SOD has no rules in 2016
 

Could not make the Hartford race last night. Was told that SOD is not going to have any rules next year other then a tire rule. Anyone hear anything about this?

Re: SOD has no rules in 2016
 

In the drivers meeting they laid out the rules for 2016 and gave each driver a sheet with the synopsis. I am sure we will hear more as it goes on, but this is what I heard and read over driver Jim Lingar's shoulder:

No engine rules. No weight rules.

They will have spec LR and RR tires. Wing package is the same and the cars must look/resemble sprint cars.

Now, what I took from the no engine rules was unlimited displacement. Steel or aluminum was all allowed. No minimum weight speaks for itself.

They rolled out two mounted tires and showed the diameters between them. The compound was not the compound they were referring to, just the size. And they were Hoosiers.

So, that pretty much said it all. Then the announcer told the crowd of the changes and confused me. He said that in 2016 SOD will allow both 360 and 410 engines. Well.... yes..... that's true, but like I said, I took it as unlimited displacement, any types of blocks or heads.

I am sure we will hear more.

On a sidebar, Jim Lingar had a huge shunt last night. He was going through Turns 3 and 4 in the Feature and the car went right at the apex of Turn 4 and subsequently went nose first into the outside wall coming onto the front stretch. Hartford has water barrels there so that cushioned the blow but when he hit it looked real bad.

Jim got out of the car, though. We all breathed a sigh of relief. A few years ago I remember he went over the Turn 2 wall and out of the track, landing on all four wheels and never flipping.

Also, once again as always this year at Hartford when they are running sprints, the joint was absolutely packed.

Re: SOD has no rules in 2016
 

Re: SOD has no rules in 2016
 

No rules besides running the tire. Partly in an effort to contain cost. That cost containment means you have to get a big 410, new wheels, new tires, and all super light weight everything to try to be competitive. Should only cost the top teams $60,000 in "savings" to run up front next year. The guys that are going to run current SOD cars are just going to go backwards. Sure glad I live 5 hours away from any car similar to mine for next year, and right in the heart of the SOD tracks.

The quickest and easiest way to cut weight is the safety stuff. 3 layer suits are heavy, hans, full containment seats, arm restraints, steel heims and steering componenets, etc.

Maybe someone will save 360 racing in Michigan. I need a beer.

Re: SOD has no rules in 2016
 

So I can use a 500 cube big block-turbo or a blower? Can I run nitro and nitrous oxide? Traction control? So if it is going to be a 410 club will it be a 410 payout? Will the tire some how save you money or will it just a diff tire that you buy a lot of them? I do not have a dog in this fight other then going to a lot of sod races each year. Will the cars they gain offset the cars they may lose?

Re: SOD has no rules in 2016
 

"No engine rules." So yes, you can run that motor. I totally get this move from the organization's perspective. Make every car in the world legal, and maybe every car in the world will join. $$$ If there are no rules, you don't need anyone to enforce them. $$$ If there is no weight rule, you don't need anyone to weigh them. $$$ Make spec tires, and sell them to the racers at any price you want. $$$ I have heard no mention of payout increasing, but I'm willing to bet there's zero chance of that. $$$ Those who race will be spending huge $$$ to try to be competitive. I can promise there will be no saving the racers any money.

Re: SOD has no rules in 2016
 

There is a reason that WoO introduced the 410ci limit rule in the early 80's when teams were getting out of control with massive big blocks and crazy light cars.

Maybe Hartford should just race 360's next year Semi-weekly. Looks like 20+ cars may have just became available....

Sept. 4th will mark the day the SOD series was killed. I used to really enjoy the shows they had at Gas City several years ago and when they have joined the program with the NRA at Montpelier this year.

Re: SOD has no rules in 2016
 

Is the thinking here that the size of the tire would offset a high horsepower motor? Would a monster motor just light up the tires? I can understand the thinking that the tires would equalize the competition.

Has a price per tire been mentioned?

(For the record, Hartford should go non wing next sprints next year!)

No rules? But you gotta run special tires? Total crap, open the tire rules it will help everyone including Hoosier.

The absolute BEST way to make ever one equal is to have a 1 3/4 header rule. Don't matter what size engine you have it can't flow with that little header.
Easy to tech and cheap.

I think some of you are missing the point. With 13" RR and a 11" LR you can have all the power in the world but if you can't get it to the ground with the narrow tires it will level the field if you have a 410 or 360. Plus look at how many 12 headed 410's out there you can buy for under $10,000 compared to buying a high dollar 360 motor.

The only thing I would have liked to see is a weight rule but if you look at the current cars in MI imagine no one is close to the current weight rule.

Plus with new tires there are not different sizes so everyone will be close to same amount of stagger.

Re: SOD has no rules in 2016
 

Originally Posted by staggerman:
I think some of you are missing the point. With 13" RR and a 11" LR you can have all the power in the world but if you can't get it to the ground with the narrow tires it will level the field if you have a 410 or 360. Plus look at how many 12 headed 410's out there you can buy for under $10,000 compared to buying a high dollar 360 motor.

