Toyota and USAC
 

Looks like Toyota got serious about USAC

Could be an interesting way for some teams to make some extra money

http://usacracing.com/Sponsors_files...ontingency.pdf

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Originally Posted by smbpreformance:
Looks like Toyota got serious about USAC

Could be an interesting way for some teams to make some extra money

http://usacracing.com/Sponsors_files...ontingency.pdf

Boy O Boy!

I want me a Chi-neeze chassis and a Japi-neeze en-gine!:wink

25 years ago this would be a prescription for an a$$ kickin' just showing up at a dirt track with this stuff!:icon_smile_blackeye

My O My how time changes things!:headbang

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Ahhh Soooo!!! Serious Yen, indeed!:eek::applaud::respect:

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Maybe 55-65 years ago, but 25 years ago(1983) many Americans already owned Honda's and Toyota's. Chrysler did have the "K" car though. That was something a proud American could get behind.

How come there wasn't this much backlash when Mark Gehrke ran a Toyota midget and Louis Senter(SEC Wheels) had wheels made over seas?

I surely don't remember this much anger when the VW midget motor was the most dominant engine.

Hell, there were Chinese built Midget,Sprint and Silver Crown racecars from the late 60's until the mid 80's. People like Parnelli Jones,Sonny Knepper, and Galen Fox owned them. My family even owned one of the midgets.

They were built by a chinese man named Grant King.

Personally, I feel this sport needs all of the help it can get and if Toyota is willing to give back, then good for them and good for USAC for putting the deal together.

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

I'll admit I'm not a fan of "foreign" car companies, but that's become a somewhat relative term these days.

I am definitely not a fan of Toyota, but I give them credit for getting into grassroots open wheel racing. Like it or not, racing needs support from big time companies with money.

If Toyota's involvement with open wheel racing makes the sport better, I'm all for it. My hope is their involvement will cause everyone to step up their game. I love watching those Toyotas get beat, especially by an Esslinger Ford!

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Originally Posted by LEADERS EDGE:
Maybe 55-65 years ago, but 25 years ago(1983) many Americans already owned Honda's and Toyota's. Chrysler did have the "K" car though. That was something a proud American could get behind.

How come there wasn't this much backlash when Mark Gehrke ran a Toyota midget and Louis Senter(SEC Wheels) had wheels made over seas?

I surely don't remember this much anger when the VW midget motor was the most dominant engine.

Hell, there were Chinese built Midget,Sprint and Silver Crown racecars from the late 60's until the mid 80's. People like Parnelli Jones,Sonny Knepper, and Galen Fox owned them. My family even owned one of the midgets.

They were built by a chinese man named Grant King.

Personally, I feel this sport needs all of the help it can get and if Toyota is willing to give back, then good for them and good for USAC for putting the deal together.

IIRC, Gehrke's effort was not factory backed. He was a hobbyist that owned a Toyota dealership in Panama, City Florida and he did it to sort of advertise his dealership. The engine was a miserable failure.

Grant King I think was a transplanted Chinese/Canadian.

The VW engine was not a factory effort and eventually became an Autocraft I think which was American made.

I have owned one Japanese car out of many over the years and I'm sorry I bought it. I dumped it after 8 months.

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Originally Posted by LEADERS EDGE:
Maybe 55-65 years ago, but 25 years ago(1983) many Americans already owned Honda's and Toyota's

I was just having some fun with the introduction of the 1st TRD motor for Silver Crown and Sprint cars. By the way, TRD is short for Toyota Racing Development (not turd as it looks like).

I am all for teams having a chance to make more money! :thumb

But let me test your age and your knowledge, 1983 the pits at Paragon/Putnamville/Bloomington, pick any night, park your GREEN painted Chinese chassis powered by a Toyota next to Big Ol' Bob Kinsers car and either move it, load up and leave or get your ass kicked all the way to the road!

:rolling :rolling

That I can see actually happening!

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

I don't see the difference in factory backed efforts and one off efforts using foreign produced parts. Just because American companies like Scat and Auto-Craft assembled the engines in America, doesn't change the fact that the design was developed in Germany and that many of the parts were still produced in Germany and Mexico.

As far as Grant goes, I realize he was Chinese/Canadian, but he was still Chinese and Canadian.

I didn't know him very well, but my dad worked for him for 25 or more years. And no, it wasn't my dads job to remove the vin numbers. He just held them in place while Grant tacked them on.

