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AlkyMadness · 3/27/08, 1:54 AM

I've got a lot of thoughts about this subject.

First, let me say that the fans in the Midwest are already spoiled. The vast majority of races I've been to always get out at a decent hour. If you want to find out how bad it can be, just come on down to Dixie. I lost track a long time ago of the number of times that I didn't get to leave a race at 2-3am AND THE TRACK STILL HAD A FEW SUPPORT CLASSES TO RUN!!! Many times I get home in time to see the sun come up. Consistently worse offenders would be Cherokee Speedway and North Georgia. I've quit getting hotel rooms because I don't get my moneys worth when all I have time to do is sleep three hours, take a shower and leave.

That being said, I think there are several things that need to be done to fix any major, sanctioned tour race.

The easiest thing is to put time limits on the support classes, AND THEN ENFORCE THEM. Also, the suggestion to limit support class participation to the top 20 in points is a good idea. I've seen it and it works.

Example, this last weekend I attended the PASS South SLM race at Hickory. One of the support classes was the Rolling Thunder Mods (also a touring group). The mod feature was supposed to run 75 laps but they also agreed to a 45 minute time limit. After 45 minutes, only 35 laps were run (numerous accidents and one nasty fire) and they did what they said. Everyone was happy with that.

I also have taken issue with how the "old" USAC used to stick to a format when it was obvious that every car there was going to make the show. An example of this would be last years race at Salem. There were fewer than 24 cars on hand and heavy weather was on the way. In that case, why was it necessary to run meaningless B-Mains? Line them up based on heat results and run. I think everyone there would have preferred getting a complete A Main instead of what they got. The only reason the defenders could say was, "it's traditional". Well, I say heck with tradition, I'm there to see a main event. We have a "new" USAC, let's change this practice now.

For that matter, let's do away with useless time trials. MSCS has a great format and it doesn't seem to hurt car counts. Not to mention you are not burning out a perfectly good track prep with TT's.

An example of this would be the Sprint/Midget doubleheader that was run at Concord Motorsports Park a couple years ago (on a Sunday night if I remember correctly). Again, all sprints were going to make the show and line up based on TT's. That rendered the heats meaningless because nobody tried to risk their equipment in the heats. Check the record books. Daron Clayton and Mario Marrietta got heat wins with people like Dave Steele in last place. Single file, run these things for the sake of running them and waste time. That was a show where fans left long before the sprint feature and many saying they wouldn't come back (although almost everyone agreed the midget feature was excellent, at least those who stayed to see it).

Of course, that was also the race that bore witness to the worse travesty and time waster ever: Kenny Wallace MC'ing a midget wrestling match that left most in the stands speechless, booing, or just plain embarrassed. But it wasted a huge amount of time.

I've heard that USAC will allow all entrants to run heats this year. More reason to can the needless TT's.

Finally, when it comes to the order of the main event, I have only one problem with running the main event first. Fans (with the young fans who everyone says are so important to our future) can't get into most pit areas until ALL of the events are finished. Only makes sense. That would be a disaster.

The track announcers always say "Don't forget to go to the pits and meet the drivers and most of them have shirts for sale". That would be great and I remember looking forward to that when I was a kid, but, nowadays, most of the teams have loaded up and are already pulling out before the whole show is over. Bummer.

Sorry, but that's one area where the PA Posse has everyone beat. Go to their tracks and almost every team has someone behind the stands selling their shirts. No reason to go home empty handed there.

Do these things and everyone will be singing to the good time music with a Bo Diddley beat.

Good luck to Kevin and the "new" USAC with this endeavor.

3/27/08, 1:54 AM	#15 Re: USAC's time promise
AlkyMadness Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 233	I've got a lot of thoughts about this subject. First, let me say that the fans in the Midwest are already spoiled. The vast majority of races I've been to always get out at a decent hour. If you want to find out how bad it can be, just come on down to Dixie. I lost track a long time ago of the number of times that I didn't get to leave a race at 2-3am AND THE TRACK STILL HAD A FEW SUPPORT CLASSES TO RUN!!! Many times I get home in time to see the sun come up. Consistently worse offenders would be Cherokee Speedway and North Georgia. I've quit getting hotel rooms because I don't get my moneys worth when all I have time to do is sleep three hours, take a shower and leave. That being said, I think there are several things that need to be done to fix any major, sanctioned tour race. The easiest thing is to put time limits on the support classes, AND THEN ENFORCE THEM. Also, the suggestion to limit support class participation to the top 20 in points is a good idea. I've seen it and it works. Example, this last weekend I attended the PASS South SLM race at Hickory. One of the support classes was the Rolling Thunder Mods (also a touring group). The mod feature was supposed to run 75 laps but they also agreed to a 45 minute time limit. After 45 minutes, only 35 laps were run (numerous accidents and one nasty fire) and they did what they said. Everyone was happy with that. I also have taken issue with how the "old" USAC used to stick to a format when it was obvious that every car there was going to make the show. An example of this would be last years race at Salem. There were fewer than 24 cars on hand and heavy weather was on the way. In that case, why was it necessary to run meaningless B-Mains? Line them up based on heat results and run. I think everyone there would have preferred getting a complete A Main instead of what they got. The only reason the defenders could say was, "it's traditional". Well, I say heck with tradition, I'm there to see a main event. We have a "new" USAC, let's change this practice now. For that matter, let's do away with useless time trials. MSCS has a great format and it doesn't seem to hurt car counts. Not to mention you are not burning out a perfectly good track prep with TT's. An example of this would be the Sprint/Midget doubleheader that was run at Concord Motorsports Park a couple years ago (on a Sunday night if I remember correctly). Again, all sprints were going to make the show and line up based on TT's. That rendered the heats meaningless because nobody tried to risk their equipment in the heats. Check the record books. Daron Clayton and Mario Marrietta got heat wins with people like Dave Steele in last place. Single file, run these things for the sake of running them and waste time. That was a show where fans left long before the sprint feature and many saying they wouldn't come back (although almost everyone agreed the midget feature was excellent, at least those who stayed to see it). Of course, that was also the race that bore witness to the worse travesty and time waster ever: Kenny Wallace MC'ing a midget wrestling match that left most in the stands speechless, booing, or just plain embarrassed. But it wasted a huge amount of time. I've heard that USAC will allow all entrants to run heats this year. More reason to can the needless TT's. Finally, when it comes to the order of the main event, I have only one problem with running the main event first. Fans (with the young fans who everyone says are so important to our future) can't get into most pit areas until ALL of the events are finished. Only makes sense. That would be a disaster. The track announcers always say "Don't forget to go to the pits and meet the drivers and most of them have shirts for sale". That would be great and I remember looking forward to that when I was a kid, but, nowadays, most of the teams have loaded up and are already pulling out before the whole show is over. Bummer. Sorry, but that's one area where the PA Posse has everyone beat. Go to their tracks and almost every team has someone behind the stands selling their shirts. No reason to go home empty handed there. Do these things and everyone will be singing to the good time music with a Bo Diddley beat. Good luck to Kevin and the "new" USAC with this endeavor.