Move to Indiana
 

I live currently in Pennsylvania, but plan to move to indiana when I graduate high school. I race currently and dont want to take too much time off. However, I am willing to take a small break till i could afford it, or I could find a ride.

So....question?

Would a move to Indiana be worthwhile? and are midgets run weekly at any tracks in Indiana.

Re: Move to Indiana
 

The move is worthwhile if you run a sprint car on dirt. A midget - not so much. The only real dirt midget races run is midget week and the Hut 100 and a couple of others. Then you have USAC and USSA "regional" races in and around Indiana which is pavement. JMO.

P.S. Do you run ARDC or?

Re: Move to Indiana
 

PowrI???

Re: Move to Indiana
 

I actually run a 270 micro sprint. Honestly, If i could afford a midget I would run ARDC, at least until a Nat. ride (USAC) became available. Sprint cars would be my ultimate goal but id take a midget ride as a stepping stone. Ive been told by a good driver in IN. that the move would be worth trying if i had the money and really wanted to do it. Although i dont know if he means money (for racing) or money for like living.

Re: Move to Indiana
 

They don't run the 270 midgets anywhere in Indiana that I know of. If you are looking to run micro's then yes there a a few good tracks that run different classes of 600's. If you are looking to make a living at it or get a free ride, well good luck with that one because there is a long line of very tough drivers that would sell their soul for that one. Good luck:36

Re: Move to Indiana
 

no... i AM looking to move up, but I dont want a "free". I can help somewhat financially, and help with work etc. Also, I would love to do it for a living but I actually had planned to build cars. I also understand their alot of good drivers. I know a few myself.

I'd move here. I DID move here and all I currently race is dirt go
karts. But there's a ton of those tracks around here too. You could also try TQ Midgets as a stepping stone. UMRA TQ midgets race all over Indiana during the summer...both dirt and pavement.
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Re: Move to Indiana
 

What are TQ midgets? and the point of this move/discussion is that im looking for a ride. I cant afford an operation over micro sprints.

Re: Move to Indiana
 

Stay in PA if you plan on moving "up" affordably. Especially with that last name....

Re: Move to Indiana
 

Im 21 years old and live in Ohio.... I drive sprintcars 2-3 nights a week in Ohio and Indiana and have for 3 years I own all my own stuff and rent a shop.... I drive about 2 hours most fridays to Gascity come back home and run Waynesfield on saturday and then make the 3 hour sunday haul to Kokomo(greatest drit track in the world)... I have worked for race teams in Indiana and Ohio and planned on moving there to continue my racing and be closer to the tracks I run....

The problem is..... unless you have about 50-100 grand you wont find a ride in Indiana period. Guys like Dave Darland and Jon Stanbough still sit at home sometimes because there arent very many teams the hire on talent alone... if your hoping to move to Indiana to find any ride you better have a big wallet coming with you... if your coming just to re-locate and still own your own stuff DO IT!!!!! Indiana is the best LOCATION in the world for a racer....but its not the place to get a ride... My point is I still live in Ohio and drive to Indy... there would be no benefit for me to leave my friends and family other than location....

Also...PA seems like the place to be for Midget racing and there Winged Sprintcar purses are 10 times better then out local purse here.... Some of the best drivers in the country move to P.A. because of the compition and money!!!

Re: Move to Indiana
 

njtraveler: what does "that last name..." mean?


wideopen24: I know pennsylvania has some great talent. Honestly thats why i think I will have a terrible time getting a ride even here. Like you said, unless you got 50-100 grand and your own equipment....you wont even be looked at. I know cody darrah (KKR WoO prospect) very well. NOW, dont get me wrong, the kid can drive (no opinions needed). But he had everything in the world. And he gets a ride with KKR. Kid like me (or anyone else like me) has little, but CAN prove themselves on the track, and not even a passing glance. Why?? As previously mentioned....i plan on building my own cars at some point. Honestly, if my parents (again only 16) would allow, i would build myself a midget now. For probably half the price for a spike... and once we sold everything, we might be able to put a half decent motor together. But, at 16 parents get what parents want. and right now (possibly for the next 2 years till i turn 18) i'll be in a 270 micro sprint. Im hoping a good friend of ours will give me the oppt to drive his 358 sprint in the near future, but he has a great driver. and until for whatever reason they seperate....im waiting.

