I agree with you. I have also seen predictions they feel all three USAC divisions will draw 100 cars for Copper on Dirt in Tucson, in todays economy I feel that would be a good number.

Patti

Everyone can bust Duke's chops all they want, but i was at East Bay back then.He was right did win his heat all 3 nites in the Siebert Olds car.Can not remember who else drove the other Siebert car.I have a picture of Duke at home beside this car that i took during the practice day the day before the races.Had some good times going to all the races and hitting the Bullfrog lounge and others.
Chuck

You won't find a bigger fan of "Old School", or "the way it was" (or today for that matter) than me, but to think it is going to revert back to those days is a bit of a stretch. The Dukester likes to continuously complain how bad it is now, and everything was so great when he ran, it makes me think he would rather see todays racing all go away because it does not meet his expectations. These "problems" you refer to in the modern racing scene have been brought to light for many many years, and comparing what was going on in 1979 to today will not fix anything. Continue reminiscing about the way it was, but this is the way it is, for better or for worse!

I'm just happy that I finally got a from superduke!!

I think the point was made that there are over 100 sprint cars competing across FL right now. They aren't all in one place, so the fields are smaller but there are more fans watching in more places and more guys being successful than if everyone was in one place. Winning a stout 32 car show w USAC, or All Star show during Speedweeks is pretty noteworthy now or 30 years ago.
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Lived down there in that era. The place was packed every night. Some years the Winternationals started on Weds and ran through Sat. Packed every night. Sure was a good winter methanol fix for this Ohio boy living in a state that didn't have weekly firebreathers. It would hold me over til I got back in the summers.

You are correct, these 'problems' have been brought up for many years and NOTHING is ever done about it! So, if it's take it or leave it? I'm leaving it..I will not be going to as many shows as in the past, before I made an effort to go, now I might go if it's convenient for me. It's just not the same anymore.

If there is no effort to make it so that the avg. joes can run, then the avg. joes shouldn't support it. Wrong or right it's how I feel, I love racing and always will but it's time to find a different form for me to follow.

This may be lengthy so please bear with me. The reason there were some many cars back then didn't have to do with division , as much as with drivers. WoO ran promoter optional races. He decided if his races would be wingless or not. As time went by it became wings only as did most of the drivers.Taking a wing off a sprint car tends to chase some guys off. They prefer to be "specialists" in the racing they do, instead of a racer in everything.

As for cost, that is a BS excuse, and I'm tired of hearing it. When Keith Ford can pay $500 to win at Paragon and 60 cars show up, it proves that racers will race. It isn't the money, it's the competition.

There are numerous things you can do to lower costs, just everyone is afraid to make the first move. Narrower and harder tires, 360 instead of 410, You run the same car on dirt as pavement. In the end it all adds up. Also mix up wing and non wing.

No it isn't 1979, but it could be as good if someone played his cards right.

its the high cost of racing thats killed it!!!! No leadership!!!! All you do is go to a 350ci steel block small injectors 12-1 compression 12" wide wheels on dirt 14" wide for pavement and run the same car pavement and dirt!!!!!

Dennis, if this is all it takes to bring in 100 cars and 20,000 people to a sprint race, then put your money where your mouth is - start your own sprint car group.

I think you may have mentioned the Duke Racing League specifications once or twice or fifty times before.

I recall back in '79 when people were saying the same thing - about how great racing was in 1959. And in 1959 about 1939.

Enjoy it for what it is now or move on if it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

I personally as a fan have no money for racing anymore. I'll be lucky to afford maybe to see 8 - 10 races this year. I used to go 70+ times a year. But I'll cherish and enjoy the hell out of every minute of it while I'm there at my 8 - 10 races.

Since you think this sucks so badly, Dennis, I guess I'll not see you at those 8 - 10 races. What a shame.