Re: John Gurley and the ASCT
 

Originally Posted by coondog:
Colin,

It is my opinion that if you are trying to have a "budget" series, you dont need to be going to fast, dangerous half mile tracks. Keep the guys on short tracks so their steel engines last all year. Why do you think the midget car counts are down on the big tracks? Also, I have never complained about a racetrack being too fast or too dangerous. But the configuration of that track makes it different than any place Ive ever been. They are going to rely on some MSA cars to pull the wings off and run. Most wing teams dont have the right front axle to run without a wing and do not have the correct offset right rear wheels to run. I called it sitting in the stands at the last Charlotte race when I saw a car lining up for the heat race. I told someone sitting next to me that this car isnt gonna make it a lap. He didnt. It was a regular wing driver and the kid got seriously injured. I dont want to see that happen there. Im not the only driver that feels that way. Brian Clauson said he wasnt going to get off the bottom cause he hated it and didnt care where he finished, Brad Sweet said he'd never go back and Chad Boat didnt like it. I know there were more. Racing is dangerous. No doubt about it. But there is a point that too much is too much. Same reason NASCAR has restrictors and why they slowed Indy cars down.

Jerry

Jerry is a very well respected race driver, his opinion matters to me. Jerry is also a very well respected person off the track, I am proud to say Josh looks up to him as a role model.

Jerry Spencer #66j
stida.com

Re: John Gurley and the ASCT
 

Lets face it, one of the reasons most of us like this form of racing is because the drivers are free to speak their mind and have an opinion. Do you want drivers that just give the standard answer when asked a question. "Well the track was good, my crew did a great job" . Ask Nascar how this is working out for them.

Thanks Jerry for speaking your mind.

Re: John Gurley and the ASCT
 

Jerry,

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and I respect it just as everyone has stated on here. And you probably are correct in saying that Dodge is not a very good non wing track. I've seen a modified flip there going down the middle of the backstretch....freak accident, but the guy was fine.
As for wing guys taking the wings off and wrecking because they didn't know any better...someone should step in and help them, if their car is set up so wrong that it's going to hurt them, or someone else. But again, at least they're trying. I grew up in Wisconsin, and I personally know much of the MSA drivers...both of my brothers have driven in the series. And Adam, my brother, destroyed his car at Sun Prairie when he took the wing off...but it had nothing to do with the fact that the wings were off, something broke in the front end. Anyways, I understand that you're concerned about the safety of the drivers...and that shows a lot about the kind of person you are. You are actually one of my favortie non wing drivers, and I think that's why the comment about Dodge kinda got under my skin a little. I didn't think that you were the kind of guy who would complain about a track that you have WON at. I bet Scott Hatton goes back to Dodge anyways, even after getting hurt there. I've seen some badly prepared race tracks...like Rutnamville...but, most racers dont complain because, you know what...its the same for everyone that night. You have to adapt to the changes. That's why I love dirt racing so much. It's always different.
Again. I respect your opinion, and I really do hope you continue to say how you feel about everything...I'm just saying how I feel. Good luck this year! Be safe.

-Colin

Re: John Gurley and the ASCT
 

Originally Posted by cmiracingvids:
Jerry,

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and I respect it just as everyone has stated on here. And you probably are correct in saying that Dodge is not a very good non wing track. I've seen a modified flip there going down the middle of the backstretch....freak accident, but the guy was fine.
As for wing guys taking the wings off and wrecking because they didn't know any better...someone should step in and help them, if their car is set up so wrong that it's going to hurt them, or someone else. But again, at least they're trying. I grew up in Wisconsin, and I personally know much of the MSA drivers...both of my brothers have driven in the series. And Adam, my brother, destroyed his car at Sun Prairie when he took the wing off...but it had nothing to do with the fact that the wings were off, something broke in the front end. Anyways, I understand that you're concerned about the safety of the drivers...and that shows a lot about the kind of person you are. You are actually one of my favortie non wing drivers, and I think that's why the comment about Dodge kinda got under my skin a little. I didn't think that you were the kind of guy who would complain about a track that you have WON at. I bet Scott Hatton goes back to Dodge anyways, even after getting hurt there. I've seen some badly prepared race tracks...like Rutnamville...but, most racers dont complain because, you know what...its the same for everyone that night. You have to adapt to the changes. That's why I love dirt racing so much. It's always different.
Again. I respect your opinion, and I really do hope you continue to say how you feel about everything...I'm just saying how I feel. Good luck this year! Be safe.