TQ stands for three-quarter. As in 3/4s the size of a full midget. They use basically a mini sprint chassis (upright) and a motorcycle engine as a power plant. They still have direct drive gearboxes and need push started. They're pretty fun to watch on a small fairgrounds track. Google UMRA tq midgets.
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Re: Move to Indiana
 

The last time I checked two of the best drivers in the country Darland and Stanbrough have full time rides and they never have go far to find other rides if they need one.Heck I even seen them on the same team at the end of the year at one of the best tracks in the country!!!!!!

Brian Cripe :22::22::22::22::22::22::22::22:

Re: Move to Indiana
 

I would invite and actually suggest any young aspiring driver who is looking to move to indiana without a pot to piss in look up Brad sweet or Justin Grant.

Both of these guys and there are others, showed up in indiana with out a lot and have done one hell of a job making there way in this sport. The guys who want to use the excuse that "well you need 50-100K to even get a look" are guys who just didn't have the talent or the mental fortitude that it takes to make it in this sport...

Every time I see that I think of Brad in his broken down truck and open trailer and his wore out race car and justin sleeping in shops and scraping mud and working his ass off to get his shot and think what a slap in the face it is to those guys and the many who have made it before them.

Tim Clauson

Re: Move to Indiana
 

Tim hit it on the head. Unless you have been at this for 20-30 years, you will probably need to bring some funds. That's just the way it is now. Be that owning your own stuff or taking some money (sponsor or your own) to someone. Should it be that way? No, your skills alone should be enough, but these are different times...have been for a while. Back in the day, your driving was enough. If you want to make it, raising funds is part of the "job" of driving.

Sweet is the perfect example of hard work. I remember him showing up around here and just making it with what he had. You could see he was a gasser and would do well in better equipment. Year by year he was in better equipment because of his driving and now look at where he is. He's got a pretty good deal going. Raising funds is just part of it now. Becoming a driver these days is more than just steering the car. If you want in, you have to do some leg work on the business side too. It's not easy, but it's a fact.

Re: Move to Indiana
 

Google MTQRL, it is the new, and up and coming league of TQ racing. Lots of pictures and videos on their web site. I know you would like to build your own car, but that requires more skills, than bending tube, and a lot more equipment than you can easily haul around, plus the dollar factor X 6, put some coin together, and buy something, so you can display your skills, that's a good way to the top, or at least a ride. Bob:)

Re: Move to Indiana
 

I really appreciate all the feedback from everyone.

As far as the business side of things....as I said before, I can help somewhat financially. Sponsors is a little different because all of my sponsors are local to me. However, i've got a killer way to get sponsors, in my area anyway. It would be worth a shot in Indiana.

I think of at least one main thing about why I may be able to get this to work....I plan on doing it young. If I can scrap something together and make the move and have something to race...ill stick it out for a couple years. If I'm doing well, and nobody seems interested i can make the move back and live with mom and dad again. On the contrary, if Im loving it without a ride....i can stick it out for longer. But as im sure some of you know. When your so into racing as I am...its hard to give it up. even for a year or 2. I started doing this when I was 4.

TQ29m- I understand that. I'm only 16 but ive been around long enough that I know the ins and outs. Ive used a bender. I can weld. Ive used just about every fab tool you can thing of (basic: benders, welders, sheet metal brakes, etc.)

Edt**: I wasn't really saying that you had to have money, just stating that around here, more money seems like more oppurtunities

Re: Move to Indiana
 

Powri is a very good midget series, but it is run mostly in Illinois. Between little Belleville, Granite City, Macon and Jacksonville a guy could run about 75% of the schedule. The car counts are good and the shows are well run. I enjoy them alot.

Re: Move to Indiana
 

I would run POWRi, but again...it comes back to the fact I cant afford a midget.

good luck kid, hope to see ya make it out here
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Re: Move to Indiana
 

thanks reeser. Non-racing related question....
I know the economy is bad everywhere, but.... how is the job market out there?

I would be interested in Welding, or IT, etc.

Re: Move to Indiana
 

You need to go to College first and foremost. An education is essential. JMO

Re: Move to Indiana
 

College isnt for me....thats not an opinion. thats a fact.

tech school...maybe but it'll be for IT or fabrication anyway.

Re: Move to Indiana
 

Dalton, are you related to Old Man Dan and Danny..

