Originally Posted by Frank Reiner:
This subject comes close to home; in northern California the BCRA operated a Midget schedule successfully since 1939. The rules were essentially those of USAC. Eight years ago the pavement show ended; promoters were somewhat less than thrilled with 5 cars. The dirt operation, such as it is, continues only in conjunction with USAC Western States Midgets. For many participants, be they Owners or Owner/Drivers, the lack of willingness to entertain some method of equalizing performance over the range of engines now in use put 80% of the cars in the trailer and locked the door. A year ago an attempt to revive some interest brought only shrugs. It is indeed true "You don't know what you've got until it's gone."
I spent the summer of 2008 in Southern Wisconsin and fell in love with Angell Park and Badger midgets. That was around the time that Badger started talking seriously about something having to change. When the USAC guys were in town, the car counts were great. When it was only a Badger show the car counts really started to suffer. I only stayed in Wisconsin for one year, but have followed them since.
If I remember correctly, there was a year or two when there were two midget groups in Wisconsin. Badger decided to go to with the new "restricted" engine and the other group still wanted to run the national motor. (need someone to fact check me here)
This is also around the time that Angell Park went from a midget only track to hosting other events.
Sometimes change has to happen and there is no choice, and at some point National midgets may have to go to a different engine package. I just don't think that day is now.
P.S. pretty excited to drive down to Humboldt after work to see Xtreme in action tonight.