ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

their has ben so much B.S. running of the mouth:21: and so on. about how bad the conditions are in racing mostly pavement usac .I ask the question,what are you going to do as a car owner,driver or crew in 2010 season to make racing better?:30:

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

....as a fan, I'll keep buying tickets and attending.......;)

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

same thing I do every year as a crew person- attend every event at which the team participates, work late nights on the car and generally work my ass off to help us win.

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

ok kevracer58 do you think their is something ells we should be doing? the state of racing is not good! reasons for this are unlimited.but what Im asking do you think their are other things we should be doing to help our sport besides giving 100% to the team and car. And THANK YOU mortboyz for your support.

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

All the racers and crews can do is show up prepared and support the various tracks and events as much as their wallets will allow. On the other hand, when I was growing up, fathers used to make race fans out of their sons (children). This isn't happening anymore, especially in the sport of sprint car racing. I've noticed since going to the non-wing events at East Bay a few years ago that the fan demographic for sprinters is getting very old. You just don't see many young people, and especially kids, at sprint car races anymore. Where are all of today's Dads? They're not passing the sport onto their kids anymore. My dad took me to my first USAC Sprint race (IRP 7/2/61/Parnelli won) and I was hooked. He took me to my first Indy 500 (5/30/64 Stand J) and I was "Super Hooked"!!!! I did the same with my children but, kids their age (their friends, peers etc.) for the most part have no interest in sprint cars, or any other type of racing for that matter. Most of them will say, "what's a sprint car?" Some how we've lost a generation of sprint car fans. I'm not sure how we can get it back but, until we do, the sport is going to flounder because the fans pay the bills. More fans, more money, higher car counts.

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

I was looking to a limited schedule, but find myself searching for parts I need, we've gone thru most all our spares, so I'm trying to build that supply back up, repairing what I can repair, and in general, just going thru everything with a fine tooth comb, I have a lot more time, than money, and if our sponsors come back on board, we'll probably try to run the full schedule again, unless fuel costs get out of hand, which already doesn't look good. Bob

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

I have a 17 year old daughter and she loves her sprint cars I can almost say she is obsessed with them when I took her to the Lawrenceburg speedway it was me her and my son and it was suppose to be a one time thing and my son dont really care for it but my daughter absolutely loves it. we have been to every race at the burg for five years and we have not missed a one and she is counting down to opening night already. but she loves sprint cars.:8::22:

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

I'm not a race car driver. Does that count?:16

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

I have avoided giving Dave Rudisell and fishnman any suggestions on track prep.

I have attempted to control my perverted Section "A" compadres.

I have volunteered to give Dyno Don safe passage to the grandstand on biker night.

That and buying pitpasses, concessions, and 50/50 tickets is about all that I can do. :22:

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

Originally Posted by FishBurger:
I have attempted to control my perverted Section "A" compadres.

:22:

Unsuccessfully I might add :2:

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

[QUOTE=cecil98;143431]All the racers and crews can do is show up prepared and support the various tracks and events as much as their wallets will allow. On the other hand, when I was growing up, fathers used to make race fans out of their sons (children). This isn't happening anymore, especially in the sport of sprint car racing. I've noticed since going to the non-wing events at East Bay a few years ago that the fan demographic for sprinters is getting very old. You just don't see many young people, and especially kids, at sprint car races anymore. Where are all of today's Dads? QUOTE]

My son is hooked and has been since he was two years old. He just turned 7 so he is now a 5 year sprint and midget spectator veteran. My dad took me to my first race. When we took Sam to his first race he looked at me during the first hot laps session and simply smiled and that said it all. He has been addicted ever since. I just wish more moms and dads would introduce their kids to this wonderful sport.

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

I am only a fan but for 75-80 nights a year I plan on having my butt in a seat watching racing. I also buy 50/50 tickets and bring along a nice young lady to keep me company. I have to watch out though, Swordman is trying to steal her away from me.:18:;)

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

as a fan:22: i can just go to the race track and hope to see the racing teams and fans have a great safe night of racing:8:.and i hope that the big dogs do not pull out and load up when the going gets tough.:9: always remember when the going gets tough the tough gets going!!!!!!!!!!!:9::9::9:

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

to the fans THANK YOU !! :6: but the sport is hurting I was looking for some answers to help the sport as a crew member,an owner, or driver

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

Go to as many races as I can and, while many are watching TV etc., write about what I saw and maybe even learned about racing people and the lessons we can all teach each other.

Eat a cheeseburger or 2.

