Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Here are some suggestions for midget racing:

1. Enforce the current rule book. If the current rules are strictly enforced, then there is a basis for where to begin inproving the quality of the racing.

2. Eliminate the tire monopoly.

3. Limit the number of tires that can be used in one evening of racing.

4. Do some scientific on track testing with various tires, compounds, wheel sizes etc etc using third party drivers and cars. Forget about this opinion and that opinion. The scientific data will tell the story.

5. Eliminate pit pass and entry fees for owners/drivers.

6. Pay a minimum towing fee for those traveling long distances to race.

7. Develop a plan to neutralize engines so that expensive power plants are not an issue.

8. Consider adopting the new Ecotech midget engine for $10,000.

9. Ban cockpit adjustable shocks.

10. Ban titanium and carbon fiber parts.

11. Develop a sensible weight rule that includes the driver. Steve Stroud and his late father have written extensively on these forums over the years about this.

12. Separate pavement and dirt championships.

13. Incorporate the use of self starters.

14. Reduce the speed of midgets.

15. Stay off the mile and half mile tracks.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Good to have you back Don.

I'm with you on most but not all of those suggestions.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

I would assume that most of the suggestions I listed would be issues that the casual fan would not be aware of or care about. Fans want to see large car counts and they want to see exciting competition with a lot of side by side dicing for position along with the mystery of who will win out in the end. So the next point is... Why write the rules so that it makes it terribly expensive to maintain a race team?

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Don. most of your posts make sense, especailly from a car owner's perspective. But one of the issues here nowadays is that you cannot unring a bell. Current midget technology is too expensive! Period! Too expensive to acquire to be competitive, too expensive to race, and too expensive in relation to the purse paid.

But what'll happen to all of the current technology if cost reduction sets in? IMO, there will be a period of time where there are VERY short fields as teams migrate towards any cost saving. As an example, what happened to all of the CCWS cars that went extinct when the IRL bought out CCWS? The cars became expensive paperweights or momentos.

Just cut down the tires, in # used and enforce a hard compound rule, and maybe a wheel width rule, too. If you can't put the power down, you don't need a $30K motor.

And if you run separate series, you're forcing owners to run two different cars. How about we require owners to run the SAME car on dirt or asphalt? Again, my suggestion is aimed at cost saving, while allowing more teams to race....

Institute a minimum weight rule and enforce it! A 900 lb car with 350hp is too light, IMO. And no bolt on weight, either. That will help reduce the reliance on carbon fiber/titanium/lightweight(expensive) parts.

And you'll never eliminate pitpasses or entry fees or get larger purses until you figure out a way to get more butts in the seats(Promote!!!) - too many operators pay a portion of the purse from the pit gate...and too many fans have a front gate threshold of about $20...tops. Charge more than that, and you'll likely loose more fans than you'll gain at future shows.

But like I said previously, it's everyone's fault that midget racing is so expensive today. The series of articles in Sprint Car & Midget about Steve Lewis and the 9 cars told me everything that is wrong with midget racing today. Steve spent a ton of $$$ to win, which was his choice, and is OK, in my book. But he drove up the price of poker for everyone, especially those who expected to race competitively with his team!:15:

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

I'm calculating that if ONE owner and one Driver waiver of pit passes and entry fees at $30 a pass is $1200 for 20 cars. Will a race track go out of business over $1200? IDK.

If the dirt and pavement championships are divided, running both series would be an option for the owner. Owners with deep pockets probably would run both, but remember that there would be 2 SEPARATE championships. Seems that we pretty much now have many owners who only run dirt and some who only run pavement. So I see this as a big plus. 2 possible champions instead of one. Let's face it, only the multi millionaire teams can afford to run both dirt and pavement and that's there choice.

IMO midgets are way too fast for their size and horsepower. Some will argue this, but to me speed has nothing to do with enjoying a good competition on the track. when I first started watching midgets race, they were not near as fast as today's cars but they were just as enjoyable to watch. As a fan, I really didn't care how fast they were going as long as the racing was competitive. You don't think about how fast cars are going, you think about how good the competition is or isn't.

