ARDC & USAC to merge
 

This week's Area Auto Racing News carries the announcement that ARDC is to merge with USAC. ARDC president Wayne Lesher made the announcement to current members. The story says that USAC will take over all the administrative functions of ARDC and will provide "a greater range of benefits in competitor insurance". It appears the USAC/ARDC relationship will be similar to the USAC/CRA sprint car relationship.

Levi Jones will be at an ARDC meeting in early December.

It will be interesting to hear from current ARDC members.

Re: ARDC & USAC to merge
 

I heard this rumor at the Gold Crown. ARDC had a tough year this year, and I believe this was a long term survival move.

Re: ARDC & USAC to merge
 

I hope it's a move that saves midget racing here in the east.

USAC needs to take care of themselves besides midget week and the Gold Crown they have nothing! The Gold Crown wasn't that good this year the car count was terrible because power I wasn't there to help.USAC needs all the help it can get with their midget program.

Re: ARDC & USAC to merge
 

Me too. I always hit the USAC/ ARDC meets in Pa., excellent....

Re: ARDC & USAC to merge
 

That's a pretty negative post, but I agree with the positive part: Thoroughly enjoyed my first POWRi race at Belleville in September, great car count, super competitive....
All these organizations should figure out how to cooperate for the betterment of the sport

Re: ARDC & USAC to merge
 

How many of the 14 cars that were at Granite City earlier in the year were at the Gold Crown? I would guess most of them.

Re: ARDC & USAC to merge
 

Hey Brent, you were one of the people who recommended I go to Belleville POWRi midget race.
Thanks, you were right!:6:

$10k per cylinder is ludicrous.

It has been a while since I looked through the ARDC rules and engine platforms in detail, but aren't they quite a bit different than USAC? They allow Gearte style engines (older push rod type) the same 174 displacement that they offer the Fontana engine (or used to). Esslingers are limited on displacement and cylinder head type (only 1of3 is allowed). Just seems like a bad move if you are trying to "grow" midget racing in your area. It is hard to grow your weekly base if you alienate their equipment. One of the ways ARDC was able to keep their steady membership in the past was by supressing the unlimited resources type mentality with regards to engines. This seems like a direct move away from what has made them successful.

Re: ARDC & USAC to merge
 

I believe ARDC opened their rules up a year or two ago to allow everything. Below is their engine rules right from their rule book:

ESS-8
ENGINES
A.Engine type, size and configuration rules listed below are locked for the 2014, 2015, and
2016 seasons.
B.All cars must be equipped with a working tachometer.
C.RPM Limit
a.All push rod type engines have a maximum RPM of 8800
b.All Single Head Overhead Camshaft engines have a maximum RPM of 9800
D.All engines must be normally aspirated, internal combustion, four cycle, reciprocating
piston type, incorporating a maximum of six cylinders. Only one spark plug per cylinder
will be allowed.
E.ARDC reserves the right to disallow any engine for competition, which in its judgment
does not meet the spirit and intent of competitive racing, in regards to cost and/or
performance.
F.Any engines not covered by the specifications below must be submitted for approval prior to entering the competition.

Pushrod Type Engines
A. Four cylinder inline, two valves per cylinder, water cooled, utilizing an aluminum
block and/or head. Maximum 168 CID (2753 cc).
B.Four cylinder inline, two valves per cylinder, water cooled, IRON BLOCK AND HEAD
with intake and exhaust ports on the same side of the head. Maximum 184 CID (3016 cc).
a. Same as (b.) except utilizing a “cross-flow” cylinder head. Maximum 174 CID
(2852 cc).
b.Same as (b.) except using an Aluminum Block and an approved non-cross flow
aluminum “Fontana” cylinder head. Maximum 174 CID (2852 cc).
C. Four cylinders horizontally opposed; two valves per cylinder. Intake and exhaust
valves must be in-line and on the same axis. Maximum 174 CID (2852 cc).
D.Maximum of six cylinders, V-type, (maximum 90 degrees), two valves per cylinder,
water cooled, iron block and head. Maximum 174 CID (2852 cc).
a.Same as (d.) except utilizing Aluminum Block and/or head. Maximum 168 CID
(2852 cc).**

Single Overhead Camshaft Type Engines
A.Four cylinders in-line, aluminum block and head, “Pinto” engine. Alteration of the basic
design of the head or block is prohibited. Maximum of 106mm bore spacing, Maximum 161 CID (2639 cc).
B.Maximum of six cylinders in-line or V-type (maximum 90 degrees), water cooled two
valves per cylinder. Maximum 146 CID (2393 cc).
C.Four cylinders horizontally opposed, rocker arm actuated four valves per cylinder,
water cooled engine. Maximum 122 CID (2000 cc).
Double Overhead Camshaft Type Engines
A.Four cylinder in-line, water cooled, maximum of four valves per cylinder. Maximum 122 CID (2000 cc).
a.The stock production “Cosworth Vega” four cylinders, in-line, four valves per
cylinder, utilizing the stock production block and head. Alteration of the basic design of the head or block is prohibited. Maximum 127 CID (2082 cc).

Well, there you go. It used to specifically disallow the Toyota engines in the verbage also.

Either way, just seems like a bad move in my opinion.

Stay tuned for more information after the December meeting. Things are looking great for 2017 and those that have an interest really need to attend the meeting and hear the news first hand.