16 replies to this topic

[ramsey31]

Lately, the future of this sport has been on my mind.    I don't think its anyone's surprise that car counts have plummeted in the last 10-15 years, and the new blood getting into the sport are fewer and fewer.   I will keep pushing this until someone takes notice.

 

If I am Billy bob 18 year old kid who attends the races each week, and wants to get into a race car, I am looking at a CASH outlay of roughly 4-5k minimum to enter a beginner class, come up with some spare tires, etc and a trailer to haul it with, etc.    You have to pay to play, I get it.    However, most younger kids don't have 4-5k laying around to "try" it.   Thus why that $ 250 a month Razr payment looks much easier.

 

Lets say Billy Bob comes up with enough to put a beginner car together, according to the rules.   Now his first time on the track, his ass is handed to him, and he realizes that he needs another couple thousand to have a competitive car.    Billy Bob looses interest, and you now see the car on Pennswoods or Facebook for sale. Take a look, its loaded with them.

 

I am asking the racing community to put together a set of rules for an AFFORABLE, Real beginner class.  One established with the sole purpose of getting more bodies in cars, and working their way up to what we have today.   When the FWD class first came out, there were easily 20-30 cars a night.   Once it became just another place to house your racing career, the fun drops for the average Joe, and you have 6 stroked, built hammers chasing  around.  We don't need another class to split the 40 cars already at the track, but make your beginner class...a beginner class!

 

The same drivers in each of your classes on a weekly event, are the same drivers who you saw 5-10 years ago, and often in the same classes. The late model fields are very full, because most of these drivers are the ones who have been racing for 15-20 years, and worked their way into a Late Model over time.   Look at the classes below that...7 cars, 8 cars, maybe 12. 

 

 

   Doesn't take long to realize that we will soon face extinction with the new blood entering the sport. Promoters/Owners, step outside of the box and look 5 years ahead, 10 years ahead.  We all see the result of what has been done over the past 5-10 years, and that hasn't been toward bringing in new customers.   The same old customers do have a lifespan.

Edited by ramsey31, 24 August 2016 - 01:00 PM.

[Crew13]

I understand what you are saying but your cause and solution is flawed.   What you are speaking of has happened over the evolution of racing since the sixties at least.   I mean so many "beginner classes have come and gone but nobody wants to stick to their guns on the rules.  Why?   Money, cause it makes the world go round.   To stick to the rules it takes more labor more labor is not supported by the fans cause they don't want to watch beginners wreck and cars go slow so in order to make it work tracks folded or let the cost of playing fall on the players.  The same old customers do have a lifespan but they have offspring that lives on.   Look at all of the second and third generation drivers out there.  Then sprinkle in  some new blood.   I am 45 and I don't fear that the sport I love is going anywhere before I leave.  I heard a guy say the samething you are saying 30 years ago and honestly, car count were no better or worst then.  

[Walt Wimer]

I think Mercer is on the right track here. They run all the "small car" classes at 5:00, get them out of the way,  and then have their for top classes start racing at 7:00.   The fans who don't want to watch the "small cars", which includes a Junior Sprint Car" class for "kids", can come by 7:00 and see all the racing they really want to see.  I don't get up to Mercer much anymore, but was there this past Saturday and the entire program  was over by 9:55!!   And I hear that is been pretty much like that all year.  

 

GOOD RACING!!!

 

Walt

[D1RT]

Thought that was what the amateur/strictly stocks were suppose to be?? Wasn't that what the front wheel drive 4 cylinders were to be also??

Problem with these "beginner" classes is the Western Pa. promoters don't have the back bone nor the testicular fortitude to tell the drivers NO because they're afraid it will hurt their back gate profits and these "beginner" classes get way out of hand.

[ramsey31]

Car counts most certainly have taken a crap, its just that we have fewer tracks now, so the remaining ones do look better.   Ive built and I continue to build, and too am a 3rd generation racer.  While I don't have all of the answers, I do know one thing.   in the 60's and 70's as you refer to, cars were much more "stock" than they are now. People raced 4-5 times a week, and the fan base was large.  The average Joe could relate to the cars they saw on the track, and the car they saw in the showroom.   

 

  The last my dad ran, 1991 Marion Center, I remember  a Pure stock field that started in turn 4, and the last rows of cars were at the end of the front stretch, and still have the videos.    The "stock" classes allowed the beginner a place to start with what he or she could find, and quite a few of those people are still racing.      I have nothing against the classes as they are now, but Ill bet $ 100 that car counts would increase quite well, if it was easier to get a rookie on the track, and give them a taste.