My list is not the ultimate list. there are many other points to be made. but it might be interesting to go down the list and ask yourself as a fan just exactly how much impact that suggestion has or will have on your ability to have an enjoyable racing experience. If it's not an issue, then why is it allowed?

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Don, your #5 Eliminate pit pass and entry fees for owner/drivers, has always been a pet peeve of mine. No other sport has those that are providing the entertainment have to purchase a ticket to entertain the fans. However it has been that way my 50 plus years in racing so I don't see it changing. It has always been explained to me that the pit pass you buy is for insurance coverage.

I really know very little about Harf and Darf or any other fan group that supports Indiana racing. I have read on this sight where tracks have Harf and Darf nights that give the fans a discount. What do these clubs do to give back to the racers? The Eagles Fan Club started running a weekly Pit Pass Raffle last year, the fans purchase a raffle ticket and pick a race team they want to win 4 free pit passes for an up coming race event. Whoever wins the raffle the team they choose is the lucky winner of 4 pit passes. This doesn't eliminate pit passes or entry fees altogether but it does help a race team each week. The Eagles Fan Club was formed years ago for the sole intent and purpose of supporting the drivers and owners who compete at Oswego Speedway. Some other past ideas were a weekly fuel certificate given to a predetermined finishing position in the feature event and tire giveaways at special events.

Anything fans or fan groups can do to help racers in these tough times should be greatly appreciated.

Patti

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Wagbucks out west help out drivers and the Beer Hill Gang at Williams Grove do the same. I think all you hoosiers could have a track to track fan competition of who has the best fan support. Like an IOW award, or a Section A award.

I know this is getting off Don's good topic. But I myself don't see pit passes going away. As a fan, we could all do more to support drivers and not just the race tracks.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

About #12, the separate dirt and pavement championships....I think that's a good idea, but what would you think about having something to reward the owners who do both, too? Some sort of bonus championship?

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

You won't be able to cut cost with midgets until you can find an engine platform that a guy can get out of a production car, and with few modifications be able to drop it into a racecar. Kind of like the mini-sprint deal. There are wrecked motorcycles all over the place with engines for sale.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

I agree with most of your items also, Don, and it is sad to say, that probably more fans, would be racers, if they weren't snugged up on their 401K's, folks somehow, just don't get it together, on what it costs, in time and money, to put on these "shows", and how much do football players have to pay, to get in to do what has them hooked, how long would Roy Clark stutter, if he had to pay an "entry fee", to play a gig? And just because it's "always" been that way, doesn't make it right, or OK, and with the fewer butts in the seats, it costs more to race, and who pays, the "intertainer"! Something wrong with this picture, not that $60.00 is gonna stop a race team from paying it, but when it's factored in with all the other costs, it begins to be a deciding factor. Maybe someday, someone will realize, that size does matter, my BIL is a bartender at a local VFW, KofC, and Eagles, the VFW is selling longnecks for .90, and mixed drinks for .95, guess where he's the busiest! Bob

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Good ideas. I'm hoping that this discussion can focus on positive things that can be accomplished, not what we CAN'T DO. Let's think about what we CAN DO. For example, can owner/driver paid passes be eliminated. Well... There are several promoters that read this board. Would several of you promoters like to tell us if that would work? Could you tell us why the entertainers are being charged? And in many cases, monetarily how the racers are paid less than the water truck guy. Makes no sense to me at all.

Nobody likes change. It most cases it's very uncomfortable, especially if you have no control over the circumstances. But what is going to happen to the Rocky Mountain club that has 6 cars showing for a race? If the club folds, that's the end of racing in Colorado and owners are stuck with equipment they can't race, or at least locally. So do you change or quit? The same fate faces other groups too.

