Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

I am interested in all of the theories of why the Silver Crown series is not of interest to fans or promoters.I would like the opinion of Brent of whom I had the pleasure of meeting Saturday nite at Terre Haute.If, in a perfect world a Silver Crown race was to be scheduled at Terre Haute with a 50,000 to win and a decent purse structure, would there not be plenty of cars and a capacity crowd.I believe you would have Drivers from every association trying to secure rides.Even Donny Schatz would come back and give the Crown cars another go. How many remember Donny's brief foray in SC cars.Again, this is hypothetical.Brent, And everyone else opinions please.

Put the MONEY up and lets see what happens..That's the main thing!

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

Its not a perfect world.

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

I think a $50,000 purse with a good fair payout top to bottom might do better than one very top heavy.

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

Run em 200 laps with live pit stops :31:

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

the promotor would have to have bigger nads than rich vogler.

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

Makes no sense, because I think you would end up with exactly the same cars. So you up operating costs a ton and are depending on front gate, and not back gate, to make it up for you.

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

I don't see where this could be possible, and even a break even deal. With $50,000 to win and say $1000 to start, with the seating capacity at Terre Haute, your probably looking at a $50 dollar ticket. There are a lot of people that, that alone would prevent them from attending. If a really high dollar sponsor stepped up maybe. Then to you would need a date that had no conflicts, which means late or early in the year on a weeknight. That will also eliminate a lot of spectators. It would be great to see, but I wouldn't want to put up the money.

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

OK, since you asked, I'll tell you how this relative newcomer feels. I see that the guys who've been around sprint cars for a long time love the "big cars", seems like a very nostalgic thing
To me, they're bigger, heavier cars with 360 engines. I don't see the point
Sorry....

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

Well I been around since before the first plywood wing and I love the big cars.
They used to have a point but with the demise of the miles There are very few tracks that are worthy of a SC race. Between that and the changing race world they are just bigger heavier cars with 360 engines IF run on a sprintcar track.
Believe it or not there are people who believe that midgets are just smaller less powerful versions of sprintcars that in this day and age miss the point too. Sometimes that thought rattles around in my head.

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

Don't surprise me none.

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

I do believe that the series needs one kind of premier event in it's schedule. Maybe not 50k, but even 20k to win with a good purse spread throughout the field. I realize it's all about finding a sponsor and the right date. DuQuoin would be my preference.

Instead of fans wandering if there will be another open wheel guy make it to IndyCar or who will be next for the NASCAR feeder system... I would be more excited about seeing who qualifies for and wins a bigger more prestigious USAC champ car (Silver Crown) event.

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

I like this.
In the so called nonexistent perfect world the winner of the Champ car finale would get a ride in a Indy Light car (do they still exist?) for the next season.
Never will happen but I would like it.
:deadhorse: doesn't accomplish anything but sure does kill time.

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

Considering a decent Indy Lights ride currently costs over a million, not a chance that will happen sadly. At no fault of their own, most of these drivers have never run a road course outside of Karting in their lives. So a full season deal in Lights wouldn't be really possible off the bat.

Jonathan Byrd's, who sponsored BC, put up everything from a Freedom 100 ride (Indy Lights @ IMS), to a Lights deal on all the ovals (typically 3) and an Indy 500 ride with a few races in Indy Lights beforehand. http://usacracing.com/news/midget/it...avenue-to-indy

Considering a USF2000 ride can run at half a million, and that is for the lowest level in the MRTI, I don't think we'll see any drivers coming from Midgets, Sprints, Crowns up to the ladder to Indianapolis. They also only have 1 oval, IRP. It makes a lot more sense to place your sponsor dollars into a few Truck races, ARCA ride or K&N deals to advance your career.

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

Why look to make a path for our USAC stars to find a way out? Maybe the answer is to make it more profitable and prestige's to stay and race here?

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

Yep one mans prestigious is another mans whats this crap ?
It really wasn't to long ago having a usac sticker on your car was a big deal. I guess not so much anymore.
I still believe 100% that the best drivers with guts to match always have and always will be wheeling a usac dirtcar of some kind and personally I'd know as a racer that I made it if I was racing one.
Of course that don't pay the bills.

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

Absolutely. In the words of Yogi Berra "its deja vu all over again". USAC missed the boat by thinking and promoting itself as only a stepping stone to Indy some nearly 30 years ago. Ignoring the fact that Penske and his followers had already put the stamp of road racing and its style on American open wheel racing. So a guy from down in Texas formed this "Outlaw" thing and guess what? Even though USAC has a superior product try to convince a big sponsor or the casual fan of that.

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

At this point, I kind of miss Don Moore complaining about tire companies........:deadhorse:

Once again, there are two main factors working against your idea. One is supply equals demand and the other is risk versus reward. However, there are several other problems with this particular idea.

If there was a bigger demand from the fans for more Silver Crown races, there would be a bigger supply. If every time a promoter put on a SC race, he made money hand over fist there would be more Silver Crown races. If there were 50+ cars at every track and the promoter could count on a big back gate, there would be more SC races. Except for some "traditional" dates, the crowd that a SC race will draw is very suspect. Also, except for the few "traditional" dates, the car count for a SC race is very suspect. Also, the fan base for a SC crown race is a niche group in a niche sport which translates into a very small population. Promoters will book shows that make money. As much as modifieds get railed against on this board, there is a reason that promoters are always creating special shows for them. There are a lot of them. There are a lot of drivers, and they usually have a lot of fans. Why are there not a lot of SC shows? A lack of cars, a lack of drivers and a lack of fans.

