Good ideas. I'm hoping that this discussion can focus on positive things that can be accomplished, not what we CAN'T DO. Let's think about what we CAN DO. For example, can owner/driver paid passes be eliminated. Well... There are several promoters that read this board. Would several of you promoters like to tell us if that would work? Could you tell us why the entertainers are being charged? And in many cases, monetarily how the racers are paid less than the water truck guy. Makes no sense to me at all.

Nobody likes change. It most cases it's very uncomfortable, especially if you have no control over the circumstances. But what is going to happen to the Rocky Mountain club that has 6 cars showing for a race? If the club folds, that's the end of racing in Colorado and owners are stuck with equipment they can't race, or at least locally. So do you change or quit? The same fate faces other groups too.

My suggestion number 8... the Ecotech engine for $10,000. Let's assume that there is a service station in the midwest for rebuilds for that engine. One club in this area is down to car counts in the teens and declining. Would it be a plus if they just switched to the $10,000 engine? Would that help entice some to get involved? that may be the cheaper and better route in the long run.

Contrary to popular belief; athletes and performers do pay fees. They are called entertainment taxes and many states have one in some form or another.

As far as the other stuff on the list, some I agree with and some I do not.

I am withholding any judgement on the ECO-Tech series. I hope the series will be a good alternative. The ASCS runs a good sprint series, but it is based on an entirely different motor situation than what they are doing with the Eco-Tech. I like what Emmet does and how he operates so I have some hope.

Pit passes and entry fees are only a small part of the pie that we are talkng about.... but... I don't think the entertainers and athletes you are referring to left/or leave the auditorium or arena with $30 in their pocket ( like the USAC Gold Crown Nationals/Gundecker promotion) after an evening of entertaining packed grandstands.

I have news for you guys. These promotors aren't just raking it in hand over fist. I want anyone who thinks they do, to sit down and study the entire situation taking into account a full years worth of events. I doubt that there are very many people who would do what they do for the money they make.

I can think of three midget orgs that are on the ropes or life support right this very minute and all three of them have chosen to follow the big box rule book. What do all of you suggest to get these clubs back to health again? Keep on keeping on like they have been????

---------- Post added at 03:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:51 PM ----------

I have never read on this board one post from a promoter who is willing to spill the beans on their operation.

So who makes money in short track racing? Some I can answer. Some I can not.

The promotor? No.

The car owner? No.

The driver? Not much.

The fan? No.

The officials? No.

Tire companies?

Engine makers?

Other companies that make parts and pieces?

Any other ideas?

Somebody must be making money, because short track racing is almost 80 years old.

I gave up posting about midgets since I stopped racing them three years ago. That being said I had to chime in on this one. One of the reasons (if not the biggest reason) that I switched to a non wing sprint was money. I could no longer afford to race the midgets that I love. It is hard to believe but in my opinion the cost vs. reward is much better in sprint cars than in midgets. Why???? So many places to race, yes that is part of it. I think one of the biggest reasons is Tires. Since almost everyone runs the DT3 you do not have to put new ones on every night. I know a lot of people that get 4-6 nights on a tire. Compared to the soft tires that you run on the midget that are lucky to last a night.
I also agree with no cockpit adjustable shocks. I have them but would be more than happy to pull them out. By allowing drivers to change the handling on the car as the race goes on it puts more importance on the motor and horsepower keeping them hooking hard the entire event. Plus the sheer cost is ridiculous. I don't know if a spec motor is the answer but a hard tire on a narrower wheel would certainly bring back some of the smaller motors to the front again.
It seems that a lot of things are suffering during this economic time, but I believe Don is on the right track. Just because it has always been that way does not mean it is the right or best way.

alot of the #'s listed sound like reasons that the ford focus series got started and that series only has 7 cars on most race nights. after watching last nights midget race at north vernon, I kept thinking that it would be great if usac sanctioned TQ midgets. However TQs also were a topic in some of your ideas of cost cutting and the fan turnout for them is terrible. In my opinion, to bring in fans you need to keep the safety, speeds , and car counts up , and try to get the costs lower with what your working with now. Why is it that sprint cars fill the stands and midget crowds are sparse. The speed. And why from a car owner opinion can you buy a competitive sprintcar for the same price as a midget. Midgets are 1/2 the size. Need a chassis builder who charges reasonable prices. Just ideas.

Ouch! We don't need faster midgets!!! Slow them down if anything. Way too fast for the size of the car.

In reply to the last post, I do not agree that speed is a factor in why spectators like sprints over the midgets. My belief is that name recognition is what puts the fans in the seats. Before my time, it was common to see drivers running a midget also in an Indy car or a sprint car..and tracks promoted the drivers. Again, name recognition is why Nascar and the dirt late models are so popular.

That being said, the midgets are now just a stepping stone, and not a destination. I will agree that the 9 cars helped to raise the cost of midget racing, but they also springboarded a few drivers onto Nascar.

Crate engines, not something I agree with...but, maybe the Ecotec with a spec head, injection, etc. When you take a teams ability to maintain their own equipment away, that drives the cost right back up. A nearly 30k Eslinger makes no sense for midget racing.

Hats off to Don Moore for standing up for what he believes in. Alot of us will watch our stocks daily to make sure they are performing, and Don just wants to make sure his large investment isn't dwindling away.

When I saw that Sun Prairie only had ten cars, that was a dissapointing moment for me. Might be a good time for them to look at other engine options. I do wish all of the car owners the best of luck in these hard times.