Originally Posted by rj1:
Okay.
Does anyone have a solution that has a higher than zero percent chance of occurring?
I think I might have a couple of ideas:
1. Double the race schedule to 18 events with the dirt miles (ISF, Springfield, Du Quoin and Syracuse) getting 2 dates (1 early 1 late on the schedule), THAT getting 2, IRP getting 2, Milwaukee getting 1 on the IICS weekend, Iowa getting 1 on the IICS weekend, Knoxville getting 1 with an open 410 nonwing and open midget show on a Friday night, Phoenix starting off the year for the pavement side with a renewed Copper World Classic, Tulsa Fairgrounds (yes I know the track needs work doen to it) and Two at Perris Auto: one to start the series off for the year and one to end the series on Turkey Night. The more races you have the more interest you get from fans and owners.
2. Get rid of the Ethanol. I am as big a supporter of biofuels as you can find but they have their limits. This adventure into it that USAC is doing is not being done right. The Silver Crowns are not the place for Ethanol when your series is struggling for car counts as it is. When a fuel is burning pistons in hot laps you have a problem.
3. Limit the manufacturers involvement. Engine competition is nothing but destructive to a race series. Proof? IICS. Once upon a time the teams had to buy their engines (Olds/Nissan days) and once Toyota and Honda came in engine competition went so far as to push out Chevy and eventually Toyota. All it does is seperate a few select teams (6r and TSR) from the rest of the pack who do not have access to the limitless R&D that Toyota and Chevy have. Engines should be solely the teams responsibility and no one should be a research team for a manufacturer. Limit the engines to stock blocks, stock heads, stock cranks, stock rods. This will limit engine costs to all teams not limit teams because of engine costs.
4. Fair and effecient officiating. Two times yesterday there were calls in the 100 lapper that just dumbfounded me both involving one particular driver. One call was not to throw a caution when this driver had nearly rolled to a stop in turn three while two of this drivers team mates were challenging the leader for the lead. Reverse the rolls and the caution would have been instantly displayed.The second call was allowing this same driver to be let out of the pits (for a second time on a caution he caused) while the field was coming to take the green. The field was exiting turn 4 and throttling up yet this driver was let out of the pits and was going slow into one when the field caught him. A caution was displayed because of a jumped start (not one by the way) and that recently let out driver was allowed to go around and tail the field. Anyone else would have been told to wait until another caution to rejoin the field. This same team also got away with obvious oil leak at Springfield last year. When a car changes from white to black in 10 laps because of oil pouring from the car, it is leaking too much and needs to be fixed or parked regardless of who the owner, driver or engine maker is. All rules are clear and all rules are enforced without discreation. Don't like it? Take your ball and go home. Several where I was standing couldn't understand why USAC did what they did in those two incidents yesterday.
5. Advertise, advertise, advertise. Facebook is free so advertise on the pages of the local media and (in the case of the state fair tracks) those pages also. Radio and newspaper ads, news paper articles, morning TV shows in those cities. Get the word out. Shine the light on yourself if no one else will.
These are just a start. Feel free to burn me to the ground for my ideas and opinions. It's a message board and I wouldn't be here if I didn't feel strongly about this series and this form of racing.
Just a few thoughts