STIDA.com (Offline)
#22
6/22/09 9:30 PM
Lingner Group is a class act. By far the best for autoracing out there. If TV and USAC are a thing of the future...Lingner Group needs to be a part of that.
spankytoo (Offline)
#24
6/22/09 9:45 PM
I was on the west coast when the "Thunder" series was going on. ESPN-2 wanted $70,000 to show the series. The last year it was on, it almost wasn't. Coors Light finally stepped up and paid for the sponsorship of the races. ESPN did sell commercial time to other companies but no money was paid to USAC drivers or a points fund for the series.
If you look in your mirror and see a line of cars behind you, be kind and pull over.

micro94 (Offline)
#25
6/22/09 9:55 PM
USAC isnt what it was and when never be what it was.I remember going to my Dad's early on the weekend's so we could watch Thursday Night Thunder with Gary Lee.But since we are looking for suggestion's and I've ran a business myself so I understand the penny watching thing why don't you try this.Everyone would love to see the race's on tv again.We can't all make it to the race's these day's because if we miss one day of work we are screwed money wise.For those of you that aren't,kudos to you.You have a live USAC broadcast at some track's.Why not look to a local station like 49 or whatever station that can help broadcast these races?They probably wouldnt charge a butt load and I promise they will get more viewers out of it.Something for you,something for them.It still seems outside this website when you mention sprint cars they say either what are those or are those them cars with wings that they show on speed channel?You half to open up peoples minds to open wheel racing still.If they see it around Indiana here on TV they are going to enjoy it.I live in Anderson and they had that damn street stock special on HBO!Show people some racing around Indiana and you will grab peoples attention.The kids growing up these days have no clue like they used to back then.They are into piercings and computers and what not."Show it to them and they will come".Its not an over night thing.You half to spend to receive.My 2 cents have been said and I will wait to hear what happens.Good Luck regardless.
P.S. Im looking for a job if you need some more info on outside perspective.
slide22 (Offline)
#28
6/22/09 10:17 PM
The issue may be promoting and entertainment, make the race more of an "event" than a race. Look at Motocross and how it has exploded the past few years. Personally I think it is boring as hell but they're attracting great sponsors, tv time, and getting tons of young people involved.
staggerman (Offline)
#29
6/22/09 10:23 PM
I would like to see the pavement and dirt sprints break off into two seperate series and point funds. If USAC had a dirt only series I think they could have 20-30 teams chasing the title and running all the shows. Now you got dirt racers that will hit and miss events as they can not afford or are not interested in a pavement operation.
USAC also needs to look at how they give more back to the loyal followers of the series with tow money. Heck the Woo, All Stars, and ASCS National Tour all pay tow money to their loyal followers. I struggle with all the tracks in IN, OH, MI, KY, and IL and there doesn't seem to be many shows in these areas (outside of IN but I still think there could be more shows there). When you do get races in these areas you need to have 2-3 races per weekend to make it viable for the teams.
As for the pavement. Need to control tire costs, some how eliminate testing, and get more dates. If you can not have at least 15 shows, why bother unless you seperate the dirt and pavement point titles. Overall pavement racing is struggling in the midwest, look at the current car counts for AVSS and HOSS.
Sounds like you are taking the right approach by having some town hall meetings with the teams, drivers and sponsors. That is a step in the right direction.
TommyTipover (Offline)
#30
6/22/09 10:40 PM
You asked about wings...please don't go there on dirt. What makes USAC special on dirt is the fact they don't race with wings. However, I think it's worth a shot to try wings on the pavement....