[767]

Originally Posted by Bill May 767, could you have mistaken the 600cc class with the low car counts? The MMSA made two appearances at tracks with sprints at the top of the card last season, 26 cars at Twin Cities with the non wing sprints and we took 24 cars to Waynesfield with the 360 winged sprints on the card. The mini sprint drivers like being on the same ticket with the full size sprints, I suspect you will see very good support car counts again this season.

Yes i think I have. Mountpeiler had like 10 or 12, gas city had about 15 twice. I wa sthere the night that there were 26 at twin cities.

[TQ29m]

I keep getting a "dial tone", did the original post, hang up? Bob

Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda...

The Focus Program, for all of its faults, had one thing going for it that COULDA made it great. It started out as a stable platform for Midget racing coast to coast - everybody on the same rules - everybody doing the same deal. This made the program different from every other Midget program right off the bat. And it SHOULDA been the key to getting Midget racing back up and rolling in parts of the country where it has not done well for years. If "you-know-who" WOULDA recognized this program for the golden opportunity it was and truly made it a priority, "you-know-who" would be in much better shape right now than they are, and the focus program would just now be hitting its stride... But alas, they hired the single most incompetent and downright unfriendly person most of us have ever met to be the warm and fuzzy lead man on the program, and the rest is just another sad chapter in the sad history of "you-know-who".

So, what about '09 and beyond? We do still have Focus racing in some parts of the country, and in some places it is not too shabby. Keep in mind that the program is no longer what it once was, it is now fragmented and regionalized just like every other Midget program. Once you get used to that idea, there are some individual areas that seem to be doing OK. Here is my list;

#1 USAC west coast. This group remains the strongest of the bunch, but just barely. Thanks in large part to Jim Naylor at Ventura, you can still race a Focus Midget on a regular basis, on dirt out here. Therefore, we have lots of guys out having a good time racing a Midget without spending a fortune. I hear we will be going to Perris 3 times and Watsonville also so this will keep things interesting without making the travel stupid.

But don't worry, we also have a division for stupid people. It's called the USAC Western States Focus Midget PAVEMENT division. Here's a deal where you get to tow all over the Western USA, driving cars that cost a fortune and are no good for any other purpose besides racing a focus on pavement, and best of all, when you win you get, like four hundred bucks! That will ALMOST pay for RR tires on a typical weekend - what an awesome deal!!! And, oh by the way, if you are lucky you might get selected to participate in our "driver development program". Thats a deal where all recieve expert coaching and you drive professionally prepared Focus Midget pavement cars at selected events, in exchange for over $50,000.00 of your daddy's money. Works out to about $8,000.00 per race and when you are done, you get to walk a way with a nice certificate printed on real fancy paper! FYI, a guy by the name of Todd Hunsaker won the first TWO West Coast Focus Midget Championships with a Stealth combo car that he BOUGHT for $7,000.00 So, you can see all the wonderful progress we have made here...

The second best region we have is the "NEMA Lights" program based in New England. Bobby Seymour salvaged the wreckage of the USAC Northeast division, and has really turned the program around up there- the car count actually GREW this year. Of course, those goofy New Englanders had to go an put wings on 'em but hey, to each his own I guess.

Third best right now is the Washington State focus Midgets. Fred Brownfield (RIP) never did see the sense in hooking up with USAC so that bunch has always done thier own thing. They have an awesome facility to run at up there at Gray's Harbor, and now I'm hearing that they will start to run a couple times up at Skagit as well. This is another group with a growing car count.

Fourth on the list is a brand new club, the Capital Cities Midgets based out of Sacramento. Rick Young started this club from nothing last year, and has quickly brought it along to the point where they have about 14 cars and growing, and they have a great schedule for next season. Combo Cars only, dirt and pavement, and not too much travel. Hello? 16th Street? You there???

Fifth on back is just about a tie between the Indiana region (weekday races with 3 people in the stands), Carolina region (these guys should actually get some kind of special award for just taking matters into thier own hands and keeping that deal alive - all they ever get from USAC is an invoice...), and Utah (they have thier own challenges including a home track that does not seem to care whether they run or not).

Bottom line is that the program has splinterd. Larry-O is correct (can't BELIEVE I'm saying that...) when he says that the program is a good deal, because he is talking about the DIRT program in CALIFORNIA, and that one IS a good deal. Others, who have commented about the situation in the midwest, are no doubt equally accurate in thier assessments of the program in THEIR region.