See old friends and meet new ones.

Enjoy the whole thing, including the drive to and from.

Tell others about where I've been. You never know; a new race fan may be in the making or in earshot.

Thank racers every chance I get for everything from doing their best to humoring my grandson.

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

*** NO owner,driver,or crew guy or gal has any idea of something that we can do to help the state of racing.every one can b#@!^ch and complain about things but no one has idea.or wants to work towards making the sport bigger and better! I do not under stand:15 :15:

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

There you go. Bi#$Cing and complaining.
Probably no body responded because they didn't to listen to the bellyaching and complaining about their ideas.

I do have one question. What is the status of the USAC Gold Crown car?

Jim Morrison

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

Originally Posted by v8j:
*** NO owner,driver,or crew guy or gal has any idea of something that we can do to help the state of racing.every one can b#@!^ch and complain about things but no one has idea.or wants to work towards making the sport bigger and better! I do not under stand:15 :15:

Hey V8 -

Something to think about -- A business mentor once told me two nuggets of invaluable advice:

"You can do a lot of things with both TIME and MONEY."
"It's always better to do the right thing than always to be right."

If the powers that be want to make open wheel racing bigger & better, WE must:

-- Get more MONEY from more people in the stands so that promoters will give more back.
-- Market OUR racing product better through multiple avenues to earn more MONEY from sponsorships.
-- Insist on racing leadership that do not have conflicts of interest or their own racing teams so that more TIME can be spent promoting racing than their own interests or pocketbooks.
-- Create more interaction rules & incentives within racing organizations to encourage MORE fan involvement. This means more TIME to show your car, sign autographs, etc., etc.

Again, this is in NO way to slam anyone or any racing group.
Thoughts? Opinions? Make sense? Have a good night, all!

Jimmy Baumgartner

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

Originally Posted by v8j:
*** NO owner,driver,or crew guy or gal has any idea of something that we can do to help the state of racing.every one can b#@!^ch and complain about things but no one has idea.or wants to work towards making the sport bigger and better! I do not under stand:15 :15:

So what are YOU doing?

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

I am trying to put some foward thinking in to what is needed.I do not have the answers.So I am looking to my collegues for some guidance and thoughts in these issues.I want to put a list list to gether and approach all sanctioning bodys,to discuss the issues that face the Sport of Open Wheel Racing.I work in the entertanment businss.I have 20 years of experience in show productions.PLUS I have sound,stagging,lighting, and pyro. This is entertanment show we should treat it as such. :16

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

Originally Posted by v8j:
I am trying to put some foward thinking in to what is needed.I do not have the answers.So I am looking to my collegues for some guidance and thoughts in these issues.I want to put a list list to gether and approach all sanctioning bodys,to discuss the issues that face the Sport of Open Wheel Racing.I work in the entertanment businss.I have 20 years of experience in show productions.PLUS I have sound,stagging,lighting, and pyro. This is entertanment show we should treat it as such. :16

Go for it, V8. Not a bad idea at all. One word of advice --
Approach each group wisely...
Most would agree that a great many of them at best (?), have huge egos and, at worst, have very questionable ethics.

GOOD LUCK, MAN!! Knock 'em dead!!
Jimmy B.

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

I'd like to think that we contribute to the sport on a regular basis, if only in a small way.

1) We get our cars in front of the public as often as possible. We have a float in the Noblesville, IN Holiday and 4th of July parades, our cars have been at the "Gathering Before the Green Flag" at the Indiana State Museum for the past two years, we have had cars on display at the "World of Wheels" car show for the past two years, etc. The most important part of this is that our cars are ALWAYS available for people to sit in and get a close up look. I think this is good for the sport, but it is also a "value-add" for our sponsors.

2) We have brought kids to the track to watch our boys race on several occassions, most of which have never been to a race. Each time we've been asked, "can I come to the track with you again sometime?"

3) We've made our cars available for kids to get up close and personal with after the races in the pits.

4) We've contributed time and money to help young kids get started in racing themselves. I've volunteered as the training director at our local quarter midget track, I've met families at the track and have let their son or daughter driver our cars, etc. We've conducted chassis setup clinics at our shop to help new families become more comfortable with the prospect of getting involved in the sport. If you can help a kid get started in the sport they may or may not end up a lifetime racer, but it's pretty likely they will end up a lifetime race fan.