-Colin

I live in Wisconsin also and I agree 100% with Jerry!

Re: John Gurley and the ASCT
 

I find it funny that people would question a guy that has won about everything there is too win and is one of the nicest guys in racing. There are a handful of drivers that people should listen too and Jerry is one of them. better I would listen to his opinion before anybody else's!!! Especially guys that haven't strapped in to a car lately.

Rob Keelan

Re: John Gurley and the ASCT
 

What is the issue with Dodge County? Is it track prep or track configuration? I found some YouTube videos of it and found it on Google maps and it looks like a pancake flat, legitimate half mile. Not much different than Calistoga or Terre Haute shape-wise, just with less banking perhaps?

Just curious as to what the issue was.

Re: John Gurley and the ASCT
 

Looks like Manzy's half mile a little. What all is different between Manzy and Dodge Co. ?

Re: John Gurley and the ASCT
 

Originally Posted by Finish-LineMM:
A good percentage of these races Mr. Gurley is coming out of packet to put on. There are serveral events that the tracks have stepped up to the plate and hosting the show, but not the big ones. My Gurley is renting several facilities, and is responsible for all payouts.

Thats the scary part, is the money there for the payout? The 1st time it isnt the party is over.

Re: John Gurley and the ASCT
 

I don't know where anyone can say that a aluminum engines is better suited for larger tracks, this is all based on the quality parts used internally, this has nothing to do with the physical character of the engine itself. A track, is a track; all have to be approached differently. A good engine will last a season period. Maybe 10 years, HA HA If a steel engine was a bad deal to run on long tracks then NAS crap car must of went the wrong way, along time ago. Don't get me wrong I like NASCAR, just bsing. John I'm hoping for the best in all this we'll see how it goes.The thing I like is the pay down through the ranks as well as the top spot. JMO jeff sweat

Re: John Gurley and the ASCT
 

To try and answer a couple questions and clarify. Just because Ive won at a track doesnt mean I cant have mixed feelings about it. Part of me never wants to go back even thought Ive won twice and part of me wants to go back to kick its ass because it kicked mine twice. But I think that makes us even and Im good with that.

I am not saying anything bad about Dodge Co. as a racetrack in general, or anything about track prep. The times Ive been there, track prep was excellent. I love the big tracks and have had fun there. I just dont know that its conducive to non wing sprints. The issue with the track is that it is so flat and the entry to the corners are rather narrow. When setting the car into the corner, it is a quick transition so there is no time to feel if the car is going to be tight. Places like Terre Haute and Manzanita, you can more "float" the car into the corner and have a sense if the car is going to be tight. Thats not to say that you can always tell or that youre not going to bike a car at those places as we have all seen it happen. John did say that he was going to try and have the track slick and smooth, which it has always been smooth. Hopefully that will help.

As far as bad tracks and adapting to them if they are rough as Colin referred to "Rutnamville", I couldnt agree more. But there is a difference on a racetrack that you are going 60 or 70 mph versus 120 or 130mph. When Critter Malone flipped on the front straight at Terre Haute because the rear of the car starting bouncing so much, that it literally bucked the rear over the front, I dont think the track should be raced on. But again, that is not the issue with Dodge Co.

My comment about steel blocks, I generalized a bit. If Im running a steel block with a budget minded series, I probably dont have the latest and greatest parts in my steel block engine. If I wanted that, Id probably be running an aluminum engine. Again, Im generalizing and theres always an exception.

I do appreciate everyones views and support. I also enjoy posts when nobody takes it personal and you can have civil debates or discussions. I dont ever expect everyone to agree with me, I just like to share a drivers perspective. I know not all drivers agree with me on views as well.