A constructive response
Originally Posted by p318:
since the belleville thread has gotten so off message with the exception to a few, i'm going to try to get one going that actually deals with suggestions to help improve the belleville midget nationals. Please, no posts about midget engines being the problem, etc. Please keep reality of midgets and midget racing one year out in mind.
I'd like to start by asking a few questions and hope for some reasonable answers that the midget nationals can possibly pursue, knowing that not all suggestions can become reality due to reasons behind control of the midget nationals committee.
Q: Should the midget nationals look at asking usac back to be the controlling sanctioning body? Yes
q: Should the midget nationals look at asking usac back to be the sanctioning body with the control of the races (ie. Director of competition) being someone independent of usac as to not let any appearance of favortism or total control by usac dictate how the race is run? It should be run like any other usac race
q: Should the midget nationals look at asking all sanctioning bodies to to assist in running the race and make the midget nationals a sanctioned race of each sanctioning body? To many problems, it should be on the schedule of usac national, western states usac, rmma, powri, badger, ardc and any other club that would like to participate
q: Should the midget nationals look at having a committee consisting of sanctioning bodies representatives come up with a format in which the midget nationals would be run (ie. Rules, race formats, purse, etc.)? Run the normal nationals show ie; 2 qualifying nights and semi's and main saturday
q: Should the midget nationals look at having a committee consisting of owners and drivers that would come up with the rules and guidelines in which the race would be run? No
q: Should the midget nationals committee look at having different races, such as this year's 305 sprints, run with the midget nationals that would be consistant with cars run by some midget drivers (ie. Usac non-wing sprints, outlaw sprints), giving some drivers a chance for another race? No, the race would end up being the dry slick nationals
q: Should the midget nationals be kept on the current late july, early august date and held in conjunction with the fair but put more activities in place around the race to get more fan involvement (ie. Autograph party, drivers/fan golf tournament, softball game, etc.)? Same date during the fair
q: Should the midget nationals move the race off of the current late july, early august date and concentrate just on having the race? No
q: Should the midget nationals purse be adjusted with the payout being more spread out and not as top heavy? Yes, tow money would be beneficial
q: Any other suggestions you may have? Have a midget race the saturday & tuesday prior to belleville to make the long haul less of a factor.
Let's try to keep this as a positive post that can give the midget nationals some ideas on how to make the midget nationals what they used to be where drivers and fans looked forward to coming because of the race and in some cases, because of activities outside of the race. Lots of ideas may not work but if you have any ideas, put them out there and it may be just the idea to they are looking for.
---------- Post added at 5:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 5:21 PM ----------
Originally Posted by DonMoore10:
In order to come up with solutions, I think you first have to define the problems and that's where I'm confused. Wasn't this race basically run just like all the other races in the past many years? If this race attracted a ton of cars years ago using the same basic format, what has changed?
The race used to be on a lot of sanctioning bodies schedules as both a points paying race and a non points paying race. Midget racers need to get together and ask their clubs to participate.