My suggestion number 8... the Ecotech engine for $10,000. Let's assume that there is a service station in the midwest for rebuilds for that engine. One club in this area is down to car counts in the teens and declining. Would it be a plus if they just switched to the $10,000 engine? Would that help entice some to get involved? that may be the cheaper and better route in the long run.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Contrary to popular belief; athletes and performers do pay fees. They are called entertainment taxes and many states have one in some form or another.

As far as the other stuff on the list, some I agree with and some I do not.

I am withholding any judgement on the ECO-Tech series. I hope the series will be a good alternative. The ASCS runs a good sprint series, but it is based on an entirely different motor situation than what they are doing with the Eco-Tech. I like what Emmet does and how he operates so I have some hope.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Pit passes and entry fees are only a small part of the pie that we are talkng about.... but... I don't think the entertainers and athletes you are referring to left/or leave the auditorium or arena with $30 in their pocket ( like the USAC Gold Crown Nationals/Gundecker promotion) after an evening of entertaining packed grandstands.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

I have news for you guys. These promotors aren't just raking it in hand over fist. I want anyone who thinks they do, to sit down and study the entire situation taking into account a full years worth of events. I doubt that there are very many people who would do what they do for the money they make.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

I can think of three midget orgs that are on the ropes or life support right this very minute and all three of them have chosen to follow the big box rule book. What do all of you suggest to get these clubs back to health again? Keep on keeping on like they have been????

---------- Post added at 03:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:51 PM ----------

I have never read on this board one post from a promoter who is willing to spill the beans on their operation.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

So who makes money in short track racing? Some I can answer. Some I can not.

The promotor? No.

The car owner? No.

The driver? Not much.

The fan? No.

The officials? No.

Tire companies?

Engine makers?

Other companies that make parts and pieces?

Any other ideas?

Somebody must be making money, because short track racing is almost 80 years old.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

:11;I gave up posting about midgets since I stopped racing them three years ago. That being said I had to chime in on this one. One of the reasons (if not the biggest reason) that I switched to a non wing sprint was money. I could no longer afford to race the midgets that I love. It is hard to believe but in my opinion the cost vs. reward is much better in sprint cars than in midgets. Why???? So many places to race, yes that is part of it. I think one of the biggest reasons is Tires. Since almost everyone runs the DT3 you do not have to put new ones on every night. I know a lot of people that get 4-6 nights on a tire. Compared to the soft tires that you run on the midget that are lucky to last a night.
I also agree with no cockpit adjustable shocks. I have them but would be more than happy to pull them out. By allowing drivers to change the handling on the car as the race goes on it puts more importance on the motor and horsepower keeping them hooking hard the entire event. Plus the sheer cost is ridiculous. I don't know if a spec motor is the answer but a hard tire on a narrower wheel would certainly bring back some of the smaller motors to the front again.
It seems that a lot of things are suffering during this economic time, but I believe Don is on the right track. Just because it has always been that way does not mean it is the right or best way.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

alot of the #'s listed sound like reasons that the ford focus series got started and that series only has 7 cars on most race nights. after watching last nights midget race at north vernon, I kept thinking that it would be great if usac sanctioned TQ midgets. However TQs also were a topic in some of your ideas of cost cutting and the fan turnout for them is terrible. In my opinion, to bring in fans you need to keep the safety, speeds , and car counts up , and try to get the costs lower with what your working with now. Why is it that sprint cars fill the stands and midget crowds are sparse. The speed. And why from a car owner opinion can you buy a competitive sprintcar for the same price as a midget. Midgets are 1/2 the size. Need a chassis builder who charges reasonable prices. Just ideas.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Ouch! We don't need faster midgets!!! Slow them down if anything. Way too fast for the size of the car.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

In reply to the last post, I do not agree that speed is a factor in why spectators like sprints over the midgets. My belief is that name recognition is what puts the fans in the seats. Before my time, it was common to see drivers running a midget also in an Indy car or a sprint car..and tracks promoted the drivers. Again, name recognition is why Nascar and the dirt late models are so popular.

That being said, the midgets are now just a stepping stone, and not a destination. I will agree that the 9 cars helped to raise the cost of midget racing, but they also springboarded a few drivers onto Nascar.

