New 360 Series: Great Lakes Super Sprints
 

Re: New 360 Series: Great Lakes Super Sprints
 

Here is their site:

http://www.greatlakessupersprints.com/

Basically it looks like they are picking up where SOD left off - a 360 c.i. series running ASCS rules (basically). TJ has a really good write up on it when he compares them to the new SOD series. As long as they do not step on each other and schedule races on the same dates, we might actually have something good brewing here with both sanctioning bodies.

http://tjslideways.com/2015/10/19/tj...y-the-popcorn/

Cooperation is the key, I agree. If anything, it will be something to follow next Spring. It will really get clear when both announce 2016 schedules.

As a lifelong Michigander and fan of SOD, i just can't see the need for 2 traveling series. Look what has happened on pavement, the fans suffer. Hope for the best.

I hate to be a doom and gloimer but from what I have heard sod has announced that the gloves are off. Nothing good will come from this. Teams and fans will suffer because of sods decisions. I think what Barry is doing is great and I hope this doesn't cause too much turmoil. It has taken a lot of work to keep the car counts up where both MTS and sod has had full fields.
Nick Landon

This year at Butler there was close to 30 cars at the SOD. There was probably around 35, 360 sprints that raced at SOD events not counting guys from NRA. Only 3 ran every race I believe. SOD did not give much incentive to run for points. It looks like this new series will. The question is if this series does well, who will race with SOD? Will cars come out from other areas? Like you said 2 series is probably a bad thing for fans. If you split up those 30 drivers and don't add any...well do the math.

The 20+ nonwing teams that run with MTS are pretty true to nonwing racing too. Only a handful of them run with a wing. The only thing I see happening is sod taking shows based of their established history and not allowing the other two series in. I have already been through the battle of helping to get nonwing shows that sod has made nearly impossible.

2 series to different tire rules. Because of the new series the cost of racing just went up. Sod was trying to bring cost of racing down.

Buying new wheels, lighter weight parts, and I'd imagine that the prices of tires will not be much different than the tires that the rest of the country runs. Ever buy a 100 inch left rear tire? Last on I bought was pushing $230. Sounds like a bargain to me. All for tires that will never be competitive anywhere else in the country.

Re: New 360 Series: Great Lakes Super Sprints
 

Sorry to do this but I have a question for Nick. You do not have to answer this if you do not want to. Ok the question I have is SOD and MTS leaders sit at the same dinner table. Is this fight going to spill over into the MTS camp? If I had my pick we just need one traveling winged group in Michigan. Look at the mess the wing pavement cars have with 2 groups. Is this fight going to be about the open rules or more of just the tire part?

The Ohio 410 crowd new 2 series wouldn't work and got their differences solved, this is nothing unique it happens all the time someone thinks the series that's been around for 30+ years is going to fail and they're going to save the world, good luck.

Re: New 360 Series: Great Lakes Super Sprints
 

the reason the Ohio 410 crowd got their differences solved is that it is now owned by a single entity. the sod management essentially thru the current car owners that supported the series in prior years under the bus. new sets of rear rims will be required that are only good up there. aluminum engines and other light weight components and the car won't be legal for running the Ohio tracks or Canada and other east coast venues

Re: New 360 Series: Great Lakes Super Sprints
 

There are definitely a lot of questions for the race tracks too. SOD has been a very reliable affordable partner for all tracks in Michigan for a very long time with a very successful package. 2016 is going to be a nervous year. Sure any track can schedule dates, but if the car counts aren't there because of the decisions of the management, that leaves the tracks taking the heat from the race fans hurting repeat business in the future.

I believe the new SOD rules package is good for racers looking to make that initial step for getting into winged racing, but for those who have already made the commitment for the 360 rules package, it's a slap in the face. Had SOD made the decision back around 2000 for these new rules, I don't think this would be anywhere near as big of a deal. However now that the winged community has settled on 410 "Outlaw" rules and 360 ASCS rules for the national standards, it makes it extremely costly for EVERYONE to make such a significant change.

We hope to have both SOD and GLSS at Hartford Speedway next year.

Re: New 360 Series: Great Lakes Super Sprints
 

I like the new SOD rules, I think its a great idea. I doubt there is a need for new wheels. I talked to one of the guys that tested and he said they ran current wheels, and narrower ones. He said the car was fastest with the current wheels. Makes sense. Even though the current 410 and 360 tires are 16" wide, why is there a 18" wide wheel rule? Because they are better on wider wheels, if they weren't, then there is no need for the rule. If that's the case, there is no cost other than tires for any sprint car out there to race with SOD. This tire rule makes sense to me, narrower tires are going to put less power to the ground, no denying that. If you can only get so much power to the ground, who cares how much power you have. In my opinion, it will make a lot more guys competitive that had good engines, but not the huge budget for a killer one. The RR is smaller, but I think the harder compound and 3" narrower LR is going to take away a lot of traction. Not to mention, only 1 size LR is going to save a lot of money. With the trend of non-wing guys trying more winged shows, I wonder if any will try SOD if they get some Indiana shows. I would think less traction would be right up their alley!

Re: New 360 Series: Great Lakes Super Sprints
 

Originally Posted by Bstev33x:
......This tire rule makes sense to me, narrower tires are going to put less power to the ground, no denying that. If you can only get so much power to the ground, who cares how much power you have. ......The RR is smaller, but I think the harder compound and 3" narrower LR is going to take away a lot of traction.

Good points about getting the power down, as John Naida noted in his presentation to the drivers when SOD decided to change the rule book for next year.

But with no rules other than the tires, what about traction control? I am assuming a driver can run full traction control at every SOD event. A lot of sprint cars run it (like WoO), and it is "illegal", but the sanctioning bodies tend to look the other way. At least SOD will be playing it straight up.

But traction control should negate any tire slippage issues....... right? :11:

Re: New 360 Series: Great Lakes Super Sprints
 

Originally Posted by Stevensville Mike:
Good points about getting the power down, as John Naida noted in his presentation to the drivers when SOD decided to change the rule book for next year.

But with no rules other than the tires, what about traction control? I am assuming a driver can run full traction control at every SOD event. A lot of sprint cars run it (like WoO), and it is "illegal", but the sanctioning bodies tend to look the other way. At least SOD will be playing it straight up.

But traction control should negate any tire slippage issues....... right? :11:

SOD has rules, and a lot of them. I believe the engine rules were eliminated as a result of the new tires, and the weight rule was eliminated. As far as I know, wing rules, safety rules, technology/T.C. rules etc, all remain.

Re: New 360 Series: Great Lakes Super Sprints
 

2016 rule book:

http://www.sprintsondirt.com/2016_Sp..._R151030A2.pdf

Got it straight from the series director: Traction control will not be allowed.