As far as foreign produced cars go, like American cars, there are some good ones and some bad ones.

C'mon, you had to suspect that the Yugo wasn't going to be a very good car. I mean the Renault maybe, but no way on the Yugo.

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

I'm all for a good American V-8 sprinter backin er in. All those midget engines are great too. GM got back into the Indy Cars until Toyota out spent and performed them. Then came Honda with their motorcyle like never break down reliability and out performed Toyota. Looks to me like USAC has the most diverse bunch of power plants going in any racing organization. I would just as soon see one of the big 3 sponsor USAC but what the hell. (national midgets Mopar) It's funny to me to see how mad the napcar people get now that Toyota has trenched in down south. What was that German named engine that dominated at one time for decades....

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Originally Posted by Sprint Fan:
1983 the pits at Paragon/Putnamville/Bloomington, pick any night, park your GREEN painted Chinese chassis powered by a Toyota next to Big Ol' Bob Kinsers car and either move it, load up and leave or get your ass kicked all the way to the road!


That I can see actually happening!

If that is how it was then, I for one am glad times have changed. There is nothing wrong with Toyota coming in! And if you can find a cheaper chassis without comprimising safety, why not? :kookoo

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Originally Posted by LEADERS EDGE:
I don't see the difference in factory backed efforts and one off efforts using foreign produced parts

Two words - money & marketing.

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

I still can't figure out if it's the foreign companies you don't like, or if it's big companies or if it's just big foreign companies.

What about the first(I know of) Suzuki V-8 midget motorcycle engine run by Mel Kenyon? It doesn't get anymore American than Mel and they went Japanese before anyone.

I'm 38 and I barely have any rememberance of '83 other than the great clothing statements and our love of E.T.

That said, I remember them(Bob and Family) more for being intense, but they seemed to have fun. I saw them argue once in awhile, but I can honestly say that I never saw them actually fight anyone(I heard the stories like everyone else) but, I rarely went to the local dirt tracks between '80 and '85 so I'm sure I missed alot.

Good thing Steve didn't stick with the anti-Green philosophy.

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

So, I have a couple of question. They have awards for the national sprints. The national sprints are 410's while the Westerns are 360's for pavement sprints. I thought the Toyota sprint engine was a 360. IF this is the case, am I to understand that they are paying $1500 per race to the highest Toyota in the A main? If so, would a guy be a fool to try to run a 360 on the pavement tracks to try to make the $1500 bounty?

It is also cool that 9 racing is prohibited from the awards in the midgets.

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Originally Posted by hoosierhillbilly:
So, I have a couple of question. They have awards for the national sprints. The national sprints are 410's while the Westerns are 360's for pavement sprints. I thought the Toyota sprint engine was a 360. IF this is the case, am I to understand that they are paying $1500 per race to the highest Toyota in the A main? If so, would a guy be a fool to try to run a 360 on the pavement tracks to try to make the $1500 bounty?

It is also cool that 9 racing is prohibited from the awards in the midgets.

I belive Michael Lewis used to run one at Anderson and do quite well

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

This is a huge shot in the arm for USAC racers. Toyota is to be commended for their commitment.:applaud::thumb

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

I commend Toyota, USAC and Greg Staab. Everyone Had fun on Kawasaki, Honda Suziki & Yahama dirt Bikes, didnt see Many Harleys except for Hill climbing and Flat Track. A Huge shot in the Arm, would Love to hear a 8 cylinder Honda Sprint. :checkered:

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

It would be Great to see an American Sport supported by an American AutoMaker but how can we now say which is which... Look, I;m not to Happy about seeing the foreign companys taking over but at least they are putting Americans To Work...Ford and GMs big idea to make a Profit is to retire there American Workforce.... Not to mention that many of there products are now made North and South of our Boarder... I have no problems with Toyota steping up, my problem is that the Big 3 won;t... Too me its good to see USAC trying or at least trying harder to find help for there teams.... My next thought is that if it wasn;t for a Certain USAC turned Nascar Champion Driving a Toyota, this just would not have happened.... but thats just a guess.... And as for those Azz Kicken Days.....ya I was there.... it could get pretty intense.... Great Racing.... In a lot of ways, things were better...... and it a lot of others,,,,,,,not so much.......

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Originally Posted by LEADERS EDGE:
C'mon, you had to suspect that the Yugo wasn't going to be a very good car. I mean the Renault maybe, but no way on the Yugo.