Re: Move to Indiana
 

There is a ton of people with only a high school education looking for jobs. There is still quite a few with tech schools or associates. Do yourself a favor, get in some kind of school. You need to make yourself look enticing to employees. If you are living with family or someone out there, go to school and get some kind of degree because you need to set yourself apart from the regular joe schmoe.

Re: Move to Indiana
 

Tim is right about these guys! Both Brad and Justin showed there talents and got with the right people! I think Brad actually ran 6-7 cars in one season! It is still possible to meet the right people and get a shot... just very few and far between!

and as for the comment "The guys who want to use the excuse that" "well you need 50-100K to even get a look" "are guys who just didn't have the talent or the mental fortitude that it takes to make it in this sport" Does that mean the guys that pay you dont have the talent tim? What about Cole Whitt? Chris Windom? Caleb Armstrong? Ryan Kaplan? or the other half of the USAC field that has or still does pay to play? I have never used the fact that i cant pay a guy like you.... to make me faster an excuse... but that fact is unless you have 50-100 your probly going to struggle if your new to the sport and wont to find a ride!!!

Re: Move to Indiana
 

Pine- No, wish I was tho...it might make this easier

terrehautin- I know, I consider IT a reasonable career. Can make good money with the right company. and face it....any company that uses computers for a good portion of their work... needs and IT rep.

Re: Move to Indiana
 

theres always 3d computer modeling for games etc.

like this:

Re: Move to Indiana
 

You being from back east should talk to John H. He can tell you what and how it really is.

Re: Move to Indiana
 

who is John H

Re: Move to Indiana
 

johnny hydenrik? maybe...

Re: Move to Indiana
 

yea... i dont know. got an offer, but no go till 2012...unfortunately.:7:

Re: Move to Indiana
 

you should consider college there is a motorsports college not far from Indiana in Lima ohio you could learn alot and they do offer alot there are a few racers from Indiana that go there .. here is a link check it out they also do job placement for the motorsports careers

http://www.unoh.edu/academics/collegetechnologies/

Re: Move to Indiana
 

I have a buddy that goes there. Ill talk to him about it.

Re: Move to Indiana
 

Re: Move to Indiana
 

College or extra schooling is what you should be planning on. There is always time to race. Two guys that moved to Indy are in the boat you are about to be in. Andrew Elson and JJ Hughes. Both are great up-and-coming drivers. Andrew started college this year and JJ is going next year. Facts are facts partial or full rides are not there for young talent unless you can stand them on their ears.

Re: Move to Indiana
 

Ok, I appreciate all the "concern" for my future from people I know on here.

Here is how things are looking....

Jan 2012, Graduate High School
Spring 2012, Move to IN.
Racing Season 2012, help maybe drive.

All while attending a small technical school in the area for either IT (computers) or welding/fabrication.

IT comes natural too me (and every business needs a full time tech person) and welding/welders are ALWAYS needed


So....that poses the question... What are some local area Com. Colleges or tech schools in the perhaps bloomington area? or close to the bloomington area? OR.....how close to Bloomington is Lima OH

Re: Move to Indiana
 

Ivy Tech has campuses all over the state.

www.ivytech.edu

Vincennes University is probably an hour or so away and has IT and welding programs.

www.vinu.edu

AS for those two careers always needing people, that is not always the case. A lot of those jobs have been cut due to the economy with plenty of exp. people looking for jobs. However in the two years you are going to school things can change for the better or worse. I would try to talk you out of moving to Indiana to go to school, but you seem pretty much set at coming anyway.

Re: Move to Indiana
 

Well, i am not coming to indiana for school...I am coming to persue my dream. My parents own my current car so...if indiana doesnt work....ill come home and drive for mom and dad again.

Re: Move to Indiana
 

I don't know but you should keep talking and asking question. The greatest thing I've ever seen was last year at the speed drome on wednesday night. We were at the Indianapolis motor speedway racing USAC's .25 quarter midgets and USAC gave everyone who was racing free tickets to the speed drome and while we were there it was great to see the young kids moving up. But they had one guy there that was renting a I don't know TQ, kenyon or what midget but wow it was great. The best part was the guy only charged a $150 for the night and the car ran at the top with the rest of the field. So who knows just look around. The wildest thing was that even though there was new kids just moving up there were also some big name midget, & sprint car owners there helping with the set ups. So who knows!!!