What the hell is going on ???
 

What is up with Billy Boat selling everything?? Kevin Thomas called the other night a told me he had talked with a bunch of teams that wouldn't be racing next year? Is this the first drop in the Bucket???
Hopefully Chad Boat has something big coming his way? Maybe an Indy Lights? or something like that?

Next weeks show Jon Stanbrough will be a guest.

I have edited last nights show so you can hear what Bruce Ashmore and John Gurley had to say. Enjoy.

D.O.
:32:

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

yes I think it is.. I know for me I could not see paying out money to race when there was bill's that needed paid.. I think there is going to be more and more getting out or putting racing on hold for a time.. money is hard to come by, and it's not getting better. it's a shame.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by Mark Sr:
yes I think it is.. I know for me I could not see paying out money to race when there was bill's that needed paid.. I think there is going to be more and more getting out or putting racing on hold for a time.. money is hard to come by, and it's not getting better. it's a shame.

I call it the second drop in the bucket as last year many of the small teams either raced only local or parked em.

I see Broc Burton has his stuff up for sale :(.

Whats worse is the Money races this year that didn't draw big fields. The top teams were there and everyone else ran the other way. Also many of the Top Teams lost their sponsors.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

JMO, but I feel like last year, folks had just a little money left to race on, but nothing has changed, to make it better, energy costs are still on the rise, more folks outa work, sponsors needing their advertising budget to make ends meet, I don't look for this to be an "unusual" occurence, it really isn't "rocket science", it's reality, and when it sits in, it's real. When you see the big teams pull in their horns, it's a business decision, not for lack of interest. Hope I'm wrong! Bob

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

I think it is a shame. I was trying to find some old friends in the umra club that I have not seen in over 18 years, only to find that most of them I guess are not racing any more. Umra's drivers and owners list looks more like a ghost town. Alot of buiseness's here in Madison are closed or down to nothing as far as a work-force.

It is a shame.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

There are still quite a few that are racing with MTQRL the new tq series that were probably running with umra 18 years ago. You might check out their website mtqrl.com

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

when tsr parked there midgets due to finances, we knew the future of the series was going to take a turn downhill. he does truly care what happens in the usac midget series, but companies have no sponsorship budgets anymore. my only thought is when the economy turns around the car counts will begin to grow again, but will the big sponsors be back for the midgets. there are very few fans that go to midget races anymore, so what really do sponsors get from it? i just hope that things get better for the midget series.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

I highly doubt that even after this economic recovery is done that car counts will come back. People are finding many other ways to have fun and not blow the money they make.

It's the sad fact that costs got so high and pushed people out. This recession has cast a clear light on the issues that have been plaguingracing for over a decade now. Everyone wants th latest and greatest and are finally seeing that the return for such stuff isn't there.

We have a stark realization here poeple. Racing is never going to be what it was even 3 years ago. This recession has changed the way people live and the value they put on thier income. I hate to see USAC falling on hard times, I am just surprised it has taken this long into the recession for the snowball of teams selling out to pick up this much speed.

This brings up a very valid question: What does this mean for the Chili Bowl in 2010?

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by dirtywhiteboy:

This brings up a very valid question: What does this mean for the Chili Bowl in 2010?

Wondering the same thing. Guess we'll start finding out soon. The initial list was released last year on the 5th of December. They added the 5th day last year (Tuesday) because of so many cars. Wonder if that will change now...

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

hahahahaha Most of the midget teams would kill their own mother and run up the worst credit card debt in history to race at the Rental Bowl.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by DonMoore10:
hahahahaha Most of the midget teams would kill their own mother and run up the worst credit card debt in history to race at the Rental Bowl.

Some people want to race against the best in one of the biggest races of the year, it's not about how much $$$$$ but about what you achieve and get out of it. Check the World 100, Knoxville Nationals, etc, lots of teams have no chance but want to be there trying, experiencing, enjoying. Some want to complain online and belittle what others enjoy and want out of racing just because THEY don't agree or THEY don't have the same goals and desires.....

