AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced

4/30/2022

Sun Prairie, WI - April 29, 2022 - The AFS Badger Midget Series has announced a new policy to control tire costs and limit consumption. The new policy will continue to be assessed on a monthly basis as the season progresses.

“Tire availability is extremely limited at this time,” stated AFS Badger Midget Series President Quinn McCabe, “We must do something to limit tire consumption for our competitors.”

AFS Badger Midget Series competitors will be allowed to run any Hoosier tire compound for the month of May. Competitors will be allowed to purchase one new Hoosier right rear tire per event with tires available from the AFS Badger Midget Series at the track. Right rear tires will be stamped when cars are presented for qualifying. Teams will be required to run this stamped tire in the main event that evening. In the event any stamped tire becomes damaged or punctured during the night, teams will be allowed to petition officials for a replacement. If the tire is replaced, the competitor will be forced to start at the rear of the main event.

McCabe also stated, “We value every AFS Badger Midget Series competitor and we greatly appreciate everyone's understanding of the situation. We look forward to the start of our season in May.”

The AFS Badger Midget Series season opens on Saturday, May 7 at the Sycamore Speedway in Maple Park, IL.

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

1. How does allowing a tire change for a heat race help with tire conservation? While USAC just had the same tire all night recently.

2. If you can buy one right rear per race from BADGER, then why are you doing this?

3. Does any compound mean chili bowl tires that are not only softer, but also have a wider footprint allowed to? And, is that the reason you can change tires for the heat race, so the few that have these tires can keep them fresh for the feature?

After thought on that question is aren't chili bowl tires bigger in diameter than most right rears? If so, some more left rear tires will be needed to achieve correct stagger. How does that help with the conservation effort?

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

I think you need to know the totality of the circumstances to understand the decisions being made. Badger members who attend the meetings know the circumstances. This is the only way to go at this time. Also, notice this will be assessed on a monthly basis. Things will most likely change as time goes on.

In business when manufacturers go on what is called "allocation" or "managed order files" it is not easy on anyone including the manufacturer.

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

1. You don't understand the Badger qualifying procedure. "Qualifying" encompasses everything from hot laps to the end of the B.

2. Just one and they're letting you know there will be tires at the track.

3. Sounds like it, Angell Park and Sycamore are abrasive so good luck with that. They're going to have to put them on a 10" rim.

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

There's a massive tire shortage, what's not to understand? I also understand you guys doing something to help that. But then you also say that a competitor can buy one right rear per event. So why not run your guys spec tire for the whole night? I mean I get it if there's no tires available, but I'm going off the words you wrote that a single right rear will be available at the badger booth?

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

1. I've seen your races. You hot lap/qualify for 3 or 4 laps. Usually not much wear and tear there. Common practice with a tire rule is to be able to run s different tire if you have to run the B. Heat race are just 8 laps, and you guys features are just 25. No reason a tire can't go 42 laps in a night. Unless it's super soft, which leads to number 2.

2. You guys say that one right rear a night is available for your competitors, and I believe it's a spec tire. So why do you need to let gumball tires run if one new spec right rears are available according to press release? Run the spec tire all night, then no need for non spec tires.

3. With a 10" rim, it still has a wider footprint, along with being softer. And to my other thought, the tires are all ready bigger in circumference and made for 12" rims. Now they'll be even bigger, meaning most likely more tires (left rears) will have to be bought to get the right stagger.

Sorry Robbie, but i gotta ask:
Are there going to be rr’s available for all?
Reason i ask is i was at hoosier indy yesterday.
They had ZERO SP2’s and 2 SP3”s that were already spoken for.
So how are we going to have enough? Thanks

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

The short answer is yes. Call Quinn for details.

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

I find it interesting that your first three posts on this forum are bashing directed at the Badger Midgets. Who are you?

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

Am NOT bashing Badger. I am just Questioning the logic in the way you guys are handling this. Questions which you did not answer.
And now that you have said there are tires to be had, I again ask, why are you doing this if right rears are available each night?

Who was buying more than one RR a night?

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

Ha! I was thinking I mighta bought 3 new tires a YEAR when I raced...(but one time I had one - thanks to my crew chief/supporter for some races - we won the Dash & got 2nd in the feature...not a bmara race but another National Midget race at APS). Only bought them when I had the money though (thanks to sponsors and however I could keep the bank account balanced). Good for those that have what they need to be able to buy them more often (if they can get them; now) - I'll never forget how bad I squeaked writing the check for the last one I bought (& then it was outlawed over the off-season). Wished I had a few with just a few laps on them I could sell...

Look, I’m certainly not trying to “bash” anything, but if we can’t ask questions, then why do we have a “forum”.

