks like it grew there . Fella I work for money not race stud approval and there no money in building houses. Cost is the problem with racing no doubt . This " burnout " they speak of is busting their ass for hours on end for no money !!! Working 90 hours a week isn't a big deal when your netting 12-40k a week ... Trust me it's not that hard. Now 90 hours for a net loss of 2 k ??? Yeah that would get a fella real burned out real quick , it's actually impressive those guys hung in their so long ...

[Rusty_Nuts]

I don't know. I give you credit. You can build. But I have also seen just-as-professional designs, if not better than yours. I am also a firm believer that if you need to claim you are the best, you probably aren't the best. Still good work though

[tireguy9910]

http://www.versadeck..._clips_trim.php

 

All us racestudders can be the worlds greatest deck builder also!

[The Legend]

Rusty my best stuff isn't on the web site , I don't put my best stuff on there until were 3 or 4 steps beyond that. I don't like giving free ideas to the soo called competitors.

[03Rocket]

Legend I'm a big fan don't get me wrong...but let me speak freely as well, in order to be the worlds greatest you must first step outside the 412/724 area code brother not trying to call you out just sayin...

[BUTTBEAK]

You need to get yourself neutered. Really!

Edited by BUTTBEAK, 08 October 2014 - 09:11 PM.

[The Legend]

That's what we need .... Productive Reagan conservative members of society such as my self to be neutered and faceless names little keyboard fags like you pumping out kids ... Great idea !!!!

[clwillis]

That's what we need .... Productive Reagan conservative members of society such as my self to be neutered and faceless names little keyboard fags like you pumping out kids ... Great idea !!!!

What does your construction crew do while you are being Productive? One man show? Get over yourself. You are a carpenter. Whoopty do. Measure twice cut once. Swing hammer. Shit i did when i was 4yrs old with a plastic hammer. You are designing a rocket engine. Go ahead and say something about my occupation, even though you dod not know what it is. Call me a fag. Tell me how you could out work me. I have served in the military to keep jack wagons like you free. Done jobs that would kill you. Worked 12-14 hour days for 20 years. Spent my spare time enjoying the sport that i find the most difficult in the world because you do not have a team mate to blame your mistakes on. I do not bitch about racing i embrase it and try to make it better. You should too.

[dirtcar32]

I JUST SEEN TAHT Keith Bernner  Has decided to retire after 40 years behind the wheel to put full focus on his Accu-Shock Dyno operation

 

 

THE LEGND IS NOT A REAL DIRT LATE MODEL FAN I SEE.    HE MOST LOVE DECK BUILDING MORE THEN RACING.

[The Legend]

32 .... What more do you want me to do ??? I keep this message board alive , and I go to races and race along with dumping money into the racing economy ... I don't have time for anything beyond that. But honestly if it comes to going to watch a race or working I would rather work but that's just me.

[grump9111]

You do not keep this message board alive, all you do is bitch and moan about everything if you dont have anything good to ad to the conversation then move on to another topic. we are tired of your idiotic bullshit on every post. Sure there are a couple of people that like to stroke you ego to keep you spewing your useless drivel but the majority of us come on here to get racing info not read your crap. Oh by the way nobody gives a crap about your deck building skills take that shit to the CLASSIFIEDS it has no reason to be a part of a racing board. 

[The Legend]

Frumpy just for you I'll keep it politically correct .... Blow me !!!!

[The Legend]

Willis I can only assume since your clearly 10 times better at life and work than I am that your working to break into the 9 figure bracket instead of the lowly 8 figure bracket I'm working towards .... And I can assume you already have a 2015 Aventador that's been twin turbo'd by underground racing and the 458 spider that I want ... Man you have have the world by the balls !!! I bet your crank must taste like fresh Maine lobster dipped in drawn butter !!!! Hell id pay 10 dollars just to shake your hand !!! I'd pay a hundred for your autograph !!!! On my NUTT sack !!