USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

STEPS TO CONTAIN COSTS

Controlling costs and returning to the original concept for the USAC Ford Focus Midget Car Series are underlying factors in a three-step process announced today by series officials.


Step 1 - 2009

For the 2009 season, new rules will address ride height and overall weight. A minimum weight rule of 1,140 lbs (car and driver combined) will be implemented for Asphalt-only cars. Additionally, a minimum ride height rule (at the motor plate) specifying a left side minimum distance from ground to chassis, will be announced at the conclusion of testing in late February.

All brake rotors for 2009 in the Ford Focus series will be required to be of a “ferrous material.” No ceramic brake rotors will be allowed.


Step 2 - 2010

All carbon fiber and titanium components will be eliminated in 2010 for the Ford Focus series. Additionally, a determination on allowable shocks is being evaluated and tested to determine if changes are necessary.


Step 3 – 2011

Combination Cars as defined in the current 2009 USAC Competition Rules will be the only allowable chassis specifications allowed in the Ford Focus Series.

“These steps will get the Focus Series back to the original intent of the program,” offered USAC Developmental Series Director James Spink in making today’s announcement. He continued, “the concept of the Focus Series is to utilize existing series cars with a cost effective spec motor. These changes ensure affordable entry into USAC midget racing.”


“Implementation of these procedures in a three-step process provides our participants sufficient time to utilize existing parts and equipment and be prepared when the new rules are implemented over time,” added USAC President Kevin Miller.


For additional questions contact James Spink, Developmental Series Director at USAC 317-247-5151.

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

Combo in 2010.
:dologob:

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

And hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of focus cars will be rendered unless and unsellable.

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

Isn't this stuff about, oh I'd say, 5 years (minimal) too late? It was a good idea at one time.

Does this mean USAC is scared that the new ECOtech midget series the ASCS is building is a bigger threat than they think? I hope so. USAC needs a wake up call.

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

Why can't all that "useless" stuff be used on a "national" midget? Other clubs should follow their lead.

Jason Dull
815 494 6002
jdull99@hotmail.com
jasondull.com (For all the Racing News)

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

Why can't all that "useless" stuff be used on a "national" midget? Other clubs should follow their lead.

Jason Dull
815 494 6002
jdull99@hotmail.com
jasondull.com (For all the Racing News)

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

Engine setback. A pavement focus chassis is not a standard midget chassis. At least not the Beasts...

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

The sportsman midget clubs (IRS and Ozark) could use them.

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

How about making the minamum age 14 so these kids have some place to go between 0.25 and 1.00 midgets

The feeder will be
0.25 Midgets
0.50 Midgets (Kenyon)
0.75 Midgets (Fidgets.....sorry to all the TQ guys out there)
1.00 Midgets

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

They already do have a place to go between QM's and full-bore midgets. (micro/mini sprints.)

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

In case you missed an announcement last year, the USAC Ford Focus Series is eligible at 14 years old.

A new class of retricted (air intake) Junior Ford Focus was also announced and ran as a pilot in CA last year, very successfully. The minimum age for the Junior class is 12, with a maximum age of 16. We have had Juniors run in the 12-16 class and their fathers run the same car, same night in the 14 + Focus class.

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

Thanks for your responce Kevin, I did miss the anouncment

I think that is a good choice in helping the series grow

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

Something is done to save money and people are still complaining??????????????????????????????????????? ??????

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

Granted it is a money saving move, but it is reminiscent of the New Gen silver Crown car rollout. Basically whats happening is everyone who's been supporting the series is getting the FU and is going to have worthless, unsellable equipment. A good way to reward those who have been keeping the series alive? I'd say no, but on the other hand maybe the series needs to be recesatated and it's worth a few casualties.

Regardless Focus cars are pretty lame anyways, so who cares....

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

ya,but it just so happens that USAC doesnt have a micro sprint series right? looks like a link in the racing chain is missing..

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

Never heard of Ford Focus. Could you fill me in?

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

We have a winner....:applaud:

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

Funny how USAC realizes they screwed up 5 years after everyone else knows they did. Originally , when they ran combo cars, they were told if they changed ,that would wreck things. It did. After the change back, I wonder if they'll run dirt in Indiana again.

As for the 14 year olds, in Indiana they have a stepping stone, it's called sprint cars.If you aren't in one by then, its too late, as current thinking goes.

I wonder if Mr.Miller ever goes to work and asks himself,"What the heck did I step into." It seems as if he stepped into a spot where there were more holes in the dike, then he has fingers at times.