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Who cares obout the chili bowl it is just an other race.the concern should be more about the state of racing!!!!!!

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

I think the economy might have a little to do with it. But you have to remember, just last year you lost Clayton, Hockett, Bacon and Dustin Morgan to the wing world where the money is better. Now Stewert and Kahne are pretty much dumping USAC for the WoO where the money is probably doubled. Now if its true, Boat's bailing. I think USAC needs to get with the times and get the purse closer to what a traveling series should pay. They need to give these drivers and owners a half a chance to make some money on their investments.

I can't wait for 2010...:32:

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by v8j:
Who cares obout the chili bowl it is just an other race.the concern should be more about the state of racing!!!!!!

If the Chili Bowl has a drop in cars, wouldn't this be the first time in it's history that has happened?

If they do then we know that racing is ina very very bad state. No other midget event calls so many drivers to it. If this event shrinks in car count them we have only begun to see the downfall of racing.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

I don't claim to know the economics of all that's involved in a sanctioning body, a race team, heck even as a photographer I don't even know what's involved as a fan going to a racetrack.

What I do see is how World Racing Group runs WoO Sprints, WoO Late Models, Super DirtCar Series, UMP Mod's and Late Models. Look at the diversity in their schedules, (frequency and location of races), diversity in their drivers and the diversity in their cars. They run 3 vastly different cars with lots of room for sponsor logos and identifiable paint schemes, all over the US, and in many of the Canadian provinces. They also don't run on pavement.

USAC runs the majority of their races in and around Indiana, with hardly any continuity between cars, drivers and teams from year to year. The casual outsider sees a midget or silver crown car and calls it a sprint car. I would imagine the frequency of a non winged car going over is greater (therefore more expensive to run) then the above mentioned cars.

I guess my only point is the numbers are just not there. Many of you Hoosiers (might I add I am jealous), can see these guys run 3 nights a week all summer long. USAC/nonwing local action is racing 40 times a year in front of the same few thousand fans who have so much variety that the ticket prices are so low therefore resulting in lower purses.I imagine WRG series are racing 70-80 times a year all over the country in front of a higher paying (because they have no other option) much larger fan base resulting in larger purses.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Gentlemen this recession is only beginning. I don't wear rose colored glasses, just reading glasses. I WILL BE LUCKY TO HAVE A JOB IN 6 MONTHS!

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by racerdog45:
Some people want to race against the best in one of the biggest races of the year, it's not about how much $$$$$ but about what you achieve and get out of it. Check the World 100, Knoxville Nationals, etc, lots of teams have no chance but want to be there trying, experiencing, enjoying. Some want to complain online and belittle what others enjoy and want out of racing just because THEY don't agree or THEY don't have the same goals and desires.....

You are comparing two very different situations. If you did your research, you would find that the overwelming majority of drivers and car owners entered year after year have become once a year deals. They spend their budget there and the midget(s) gets parked till the next year. Then it's hibernation time, never to be seen at a race near you outdoors. Hardly the same comparing the Rental Bowl with the races you mentioned. Those people who enter those races support the outdoor season unlike the Rental Bowl once a yearlings.

If you want to get an idea of what it costs to go there and why these once a year polar bears don't have a dime when they leave that building, I have already spent nearly a thousand dollars as a future spectator and I haven't even gotten on the plane yet. Yeah... nearly a thousand dollars and that's just for one person... no race car(s), no crew, no pitty passes (upwards of $45 a day, thank you), no electricity fee (yeah, you gotta buy electricity there!), no $150-200 entry fee, no food bill, no fuel bill, no maintenance bill, no parts bill, AND LAST OF ALL: No RENTAL FEE if that applies which in some cases is an astounding $3500-10,000 or maybe more in some cases... etc. etc. etc.