The decision is to allow the purchase of one RR tire at each show. My previous question still stands, “who was buying more than one tire a night?” We weren’t/aren’t front runners, but I feel like I’m pretty cognizant at the track and would notice who is rolling out with new rubber for the feature. I know we have had a few nights were the track ate up tires, but one of those was a fifty lapper.

I think the logistical questions of how exactly you are going to run an 84x12 Chili Bowl tire on a 10” rim is a fair question. To us, the soft RR fears are going to become a self correcting problem because you can’t get the stagger right with an 8” LR, so if somebody wants to tackle that hassle, they can have it.

If you’re not prepared to have a public discussion on these matters, don’t post it to a public forum. I don’t see where anything Spfld Kid asked was out of line.

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

If you have questions direct them to the proper place. In this case that would be the elected president of the series. If you race with the series you should have his number or a way to contact him. The intent of posting was to get the word out so nobody is caught off-guard, not attract internet trolls and competitors who have taken no steps to educate themselves on the issues before everyone.

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

My take is that BMARA is on a per race allotment from Hoosier right now. Only being able to buy one tire a night is to keep anyone from hoarding them.

I don't go to the meetings or even really talk to anyone, just know what's going on with other series right now.

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

The entire industry is short on tires. How some don't understand this I don't know. Nobody wants to be without tires and to keep people from buying more than they need controls need to be put into place.

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

Now I'm a troll? Thought I asked 3 reasonable questions, that you still have not answered. And considering you said you attend these meetings, why can't you answer them?


It's totally understood as already mentioned. You just keep dodging the questions on why you chose this way to help the situation, when my opinion thinks there is a better way that actually conserves tires, and avoids others from having to buy a left rear, and run a softer compound right rear. These opinions come from your statements not pulled from the sky to just incite you. And as mentioned opinions are respectively allowed on a message board.

I’ll let you know how it turns out next week. I’ll be at Sycamore, and Angell Park the two weekends after that. If we have access to one tire a night, there’s no issue.

And yes, I have Quinn’s number and we do attend all the meetings. I predict the ones who will be crying the loudest are the one’s who don’t attend the meetings.

And to prove I’m no troll:
David Collins Sr.
Crew for the 40JR, DRC/Mazda

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

Send me a private message with your name, car number and membership status with Badger and I'll answer your questions.

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

Didn't see him call anyone a troll except people like me who would comment on this as I have no involvement in the series.

A you can run any hoosier you like. It has to run all night. And if you need a hoosier they have em, But you can only buy one a night (So those who could afford them don't buy ten of the twenty they have *Just a example*)

At least thats what I take from it.

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

Can't blame you, man. Tires are not as important when you're a half lap behind the rest of the field.

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

Post #21 from Jim Fisher - "Can't blame you, man. Tires are not as important when you're a half lap behind the rest of the field."

Ha, Ha, Ha. Jim Fisher, I see you are taking out your frustrations from another thread and apparently you think you had to expand on my own joke at myself and budget (my attempt to make light of the shortage and that some of this new rule should be ok...funny thing is, we spent YEARS lobbying for some of the such, when we went to the meetings...but it took a pandemic and the World's response to it, for something like this to be implemented). That is big of you, Jim Fisher...thanks for allowing me to take the time to recall some of the good races we did have...sure we can spend the rest of the times thinking about the bad ones and if that's the way you wana remember me (or by a post I made on other threads, that offended you), go ahead. I most likely won't change the way you look at me and really there is no reason why I should care...goals in life change and impressing guys like you is no longer a big one of mine...

Sure, yep, I'm the 1st to admit I wasn't very good more often than not, but idk, somehow, after a fun Rookie Year battling with guys like Alex Coonan and BG Wood to come up 3rd in that race, we ended up with a heat race trophy in our 2nd year in 05, bested Lee Beckwith and a host of others to win a C-main in 06 (one of the last C-mains of the National car BMARA eras), in 07 ran right with Aaron Fiscus and some big names in a late season USAC qualifier when we got to drive Kevin Eggert's #98 (the best car I ever drove) for the 1st time. Also drove the Slotten Bong backup car a couple times around that time, managed to JUST miss the Dash one night (the closest I was to a BMARA Dash) - that was only qualifying though, I know (but we did make the feature, thru a heat, for Jake at Wilmot one night...). THOSE were the most fun years, honestly...I recall very well racing guys like Bobby Guess, Byron Walters, David Gough (I was in Butch Dahlke's v6, winding it up as much as I could in one vivid memory), Joel Wyttenbach; and many others, right around the transfer spot; as there was still enough cars for enjoyable B-mains.

Around 07, we did focus more on the Illini club (with the original cost control OEM type engine and long-lasting tire rules; which are cool now; but some looked down on them when the ideas 1st came out) winning more heats and even a feature at APS in 07. Took a close 2nd to Kurt Mayhew in one in 08.

