This set of Frequently Asked Questions is intended to answer the kinds of concerns that everyone initially considers. It is still general and certainly not all-inclusive, but it is a start.
Why does Quarter Midget Racing want USAC?
USAC is a nationally recognized race sanctioning body for open wheel racing, including divisions for Silver Crown cars, Sprint cars, Midgets and Ford Focus midgets. Their new management team has repositioned their philosophy as a marketing organization for open wheel racing with the strong USAC brand recognition. As part of that concept, they have a desire for development of their future drivers and racing fans through the youth based quarter midget racing initiative, with logical steps in the growth process through their other feeder system, the Ford Focus series.
How much will it cost us?
A family membership to USAC will cost $75. This is the same amount that you currently pay to another organization. It will cover parents, drivers and one additional handler. This will be convenient for an older sibling, another family member or a sponsor that likes to help at the races. In the sign-up process, which can be handled on-line, you will choose your local club affiliation and those fees will be added to the total cost and be paid all at once. Drivers will receive a USAC driver’s card, the same as any other USAC driver.
The purchasing volume of USAC will provide significant savings to the local clubs on their racing insurance policies. As the division develops, discounts on related products and services will be offered.
What will USAC offer us that we don’t already have?
This is the big question. The major difference will be in the USAC brand recognition and the ability to market and cross promote the sport with its other divisions and national sponsors. Promotion will bring growth.
USAC will offer stability in its management and decision making. It has a paid, full time professional staff to conduct business, make decisions and to be available for the membership. They will provide paid, unbiased officials at the nationally sanctioned events.
Additionally, the resources that USAC will bring include a major investment in web technology. The Quarter Midget division will be a part of the USACRacing.com website, complete with updated news, events, division standings, schedules, forums, scrolling pictures, local club pages, etc. Each driver that signs up will be given space to develop their own web page with links to their favorite USAC drivers. USAC will provide real time webcasts of major events. As mentioned, it will provide the ability to join and renew memberships as well as the ability for local clubs to renew their charters on-line. It creates an immediate database and saves time and confusion for the local club secretaries and treasurers.
The possibilities are endless. USAC is an organization oriented to creating new marketing concepts. Making the sport fun and convenient to its users is part of that.
Will there be a spec tire?
In short, yes. Part of an initiative to control costs and to provide equal competition is to find a common tire platform. Tire costs are a major week-to-week expense that can be brought back to within a reasonable budget item for the average racing family. USAC has a RFP out to the five major tire manufacturers that service the Quarter Midget market, with the emphasis on cost, durability and commitment to a long-term contract. They are also looking to them as a marketing partner for the sport. Proposals are due back shortly for evaluation. The tire chosen should be announced by the end of the year, with an effective date of March 1st, 2009.
What will be the engine platforms and will the classes change?
Initially, no. The final rules and specifications are still being developed, but the Honda, Deco and World Formula classes as we know them will exist for the coming year. USAC has relationships with both Honda and Briggs and is doing extensive research into the future of the current racing engines. Things will change because there will be a need for change. The issues are well known and USAC intends to be proactive in their selection of engine platforms and the need to combine or eliminate classes within the current structure.
What is the organizational structure of USAC for Quarter Midgets?
USAC is a professional full time organization in the business of racing. Their officers are at the top, with final authority over all decisions. That’s what they’re paid to do. They have set up a “sub-structure” of four regions, basically divided geographically from north to south in quarter sections across the country. The regional directors are appointed by USAC. USAC will determine a set racing format and rules as well as provide paid officials for the regional and national events. Below this level, individual clubs can make alliances and keep traditional racing affiliations with each other at a level termed “district”. A club may participate in several districts or racing series with different clubs. The difference at these levels is that USAC will allow a great deal of flexibility in the racing rules, formats and governance. USAC will need to know and have final approval of the changes, but only from the watchful eye of safety and compliance with some of the set specifications and standards.
Will the rules change?
Generally, no, racing is racing. However, there are some concepts from the “traditional” QM rules in the racing rules that will govern the regional and national events. There will be a Chief Steward position responsible for all the racing activities. This Chief Steward, along with help from the Race Director, Flagger and possibly some appointed judges, will make all of the racing calls on the track. The only real racing call to be made will be rough driving, an immediate DQ. All others will be DOT’s with everyone involved to the tail. Two DOT’s is a black flag and a DNF. It’s just like the big boys racing in the other divisions.
One of the ideas of the USAC sanctioning is that there should be flexibility in the rules and procedures at the levels below the national events. Local clubs and districts will be able to adopt different rules and post their rules for visitors. For example, traditional judges may be used, if desired. Different racing calls or DOT limits might be desired in the novice and junior classes. It will take some effort at the lower levels to debate and determine what is best, but it will be racing the way that you want.
The technical specifications have been cleaned up and organized. The current engines and chassis as we know them will be legal with USAC. Seat belts will have a four year expiration limit.
Who makes the rules and how can they be changed?
USAC will develop a Quarter Midget competition committee that will constantly monitor the needs of the tracks and racers. There will be an off-season meeting of this committee to debate and recommend changes to the current rules and standards. More importantly, they will be able to react to concerns immediately, should the need arise. The membership of the committee is not yet determined, but will be a representative cross-section of the Quarter Midget regions, individual clubs and the families that participate in the sport. USAC officials will always make the final decisions.
Will there be a “Grands” or other national races?
The current concept, subject to change and certainly subject to how events unfold in this initiative, is for USAC to conduct major Regional events, on the scale of what we now know as a Grand National race. These regional events would qualify drivers for one ultimate championship event. The national champions would be “USAC Champions”, just as they are honored in the other USAC divisions. The Regional events would rotate among the clubs within the region and the National Championships would be at a one-race-a-year facility in a central location. The timing and schedules of the events have not been determined and are obviously subject to how the Quarter Midge division evolves.
How will it affect the current regional structure and races?
It won’t, as the traditional alliances can still be maintained within the district concept. Districts can span across the regional boundaries. They will have the flexibility to establish their own racing formats and racing rules.
How will it change the typical racing club and their typical race days?
It will change as much or as little as the club elects to change. Quarter Midget racing at the local level can still be a very fun, personal family experience without the burden of rules and procedures that take time and effort intended for larger events.