So the next time you IOWheelers complain (and you complain alot on here about it, and that's a fact) about low midget counts at outdoor races... if you defend all these once a year racers getting a giddy thrill by rubbing wheels with some NASCRAP tin boy, you can only blame yourselves for defending these people.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by DonMoore10:
You are comparing two very different situations. If you did your research, you would find that the overwelming majority of drivers and car owners entered year after year have become once a year deals. They spend their budget there and the midget(s) gets parked till the next year. Then it's hibernation time, never to be seen at a race near you outdoors. Hardly the same comparing the Rental Bowl with the races you mentioned. Those people who enter those races support the outdoor season unlike the Rental Bowl once a yearlings.

If you want to get an idea of what it costs to go there and why these once a year polar bears don't have a dime when they leave that building, I have already spent nearly a thousand dollars as a future spectator and I haven't even gotten on the plane yet. Yeah... nearly a thousand dollars and that's just for one person... no race car(s), no crew, no pitty passes (upwards of $45 a day, thank you), no electricity fee (yeah, you gotta buy electricity there!), no $150-200 entry fee, no food bill, no fuel bill, no maintenance bill, no parts bill, AND LAST OF ALL: No RENTAL FEE if that applies which in some cases is an astounding $3500-10,000 or maybe more in some cases... etc. etc. etc.

So the next time you IOWheelers complain (and you complain alot on here about it, and that's a fact) about low midget counts at outdoor races... if you defend all these once a year racers getting a giddy thrill by rubbing wheels with some NASCRAP tin boy, you can only blame yourselves for defending these people.

Ah, I guess it is Chili Bowl time. Don, quit trying to be coy and name the race you are talking about. You sh## is getting weak. You are losing valitity. Quit racing and retire now before it is to late! The end is near!

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by SPRINTCAR:
You sh## is getting weak. You are losing valitity.

By the looks of your Language Arts skills, you lost it a long time ago. What language is that anyway?

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by DonMoore10:
By the looks of your Language Arts skills, you lost it a long time ago. What language is that anyway?

Don, whatever. I use to respect some of your posts, but you are not someone people will be willing to listen to. Spelling correctly or not. You are the smartest person I now know. Peace out Don. And Merry Don Christmas.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by SPRINTCAR:
Ah, I guess it is Chili Bowl time. Don, quit trying to be coy and name the race you are talking about. You sh## is getting weak. You are losing valitity. Quit racing and retire now before it is to late! The end is near!

Strange, I think the fact that everything Don's said for the past few years coming true. Even for BIG TEAMS gives him much more Validity.

He also owns, fields cars and visits races he don't make.

Ravin Lunatic, Yeah maybe but when theres no midgets left...................

He cares about the sport and like many better funded teams. Is at the breaking point, Picking and choosing wisely whats worthy just to fire it up.

Chuck, not only hearing if from Don anymore but a host of teams both sprint and midget.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by SPRINTCAR:
Ah, I guess it is Chili Bowl time. Don, quit trying to be coy and name the race you are talking about. You sh## is getting weak. You are losing valitity. Quit racing and retire now before it is to late! The end is near!

Let this be a lesson to the new comers in how not to maintain your credibility. Flaming another poster isn't going to get you high marks.

Could we make this a sticky on the front page?

---------- Post added at 10:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:53 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
Strange, I think the fact that everything Don's said for the past few years coming true. Even for BIG TEAMS gives him much more Validity.

He also owns, fields cars and visits races he don't make.

Ravin Lunatic, Yeah maybe but when theres no midgets left...................

He cares about the sport and like many better funded teams. Is at the breaking point, Picking and choosing wisely whats worthy just to fire it up.

Chuck, not only hearing if from Don anymore but a host of teams both sprint and midget.

That's the problem Charles, the ones people write off as raving lunatics are the ones that are speaking the truth. It's not part of the "Dr. Phil constructive criticism/namby pamby BS" that people want to hear. It's the cold hard truth and they don't like it.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by dirtywhiteboy:
Let this be a lesson to the new comers in how not to maintain your credibility. Flaming another poster isn't going to get you high marks.

Could we make this a sticky on the front page?[COLOR="Black"]

So just how do we gain credibility, in your humble opinion, Mr message board king?