[racer67x]

alot of the problem goes back to lawyers and safety requirements..years ago Lernerville ran enduros with full size cars and minimum rules,I counted one night 191 cars taking the green..it was pandemonium the fans loved it and there wasn't much in the car if you wrecked it. then one unfortunate night someone got killed..after that fuel cells,cages and firesuits were mandatory,expense went up and the fun was over. my entry level purestock back in the day had a stock seat,extra straps on a stock tank and a cage made of steam pipes from my parents greenhouse...its all part of the pussification of America and you see it all around us. I'm not saying everyone should build dangerous cars but there is no personal responsibility anymore,racing is the most fun you can have while keeping your clothes on but too many lawyers have ruined it for everyone.

[Walt Wimer]

  Another problem is the kids just are not into cars and driving as they were years ago!! I recently read an article in the local paper that mentioned how many fewer 16 year-olds have driver's licenses now than years back.  This is a big problem for the sport on down the road!!   They are just too much into their hi-tech gadgets and such, playing video games and such all the time!!

 

GOOD RACING!!!

 

Walt

[old man d]

Walt you are right on with that statement. When my son was racing i took some kids to look at his car and asked them if they would like to try this some day. They said the car was cool but they where not interested they said it looked to much like work. These kids were 15 16 & 17 year old"s.

[jo73]

Beginner classes at one time we're easy to get into cost wise. In today's racing, cost is the major factor. To help keep cost down it takes a individual that has the abilities to be able to work on his race car. The rule makers have taken that away, chassis, engines and tires are and have been out of control. You can call it what ever you want. Throwing money into a entry level car today is a financial lose. Unfortunately fans don't care to see entry level classes. It puts promotors in a position that the entry level classes delay the show and what's that do ? Drags the show on and people don't want to sit threw that. I applaud Mercer for stepping up and giving the jr. Sprint KIDS and other classes a chance to get on track. Personally I think they should give karts and micro's a chance to get out there also. 1 track, a Saturday track, needs to do this. Track prep would be minimal due to the restricted HP. It would be all about the back gate, you don't need to open your main grandstands. Then, maybe some would move into a regular ride.

[714d]

Instead of focusing on "race" cars, why not have more enduro races? Cheap and easy to put together, car counts are usually good, and it's the only 4/6cylinder race that folks will stick around to watch. They're usually the most entertaining race of the night.
Plus, with no prep work needing to be done to the cars at the track like actual race classes (between heats and features) you'd probably get a lot of crew guys to throw cars together.

Edited by 714d, 24 August 2016 - 06:47 PM.

[Crew13]

Instead of focusing on "race" cars, why not have more enduro races? Cheap and easy to put together, car counts are usually good, and it's the only 4/6cylinder race that folks will stick around to watch. They're usually the most entertaining race of the night.
Plus, with no prep work needing to be done to the cars at the track like actual race classes (between heats and features) you'd probably get a lot of crew guys to throw cars together.

lernerville does it with there back to school days on Tuesdays, IDK maybe Tuesday is the is issue,  but nobody but family goes to watch.  I tried to watch one for 31 laps after dropping out and couldn't keep my attention cause you usually are laps apart at that point, not even a straight away.  I was running 4th or 5th at the time and was 4 laps down.  It was cheap but did the minimal.  Anymore though a scrap car they want $500 usually needs motor or tranny.   442 auto auction may be best place to get them.   Bottom line nothing through the gates.

[ramsey31]

LOL. My daughters are the same way...both want to race, but neither want to help in the garage...guess who isn't racing...

[714d]

lernerville does it with there back to school days on Tuesdays, IDK maybe Tuesday is the is issue,  but nobody but family goes to watch.  I tried to watch one for 31 laps after dropping out and couldn't keep my attention cause you usually are laps apart at that point, not even a straight away.  I was running 4th or 5th at the time and was 4 laps down.  It was cheap but did the minimal.  Anymore though a scrap car they want $500 usually needs motor or tranny.   442 auto auction may be best place to get them.   Bottom line nothing through the gates.

Gotta do it in addition to a regular race night. The one at Lernerville stampede was always entertaining. I can't see an enduro drawing a crowd as a standalone event. Replace the ridiculous 4-cyl classes that no one stays to watch with a once-a-month 50 lap enduro.

[polish2]

http://photos3.meetu..._453183847.jpeg

[oldbradfordspeedway]

Old Bradford Speedway has a Kids Class, ages 12 to 16 Stock front wheel drive. we run them at the end of the night so the Families of the top 3 can get thier pictures taken without holding up the show. You would be surprised how many fans stick around to watch the Kids

[jo73]

Old Bradford speedway. JOB WELL DONE ! Those kids mite be tomorrow s stars

[ramsey31]

Thank you Old Bradford Speedway.   That's exactly what I am talking about.