[cmiracingvids]

We should never be using the scales that the tracks have that we visit. Most of the time the scales are for late models or super stocks and are calibrated for those weights. Our cars are much too light for these big scales to get a proper reading. It's a no brainier to be using our own scales. If we have them already, bring them along and use them. And I think 2 pounds light shouldn't be a big deal. It should be if someone is like 20 pounds too light, then there's an issue. 2 pounds shouldn't matter. But bring out a finely tuned set of scales and then we can accurately weigh everyone and there should never be any discrepancies whatsoever. As far as the invert goes...I've never heard of 9 cars being inverted. 6 or 8 at the most, but 9 was just bizarre. But I don't care either way really...I just enjoy racing and want to have a good time. Some people take this waaaay too seriously. Let's remember to have FUN first and foremost.

[DAD]

CMI

To me 2 pounds is as bad as 200. We tiptoe across the scales at about 100 pounds over usually. The deal was probably a part scale accuracy and maybe a little light also. I have watched racers go back and forth to the scales before the race trying to just barley make the weight, this is a bit much for me. My advice to the racers is set the car up 10 pounds heavy dry. You wont have to waste your time bolting and un-bolting weight. Carrying around scales can be a problem making sure that the scale person is in fact going to the next race that weekend. Why not get 2 Home Depot 5 gal buckets and fill them with concrete mark them and use them as calibration weights for the track scales? Maybe get 6 buckets and let several crews pack them back and forth to the track. For what it is worth most of those old track scales are plenty accurate as far as repetition goes they could be off several pounds because of failure to "TARE" them. That mud adds up over a night of racing, but that is usually in your favor. The weight rule is about the most fair rule we have in mini sprint racing today, I would like to see it be a bit higher. A good driver can make up extra weight but a guy starting out needs as much help as we can give him. The way it is today we are saying if you weigh over 200 pounds you would best stay with stock cars.

As far as starting positions for the feature race. If you started the fastest racers 9 places back it would make for one hell of a race for the fans, maybe not for the fast guys, but racing would be better. We have started back in the middle of the pack on numerous occasions after wining a heat race (My driver sucks at drawing pills) ( he also sucks at qualifying) so what the heck. Yeh I think it sucks but it sure gives my driver a work out and does get me excited.

Power-I has gone to passing points for feature starting line up. I don't know how it works but they do have a rule book.

If I had my way If a guy won his feature this week he would be guaranteed a tail starting spot his next feature race. (Sorry Collin)

Our job is to satisfy the fans in the stands and not feed our own ego's. We want to put on as good of race as possible, and when a guy starts on the pole and pulls away from the pack that to me is not good racing , and is sure not very exciting. The chances of them fast guys starting on the tail and still winning the feature is still pretty good because when they start on the pole they still manage to lap several cars in the course of the race.

Maybe by figuring passing points for each race and using them to determine season championship points would help. Maybe figuring payout by passing points and the trophy for the race winner.

Heck I don't know what would be best. But it should be left to one person and not in the middle of the race year.

Honest Dad himself

[cmiracingvids]

I agree with the invert thing. Fast guys will get to the front regardless. Lynn and Collin both do it every week. And they're the bench mark for everyone else. Try and beat them!
I was just saying I've never heard of 9 drivers to the invert. Usually it's an even number. 6 or 8. That's all. I actually felt kinda bad cause I got 3rd in my heat and Lynn, who won my heat, had to start behind me. To me that doesn't seem right. But then again, he blew by me on the first lap so...my bad feelings were quickly wiped away with the 77 on the tail tank getting smaller and smaller. Lol.

And the scales thing. To reiterate the fact that if we already have them...bring them! They're not that hard to set up and anyone can read the digital number it reads out. Some tracks we go to (Columbus, Charlestown, Thunder Valley?) don't even have scales! So then what? I don't see it being a big deal, and it brings uniformity to a sometimes chaotic procedure. I know that other group used their own scales for the longest time...not sure how they do it now at Waynesfield.

Just my .02 worth

[DAD]

CMI

What the MMSA drivers needs to do is go together and sponsor the "Ambrose Sprint Car" and wish them off on another group>

Honest Dad himself

[Bradleyracing86]

We can bringem, they are just cumbersome and the ramps are b$tch to haul,

Dad the issue was the Vernon scales read in 10lb increments. A car that didn't even need to weigh, showed 10 under... Basically the call to vote us for procedure not rules.