Flame USAC with no information or facts to back it up? Agree with everything YOU say? Disagree with everyone YOU disagree with?

Talk about no credibility...

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by DonMoore10:

If you want to get an idea of what it costs to go there and why these once a year polar bears don't have a dime when they leave that building, I have already spent nearly a thousand dollars as a future spectator and I haven't even gotten on the plane yet. Yeah... nearly a thousand dollars and that's just for one person... no race car(s), no crew, no pitty passes (upwards of $45 a day, thank you), no electricity fee (yeah, you gotta buy electricity there!), no $150-200 entry fee, no food bill, no fuel bill, no maintenance bill, no parts bill, AND LAST OF ALL: No RENTAL FEE if that applies which in some cases is an astounding $3500-10,000 or maybe more in some cases... etc. etc. etc.

Ok so help me out here Your going to watch a race that u complain about on here year after year? Am i missing something?

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

my 2 cents is we don't need the 10,000 and 15,000 dollars to win races, 1,000 for second and 100 to start. they could pay 3 or 4,000 to win and pay more money to the back end of the feature and for the b main. if you want to pull cars out of the garage pay more money to start and not to win. with today's economy if an owner knows he going to lose 2 or 3 hundred dollars he going to stay home. but if an owner could break even or make a few bucks, he may take the car out of the garage and go out and have fun. if the big dogs don't want to race out of their pockets why should the little guy?

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by USAC Fan:
So just how do we gain credibility, in your humble opinion, Mr message board king?

Flame USAC with no information or facts to back it up? Agree with everything YOU say? Disagree with everyone YOU disagree with?

Talk about no credibility...

When you address me, you are to address me as SIR Messege Board King.

Sounds like another disgruntled person who doesn't like facts. I'll put you on my Christmas list for a crying towel.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by Rex W.:
Ok so help me out here Your going to watch a race that u complain about on here year after year? Am i missing something?

First of all, I'm just tickled pink that you are so concerned about my private life that you want to micro manage my day to day activities and even my vacation plans. Since when is it any of your business where I go to watch a race or for that matter, where I spend vacation time?

There are two sides to the Rental Bowl... the spectator side and the owner/driver side.. or front gate and back gate. The promoters get a big fat "F" for the way they administer the back gate side of the promotion and, on the flip side, they get a resounding "A" for their promotion at the front gate.

The Rental Bowl is one of the greatest racing events of the year and I enjoy it thoroughly from beginning to the very end. I spent several years there as a car owner. Been there and done that. Won't happen again anytime soon unless there's a sugar daddy out there that wants to fund my cars for the entire week. I'll be glad to show up on somebody else's dime.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by dirtywhiteboy:
I highly doubt that even after this economic recovery is done that car counts will come back. People are finding many other ways to have fun and not blow the money they make.

This is a personal fact for me. When you park your stuff because the money isn't there, it is darn near impossible to justify spending the mortgage payment to start up again.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

The first Chili Bowl I went to in the 90's had 90 plus cars. Everyone thought that was amazing. The numbers have risen steadily and now we are at an unsustainable number of nearly 300. My question is this: What number does it have to fall to that makes it a failure? 250/225/200/150? To me those are realistic numbers and would still be an amazing event.

I think we are seeing sort of a one,two punch in terms of the economy and we are now seeing the ending of one of the largest group of kids to ever move through quarter midgets and through the ranks. They are now in their early to mid-twenties and are going to or leaving college. Some lost interest and some have run out of money.

The types of businesses that many of the people who own cars in this sport are also on hard times. Construction and earth moving type of businesses are struggling. We also have seen the end of one of the largest costrusction booms in the last century.

I wouldn't worry too much about what Stewert and Kahne are doing. Just because they left one side of it doesn't mean they have quit. They maybe doing something else within the sport.

Are we in a lull? Sure, but there are many good stories. We have more race cars running today than we ever have. Powri had great car counts all year last year. We had many first time winners last year.

As a business owner am I concerned? Sure, but that means I have to adapt. If not I fail. Thats competition and thats what makes America great.

