Roadsters and little 500
 

I know already that Anderson will not be allowing me to run the roadster this year and probably not in near future but wondered what most racers and spectators think about allowing to either grandfathering them back in or opening back up the rules. It is not my desire to discourage or disrespect or drive up the cost of this race but would like to see some experimentation again and possibly more interest in the cars and bring out more cars trying to make the race. Maybe it would hurt the car counts and maybe it would help them I'm not sure and my intentions are NOT to hurt the race .

I have started Plan B and using some of the parts but hoping someday to allowing the roadsters to run little 500 again but maybe only a dream.

Re: Roadsters and little 500
 

The race was far more interesting when the cars weren't all cookie cutter.

From car owner with one USAC sprint series championship since 2000. Let it run.

Let them run!

Re: Roadsters and little 500
 

I really like the roadsters. Please let them race.:6:

Re: Roadsters and little 500
 

Hello IOW friends,

I know I will catch a lot of open wheel wrath for this comment but, why not give the Oswego Speedway small block supermodifieds a chance to run the Litle 500. Not sure about the Oswego big block supers. Make the rules apply so they can run with the sprints and roadsters and away we go. Just a little something different, might be intersting.

Have a good day...see you at the races,

Midwest Connection, Rich

As a hopefully soon to be Little 500 driver I'd love to see them make a return. In fact I'd have an interest in building one. The roadsters was always my favorite cars at the Little 500.
Nick Landon

Re: Roadsters and little 500
 

Does anybody remember the reasons they gave to disallowing them? I don't recall any domination by any roadster....

Re: Roadsters and little 500
 

(I say this as an "obvious" JOKE - PLEASE ONLY TAKE IT THAT WAY), but ya..."let them run...it worked out really well for Front-engine, old school style racing at the BIG 500 back in the 60s....DON'T WORRY...THINGS WILL BE FINE & STAY THE SAME"; THEY SAID.......(LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!)

A roadster hasn't ever really dominated the 500. And if I'm not mistaking the roadsters was pushed out when USAC was in charge of the race for a short time when they determined that it was a "sprintcar" race.

Re: Roadsters and little 500
 

I totally disagree with letting the "Roadster" style car return...My worry would be someone would build a car that dominated and would obsolete the present car. There are constructors like Danny Drianan that can build incredible machines. Then you would have one off Little 500 cars and the owners would either spend outlandish amounts of money or go away....I think the majority would go away!

Re: Roadsters and little 500
 

Originally Posted by ossuks:
I totally disagree with letting the "Roadster" style car return...My worry would be someone would build a car that dominated and would obsolete the present car. There are constructors like Danny Drianan that can build incredible machines. Then you would have one off Little 500 cars and the owners would either spend outlandish amounts of money or go away....I think the majority would go away!

The entire idea of this race anymore is one off. The cost involved in running this race to truly win is I would assume pretty big. You have guys with Indy Car style fuel set up on sprint cars, you basicly need to do a rebuild of around $5000 or more after running this race and the tire bill has to be huge.

As far as building one off cars it has been done in the past and none really dominate. Most teams are struggling to come up with money to race the season now so to put crazy amounts of money into a car just to race once a year, I don't see but maybe a handful if that building special cars. Even if they did you will still have guys show up just to say they ran the Little 500.

The sport need events like these and the different types cars showing up would be a bigger draw to the fans if promoted correctly. Remember when Foyt bet the rear engine cars in an upright dirt car. Fans love an underdog and want to see innovation and we need that in our sport.

Let them run most guys will bring and older roadster from out of the cobwebs to run and not build a special car.

Re: Roadsters and little 500
 

I would easily say there are twice as many standard pavement cars sitting than any roadsters that may be out there. Keeping rules as is, to try and attract that larger car owner pool makes sense.

The roadsters are neat no doubt and have a some history at the Little 5.

Hairracer44
The quick fuelers aren't "Indycar" style beside a top plate they are on a few hundred stock cars, and it's very easy to run more than a race on a motor.

