[Ken Bonnema]

Since the usac/cra divorce thread has gone WAY O.T. I figured it might be better to continue the Midget discussion on a new thread. Here is Keith Iaia's reply to my last post.

Re: Usac /cra divorce!

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Ken,

I must say, well done. I mean at least your post was factual and I really appreciate that. However you are after all, a racer at heart. And racers have the ability to 'see what they want to see' sometimes. Allow me to just make a couple comments;

I LOVE the TQ's. All of those great drivers you named who came up thru the TQ program, and all of the great racing and traditions that sprang up from that West Coast TQ scene - that was my whole life for many years. Lets be clear about this because it's really important to me personally - by the time I launched the focus program, the TQ deal was a mere shadow of what it once was, and it was headed rapidly in the wrong direction. I will acknowlege that the advent of the focus program certainly did not HELP the TQ situation any, but it was not the cause of its decline, either. The decline of the TQ's began WAY before the advent of the focus, and by the way, had you noticed that the focus program also did a very good job of graduating great drivers up into the ranks?

Regarding the current version of the RRE ECOtec. As I have said many times, we did not design this version specifically to be competitive at the full Midget level. But once we got some of them out there, we we suprised to see that they actually ran decent with groups like BCRA, OMMS and SMRS. Unlike the focus motor, this one has some potential, and we have not yet scratched the surface. For next year, we will have a more competitive version available for competition among traditional Midgets. It will still be a sealed, cost controlled engine designed to provide better reliability but it will be more powerful and will hopefully close the gap that you correctly pointed out exists with the bone stock version we now offer.

We are TRYING to do something good for the sport here. I'll be the first to say that we learned some important lessons with the Focus program - we are trying to take some of the good lessons and apply them here. You know, over in Europe right now there are D.I. versions of ths engine producing 430 HP on gasoline, running in the Opel WRC cars. I could have started with one of those... probably costs about a bazillion dollars and needs rebuilding every 5 races, but man they would be dominant. And, they would absolutely RUIN the sport. Don't you think my approach makes more sense? Lets start on the low side, try to keep costs down, control the formula and sneak up on a good, competitive combination that will do some good for the sport!

I do appreciate your input Ken. And your passion for the sport - don't stop.

KI


" I must say, well done. I mean at least your post was factual and I really appreciate that. However you are after all, a racer at heart. And racers have the ability to 'see what they want to see'

So do SOME people whos main objective is to make Money off the racers


"I LOVE the TQ's. All of those great drivers you named who came up thru the TQ program, and all of the great racing and traditions that sprang up from that West Coast TQ scene - that was my whole life for many years. Lets be clear about this because it's really important to me personally - by the time I launched the focus program, the TQ deal was a mere shadow of what it once was, and it was headed rapidly in the wrong direction. I will acknowlege that the advent of the focus program certainly did not HELP the TQ situation any, but it was not the cause of its decline, either. The decline of the TQ's began WAY before the advent of the focus, and by the way, had you noticed that the focus program also did a very good job of graduating great drivers up into the ranks?"

Keith, my B.S. Meter is pegged. If that's LOVE, you have a strange way of showing it. My last year in T.Q.'s was 99. Many nights we were still running B mains and many nights out drew the Midgets. Last time I checked, they are still running those, right? And yes, there have been some folks move up from the Focus but don't you think they would have been in a T.Q. were it not for the split?

" Regarding the current version of the RRE ECOtec. As I have said many times, we did not design this version specifically to be competitive at the full Midget level. But once we got some of them out there, we we suprised to see that they actually ran decent with groups like BCRA, OMMS and SMRS. Unlike the focus motor, this one has some potential, and we have not yet scratched the surface. For next year, we will have a more competitive version available for competition among traditional Midgets. It will still be a sealed, cost controlled engine designed to provide better reliability but it will be more powerful and will hopefully close the gap that you correctly pointed out exists with the bone stock version we now offer."

Now ya did it. B.S. Meter blew up,smoke pouring from unit, Brownsburg Fire Dept. enroute. I'll send ya the bill..........
(1) How much is this new, improved yadda yadda motor gonna cost? I'm assuming a lot more than 10K.
(2) If this motor is going to run ONLY against open Midgets, why will it be sealed, unless you will be the only one who can do a rebuild.
(3) How ' bout the folks that bought the originial motor?? If I was one of them,I would have a few questions for you. I'm not, but here's one anyway.
(4) If you REALLY believe that this motor and series is the answer to saving Midget Racing, then why don't you go, as they say in poker " all in "? Why challenge the big boys if this is the answer? Remember Keith, this is " for the good of Midget Racing "
(5) I'm gonna take a guess and say that the new motor will be around 13K. What people will get for that is an unproven motor that " will hopefully close the gap " ( your words) against the national motors. At any rate, you are fast approching the cost of a used FRESH national motor. Said motor will likely be 25-35 H.P. short of the latest and greatest but if the new ecotec is gonna get anywhere near even that, it will require a better bottom end to live. Bye-Bye 13K. This has always been the issue with these SPEC/Sealed motor classes. They start out somewhat inexpensive, then here come the updates and there goes the cost through the roof. Seems like that might have been the plan along. From your Post:

"Lets start on the low side, try to keep costs down, control the formula and sneak up on a good, competitive combination that will do some good for the sport"

Let The updating begin.................

