Ya know, I've kind of checked out from this whole scene - I haven't even looked at this site in quite a while but after the long absence... nothing has changed!
I LOVE this sport. So much so, that many years ago I changed professions so that I could do something I thought might help (Ford Focus program). For my trouble I got my head bashed in on this board and elsewhere from people who either felt I was not doing things properly or from people who's egos were so fragile that they thought my success might obscure theirs. I won't argue who had the better point but I will point out that in the aftermath of that program, a large percentage of the National Midget fields have been comprised of drivers with seat time in a focus. Along the way a lot of 'joe six pack' guys also got to race a midget that otherwise would not have - these were the only goals I ever had for that program.
That program has now come and gone. I don't think it needed to die the agonizing death that it did but thats water under the bridge at this point. So now, Midget racing is back to where it was before that program, only worse on account of this economy. We have a 'National' program (two actually if you count USAC), and several others who try their best to emulate the 'national' deal along with a few that don't even try (probably the smartest of the bunch IMO).
After all of the debate and commentary, I believe this is really a fairly simple situation.
- Engine technology in Midget racing has fallen seriously behind the curve. As a result, associated costs and duty cycles do not compare favorably with other forms of racing and this is costing us participants
- These same costs mean that prevailing payouts can't even make a dent in operating costs - this hurts the blue collar guy and further depletes our count.
- A stalemate has developed between those struggling to keep existing designs viable, and those who realize that new technology is the key to the survival of the sport.
None of the above is unusual - this is the same story that has played out in many other forms of racing. Interestingly, one of the things that makes Midget racing so great - our desire to stick to our roots and our traditions - is the same thing that is making evolution of our sport so difficult. For over 50 years now Midget racing has managed to find the right balance between tradition and relevance. I think we've missed a chance to remain relevant in today's market, and I think the trouble we are having is a reflection of that. I know that racing in general is struggling these days but we are struggling a lot more than most.
In this economy, the herd gets thinned and I think we'd better start thinking seriously about what we're gonna do to avoid becoming hamburger. Getting serious about creating an alternative engine formula - one that allows existing designs to remain competitive but introduces new technology in a controlled fashion - appears to me to be our best way forward at this point. And, I can't think of a single reason why we should NOT do this, unless the decision is made that what we want to do, as a sport, is to become the most awesome, bad-to-the-bone VINTAGE division in all of racing.
