Quote:
Originally Posted by openwheel44
Geeez Dad.....where do I start? I was going to blow off responding to your last post but I can't do it. We are trying to have a constructive thread talking about a constructive meeting in an attempt to help grow our Lighting Sprint class in the Midwest. Like I said........it may be a total waste of time, but then again, it might be a shot in the arm to help push this class along. A few of us want to try. Shoot us at dawn if nothing good comes of this deal. OK?
The more I think about it...........I can see where those "pesky" nationally accepted rules have just about killed the stock 600 classes. As well as the IMCA classes here in the Midwest. Not to mention how they have drug Karting down to almost being non-existent. And don't get me going on how those stupid ASCS rules have all but killed 360 sprint cars.
If everyone thinks a tire rule is the answer, I have no problem with going along with it. I just think it ought to go by durometer rather than tire brand. Nothing against any brand.....just let people have choices that might save a few bucks in the long run. Season points have nothing to do with the bigger special races we hope due to travelers so why worry about a specific tire that is utilized because of the points fund contributions when it might contradict with the tire a racer might run in other areas? I think we all agree it's a pain to buy a RR or set of tires for one or two special races.
You seem to be really hung up on weight issues like some of us are hung up on motor issues. Seems there needs to be a common weight for winged and non-winged that we can all live with. To me......and I am not speaking for anyone but myself.....over a 1000 pounds for this class is absurd. An average car should weight between 730-760 pounds with a wing. If not, someone needs to go car shopping. According to most of the other classes that consider driver weight as part of the equation, seems they feel 180-190 pounds is the average driver. That said.......seems 910-950 would be a good average weight. Guess what? Seems most groups are already within that range. We just need to find a common weight. Weighting the car beyond that forces the "lighter guys" to add unsafe weight and raises the inertia the car generates during a wreck un-needlessly. Those "big guys" you are talking about........At some point, they won't even fit in this size car. I weight 215 so I am well aware of the restricted confines these cars present. My point..........rather than being concerned about "shoe horning" someone into these cars, concentrate on an average weight and not penalize the lighter guys by adding more and more weight. And again.......slowing the cars down. And yes..........I think most will agree........LIGHT IS FAST. I have yet to see anyone in racing deliberately adding un-needed weight to their car to go faster. But I don't live in Indiana where inertia and various laws of physics evidently have a completely different effect. Lighter cars accelerate and decelerate faster than heavier cars............At least everywhere except Indiana obviously.
I have been a smart a$$ about the weight deal long enough. I have stated my opinion too many times already. I just think there is a workable weight out there that we can all live with at some of these considered "Big events." No one is trying to circumvent any organization's existing rules by putting a gun to their head forcing a change. We're just exchanging ideas and seeing if we can create some commonality on various rules. But not just on motors and weights. Various things will be discussed.
Last thing, there have been quite a few people who have done a lot to promote Lighting Sprints. Jerry is no doubt at the forefront. I applaud his efforts all these years. I have to say though...........your last sentence in that first paragraph has me somewhat confused. ????
You have a nice day DAD. You definitely keep it interesting. Oh.......BTW.......I do have a very open mind about the upcoming meeting and what might come out of it.
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Since you gained 5 pounds between posts I guess I should assume you stopped by Mc Donalds the other day.
To be honest I'm not too hung up on weight or motors specs. When you go to Churchill Downs here in Louisville the smart money always bet the jockey. The same holds true for race cars.
You can worry all you want about either engine, weight or tire
but the same people will still always be winning.
What you want to do is give some sort of appearance of a level playing field. I do know rules generally when made complicated and specific tend to make racing much more expensive. We are in the middle of a 6 or seven page post in IOW right now about dopeing sprint car tires. Worrying about catching cheaters is only going to give you guys ulcers and the cheaters will have something more to think about and work toward circumventing.
National rules have helped sidewinders? Poweri has one set of rules and little tracks all over the country have their own rules based of of the nmma rules and what works for them.
What grew sidewinders? Starting drivers off at 8 years old, little tracks all over the country running nothing but modified midgets from 100cc up to 600cc, heck back east they even tried 1000cc sidewinders, just too hard to hook them up I guess . Right now with Dwarf cars, 1000cc SCCA cars both open wheel and inclosed wheel, Drag bikes and so on have caused these motors to sky rocket in price.
A bunch out west wanted to run aftermarket pistons and rods so they could keep their old high mileage motors going longer, not a bad idea if done in the spirit of fairness BUT??? How does one fix a crank that is worn .0005", new cranks go for about a grand and welded cranks about the same amount.
Weather you like it or not we are after all racing 1000cc MINI SPRINTS. We are the fastest and most economical form of dirt open wheel racing out there period. We race on larger tracks usually than sidewinders, on 3/8 mile and smaller tracks we are much much faster than the UMP open wheel cars. We are inherently a more dangerous sport than either ump modified or stock stock cars something about open wheels tend cause some concern among prospective racers.
Phil: It is a great deal of fun for me to get you guys writing and talking. You are however very set in your ways. I see your up coming meeting as a way for you guys to validate your ideas and promote them. People with open minds don't get up set about another persons views. Sit, listen, discuss, compromise. That would be "BABY STEPS".
Don't try to be 600cc sidewinders, Have you ever priced a race motor for one of them things (EBAY FTZ 636 Kaw $4495.00 with core)? We went to the Shoot out the first year they ran 1200cc cars. It was just like going to a go kart track and sitting in the pits. From 9am till midnight, there was always somebody holding the throttle wide open and trying to do a supper tune right there in the pits.
There are many more 600cc bikes imported into the US than 1000cc bikes. The average 1000cc rider is also much more experienced so they just don't wreck as much and put a lot more hard miles on the bike until it gets dismantled, sometimes by the owner to finance a new ride.
Unless like Wayne Davis we switch to a new motor maybe "ECOTEC" we just can't find enough good motors to grow a whole lot more.
Right now I'm trying to figure out how to get a 2012 zx10r under the hood without using a periscope.
On the last paragraph deal. I guess I should explain. Kenny Brown of PowerI had put in the little indoor track at DuQuoin for winter racing and I guess he wanted to see how Midget size cars would perform on it. We did really well and the Midgets followed.
Honest Dad himself
