Jason
Who wants to stay the same. We have been able to improve year in and year out because the manufactures have done it for us. Compare a newer automotive 4 valve engine to a Pinto motor, compare a late model motorcycle to an old oil cooled Suzuki. We are the next best thing to a Full Midget at one sixth the cost. Sidewinders are neat but we are the "Real Deal". I have said for years put a side winder driver in one of our cars and it would be hard to put them back in the little cars.
I am with Wayne hopefully our day will come, we have been very fortunate to date, Money has not really raised it's ugly head, with the Mini Sprints mostly because throwing money at a high performance 1000 cc motorcycle engine is useless, and with the case of the small automotive engine powered Midget because the rule makers have saw fit to make easily enforceable rules to hold them in check.
BEWARE:: While throwing money at a Motorcycle engine does not yield much increase in power the same can not be said for the Automotive type engines. Remember the Lawn Mower and the Formula I Motors. Horsepower is in the Head>>>> durability is in materials and design. We can re engineer an Echo Tec and in a short period of time turn it into a Full Bore $40,000.00 National Midget Motor. That should not be our desire. But Human Nature being what it is, is what will happen without a very good set of rules. A $4000.00 cylinder head could turn an Echo tec into a Monster but the rods and pistons would govern the amount of power that it could develop for an extended period of time.
Midgets lost control when everybody started using purpose built heads, blocks and internals seeking more power and durability over stock. The motor design of choice for a Midget is 50 years old. A lot has happened in those years. Rules have been made to encourage the continued use of purpose built race engines over the development of new engines as they have come on line.
We are on to something in our "----------" type Midgets whether Motorcycle or newer Automotive engines design. We are ready to break out and move up. Lets use our heads and do it right. Heck who knows in a few years we might be racing over sized electric powered RC Cars and looking for high performance cheater batteries. Ask Casey Shuman.
Honest Dad himself

