Originally Posted by :
If the midget orgs ever decided that they were going to do something about the rediculous costs of running a midget team, this discussion may not need to take place. Case in Point:
MIDGET AND SPRINT CAR MAG OCT 2010 page 25
Metric Racing engines in Tulsa, OK
Ecotec 2.4 liter midget engine COMPLETE $10,995.
I've printed this before and here goes again: I have a fresh midget engine in my garage that I bought that was rebuilt before the sale and the price tag for the rebuild was $7600.
Now.. There's not much difference between $7600 and $10,995.
I am well aware of many that come on here praising the Esslinger XT engine for $23,000. sorry... that's way too much for owners to be spending on an engine for the purses paid.
Bottom line, if we can buy a brand new midget engine for a little more than a rebuild.... this is a no brainer. What part of cheap do the midget orgs not understand?????
Don, I don't dispute that these Ecotech engines, or one of the production based DOHC offerings from Honda, Toyota etc. make some sense on paper. But from what I have read about the Revolution Racing Ecotech, it's putting out about 250 HP. I'm gonna guess that's between 80 and 100 HP less than your and my Gaerte block Chevy engines, and 130+ HP less than some engines out there.
So, lets say that we make a 250 HP ecotech type engine the standard for midgets. What exactly do you and I do with our Gaertes? What do guys do with the slingers and Fontana's etc? It's not like there's a really big market out there for a 350HP 166ci custom block 4 cyliner that needs freshened every 200 miles.
So that ecotech doesn't just cost me $11,000. It costs me $11,000 plus the value of my current engines which are of no value to anyone.
In another post you estimated that there are 250-300 midgets within 500 miles of St. Louis. Let's say the average midget has only one engine in it with an average value of 10,000. Essentially you are saying that in order to improve the sport you are going to take $2.5 million dollars of capital out of the sport just within 500 miles of St. Louis by making those 250 current engines boat anchors.
I understand your theory is that it costs you $7,500 to freshen it, so you might as well just junk it and spend $3,000 more for an ecotech. But I don't buy it. I just replaced every part except bare head, crank, and cam on mine for about half of your $7,500 number. We have it totally apart again today hoping we can run get a head gasket and bearings in the morning and assemble it in time to make it to Granite City tomorrow night. We can work on this Chevy in house which saves money and adds a ton of fun. I'm not sure we can do that with an echotech style motor - especially if it is sealed.
That's the part of this I don't understand. I would like to hear your take on where this logic is incorrect - as I'm sure you or Keith Iaia will find it to be.
I'll race a 250HP engine. Just find somebody to give us 250 car owners the collective 2.5 million we are going to lose by doing it.
BTW, I'm one of the proud owners of both a 410 and 360 sprint car engine on account of the bright idea that a 360 is going to save the sport money. Yea, having to own and maintain two motors instead of one just to be able to race whatever happens to be running close to home is sure a money saver. Whatever happens with midgets... don't let that happen.