[RetiredShoe]

This article is meant to start a discussion and I'd be severely disappointed if it didn't start right here in this thread.

http://www.wfopenwheel.com/2014/04/2...-of-the-sport/

[RetiredShoe]

Come on people, Hoseheads is all over me about this one! haha.

Just wanted to say that anyone who IS actually interested in Indycar should check out Ben Hinc's section on our site. He is a new writer in the Indycar realm and is churning out great stuff. Should have a review of yesterday's race up soon.

http://www.wfopenwheel.com/category/indycar/ben-hinc/

[fish]

Originally Posted by RetiredShoe Come on people, Hoseheads is all over me about this one! haha. http://www.wfopenwheel.com/category/indycar/ben-hinc/

Story makes a lot of sense.
PLEASE, don't compare this message board with that other piece of negativity.

[Charles Nungester]

Indycar/Sprint Car?

Paper thin connection at best anymore.

Sad but true.

[RetiredShoe]

Haha I knew that would fire some people up Fish!

[Bill Gardner]

My attitude has been a bit weathered by a few things but I don't believe decisions are based upon "what's best for the sport". Money talks and BS walks.

I understand what your saying about going to a track and not "wasting time on an internet message board" but isn't it good for the sport if people are talking about it when no race is happening.

Also, if people weren't wasting time how would they ever find your website?

Since I'm the owner of IOW, I'm sure you will understand why I chose to pick the internet message board part of your article. Other than my own obvious bias I thought you wrote a nice article.

[RetiredShoe]

Originally Posted by Bill Gardner My attitude has been a bit weathered by a few things but I don't believe decisions are based upon "what's best for the sport". Money talks and BS walks. I understand what your saying about going to a track and not "wasting time on an internet message board" but isn't it good for the sport if people are talking about it when no race is happening. Also, if people weren't wasting time how would they ever find your website? Since I'm the owner of IOW, I'm sure you will understand why I chose to pick the internet message board part of your article. Other than my own obvious bias I thought you wrote a nice article.

You are absolutely right that decisions are made by how much money comes along with it. My hang-up is in the fact that racing series believe that money and what's best for the sport is one and the same. There are plenty of instances where that isn't the case, but then again plenty where it is.

Haha, and I hope you will excuse me on the message board comment. Let's call it a cheap trick to garner intrest in the discussion. What I meant by "wasting time" was more aimed at those who complain endlessly about things that, quite frankly, are an inherent part of the sport now. My co-host Billy does it every week. Complaining about track conditions or this and that. I was trying to draw a line between nitpicking and trying to further discussion to improve the current situation. The waste might come in the fact that people sometimes use these podiums to burn people and different series at the stake, rather than giving an honest and fair opinion trying to help, like you would yourself.

Indiana Open Wheel is a very important part of short-track racing and has been an invaluble tool for us as we launch our racing endevors. I appreciate that fact and I thank you for it. If I can get a fraction of the time "wasted" at my site that is "wasted" here, I will be a very happy man Thanks for reading and thanks for your feedback!

[RetiredShoe]

I think the main thing I wanted to draw attention to is the fact that racing series are run like a business. Indycar has a very good idea of who their audience is and they look at that audience to find demographics and preferences to target. They know the short track fans have left and they no longer care about what the short track fan wants because they believe they cannot get us back. Well, not for the right price anyway. Yet, with a plan it is possible to get Indycar's attention once more. Business plans are fluid and change dramatically at times. If we were to prove that short track fans would flock to the series in numbers, it would get their attention not because they believe it is best for the sport, but because they would see the dollar figures to go along with it.

You might wonder why I didn't put that in the article myself, but I really want to provoke that type of thought in the reader. Plus I want to make sure I don't put anyone to sleep with a long article, and I also needed something to save for Indiana Open Wheel

[RetiredShoe]

Many writers can publish an article that basically tells you what to think and have people buy it. They say "you know that guy is totally right." Hell no he isn't and I'm not either. You take what I think and add what you think and pass it on for the next guy to add to. Once we get down the road we have a pretty damn good understanding of what's going on and what's needed, then we can act. People feel powerless to change anything in this day and age but the truth is that we have never held more power. Doesn't matter if it's a short track series or Indycar. We put money in their pockets and if we say something they have to listen or they aren't doing their jobs. We just have to make sure we say the right things.

Asleep yet?

[Bill Gardner]

We share the same hang-up.

I knew exactly what you meant by wasting. I get frustrated by the constant complaining just like everyone else. You're excused.

At the ripe old age of 42 (the REAL old farts on here will probably chuckle about that), I'm at a point in my life where I can't support racing like I used too. My voice is getting less meaningful with each passing day.