Originally Posted by LEADERS EDGE:
You had your group doing your own thing, how does USAC not wanting to be apart of what you are doing affect you. You raced in Mi. and Ohio. Why deal with these people who had nothing to offer your series?
I think that there is a great possibility that Mr. Vander Molen is not going to bother to answer your question.
Dan had likely felt the need for his post and it is more likely his final word on a now closed chapter , that of his role in Midget racing for the past 3 years.
I would also think that to ask the question , one has certainly never been a part of motorsports promotion or more importantly wore the hat of one in ownership of a small sanctioning group. The WOMS organization originally began as a winged midget series ( WOWMS ) by Michigan HoF driver Jim Hettinger and son Chris , an accomplished midget racer in his own right. The Hettinger's organized Midget racing in Michigan , grew their membership , booked tracks and events , attracted valuable sponsors , and realized great fan interest and spectator attendance as many venues would regularly be sell-outs !
Four years later , the Hettinger's would step down to pursue others interests and Dan Vander Molen would step up to assume the responsibilities in carrying this group forward. Dan would immediately set forth in areas identified where "growth" could be achieved. His first act was to "remove the wings" , reasoning that this would open his events to the many other varied midget groups and owners of the non-wing variety. Along with that , a "compatibility" of rules was achieved to that of the other groups , and in particular to those of the UMARA and USAC. Additional growth could surely come from those groups along with the on-going scheduling of new tracks and quality events. WOMS was now positioned to engage in co-events along with the accompanied sanction at great venues such as Grundy ( Morris , Il. ) and Berlin ( Marne , Mi. ) For the USAC Regional Series drivers , those events would be considered the most prestigious of the schedule and would see the only full grandstands of the year !
The co-sanctioned events would be hosted by UMARA ( w/USAC ) at Grundy and were hosted by the WOMS (w/ USAC ) at Berlin. Frankly , nearly everyone would agree that these were the best "conducted" events of the year , hands down ! The level of fan participation and excitement seen was never to be had at a stand-alone USAC regional event !
So the co-sanctioning was likely to be more profitable , attracted a greater fan base , grew sponsorship support , all the while assuring the ever important car count. Bringing these groups together in special events has been a "win-win" for everyone ! This has been valuable to WOMS and should be to USAC.
The on-going quest by WOMS to reduce and contain costs for it's members "is" and "was" a positive. Taking that initiative to yet another step was to eliminate a costly tire rule. By opening up the tire rule ... or kinda' like "not having a rule" ... "run whatever you wish" ... whether that be American Racer , Hoosier or something else , is apparently not to the liking of those who have closer ties to a tire company than those who are only left to buy the product. Different groups obviously create different interests , so ... these are the end results of opposing interests and not working in harmony to the betterment of the sport.
Dan Vander Molen created what is perhaps the most user-friendly group that could be imagined and put the interests of car owners and drivers above all else. After all , Dan was first a racer ... one of them ... right there each week in the starting field racing his fellow friends -
and members !
Dan Vander Molen is simply someone who had a vision of something greater ; invested his time , invested his best effort and money , but in the end discovered that those things alone would never be enough.
Because
"his" passion may not be
"yours".
To Dan ,
Thanks , so much !