One of the things we've talked about trying to do more next year is to transport the cars on an open trailer from time to time. I've heard others say it, and I have to agree, that the advent of the enclosed trailer has hurt the sport. I remember as a young boy seeing race cars on trailers going down the highway or at the local gas station. It was exciting to see them.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that we have several motives. One, like all of you, we absolutely love racing and want to see our sport thrive. Second, we use these opportunities to strengthen our sponsor relationships. Like I said in the first paragraph, it's a value-add that a lot of teams don't offer their sponsors. Third, we promote our business. The fact that we have a racing related business may make this type of stuff more of a priority for us as it's part of our marketing plan for people to see our cars; however, we had cars in the parades and the car shows before we started the business.

Just a few thoughts.

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

Great post by IndyQMDad above. :6: It would be my guess that were all parties to weigh in here, we would find that most racing entities, be they sanctioning body, track owner/promoter, car owner, driver, sponsor, fan, whatever....is of the belief that they are pretty much already doing all they can....it's up to the other folks to make the necessary changes. ;)

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

thanks for that :21: bit of reality I still want to work towards a better open wheel racing.I know that we all have to be a part of the answer. and not just pushing it off on some body ells

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

Racing is something that just gets in your blood and it does't go away. My first race was the beginning of a life long craving for that green flag. My Dad was the guy who took me to that first one and I'll always be thankful. Every kid in my neighborhood went with us at one time or another because we went as a family. I've been doing this for about fifty some years now, and nothing has changed for me. I take every kid who has ever ask and always enjoy taking them down to meet the Drivers and see the cars up close. A lot of people on this forum know my hero, Dandy Don Klein, and know the kind of person he is. Well that is how I see racing in general. Take you neighbor and their kids. Take them down to the pits and let them see for themselves. I haven't had a kid yet who didn't enjoy what they saw, and very few adults. But if the adults had gone as kids, that might be different too. I wear my racing attire, carry racing photos with me at all times and tell everyone I meet about our sport and the rewards of having a Champion Racecar Driver in the family. This year we are going to have bus trips to various tracks and see how many people we can bring to the party. Racing will not Die, it just needs a little help from everyone involved. Just my own thoughts.

sgtone28
lil don klein's daddy

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

racefan20 what are you going to do to fix or help the sport of open wheel racing

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

[QUOTE=v8j;144331]racefan20 what are you going to do to fix or help the sport of open wheel racing[/QUOt


Are you a member of H.A.R.F. How many race tracks have you attended this year, do you know the work behind the Rich Vogler scholarship? I think Race fan 20's work behind the scenes speaks for its self. As for me I am going to sell out and go fishing.

Jerry #66

---------- Post added at 09:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:41 PM ----------

[QUOTE=Jerry Spencer;144360][QUOTE=v8j;144331]racefan20 what are you going to do to fix or help the sport of open wheel racing[/QUOt


Are you a member of H.A.R.F. How many race tracks have you attended this year, do you know the work behind the Rich Vogler scholarship? I think Race fan 20's work behind the scenes speaks for its self. As for me I am going to sell out and go fishing.

Truck trailer and my half of team is for sale, make an offer.

Jerry #66

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

Originally Posted by Jerry Spencer:
Truck trailer and my half of team is for sale, make an offer.

Jerry #66

:( Say it ain't so Jerry.

Re: ok what are you doing to help the sport
 

[QUOTE=Jerry Spencer;144360][QUOTE=v8j;144331]racefan20 what are you going to do to fix or help the sport of open wheel racing[/QUOt


Are you a member of H.A.R.F. How many race tracks have you attended this year, do you know the work behind the Rich Vogler scholarship? I think Race fan 20's work behind the scenes speaks for its self. As for me I am going to sell out and go fishing.

Jerry #66

---------- Post added at 09:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:41 PM ----------

[QUOTE=Jerry Spencer;144360]

Originally Posted by v8j:
racefan20 what are you going to do to fix or help the sport of open wheel racing[/QUOt


Are you a member of H.A.R.F. How many race tracks have you attended this year, do you know the work behind the Rich Vogler scholarship? I think Race fan 20's work behind the scenes speaks for its self. As for me I am going to sell out and go fishing.

Truck trailer and my half of team is for sale, make an offer.

Jerry #66

Thanks Jerry, and I dont think anyone can doubt that your team does its part. I know there has been quite a few times that you guys have rolled out of bed to take the car to some public event when you would have rather stayed in bed or sat around the house drinking (warm) beer. :32: And Josh has a couple of awards hanging on his wall recognizing that very thing. Hope you have a change of heart on selling out.