52 replies to this topic

[sicario]

I was telling my daughter at Lernerville Friday, that the sportsman modifieds was supposed to be an entry level class, but that no one has ever moved up and some have moved down. It's become kind of a black hole that no one escapes.  But now some of them can move up to crate sprints. Sprint cars with no throttle response, that should be fun.  

Exactly! That's my problem with this, what is the purpose? Cheaper alternative or starter class? The issue is that RUSH became both and no one ever leaves. The economod class at least graduated 3 guys that I know of up to open emods the last 2-3 years and that's because it's something as simple as a carb change. I just really don't see the need for RUSH to get involved in every class. The sprints will be the same as the modifieds. I'd imagine we'll see bigfoot before we see a rush sprint move up to a 410.

[FanJim24]

Don't ever go out east, then. You'll hate it.

Ok, that, or one of those races had better be as good as the best races I have ever seen.  

Edited by FanJim24, 25 April 2017 - 12:31 PM.

[sicario]

Doesn't the grove have 3 sprint classes? I thought they ran sprints 358 lates and stocks.

[BaconBits]

Ok, that or one of those races had better be as good as the best races I have ever seen.  

The racing out that way tends to be top notch.

[Chrome Horn]

Did anyone ever think drivers are in the RUSH series because that is what they can AFFORD? Sorry, not everyone has tons of money lying around to go out and buy a super, 40g motor among other things. 

[ramey36]

The Grove tends to just have two per night. 

 

http://www.williamsg...om/schedule.htm

[FanJim24]

Did anyone ever think drivers are in the RUSH series because that is what they can AFFORD? Sorry, not everyone has tons of money lying around to go out and buy a super, 40g motor among other things. 

That's fine, but then why do we need 10,000 "affordable" divisions? And funny thing, all run by Vicky. I understand about the money. I haven't even been able to get into mini stocks, yet.

[D1RT]

IMO the first track in Western Pa. that runs a two division show like Williams Grove with either super lates or sprint cars as its headline class and pays a purse and point fund like they do will pack the pits with quality cars which in turn will pack the stands.

 

Some of you people need to leave your little nest here in Western Pa. and see how far in the stone ages the tracks and "promoters" are around here......

[racer67x]

people forget that during the Don Martin Era,Lernerville ran 6 classes every friday night.

Late Models,Semi Late,Sprint,BB Mod,6cyl Mod,Street Stock....the entry level classes are not the problem...not being able to build your own car or motor hurts alot but people just don't have the expendable money anymore..
in case you haven't noticed its pretty much down to the most dedicated at this point and even those numbers are starting to dwindle.

[Cool1]

Well said.

[Cool1]

Racing will never change, its always gonna be -- he with the most money, usually wins. Always been that way, and always will be, that's just the way it is, might as well accept it, or watch golf or bowling.

[Walt Wimer]

100% CORRECT!!!!

 

Walt

[longtimeracefan101]

IMO the first track in Western Pa. that runs a two division show like Williams Grove with either super lates or sprint cars as its headline class and pays a purse and point fund like they do will pack the pits with quality cars which in turn will pack the stands.
 
Some of you people need to leave your little nest here in Western Pa. and see how far in the stone ages the tracks and "promoters" are around here......

[longtimeracefan101]

I've. Totally lost my interest in weekly raceing. Only specials these days.

[jo73]

People don't know how to fabricate, they don't know how to build there motors. Racing in the last 25 yrs has become a game of who can out spend who. Just look at the winners, most are teams that have $$$ behind them. The little guy sometimes has a good run but the problem is those little guys that make up the majority of fields is dwindling.

[Cool1]

I remember when the sportsman mods were started, fanjim24 you were right that it was supposed to be a entry level class, but that didn't last long, now you have guys with 20-30 years racing experience competing with 14 year old kids, just my opinion, but I think its wrong.

[Walt Wimer]

Those guys with 20-30 years of experience probably can't afford anything else!!  And they still want to race!!  What's wrong with that??   And IMHO 14 is too young to be in a full size car anyhow!!

 

GOOD RACING!!  

 

Walt

[FanJim24]

Those guys with 20-30 years of experience probably can't afford anything else!!  And they still want to race!!  What's wrong with that??   And IMHO 14 is too young to be in a full size car anyhow!!

 

GOOD RACING!!  

 

Walt

My point is that we have a glut of "entry level" divisions of underpowered motors with 0 throttle response, where if you lift you lose. What is anyone supposed to learn from that? 

 

The sportsman mods sounded like a great idea to me--same motors, same wheels, same tires, same shocks--I figured it to be a drivers' class, but those same motors have been the downfall of the theory, because they don't have enough power to drive off of the corners, so the trick is to gear the car so that you just keep your foot in it the whole way around, find the best line, hit your marks, and hope the guys in front of you don't find the best line first.  

Edited by FanJim24, 26 April 2017 - 07:21 AM.

[rocket2L]

We went to the Indy 500 last year and spent the evening at Kokomo speedway and I must say that they ran 4 divisions, wingless sprints, imca mods, pure stocks (buick regals, olds cutlass, monte carlos etc),  very similar to Tri City's Thunder car class that they had for a few years. They also ran a four- six cylinder class they called hornets and they had plenty of cars and the stock cars were some of the best I have seen and there were no late model parts allowed and the cars ran on stock appearing tires and they put on a whale of a race. We back gate ourselves to death around here and you go to other parts of the country and talk about Western PA racing and that is the first thing that comes out of people.(nine million classes with not many cars in each)  Less classes would be better with more purse monies through the entire field to entice running weekly. I feel that something should be done for the racers and teams about pit admission as well, incentives etc. for those that run weekly etc. I know a few modified teams that ran the SDS race at Sharon and it cost them money to run because there was no tow money for the non qualifiers and you had to run DIRT fuel and buy a DIRT licence for one night so they lost. I wish the racing community would work together instead of against each other so drivers and teams will run more than one night a week. I know that people have talked about this stuff since the 70's but you would think some of the brighter individuals would speak up. I am sure that other track people go to events all over and they bring back ideas that would work if they would think a little non traditional and try a thing or two and see if it works rather than stay with the same old product and see the fields continue to get smaller and smaller while costs continue to rise. Even though you may have a crate engine that does not take into consideration the 10,000 dollar set of shocks etc that you must run etc.  There is nothing wrong with 3 or 4 divisions and get people home at a decent time with a well run good product and people are likely to return because they are happy with what they saw. I go to many different tracks and these are some of the things that I see from the stands. I know that tracks are trying and I hope people are patient and let them do what needs to be done.  

[Hot Dog]

You know what really hurts tracks? Whiny fans who think they should tell people how to spend their money and what class to run because somehow their $14 means more than the $50k or more said driver has invested. Or they think they know how to promote a track so they tell the promoter everything they do wrong with the track from track prep, to what divisions they choose to run, to how they pay, all because that $14 investment means more than the hundreds of thousands the promoter has invested.
Maybe instead of constantly bitching about everything, get off your ass and be a part of the solution. Invest where you can, attend meetings, go help a driver to see what they go through to get their "junk" crate to the track, volunteer some time to help your local track with prep or whatever.

Edited by Hot Dog, 26 April 2017 - 08:31 AM.