hey Scott,
in all due respect, I think that part of the answer is in your question. It's obvious that the continual rising of the bar in the motor department has now become a detriment to the sport. Limits need to be put in place to keep the sport alive, and to keep midget racing a realistic alternative in the racing world. Unfortunately there is a group that continually feels we need to take the sport to the "next level". my question is: why? Open wheel Saturday night racing, specifically in this conversation midget racing - is what it is.
On the local/regional level, the 155 was more than enough to compete and win against the pink fords and others. Now in defense of esslinger, though not really needed, they have offered an alternative with their st motor. As joe has with the rhino motor.
ARDC from what I understand has put rules in place that essentially make guys feel that a decent -12 or pushrod ford is more than capable of winning. I also thought I read somewhere that the toyotas, 161, and rhinos are not an option. personally I feel if this info is correct, they are heading in the right direction.
I feel it is now different because for the most part the lifespan of the motor is less, most send the motors back to be freshened, and purses are pretty much the same or less in some cases. we are alienating the backbone of our car counts. midget owners are no longer so much the group of folks that tinkered/designed and built or modified their own equipment and/or motors.
I remember talking to Rusty Kunz a few years back about a motor i was buying that he was familiar with. I was picking his brain a bit. one of the things he mentioned that bothered me was that they were happy when they got 4 races out of a motor before pulling it out to be gone over. 4 races ... 4 races?! good god - I've yet find someone to explain why half a motor is the same cost as a full up 410. and then have only a small portion of the life span!
anyway, not to argue, but you know the famous meaning/explanation of insanity - repeating the same process over and over, and expecting different results. if we want to change the direction midget racing is presently headed, we need to change the process/way in which it is ran and governed.
Robert Marfia, Jr.