Crate engines, not something I agree with...but, maybe the Ecotec with a spec head, injection, etc. When you take a teams ability to maintain their own equipment away, that drives the cost right back up. A nearly 30k Eslinger makes no sense for midget racing.

Hats off to Don Moore for standing up for what he believes in. Alot of us will watch our stocks daily to make sure they are performing, and Don just wants to make sure his large investment isn't dwindling away.

When I saw that Sun Prairie only had ten cars, that was a dissapointing moment for me. Might be a good time for them to look at other engine options. I do wish all of the car owners the best of luck in these hard times.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Last nights race was ok not great but ok. Now these little suckers got out of hand after the VW was replaced by the Cosworth. Now we do know that tracks can be really good. Eating tires that is just to much. I as a fan I did buy a RR tire or two for a low dollar guy. After buying a tire once they came over to me and said they were offered a free tire if they would run it that night. ( the tire seller) Different than what we agreed upon I said yes! Then when I went to Ascot, I wanted to see my tire on that car. They used it up on me. In the last ten years there seems to be no more heavy tracks, and the tire can't take it.
JJ we heard, would do some tire testing later on after the track was closed up in the AM. Now did those tires improve I don't know. This was at Manzy.
Joe

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

How many extra officials would it take to enforce this? Wouldn't you just about have to have an official in every pit spot to keep track of how many tires a team used over the course of the evening?

But if you elimiante pit passes for the midgets, you're going to have to do it for all the support classes, as well.

This also sounds like a rule that would be borderline unenforceable.


I do agree with all of these ideas.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Tires would be stamped.

Not advocating eliminating pit passes. Only for owners (1 per car ) and Driver.

correct me if I'm wrong, but a magnet will not stick to titanium.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

I completely agree with everything you've said Don. Midgets were built back in the day to run on the 1/4 miles, sprints on the 1/2 miles, and silver crown on the miles. Tracks make a lot of the difference about racing. I just got back from Pennsylvania last week, and am extremely happy we race in Indiana, the tracks are smaller and racier. Out there, they are so used to running on big tracks that you almost lose sense of a good race. The people there went absolutely crazy, for a race that I don't even think 6 cars passed each other. Just depends if you want to see a high speed freight train, or something that is an actual race with cars from top to bottom.

I don't see why this has gotten away. Well, actually I do, because nobody is building new quarter mile tracks anymore. Everybody is making them bigger, faster, scarier, and farther out of reach for the weekend racer. I've only been to the Burg once since it was redone, and honestly, was impressed with the facility, but the racing left much to be desired. It was still a decent race, and I left pleased, but I'd still rather go watch a race at Gas City or Kokomo, just because the racing is closer. No, it's not as fast, but racing isn't ALLLLLLL about speed.

These are changes that aren't going to happen overnight. You can easily do these things by allowing time to use the motors, tires, carbon fiber parts, titanium parts, specialty cars, etc... They don't last forever. You work it out over time, and you know what, you'll even have people get into the sport because of those changes probably before they even need to in order to get their feet wet.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

1) i too think midgets are way to fast. but i'm not for sealed engines. i would like to see all motors cut their cu. in. by 15 to 20 percent. make the motors small enough so you could use production base part. if you wanted. this could really cut cost. 2) pay less money to win (top 3 or 4) and more money for places 12 thru 22. i feel most top teams the prize money means very little anyways. the owners in places 12-22 it means a lot. (for us small teams) i can't understand how people thinks it's o.k. for owners to leave 1, 2 or 3 hundred dollars at the race track every time we show up. harder tires could help. let people spend money if they want to, (on new tires) but don't let it be a handicap to the people who don't want to spend money.
times have changed. more place to spend your entertainment dollars. more family's spend time doing things as a family, not dads and sons. or just dads going out by them self's any more. work times have changed. my blue collar friends use to start work at 7 or 8 a.m. now most start at 5 to 6 a.m. hard to stay out late when to start work at 5 a.m. would it really be that bad if the races were over at 8:30 or 9 p.m.? so you could get home early if you wanted. or stay and hang out and visit in the pits for an hour or so.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

