I'll probably catch a lot of crap for saying this publicly, but I hate to see a track use the race cars to finish their track prep. I travel all over the Midwest doing what I do and it seems more than half of the tracks are not ready to race on and expect the race cars to roll it in for them.

I know most of the drivers and crews feel the same way. They have a lot of time and money invested in those cars to cake them up with mud and run the hot aluminum motors through standing water just before race time. It's not good on the car, the engine, the driveline or the drivers safety equipment. I don't remember too many times that Tommy Helfrich or Mike Miles didn't have the track ready to race on at the advertised time. And I mean rolled in and ready to race on. Other track promoters could learn a lot from those two guys.

Joe

P.S. One last thought. Robert Ballou sure is fun to watch race. Robert gives 120% everytime he straps in. I hope you can take home one of the big ones this weekend Robert...

I would be more than happy to roll in the track if we can have a dust free good racing surface in the feature. It was really incredible to race at Manzy, in the middle of the desert southwest, and have a track that was still multi grove and racy in the feature. Maybe if more tracks would use a sprint car instead of a sheepsfoot we could see how good non wing racing could be!

Rob Hoffman
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People are correct on posting start time on the race nights and not sticking to them I worked to late saturday to make the 5 o clock advertised time but the actual time they started was 6:30 I could have made that one oh well I am sure that is not the only ticket they lost a sale on.Has for the chassis comments on here I have heard several comments on the maxims bending badly even in light wreck especially in front of the radiator and the car sweet crashed at osky was badly bent who ever made it.Has for the brand new one that rilat crashed that was bent badly to but did anyone else notice they only had three connecting points on the front wheel rim and they where barely visible to see.Robert glad to see you posting on here I like your no fear of what needs to be said and standing up for your rights,hope to see you saturday at tri-state running up by the wall like the labor day show.

---------- Post added at 09:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:31 PM ----------

Rob your are absolutely spot on with that statement other than tri-state having there track ready every time for racing and tacky.I remember when the scra ran back here they made sure the track was a wet swampy mess before they even went out to pack promising us fans do not worry it will be great racing and it was great to watch the track was perfect and come feature time your driver better had set down a big wheel barrow before he climbed in the car the racing was perfect.Still remember the gas man running the b-main at godfrey one year he never even lifted the whole race the guy in back wanted to know who that was and I informed him of his nickname and his reply was no chit that !uckers crazy I commented back the west coasters love a tracky track and will put in the effort to put on such a show.

You probably have no idea about what a tow truck makes do you!! They are probably losing money working at the track, (thats their fault). Probably just trying to get a little exposure and advertising due to the recession we're in. So, unless you know the true costs of operating a tow service, I suggest you keep your opinions to your self

EVERYONE GET ON THE GROUND NOW....this post is being hijacked. Don't any of you raise your heads until I say so.


If people don't like the Triple XXX cars because they are built in China...... I can understand that. To say those cars are built worse than other brands built in America..... that I won't buy.

I had a Maxim,Eagle,DRC and XXX all in the shop at the same time and the DRC and XXX were; in my opinion; far and away the better of the four. Both the Maxim and Eagle had missed welds and the fits on the tubing weren't all that great. The Eagle had to have tabs welded on that were forgotten.

The DRC and XXX had great fits and the welds were excellent on both. We did some work on the XXX and the tubing was nice to work with. It came with a chart of the material used and the build date of the chassis.

I have seen several XXX cars that were crashed and they looked great(In realitive terms). Not discounting the one you saw may of had broken welds, I have seen more tubing twisted and smashed,but not a big break. Doesn't mean it didn't happen.

How it was explained to me.......the tubing used to build those cars is purchased in America and Austrailia and sent to China for the build.

This year....I have seen more than one or two Maxims that suffered major damage and had several broken welds. Don't know if they changed material or welding rod, but something seems different. Maybe it's just bad luck, but it doesn't seem that way. They have won a ton of races so they have something figured out.

Like I said....I get it if people don't like that they are built out of the country, but I cannot say that I have seen anything from them yet that would make me not trust it's integrity. That could change, but as of now I don't see it.

Neither Clayton or Ballou have had anything negative to say about them and something tells me if they didn't like them, we would know about it.

Face it....someone playing within the rules set forth has taken advantage of them and is offering a product that seems to meet a certain group of customers needs.

The only constant is change and those who don't sometimes get their doors blown off by those who do. Is it the best thing for this country.....I don't know, but it's the best thing for those who desire the product.

You can raise your heads now. My apologies to the people who started this thread.

We've gotten off subject here so this is the last post I'll make on this. i saw rilat's team taking apart their car right before i walked over to the car that was in pieces, which i am telling you was Sweets car! they were one of the first teams to leave and are one of the only teams that wrecked that would have been capable of dismantling the car that fast right after the races with all the guys and equipment they got. i am not mistaken on this one, maybe it was just an anomaly but it was very scary to see. It's also a lot worse then i thought if the car is actually being built in China, are you kidding me? WOW, so this is what it has come to, gotta love free-market capitalism! I wish someone from the team itself or Brad Sweet would get on here and clear things up. Oh well, believe what you want, i guess only time will tell if a car built by some Asian in a sweat shop in China who I guarantee you has no clue as to what he (or she for that matter) is building will stand up to the rigors of sprint car racing. Just remember one thing, ask yourself this, why is it a $1000 cheaper than anything else?

PS, no i don't work for any manufacturer or am impartial to any, we run a 2001 Schuler chassis in our SC car, i also have been aroud racing for 30 years and know a future problem when i see one...

Joe Stroehle

Why didnt they pit inside the track ? Ithink it would have changed the out come of the race . Splash of fuel , tire changes, ect.

Two words as to why it's $1,000 cheaper.......Slave Labor. Ya know....the same kind that we used to build the railroads.

Besides; I can think of one Chinese/Canadian/American who built many beautiful Sprint, Midget and Silver Crown cars.(Although not always origional ideas. Did you know that Cigarette packs make great scales to judge size for use in photography?)

You live in a dream world if you think that everyone who welds on a mass produced sprint chassis cares, knows about the cars or gives a poop in how it is used. To many: it's just a job.

Unfortunately, I can think of a smaller place or two where there isn't exactly any pride taken in their work either. You think a broken weld is bad; I think missing an entire section of the car is scary.

I understand if people don't like where the cars are built, but I cannot honestly say I have seen anything of lesser quality from them.(XXX) Always subject to change.

Who knows? Maybe this will make some of the other builders look at ways to build their cars cheaper. Of course higher efficiency also equals job loss.

I never thought I would ever see the day of outsourced Sprint Car and Midget parts, but then I never thought the sport would ever be that big.

The American people have spoken loudly over the past 50 years. They will save a dime today if it means it will cost them a dollar in a month. It's just how it is and most of those who resist it will suffer because they do. Doesn't mean I agree with it, but it is true.

Because every team and their brother moaned about how much they hated it. Even said they wouldn't come if they had to unload. I guess Terre Haute finally succumbed to all the pressure of the whining.

Joe-
You can take this as fact. KKR has been running Maxims all year. The car they crashed at Oskaloosa was left there, after they cut it apart to disassemble it quicker. The car actually held up fairly well for such a violent crash, but everyone is correct when they say that some Maxims have not held up so well at times this season. Perhaps you confused the Maxim sticker, which is centered around a large 'X' in the middle...? Also, KKR does not run any Triple X components. Have a good day...