The Yugo was actually very innovative and somewhat ahead of it's time as thoughtful engineers included as standard equipment an electric rear defroster .... "so that your hands wouldn't get cold while you were pushing that piece of s_ _ _ " ! :O::rolling


:Steer www.paulgray28.com

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

wonder where i would go to have a 410 toyota sprint car engine built? anyone know???

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Originally Posted by throb:
wonder where i would go to have a 410 toyota sprint car engine built? anyone know???

The bank :rolling

Jerry

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

I wouldn't give Greg Staab any credit for this. Unless he's not telling me the truth he knows nothing about this program. It's good shot in the arm for the teams and I'm glad they are doing this. My question at this point would a team spend the extra on a Toyota engine at this point if there will only be a 360 engine available in the sprint div. A good team could make most shows with one at the short tracks. Last year I had heard that a bigger engine may be in the works just for the sprints, don't know if thats true or not. The midget and SC div there's no doubt this would be a good move, at least until a certian number of teams also make the move.

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Doesn't Greg S. work for USAC? How could they have a program that their employees no nothing about , or should the question be, how does someone on a message board know more that a USAC employee?

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Originally Posted by ossuks:
Doesn't Greg S. work for USAC? How could they have a program that their employees no nothing about , or should the question be, how does someone on a message board know more that a USAC employee?

I just found it when cruising around the new USAC site

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Looks like a perfect opportunity to get V8 powered stock blocks back into Indy Champ Cars.:applaud: Heck we might even put the motor up front of the steering wheel.:Steer

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Originally Posted by throb:
wonder where i would go to have a 410 toyota sprint car engine built? anyone know???

Prolly have to wait another year till the aluminum block comes out then u can go & get one built.

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

I am excited to get my Taiwan Tommy Thumper built.... I might even install a Kymco Suicide Shifter on my ChingChingBangfuu pit cart......:headbang but Toyota is putting money and effort into it.... but just hmmmmm

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Does Toyota sell a V8 in a car? Or just in Trucks.
I was watching Nascar and the question came up. And if it's only in trucks is this the base for their motor?

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Nascar has Special Rules for them that likes to Spend a Hundred Million or so a year.... Havent ya noticed that new thing they call a racecar...

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

If you think about it this is just a continuation of Toyota's involvement and comittment to USAC Racing. Since they began the Midget motor program they have been involved and stepped it up every year. This year if you were at the USAC Banquet they passed out a check for $100.00 per race to the top ten Midget owners REGARDLESS of WHAT ENGINE they used. This was the second year for this program. They also picked up the sponsorship for the O.R.P. (Night Before the 500 & G.P.)Races, the Toyota Challenge ($25,000.00 again regardless of engine used) and have you noticed the Toyota pick ups furnished to USAC personnel.
All in all it appears Toyota wants to be a player in Midget, Sprint Car and Silver Crown Racing and is willing to put money in the racer's hands.

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

SO why can't you take the old truck 360 from nascar with the steel block put injectors on it and run the National series until the alum block gets built. We all have seen some bad azz 360 and midwest track do get slick at times. We will find out more next Monday on our show as the USAC boys will be in the house. Lots of questions to ask of Kevin Miller. He has been doing a good job since taking the bull by the horns.

I think it's a great deal and I hope a reasonable parts pipline opens up so people can build the engines.
Like Toyota or not they are still helping the sport with programs and promotions like this.

:dologob:

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

I love all this foriegn slang going around, In Napcar the Toyota is the only Model assembled in the USA

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Originally Posted by Moses:
I'll admit I'm not a fan of "foreign" car companies, but that's become a somewhat relative term these days.

I am definitely not a fan of Toyota, but I give them credit for getting into grassroots open wheel racing. Like it or not, racing needs support from big time companies with money.

If Toyota's involvement with open wheel racing makes the sport better, I'm all for it. My hope is their involvement will cause everyone to step up their game. I love watching those Toyotas get beat, especially by an Esslinger Ford!

And by stepping up their game up go the costs of racing and when racing goes up people lose even more money than before.

Sorry but the saddest thing to admit is WE (American's) set the Japanese up in business after we bombed their towns in WWII. We sent money and aid over to them just like Europe and guess what? WE are seeing the "benefits" of such good will.

Makes me sick as can be. Get use to it cause it will only get worse, much worse.

Re: Toyota and USAC
 

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
I love all this foriegn slang going around, In Napcar the Toyota is the only Model assembled in the USA

SSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Chuck please do not use logic or reason it will throw off their arguments