While 8:30 or 9:00 might be a bit of a reach, I do essentially agree with this. Last year at the POWRi micro show at Washington, MO, they had to be done by 8:00 because of a Huey Lewis concert on the fairgrounds. But because of this, almost all of the 5,000 folks in attendence stuck around and went down to the pits after the feature. Think how much that might have grown the sport. I wonder how many of those casual fans would've headed straight to their cars if the show had gotten done at 10:30 or 11:00?

Bottom line, I've said this before, but I firmly believe that we will see more and more tracks with early curfews in the near future. The recession has probably slowed down home building around tracks for a year or two, but that will take care of itself eventually.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

It is great to see you back on here Don.

#5 If it is just for the one owner and the driver I can go with that.

#12.5 Self Starters never worked before and I really don't care for starters in the Silver Crown series

#15 If we did that then tracks like Eldora, Knoxville, Belleville, and Terre Haute would be gone on the dirt sude and IRP and Newton would be gone in pavement

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Reduce the speed of midget,
Add starters,
stay off 1/2 and 1 miles,
use low cost eco-tech motor.
Hey Don, thats called the FOCUS series. If you want boring slow racing Don I suggest you buy a Focus.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

I didn't know that you were in the advice business too.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Reprinted from similar topic - MidgetMadness.Com


My thoughts concerning the steady decline in car count would also have to note the decline in spectator attendance as I think one is the product of the other. Further , my observations would primarily address pavement Midgets as I believe that over on the dirt side a somewhat healthier environment is found but certainly not sustainable in the long term. Pavement Midgets are in a depressed state in the very short term.

I agree that the often heard argument citing the Chili Bowl is not a legitimate barometer to gauge the overall health of the sport.

While many believe that uncontrolled costs have led to fewer competitors , a cheaper engine or narrower tire will not put people back in the stands.

I believe that somehow Midget Racing will have to completely reinvent itself to survive going into the next decade. And someone will have to step-up to be the leader in this effort. The premier sanctioning body in this regard would be the United States Auto Club and from such position should come the leadership to save our sport.
Will USAC step-up ? .... probably not , because the rule book would have to be completely rewritten , long established relationships with tire companies , engine manufacturers , chassis builders , etc. would be sacrificed or at least opened up to other suppliers.

As a first step , USAC should conduct a national series only , no regional divisions. The national series and schedule would be comprised of a collection of the most prestigious events throughout the nation and held at the best venues / facilities.

The former regional series ( USAC and others ) that has typically seen 15 to 20 races at a half dozen different tracks ( and including co-sanctions ) would become local racers , at local tracks hosting weekly events , and racing for a track championship.

The UMARA group , that primarily operates their schedule out of the Grundy County Speedway in Morris , Illinois is a great example and in evidence of one presenting a quality product at a better than average facility , professional event conduct , promotion , and cognizant of what their fan base expects and perceives as value for their entertainment dollar. This group would only grow and benefit from the elimination of the Indiana USAC regional series. The same could be achieved by tracks or localized groups throughout other parts of the country. Racers would realize costs savings , venues would be more profitable , as the local midget racer could once again vie for his local track championship. This would be a first step to bring renewed attention to the sport and starting at a local level , not regional.

This would be a great step as something that could be achieved before the tougher issues such as $30,000 engines and new tires every night are solved.

I believe that if USAC would ever back away from the local venue sanction and be content to grow only on the national stage , that midget racing could start the long climb back.



:31:

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

I don't think midgets should be a cheap series, Simply because they are a national series that some of the best open wheel racers compete in. However; Costs do need to be contained so that the guy who races mini sprints, tq's, or even a local short track sprint car guy, can afford to run a midget. And not just buy one, be able to afford the maintenance and tire bills as well. I don't think Don wants to make them a low-buck entry series, I just think he hopes to contain the costs so that its not only the super rich or those that sacrifice everything they own to race one.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

This was taken from the Indy Star today:http://www.indystar.com/article/2009...otential+races

"Also, next week is USAC's engine manufacturer meeting that will focus on a new platform for the midget division. There are currently five manufacturers, and engine life and a green initiative are at issue.