When the average fan has to determine their "must see" races for the year, a SC race usually is not on the list. Start with a simple head to head completion. Would the average fan rather watch a SC race or a USAC sprint car race? A SC race or a midget race? I would even say a SC race or a WOO race? I think for the vast majority of people the SC races looses every head to head battle.

Finally, back to your original question. You stated that you would have plenty of cars. My question is how many competitive cars are actually still out there? It is not like these cars are raced all of the time. As someone else posted, what is your ticket price for this event? Go back to my first point, there is not a big demand for a SC race. Ask the average fan if they would rather go to 3 non sanctioned wingless shows, 2 USAC sprint car shows, or one SC show? Which one are they picking? Finally, you stated that you would have plenty of drivers. Where are these drivers coming from? As the SC fields become smaller and smaller, the number of experienced drivers becomes smaller and smaller.

Unless you grew up with the tradition of the SC cars, it is hard to become a fan of them.

Jonr, most of what you post is spot on. Now if they were going to have this big SC dream race that at Terre Haute with all the best wheel men, and a bunch of real good car's, I would then make it a must see race for the year, but as someone else said it would take a perfect world, and it's certainly not. If you need proof, take a look at our upcoming ********, ;)

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

Someone mentioned that unless you grew up with the tradition of SC cars its hard to be a fan.
The exact same thing can be said for midgets anywhere in the country except for maybe Indiana. Nobody here especially the young fan knows or cares what a midget is nor do they want to be educated about them. Couldn't give a %@#&.

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

Chili Bowl attendance in dead of winter for midgets in Oklahoma has nearly 20,000 fans, sold out months in advance. a few hundred entries from coast to coast.

Also glad to see the Silver Crown car counts on the rise as well as level of competition. Doesn't matter the series, you are always going to have a couple of teams that are the favorites, but I think the level of competition and good cars has really increased the past couple of years.

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

The lure of SC cars, for me at least, has a few points as outlined below:

1). With the length of the races usually being 100 laps the strategy necessary to succeed becomes more important than other forms of USAC racing. Now you have to strategize about tire wear for a much longer period of time, you have to strategize about considerable fuel load changes causing considerable handling change, you have to strategize about considerable track changes through the course of the race for a much longer period causing different lines being faster at different points in the race. There are more but these stand out as the additional challenges this type of racing necessitates.

2). Again, with the race length endurance and stamina enter into the equation. It's one thing to have the stamina to handle 30 laps in a sprint car, but it's another to do the same for 100 laps. To be able to have the endurance to think as clearly on the 95th lap as you did on the 25th lap without just wishing it was over so you could get out of the car and rest is, again, another additional challenge these cars present.

3). SC racing presents, to me, the perfect combination of sprint car racing and long races. While I believe races are won in the pits it's the preparation and planning done before the race that is key. Once the car is on the track it's up to the driver to complete the task. If you have to pit you're usually out of the running for the win (although not all the time). One of the things I don't like about NASCAR and INDY Car racing is that much of the strategy revolves around the timing and quickness of pit stops. Call me a purist but I believe that races should be won on the race track, not in the pits with a faster pit stop. I was a fan of the original NASCAR truck series because they had scheduled pit stops, usually one per race, where the fuel/tires/adjustments were changed, then they went back to the track and raced for the win.

4). And, yes, I'm still a fan of the tradition and prestige these cars represent. I can still remember a time when, to be champion, you had to be versed on the dirt as well as the pavement. But, then again, I'm more of a beer and pretzels kind of guy versus the wine and cheese set.

So, there you have it. While I don't propose to speak for all SC fans I think most would agree with what I've said.

Tim Simmons

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

Being well under 20 I suppose then my opinion may be stupid, uninformed or I may be just out of my mind, but each car to me has it's own unique things that make it fun to watch.

Come talk to me in person. You may be surprised at what the young, stupid, uneducated and deplorable fan knows about motorsports.

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

Believe me your a special young fan.
Sorry you consider yourself stupid, uneducated and deplorable.
I stated that most young fans don't want to be educated about midgets and SC not that they are uneducated. the stupid, deplorable words I never mentioned. :44:

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

I guess the intended sarcasm wasn't understood by your kind. Exactly what makes me special?

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

The special part was actually a compliment, that you enjoy having knowledge of many aspects of racing. Its the same answer I would answer the pm you sent me.
I'm trying to keep it nice, my kind sometimes has a problem with that, but I'm much better then I used to be at it.

Tim, I agree with your points but one question, did you mean mental stamina? Cause the past couple years there have been some real VETERANS in the SC series on the big tracks that probably wouldn't want any part of a 30 lapper at Kokomo

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

You tend to use yourself up doesn't matter if it's a long or short race.
I'm just as exhausted after a 60 second speedway race then I am running 20 minute motos in mx.
I'd imagine its the same in auto racing ?

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

If you have a discussion about Richie's gonads, you have to also mention The Hills

Re: Silver Crown Spectacular at Terre Haute
 

I was actually thinking of both mental and physical stamina. What I found, when I was in the cockpit some years back, was when I got tired physically my mental sharpness dulled to some point. While I agree that 30 laps at Kokomo or any number of other tracks can be just as exhausting I believe adrenaline helps for the relatively short duration of the sprint events. Adrenaline, however, is only available temporarily and is more likely depleted well before the end of a SC race, bringing the driver's stamina (again both physical and mental) back into focus.

This is what I was referring to.

Tim Simmons