[jontheturboguy]

Subscribed....

[Revolution Racing]

Jeez Ken....

Here's the deal. Don't buy one of my engines. It's not right for you, and you would not be happy with it and the last thing in the world I want is an unhappy customer.

Richard Kriesel is a happy customer. He lives in Missouri and races competitively with his RRE ECOtec out there. Dillon Silverman is a happy customer here in California. Brian Thomas is a happy customer in Oklahoma. All I'm trying to do here, is make customers happy (and yes, MAKE MONEY. It's what i do for a living Ken - what do you do? Do you do it for free? And why aren't you mad at Esslinger or Wesmar or Stanton? Those guys make a LOT more money than I do...)

I have what I believe are perfectly rational responses to each of the jabs you just poked at me. But, I'm just going to leave this one lay right where it is. It's pretty clear that you don't like what I do and that my products are not right for you (I guess the new Esslinger EFI sealed motor is also not right for you, or any of the other 'newtech' engines being produced, or the new USSA series, or ANYTHING else thats new....) And, thats fine with me. Honestly, racing is supposed to be about having fun, so.... go have fun Ken!

I enjoy sharing ideas on this board. What is happening here on this thread, is quickly becoming niether enjoyable or productive.

Best of luck

[Ken Bonnema]

[/COLOR]Keith,

When all is said and done, we simply agree to disagree. Our ability to do that is one of the many things to be thankful for on this day.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.....

[LEADERS EDGE]

Anyone that knows me or have read my posts in the past knows my position on spec engines. Keith definately knows it.

So without getting into all of that again....I just want to point out a few things that I believe to be accurate and some general observations.

Many of these spec type series and so-called money saving ideas are usually sold as: "A way to get new people into the sport", but they rarely take into consideration the people whom already support the sport. The reason why is that they are often sold as a way to help the sport when in reality they are just another way for someone or a group to benefit financially without giving real thought into how it truly affects the sport.

Electronic fuel injection is sold as a way to keep the costs lower because you do not use as much fuel and you don't have to change the oil as much because it's not contaiminated with fuel. Maybe in gasoline engines, but methonal is a different story when it comes to fuel in oil(Yes I know....IT WASHES DOWN THE RINGS...BLAH, BLAH ,BLAH) and frankly, if you use even 20 less gallons a night(Which is a very generous stretch) you are saving what:$40-$50. Come on....that is a drop in the bucket. Besides....I'm sure there will be a magical need for electronics updates and the many different styles of injectors needed to run the various tracks and weather conditions will more than offset the fuel and oil cost savings.

If any series that runs pavement(Dirt for that manner) wants to honestly help the racer and get rid of a huge cost: They would do their best to curb tire costs FIRST....instead of taking payments from the tire companies.

I could go on and on and on and possibly on some more....but if it's what the people want then they will buy it and if it isn't they won't. Pretty simple really.

[DAD]

The deal with electronic injection is you get a much better f/a ratio at all engine speeds and conditions. The old mechanical injectors just squirt fuel at the valve and with alky rich only affects your performance a small amount and cylinder wash down a whole bunch (you waste a lot of fuel), if a guy can adjust the proper amount of fuel for each and every condition he will experience with a race motor it will runs a little bit better maybe 5%-10% or so but he will get a lot better milleage and the excess fuel wont be going down into the crankcase. This sounds like a ++ for everyone better living through modern science.

[LEADERS EDGE]

Originally Posted by DAD The deal with electronic injection is you get a much better f/a ratio at all engine speeds and conditions. The old mechanical injectors just squirt fuel at the valve and with alky rich only affects your performance a small amount and cylinder wash down a whole bunch (you waste a lot of fuel), if a guy can adjust the proper amount of fuel for each and every condition he will experience with a race motor it will runs a little bit better maybe 5%-10% or so but he will get a lot better milleage and the excess fuel wont be going down into the crankcase. This sounds like a ++ for everyone better living through modern science.

In theory.

I will say this....If it is a stuation where it is an option and not mandated...then I am for it.