The only thing I would have liked to see is a weight rule but if you look at the current cars in MI imagine no one is close to the current weight rule.

Plus with new tires there are not different sizes so everyone will be close to same amount of stagger.

I think John Naida was hitting on that very subject in the drivers meeting at Hartford when he presented this new formula for next season. He made references to Rick Ferkel running drag racing tires in the old days, being able to get the power down down the straights, and basically start dominating. So a lot of other drivers went to drag tires and sprint car racing for this application was changing drastically and going away from the racing we all know - siding through corners. At least that is what I THINK he was trying to present. :11: I am just a fan, you know.

But in this day and age with so many series running spec, I fully thought SOD was going to announce spec engines, chassis, tires, body panels, etc. I even wondered if they were going to go to a partially spec track, like running Crystal Motor Speedway every other race. They did almost a complete 180.

And yes, I too am wondering like chop - with "no engine rules" will this allow nitrous oxide, doctoring of fuels, and traction control? I will give SOD credit in this area where traction control is illegal in pretty much every series but so many guys use it, the sanctioning bodies just turn a blind eye to it.

This will be extremely interesting to follow next season. But like I said, I will give SOD, Naida, and the Irwins credit for being pioneers and charting a new course and a new direction.

Of course, purse $$$ will overcome any obstacle. I tam sure this is where the Hoosier spec tire deal starts the kick in.

Re: SOD has no rules in 2016
 

I understand the narrow (hard compound?) tire move. But is it a higher cost for less amount of tire? Are they going to limit the amount of tires used in a night? Will this turn in to a tire soaking-grinding party? Will the racer have to spend tons of money on shocks-bars to get that little bit more out of the new tire? So any sprint car in the world can now run with SOD. Last year Rico showed up on a off night. Will they want to buy new (can't use any other place) rims and tires? I would think more likely would pick an other club to race. Don't get me wrong, I really hope it does work, more cars, good side by side, two groove racing.

Originally Posted by Eric Smith:
"No engine rules." So yes, you can run that motor. I totally get this move from the organization's perspective. Make every car in the world legal, and maybe every car in the world will join. $$$ If there are no rules, you don't need anyone to enforce them. $$$ If there is no weight rule, you don't need anyone to weigh them. $$$ Make spec tires, and sell them to the racers at any price you want. $$$ I have heard no mention of payout increasing, but I'm willing to bet there's zero chance of that. $$$ Those who race will be spending huge $$$ to try to be competitive. I can promise there will be no saving the racers any money.

This kind of reminds me of what Butler did a couple years ago with their sportsman class. They had a good group of guys who ran sportsman. They decided to open up the rules to include late models not exclude them. The only difference was a smaller tire. The result? A few late models came. They also dominated. The sportsman/pro stocks who were running out there could not be competitive so they sold or went else where. They are now left with about 5-10 cars running for what I assume is the last season. They tried to get late models to come race for a sportsman purse. It didn't work. Is SOD going to try to get 410s to buy a new tire for a 360 purse? If the purse does not increase top to bottom the cars will not come. That's just my opinion.

Re: SOD has no rules in 2016
 

-- Is it cheaper to field a 410 AND 360?
-- This is the same "rules package" as Butler (minus tires). Doesn't this put SOD, Butler & MTS on the same playing field?
-- Anyone remember when SOD was a 410 series?
-- Butler sportsman? Don't get me started. I could go on for hours.

Mts has an open hoosier right rear tire rule. Other three corners are open. They also have a sensible weight rule but haven't rolled a car across scales in years. I'm all for opening up rules, but sod had a great thing going and had a fair amount of cars. On par with mts and the other local sprints. This rule change just isolated them once again. It's bad enough that mother nature has us surrounded with huge lakes and we are blessed with sand in our clay, now wing teams have to buy special wheels and tires to run the wing series. I know I'm not a wing guy, but I do have the stuff now to go wing racing once I build a new car, but with these rule changes it isn't going to happen. Cutting down on the tires will only make shocks and bars that much more important.

Re: SOD has no rules in 2016
 

Originally Posted by Spi-nex:
There is a reason that WoO introduced the 410ci limit rule in the early 80's when teams were getting out of control with massive big blocks and crazy light cars.

Maybe Hartford should just race 360's next year Semi-weekly. Looks like 20+ cars may have just became available....

I was lucky enough to see the big blocks scream down the long straightaways at Williams Grove during that time. You're right, the WoO had to make the change.

More than anything, my thoughts on the reason Butler has had an open engine rule is simply because they don't want to do the tech! But I can't say I've witnessed any exotic engines in the pits.

There was a time when Butler & SOD went by the same engine rules and to me that was some of the best times in Michigan sprint car racing. Some years there were 5 or 6 SOD shows at the track and they were sort of like a Posse-Outlaw showdown.

It would be really beneficial for sprint car racing in the state of Michigan to have all the series and tracks, including Hartford & I-96 on the same page. (Heck, I would go for Racesaver 305s if they all agreed to it!)