In the 08/09 Bmara races we spent a lot of time racing back & forth with Courtney Erfurth, Tim Noble, and some others; like running Chad DeSelle lap after lap thru a whole feature at Beaver Dam, a now especially memorable APS A-main keeping KO behind us til the end, when he came over and joked about how our engine was leaking oil so bad he ran out of tear offs and had to get by. We passed him at Beaver Dam later that year too - a personal career highlight to me - b4 it rained out and we all split the purse! Big payday! We just missed the top 10 in points that year (11th). MANY fans were thankful (a big reason we kept going back; instead of racing in a lower class) we kept a car around, as the field was dwindling.

We also went to POWRi shows around that time, and had some good runs there too, passing former Bmara & USAC RoY Nick Lundgreen to make the feature from the B-main on a 40plus car night at Macon (keeping one Tony Stewart behind us in that event, til I got caught up in a wreck in front of us). Thanks to fellow low-buck racer Eddie Sauer, we went to and passed some kid named Tyler Reddick at DuQuoin to make the feature at a big show there too...

Also, wasn't a Bmara race, but we finished 4th in the 2nd APSARA feature in 2010. The 3rd night (the mentioned night with the new tire), we won the Dash (maybe Davey Ray let me win; someday maybe I'll ask him); and in the feature - which we got 2nd - we happened to beat a few names with a host of feature wins and championships: Daniel Robinson, Kurt Mayhew, David Budress, Wood, and I think the one who started this thread; that has turned into such an unbecoming convo...(If I'm off by a name or two, I apologize; I can't find the results...they were on FB a few years ago but I'm not really on there - Jim Fisher, I'm sure you won't be surprised, I'm looking into getting on a couple other social sites more these days).

Oh well. Not National Midgets, but when we 1st got into the Bmara 600s (& the engines were still stock) we won a bunch more heats, two features, and took 3rd in points around two years or some big personal injuries (we were 2nd in points in '12 before I broke my wrist in a stock car wreck; cars of which we won two championships with, the year before).

Between it all, we took an open wheel APS win (of some sort) every year from 2005-2014 (expect 2011 when we only ran there once, instead claiming the two stock car championships).

In 2015, Back in the BMARA midgets, an early July feature was maybe the most fun I ever had there; we got to drive Johnny Murdock's car one night and I spun early, but the caution never came out and we passed no less than 10 cars to battle Mike Stroik, (another now former Bmara feature winner) up to a solid top 10. We were right behind him at the end...I could see many others were close to us too...lol.

There were some other good Badger midget runs and finishes. We ran better than I always did at APS, at places like Farley and Dodge County Fairgrounds even. I don't think anyone says APS is an easy track to run...

Thankful I got to do it, survived, didn't go in long-term debt; and made friends along the way. Another fun night; recently, after taking time away and studying the sport from the result pages and IoW; it was nice to go back this summer and many made me feel welcome and acted like they had forgot all those races I was "half a lap behind the field"...it was a fun evening.

In addition to the full (one way or another) trophy case, videos & pictures of wins, the memories listed and those I'll think of later; in addition to the previous mentioned friendships from it all; one of the best mementos I have from it came from the book my dad purchased for me, KO's "Cages are for Monkeys". I haven't read it all yet, but at the end of KO's Dedication on page six reads like this; "I write this book in honor and memory of my late parents, Stan Fox , and Lars Lien, and anyone who served one day in the armed services or sat his ass in a Midget for one lap at Sun Prairie". That last part stood out to me personally (and I have more respect for those that served in the armed services, as I wanted to race so I did not complete my sign up for that). AND, on the backside of the cover, there is a personal autograph which reads "I admire your dedication to all racing & consider you a real racer & friend". My take-aways from that meant more than my average finishing distance from "the rest of the field"...

So, as I let you have the last word in another thread a couple weeks ago, I think we should let this one simmer down (I'd say get back to the original topic, but that all seems to have gotten pretty heated too...hence my attempt at levity...)...if anyone wants to send anyone a private message, with all of their information and what have you, go ahead (notice, Jim Fisher, I did NOT ask how many laps you turned and where you finished in the field. Perhaps you are a multi-time champion and for that I commend you. If so, how many new tires a year did you buy?). My IoW in-box is full but my contact info is below. Otherwise, I'm no longer looking for tire sponsors, but if anyone wants to buy me a beverage or a sandwich at APS on May 15th, I might be there; and still squeak on spending any money other than to pay my house off. It appears gas will still be $4+ a gallon, so if anyone wants to offset that for me, I'd be ever thankful and not too proud! :22:

Re: AFS Badger Midget Series Tire Policy Announced
 

POWRI has now announced new tire rules as well. They opened it up to any compound just like Badger.