Happy Holidays

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by SPRINTCAR:
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Gentlemen this recession is only beginning. I don't wear rose colored glasses, just reading glasses. I WILL BE LUCKY TO HAVE A JOB IN 6 MONTHS!

I hate to be a pessimist but I think you are right. I have a small shop and the last 2 weeks have been the slowest I have ever been. Every person I've talked to in manufacturing in my area is crying the blues. I sure hope things turn around soon or I'll be spending Saturday nights next summer at home killing 30 packs.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

[QUOTE=DonMoore10;147006]First of all, I'm just tickled pink that you are so concerned about my private life that you want to micro manage my day to day activities and even my vacation plans. Since when is it any of your business where I go to watch a race or for that matter, where I spend vacation time?[QUOTE]

Hum Mr. Moore...i could give a **** where u go on vacation. Your the one that posted it. I guess i just don't understand why a person would ***** & moan about a race & then go & support it. I don't like nascar races so u know what...i don't watch em. Where did u come up with i wanted to micro manage your day to day activities and even your vacation plans? :14:

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by Rex W.:
I guess i just don't understand why a person would ***** & moan about a race & then go & support it. :14:

I guess I don't understand why you can't comprehend the English language.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by DonMoore10:
I guess I don't understand why you can't comprehend the English language.

Ok Don I'm done. I guess it goes back to what Jim McQueen told me one time. He said "Midget racers have midget minds".

Have a good life & a Happy Thanksgiving

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

I'll be sure to get your permission before I attend my next midget race.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

AUH YES!!!!!!!!!!! now I remeber why I stopped reading this site.. never seen so many little kid's on here in my life.. funny how one little thing can start a war.. that's why the world is in the shap it's in.. I thing King said it best, (Can't we all just get along!) I say grow up.. MY GOD!!!!!!!!
and I know I can't spell who give's a crap.......
Life's GOOD!!!!:8::3::19::31::33::10::20:

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

I am not sure how this thread went from D.O.'s original question about the Boat's to where it is now, but back to the original question.

My guess is somebody in the Boat household got out the calculator and looked into the crystal ball and decided to stop the bleeding.
OR and I hope this is it, Chad has a new bigger deal coming his way?

However,
"I" am old enough to have witnessed first hand what the Jimmy Carter years did to racing. Thank God, racing and everyone recovered, it took a while but it came back.

No one knows what is going to happen to the entire racing community in the coming months and years, but I have to remain hopeful, that once again we will all recover.

In spite of the times we are in we still have a lot to be thankful for!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
Strange, I think the fact that everything Don's said for the past few years coming true. Even for BIG TEAMS gives him much more Validity.

Chuck, I'm glad you can spell. Even a Ravin Lunatic could perdict what he has been saying.

Originally Posted by dirtywhiteboy:
Let this be a lesson to the new comers in how not to maintain your credibility. Flaming another poster isn't going to get you high marks.

High marks or not slamming a race on a post that has nothing to do with a race gets high marks in IMO.:6:




That's the problem Charles, the ones people write off as raving lunatics are the ones that are speaking the truth. It's not part of the "Dr. Phil constructive criticism/namby pamby BS" that people want to hear. It's the cold hard truth and they don't like it.

We all know it's the truth, it don't take you pointing this out for us to know.





Sounds like another disgruntled person who doesn't like facts. I'll put you on my Christmas list for a crying towel.

You sure know alot about people you don't even know.:29:

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Raving lunatic or not... fact or fiction... to be heard, you must treat people with respect. You do that... then people might consider listening. That is how you build credibility.

As for the state of racing, Well, it's winter here in Indiana and the car counts just suck.:17: Once the summer returns you will see a better situation.

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

I think I could agree with that! Bob

Re: What the hell is going on ???
 

Seriously, it's winter here in the Hoosier state and most of us have stopped worrying about racing and started hoping our Hoosiers win a couple of Big 10 games this year! One of the best things about living here, racing ends for the year and then it's Basketball time, March Madness ends and then the racing starts! Year round aggravation! lol