Re: Midget Racing Must Change
 

Originally Posted by aussiemidgetfan:
Changing anything about the cars that makes existing cars ineligible is the fastest way to ensure midget racing is totally obliterated. Realistically whilst the economy is in the toilet, all racing is going to suffer especially the lowest levels as disposable income evaporates.

I am really getting tired of hearing about all this economy crap. i know several drivers who have steped down to much more affordable race cars. You are starting to see several sprint car guys getting into modifieds. This post starting out about the "Pony cars" is exactly right. Guys still love to race. They are going to race whatever. Your big names are going to set on the sidelines because it would hurt there ego to run something less. Thats fine by me, not the guy I want to watch anyhow. Right now the tracks that have let cars get out of hand are really hurting. The tracks that have pretty decent tech and are good to the drivers are booming. Asphault tracks seem to be dead, but I can take you to one that is pulling in 100 to 140 cars per night depending on how many classes they run.

Re: Midget Racing Must Change
 

I've said what I have to say about this subject about a million times and I'm tired of repeating myself.

Lets just say that the "problems" are much more than engines and tires. I put that in quotes because I don't see the sport as having one or two problems, but there are many, many factors that are going on.

The organizations that seem to care about the sport and their competitors are thriving(ARDC AND POWRI). Both groups are averaging at or near 30 cars a race. USAC is struggling along with hit and miss counts. They will always get some cars because they are USAC.

No offense to anyone who competed, but if anyone thinks N.Vernon is a good indication of how competitive a 1000 is to a midget, I have a feeling that if the same scenario took place with the cars at Haubstaudt, the optimism wouldn't be as great. The two best midget/driver combos at N. Vernon won their heats.

As far as the cost goes.....I have customers who have run 1000 Mini's and full midgets and they tell me that it is within a few thousand of being a wash. I personally don't know because I have never owned a Mini. One of my customers bought a Midget complete last year for $7,000. He took the motor from it and won a USAC/SMRS midget feature and ran consistantly in the top 10 with Powri.

I think always quoting the prices of Ed's motors is a little unfair when the S/T Esslinger costs $16,500 and the tweener Esslinger is $22,000. The tweener motor is a great motor that can run with any of the motors anywhere with the exception of the big miles. We haven't even brought up used motors.

If we are going to quote the most expensive motor; I'd say the Chevy that TSR used probably costs around $100,000 or more per engine and I don't know anyone that wants one of those.

Midget racing is in alot of ways what it's always been, the difference is now in many areas of the Midwest there are so many races and types of cars to race that the fans and teams are basically served up racing on a Silver Platter in their own backyard. If it doesn't suit you here, then screw it......I'll get a different type of car and go 50 Miles down the road and race there.

Midget racing isn't for everyone, but it is very exciting when done properly. This is just my opinion, but I have been around midget racing for the most part of 40 years and I really believe that many of the best races I have seen have been over the past 5 years. (The best race I ever saw was the 1993 Chili Bowl). The reliability and quality of the cars is a major reason for that.

Re: Midget Racing Must Change
 

There is alot of "fat" that could be trimmed. I mean to you really need a stacker and semi to get a midget or sprint car to the track? Big pit carts and fancy push vehicles? Do we really need 800 hp to race on a 1/4 mile dirt track?

Re: Midget Racing Must Change
 

123(what I was told) micro's at Miami County Sat. night. Plenty of racers. Usac could do same if they could get on same page about a few changes.