As a fan who has attended a ton of IRL, NASCAR, and Silver Crown races the past twenty years....

chances of me going to a Gold Crown race 3-6 hours from my city

Stand Alone Event: -20%

Running w/ IRL or NASCAR - 90%

btw - I don't see the dirt miles going away when DuQuoin has to average 8-9000 fans every year. However, I still wish there could be more work done in terms of local promotion through sponsorships to increase the purse.

mac - I've seen photos of both your Watson & Kurtis Roadsters. They're magnificient machines? If I were Bill Gates, I'd try to buy one, (or even sponsor a series) ...but (sadly), I'm not.

What changes/updates would you make to race them in a series today?
What engines, tires, etc? What would you do to bring them up to modern safety standards & give them the stability to run safely, at today's speeds, on the super speedways?

I think the new GC car is an attempt to capture the roadster "look" in a relatively affordable, modern racecar. How, specifically, would you make it better.

Not trying to fuel an argument - I appreciate your experience & expertise.
Thanks for taking the time - I find this discussion very informative.

randy, I'm on my way out the door, right now, but I will address this tomorrow when I return.

Merry Christmas to All !
:dologob:

AShmore is an IOW member. I'm sure he will comment after X-Mas.
They have made changes and I'm sure more could come.

Photo Shop guys ? Make your verison.

I think ??

1. Round the front of the side pod keeping the MARCH ground effect. Taper it over the floor board from behind the front tire up to the flat lip in front of rear wheels.

2. Round the side panels take the sharp edge out of it.

3. The air intake groove should be smooth like a roadster hood. No openings. The air inlet would be over the front axle and could be a restrictor to control air intake and horsepower.

4. The rear a frames should be covered flat filling in the hole in the cage behind the driver. Another sponsor spot.

The picture kinda looks like the old full bodied World Championship Mercedes 192?

Engines ?? X Nascar and home build v-8. Or Crate motor type. ?

Randyrad,

I don't know how many Champ car shows you make, but even with modern technology you can make them beautiful. The photos enclosed are of the best looking champ car of the last 20 years. Unfortunately it met its demise at DuQuoin.

D.O. , great points. You don't have to get rid of the scoop, just change it. In 64 Foyt had one on his car. Parnelli also had one on his car. White had one on the Demler car. Run one, don't make it look so obvious.

Also take off the nose wing and side pods on the short tracks. Run nerf bars.Safety isn't as big an issue when your doing 130, and not 215. You run the short tracks like that , it will be roadsters. They run like that on pavement now , don't they.

Whoever said the thing needed to look like a roadster? It ain't the 60's fellas...

Why not make it look somewhat like a sprintcar/midget/SC car? Current fans would attend races if it was something they were used to, and new GC fans might even become courious in sprintcar and midget racing. The DRC car didn't look like too much of a turd because it kinda resembled what people were used to...

And even if they got to the speedway it certianly wouldnt guarantee a lick of credability, just look at the Indy Pro(or lights, or whatever the hell they're called) Series. They really pack the house dont they?

:shout My turn to sound off. As a former owner of a USAC nationat midget car whats up. More money more travel and no bigger purses for the owners and driver. Who was the last USAC driver that went to the IRL and who was the last driver that went to NASCAR. Lets get real without sponsers or rich dads there would be less cars to race. Look at the drivers name and the owners name how many are the same and how many are just buy a ride, drivers and owners know this already. There are only about 7 or 8 rides available to real racecar drivers, some of these young drivers will step up and become real racers, some wont. If you havent been lisiting we are in a recession, and people tend to stay closer to home if they attend a racing event at all. Yes all divisions need to grow or they will fall by the way side, Silver crown is alive and well please dont fix what is not broken. Some people can afford dirt and asphalt some cant thoes who cant will never win a USAC title. The Golden rule thoes with the gold rules. Car looks nice but the concept of larger tracks seen a little bit of a reach.

Anybody got a picture of Mark Alderson car nose from years ago?

:dologob:

OVALMEISTER should be able to find one he has pictures of everything to do with racing.And since he has nothing to do all day he has plenty of time to look.