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

Well well well.....

I have some experience in this conversation so let me add my .02.

For sure I could go back into my email archives and share no less than 10+ emails between Mike Devin and I of which this thread was the very subject matter.

As the Chief Steward at the time I complained and gave options on how to put the problems to bed on issues such as brake rotors, combo cars, carbon fiber, travel, California cars arriving in Indiana with missing seals, etc. I even had a three year plan similar to the one I read in this thread. It always fell on deaf ears. The sticking the head in the sand attitude and the lack of vision going into the future were two of the motivating factors of why I walked from USAC after 11 years.

I am of the opinion that it is better late than never. It took the entire tenure of the previous series coordinator to do absoultely nothing about these problems and run the program into the ground. And it has taken the current coordinator James Spinks about 6 months to not only get the ear of Kevin, Jason and Jason but he got the rules changed. (Assuming it was James who got it done.)

Regardless of who is responsible....kudos to USAC for finally addressing a problem so big that even Ray Charles could see it. :thumb

Let's just hope it's not to late.

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

....Which begs the question , " Why was this allowed to happen with this person ? ".

I would like to have your opinion on this from your view as an " insider ".
Thanks for a great post !



:Steer

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

When there a change in management at any level from the White House down to a small company it takes time to implement changes. The new management at USAC is no diffferent. They had a lot of problems that needed fixing and the Focus series is one of them. THe current Management did not create this issue but they are looking to fix it. THey cannot fix these things overnight. I do no know Mr. Spink but I think his background in the Legends series will benefit the overall cost of the Focus series.

As for the car owners, I am not sure I worry too much about them for this reason. First, It seems like many of the car owners only stay in the series for a few years anyway. It seems like they move up to sprints or full midgets. Second, car owners who buy all the high tech and expensive parts for such a series have to be questioned about what they are doing. I understand the rules allowed it but it does not make much sense economically. I gues those that were abusing it had more money than sense.

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

I need to correct that comment. It didn't take his entire tenure, in reality it only took about three years.

As for Paul's question.....

I like hundreds of others was excited when Kevin Miller's predecessor was hired. However over the course of two or three years it was evident the organization was not moving forward. In fact questions were starting to come at a frequent basis about the direction of the organization. Concerns existed on several fronts…...the Focus program was showing signs of becoming stagnant, the Silver Crown car debacle, OS and countless other items such as mis handling assignment of announcers, a former marketing employee handling a TV package in a manner that alienated an icon in the business, same marketing wiz lining up a tire deal with another mfg. only to be told USAC was going to stay with Hoosier (Admittedly I am not aware of what the other tire deal had so staying with Hoosier may have been the right thing. But I do know he was hot about the deal gone south.) I could mention other known issues that were brought to USAC’s attention but it would be inappropriate to mention them in this forum. I mention all of this to highlight the trend of management that looked or ran the other way as opposed to tackling the problems head on.

In my second year several concerns became clear that if not dealt with it could or would ruin the Focus program. The combo car thing comes to mind. I suggested 4 ways to combat the onset of pavement only cars. One idea was allow one frame sticker per car owner. If that owner was running for points which at the time had about a 50/50 split between pavement and dirt he really only had one choice in terms of chassis, that would be a traditional combo car.

Mike Devin told me it (one frame sticker) wouldn't work. I told him he couldn't afford not trying it to find out. I also told him if he tried it and it didn't work the people who were complaining about the rule not working would be the very same people who would have been complaining had he not tried to implement the rule. Sort of a damned if you do and damned if you don't deal, which is the nature of the beast when you’re involved on the administration side.

Anyway nothing about nothing was done (until the press release last Friday), you now average enough cars to have a good heat race per event, a dirt schedule doesn't exist, Keith Iaia is at it again with another choice for cost effective midget racing (I say that tongue in cheek as no racing is cost effective) and so it goes Mr. Kevin Miller and staff have their work cut out for them, on the surface it appears they may have the gumption to tackle the hard issues at hand and I for one hope they are successful in their efforts.

Re: USAC Focus Series Announces ......
 

Eric, I agree wholeheartedly with you about success. At one time it WAS the greatest name in short track racing. Now that a lot of damage has been done, I hope they can right the ship.

The hardest part is no matter what they do, someone will be po'd. It's a shame that some people thought of themselves as more important then the organization.USAC has a long way to go , but it ain't dead yet.