[Bradleyracing86]

Can't wait to hit Mt P this week, a great track, and I think some OH folks are coming out!

[Jim Gardner]

Had a blast running my favorite track last week and look forward to running a new bullring on Saturday. Does anybody have any gear recommendations for both a GSXR1000 and an R1? Trying to bring both cars if I can get them done...

Now as a non-member/outlaw/invader of the series I'm not sure if my opinion is warranted or needed. I'm just happy to have people that put time into making the series run. And then have those same people field cars (which is time consuming enough), and then spend most of their time helping figure out why your engine is running on 3 cylinders and fixing it. This is a pretty awesome group.

Had to step away from the impromptu, end-of-the-night meeting to talk with some fans that ventured down to the pits, but I'm aware of the mini-controversies that occurred on Saturday. First the scale deal... that's pretty much one of the most black-and-white rules in racing. Finish up front = go to the scales. There are 5 years olds running karts that can follow that. There are always discrepancies in measuring equipment, so give a grace of 5% or so across the board. If the car is supposed to way 940# then 893# or above passes. Even a set of bathroom scales wouldn't be that far off.

As far as the invert, I think it's a little much as well. I would rather see the top 6 or 8 lined up by passing points for the feature. That way the guys that worked hard to get to the top 2 or 3 in the heat race from the back get rewarded. And the great pill drawers have to pass someone to get up front.

Just my two cents. I have fun running with y'all. A great group to run with. If I lived closer I'd run a bunch more.

[DAD]

Originally Posted by Bradleyracing86 We can bringem, they are just cumbersome and the ramps are b$tch to haul, Dad the issue was the Vernon scales read in 10lb increments. A car that didn't even need to weigh, showed 10 under... Basically the call to vote us for procedure not rules.

Andy

Like I said scales are a pain, but they do bring a sense of fair play to the table. I have never seen a scale that measures in 10 pound increments, even the truck scale at the scrap yard we sell mufflers to is good to the tenth of a pound, the old Fairbanks-Morse grain scales could also get down to the ounces. The last time we raced North Vernon they had a regular race car scaled rigged up to the old scale on the hill best I can remember. But what the heck anyhow.

The fixation with weight shared by all racer's intrigues me. If the weight is 940 pounds does anybody really think 950 is going to make a difference in their performance. The minimum weight should be the minimum weight. The "prudent" racer I would think would have a car that weighed at least 10 pounds over with an empty gas tank the minimum weight and that would cover the margin of error of for race car, driver, and scale accuracy in most all situations, and it would stop that frequent trip back and forth to the scale.

Honest Dad himself

[DAD]

Montpelier

Is a really nice Bull-Ring. It has medium banking, has been know to build up a real nice cushion to race off of and usually holds up quite well. This is probably because of the effort of a very dedicated track crew.

Harold has put forth an extraordinary effort to bring back regular midget racing to that part of Indiana, making rules simple enough and broad enough to entice most all Midget Sized race cars, ranging from Full Midgets, to Focus and Echo tec and yes even Mini Sprints with their chain drives being accepted as racing machines. the only problem I could find with the set up is it is about 100 miles too far away from us.

It is going to be hard to suggest gearing for Montpelier because I understand that Harold and crew has done extensive work to both the track and the facility. My guess is going to be between Browns Town and Thunder Valley. You can carry a lot of speed around that little track and race 3 abreast at times.

The last time we were there we lost the race and the MMSA Championship to Collin Ambrose. Doug racing up hard against the cushion and Collin carrying the mail down on the bottom.

Honest Dad himself

[KYRON]

2# 4# 10# if you are over. you are over...I have been disqualified over 3#... so has Sammy in WOO...either you have a weight rule or why bother. now do you need (3) chances to roll onto scales to confirm accuracy? say strike three rule? Just so you know, cat scales (truck stop) will jump 40 pounds while you still settin' on them. Saturday a driver was not listening to his radio, as everyone was told which 3 cars were to go to the scales. all this flap is about a 5th place driver that disqualified himself.