Engines that produce upwards of 380 horsepower have been exploding at an alarming rate."They're like bombs ready to go off," USAC president Kevin Miller said.

Honda officials are expected to join those from Ford, General Motors, Toyota and Mopar at the Wednesday meeting at USAC's office on 16th Street."

Hopefully some good comes from this meeting.



Back when there were 30 -40 midgets showing up to every race the crowds were comparable. No matter what local track you go to or local USAC race there is always 30 -40 cars, thats why sprintcars fill the stands.

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Were these "exploding engines" assembled according to the USAC rule book or............? If they are not according to the rules, then no wonder they are exploding. I have not heard of an engine being checked at a USAC/POWRi race in years except by BMARA. If no one is checking engines, then how do the race officuals know what's inside? If they have, would somebody please document what car/engine was checked on what date? ( not interested in ancient history, E.P.).

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

GREAT STUFF HERE!

I may suprise a few people with this, but I do not completely agree with Don here. As most of you know, we are the guys who have spent the past year developing the new Chevy ECOtec motor. I do believe that this new technology will play a role in saving Midget Racing, but I DO NOT believe it should replace what we now call "National Midgets". Allow me to explain;

Back in the Golden Era of Midget Racing, we had two divisions. The "A" division was the Kurtis/Offy bunch - they ran at Gilmore and all the other high profile tracks, drew the big crowds and paid the big bucks. Then you had your "B" division, which was everything other than a KK/Offy. This is where guys cut thier teeth, and if they had what it took, they got thier shot in an Offy.

Sprint car racing did something similar several years ago. The 410 thing got to where not everyone could run it, so the 360 evolved. These days, on any given Saturday night, you have a WOO event taking place somewhere, and a USAC race taking place somewhere, and a few other big time 410 events going on around the country. But for every 410 event happening on a given night, there must be 10-15 360 events also taking place...

Now, compare these examples to what is going on with Midgets today. We have USAC National, and then we have several regional groups around the country. Some regional groups are doing better than others (SOME are doing better than USAC, but that's another story...), but here is a snapshot of what I see as the typical, regional Midget group these days; 16 cars entered, of which 3-4 have the triple-throw-down, high dollar stuff. These 3-4 will race for the win. Then we have about 10 cars with engines that are a full step behind the top dogs - they race for 4th on back. Then we have 3-4 poor bastards who are just praying to God that the damn thing will start....

Sound somewhat familiar? I talk to competitors and regional sanctioning bodies every day, who have a story that goes along these lines. So here is where I differ from Don, just a little bit:

I SAY, LETS HAVE BOTH!

We need a high exposure, high dollar National Championship series. We need to run those cars at the high profile, big ticket events, so that Midget Racing can continue to lay claim to the title of ultimate training ground for the taxi drivers of tomorrow. Besides, Tony needs someplace to spend his money...

Now, for the rest of us, lets have a "360" division, only for Midgets. Please don't confuse this with the focus program! I did that one too, as most of you know, but this idea is something completely different. Our development of the ECOtec has produced a MUCH more competitive product, a completely different animal compared to the focus which was never meant to be a competitive "Midget" engine. Go back to the example I gave a minute ago about the typical regional series, where half the field is racing for 4th on back. If you entered a focus in that race, you would most likely finish at the tail of that middle pack (you would still finish ahead of the ones that blow up, however...) But with the ECOtec, we have shown that you would be running at or near the FRONT of that second pack. With an engine that costs just under $10K for everything - and should last for 3-4 SEASONS - and only burns about two gallons of fuel per night!