Let them run. It may spawn a whole new world of pavement sprint car racing that doesn't exist. Remember friends pavement sprint car racing does not exist.

Re: Roadsters and little 500
 

Having grown up in the days of the roadsters popping up, I can say they were very quick, but they failed to win everything. Of course we are talking a time when a guy who ran a local garage would cobble together something and go racing. It wasn't a deep pockets deal like they are today. I recall a guy named Harry Turner who built some remarkable race cars that were far and away technologically advanced and didn't beat the pants off everyone. The whole history of open wheel racing has been constantly moved forward by tinkerers and doing things differently. One offs, and short run machines are always there. It wasn't so much that one car dominated that ruined the racing, it was more a case of the sanctioning bodies stepping in and taking direct action to stifle the ingenuity that was coming along. Making the cars all the same, use of wider tires, high horsepower motors and exotic metals has led to increasing costs and lower car counts than anything. :14:

Re: Roadsters and little 500
 

Look at the level this message board has come to....people disagreeing with each other and no name calling

I loved seeing Arnie Knepper's midget roadster@ Lake Hill Speedway back in the day.

How about narrow, hard tires for pavement only cars and wide, soft tires for true dirt cars. That might even them out and there are hundreds of dirt sprint cars out there.

Re: Roadsters and little 500
 

I forget the guys name; But he would build a one off special, never did any good,was not real fast. # 77 Maybe chet phillip?

Originally Posted by stoney:
I forget the guys name; But he would build a one off special, never did any good,was not real fast. # 77 Maybe chet phillip?

Yes he also was the 1999 winner in dick fullers stl car (regular sprint)

First time I met Chet we were at his brothers shop on gasoline Alley he was building the first creation, we looked at it ,it was just the frame ,one of the guys I was with asked what is that ,he looked at him like he had three heads and then he said it's a sprint car we just looked at Him and said oh OK 😀

Re: Roadsters and little 500
 

I really think Chet was having as much fun as any one. Has any body ran a rear engine car at Anderson?

Lynn

My first racing hero! Dave Roahrig was the first USAC feature winner in a rear engine car.

Originally Posted by racer-x:
My first racing hero! Dave Roahrig was the first USAC feature winner in a rear engine car.

Now that's a hauler !

The car Chet ran is now the # 99 RBR car Wease was in last year

Originally Posted by stoney:
I forget the guys name; But he would build a one off special, never did any good,was not real fast. # 77 Maybe chet phillip?

It was pretty fast last year!

Re: Roadsters and little 500
 

Originally Posted by Rich Mersereau:
Remember friends pavement sprint car racing does not exist.

LOLOLO

http://www.msrxtreme.com/

http://www.supersprints.com/

https://southernsprintcarshootout.com/

:5: :8: :10:

Re: Roadsters and little 500
 

I wish they would.... because I know of a car I'd love to pull out of my buddies shop and make it a 500 queen once a year.

Originally Posted by Puppy:
LOLOLO

http://www.msrxtreme.com/

http://www.supersprints.com/

https://southernsprintcarshootout.com/

:5: :8: :10:

He probably meant nonwing pavement racing. Literally only 3 races a year in the entire USofA (please correct me if I'm wrong, I'd love to know of any others), and all of them at Anderson.

Originally Posted by ChanceDHolley:
He probably meant nonwing pavement racing. Literally only 3 races a year in the entire USofA (please correct me if I'm wrong, I'd love to know of any others), and all of them at Anderson.

June 24- Sandusky Speedway- MWNWS

Re: Roadsters and little 500
 

I totally agree let them run..Like my neighbor Nick I would love to put one together..And I too believe it was when USAC to charge that they were pushed out..Let them back,, and let Chris bring back his roadster. And Chet has always been a step ahead..everything he has is a one of a kind work of art..Even his SC cars have been great..I hate the cookie cutter stuff that now is everywhere.