OK, so thats pretty good, but I doubt that there are very many guys reading this who are interested in racing for 4th place. So, we're not done yet. We have two choices - we COULD lean on this thing and get more power out of it, making it competitive with the top four cars. This , in my opinion, is the worst possible thing we could do with this opportunity. If we do that, what have we accomplished besides ratcheting up the Midget engine wars one more notch. I'm here to tell ya, if we open the floodgates on this new technology we will find ourselves with 400HP, $50,000.00, half-an-Indy-car motors in the blink of an eye. That would be exceedingly stupid, even by Midget racing standards.

So here is my idea - this is what I've been working towards for the past two years, and its why I did this thing with Emmett. Lets take this wonderful technology, and use it to our ADVANTAGE. Instead of unleashing it to create the next generation of bad things for Midget racing, lets put a lid on it (seal it) and make it work FOR us by producing a great power to weight ratio in a very affordable, VERY durable package that can form the basis for a REAL, competitve, Midget version of the "360" sprint car class. This way, the guys who don't like or don't want this kind of formula still have thier place to race (provided they can afford it), and the rest of us don't have to decide between feeding the kids, or racing this weekend.

Just like with the sprints cars, my vision is that one day soon, on any given Saturday Night, we'll have a USAC National Midget Race taking place somewhere in the country, and probably 2-3 other Regional programs that can still hang with the Tony and Kasey crowd, but then we'll have LOTS of regional groups around the country racing affordable, durable Midget versions of a 360 sprinter at places like Ventura, Gas City and Seekonk. And Creek County, OK.

Thanks for giving me this space to share my opinion,

Keith Iaia
Revolution Racing Engines
805-467-3424
www.revolutionracingengines.com

"THE REVOLUTION STARTS NOW"

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

The USAC, Badger, and POWRi rule books limit engines to cubic inch displacement, type of aspiration, number of valves per cylinder, camshaft location (cam in block vs. overhead cam), etc. They are not intended to be a guide to educate a wannabe engine builder. Other than the aforementioned examples, there is no reason for the race officials to know what's inside. Perfectly legal race engines can (and do) “explode” due to the extreme nature of their use. The last time I looked, ALL the Midget sanctioning organizations had provisions in their rule books for a car owner or entrant to protest another entrant’s engine. If you feel so strongly that your car has finished behind a car that does not meet the specifications set forth in the rule book, submit a protest.

Mark Ray

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Please don't turn this thread into a personal agenda issue with my race team. If you and Chris Wilke have personal issues that you want to vent, you can call me directly at 440-355-4407.

Thanks!

Don Moore

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Don,

I fail to see where I turned anything into a personal agenda issue with your race team. I believe what I did was respond to your thread. I thought that was the idea of these forums. One definition of "Forum" in Webster's dictionary is: "a medium (as a newspaper) of open discussion."

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Any specific mention of my race team is off topic. This thread is not about how I conduct my race team business nor is it about giving me unsolicited advice. This is a general discussion about ideas to further the sport of midget racing. Filing protests and referring to my car finishing behind another is not on topic. the previous post by Revolution Racing is a good example of someone who is on topic. Again, if you want to give me personal advice, e.g. filing protests or want to micro manage my race team, please call me directly at 440-355-4407 rather than addressing me personally on the internet.

Don Moore

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

SImple solution and better racing IMHO would be a compression rule. Whatever they are running now is AWESOME but also sometimes ruins shows. Hit the brakes for any reason and you stall the car, That or it floods and takes half a lap for the motor to clear its throat.. It also probably brings a motor from twenty nights to about 7 in reliablility.

Wasn't it you Don that said you won't bring your car out for four thou for a hundred lap race because basicallly you gotta 4g rebuild to do afterward? Or was that the 400 lapper?

Anyways, Glad your your normal concerned self :) . After reading through it again, I did not mean to bring your personal views into it but only use a example. Obviously many other teams had that same view. 100 laps for 4g? add in hot laps heats and a possible consi and you've but 80 miles on the car that night

Re: Some Solutions for the Betterment of Midget Racing
 

Cant I just text!?