In southern California on dirt, Washington, New England, and Sacramento (Capital Cities Midgets), I say the program is still a "Buy". In Utah, Carolina, and maybe California pavement, I'd say it's a "hold", provided you are having a good time. Everywhere else...

[pgray]

Originally Posted by prafan Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda... The Focus Program, for all of its faults, had one thing going for it that COULDA made it great. It started out as a stable platform for Midget racing coast to coast - everybody on the same rules - everybody doing the same deal. This made the program different from every other Midget program right off the bat. And it SHOULDA been the key to getting Midget racing back up and rolling in parts of the country where it has not done well for years. If "you-know-who" WOULDA recognized this program for the golden opportunity it was and truly made it a priority, "you-know-who" would be in much better shape right now than they are, and the focus program would just now be hitting its stride... But alas, they hired the single most incompetent and downright unfriendly person most of us have ever met to be the warm and fuzzy lead man on the program, and the rest is just another sad chapter in the sad history of "you-know-who". So, what about '09 and beyond? We do still have Focus racing in some parts of the country, and in some places it is not too shabby. Keep in mind that the program is no longer what it once was, it is now fragmented and regionalized just like every other Midget program. Once you get used to that idea, there are some individual areas that seem to be doing OK. Here is my list; #1 USAC west coast. This group remains the strongest of the bunch, but just barely. Thanks in large part to Jim Naylor at Ventura, you can still race a Focus Midget on a regular basis, on dirt out here. Therefore, we have lots of guys out having a good time racing a Midget without spending a fortune. I hear we will be going to Perris 3 times and Watsonville also so this will keep things interesting without making the travel stupid. But don't worry, we also have a division for stupid people. It's called the USAC Western States Focus Midget PAVEMENT division. Here's a deal where you get to tow all over the Western USA, driving cars that cost a fortune and are no good for any other purpose besides racing a focus on pavement, and best of all, when you win you get, like four hundred bucks! That will ALMOST pay for RR tires on a typical weekend - what an awesome deal!!! And, oh by the way, if you are lucky you might get selected to participate in our "driver development program". Thats a deal where all recieve expert coaching and you drive professionally prepared Focus Midget pavement cars at selected events, in exchange for over $50,000.00 of your daddy's money. Works out to about $8,000.00 per race and when you are done, you get to walk a way with a nice certificate printed on real fancy paper! FYI, a guy by the name of Todd Hunsaker won the first TWO West Coast Focus Midget Championships with a Stealth combo car that he BOUGHT for $7,000.00 So, you can see all the wonderful progress we have made here... The second best region we have is the "NEMA Lights" program based in New England. Bobby Seymour salvaged the wreckage of the USAC Northeast division, and has really turned the program around up there- the car count actually GREW this year. Of course, those goofy New Englanders had to go an put wings on 'em but hey, to each his own I guess. Third best right now is the Washington State focus Midgets. Fred Brownfield (RIP) never did see the sense in hooking up with USAC so that bunch has always done thier own thing. They have an awesome facility to run at up there at Gray's Harbor, and now I'm hearing that they will start to run a couple times up at Skagit as well. This is another group with a growing car count. Fourth on the list is a brand new club, the Capital Cities Midgets based out of Sacramento. Rick Young started this club from nothing last year, and has quickly brought it along to the point where they have about 14 cars and growing, and they have a great schedule for next season. Combo Cars only, dirt and pavement, and not too much travel. Hello? 16th Street? You there??? Fifth on back is just about a tie between the Indiana region (weekday races with 3 people in the stands), Carolina region (these guys should actually get some kind of special award for just taking matters into thier own hands and keeping that deal alive - all they ever get from USAC is an invoice...), and Utah (they have thier own challenges including a home track that does not seem to care whether they run or not). Bottom line is that the program has splinterd. Larry-O is correct (can't BELIEVE I'm saying that...) when he says that the program is a good deal, because he is talking about the DIRT program in CALIFORNIA, and that one IS a good deal. Others, who have commented about the situation in the midwest, are no doubt equally accurate in thier assessments of the program in THEIR region. In southern California on dirt, Washington, New England, and Sacramento (Capital Cities Midgets), I say the program is still a "Buy". In Utah, Carolina, and maybe California pavement, I'd say it's a "hold", provided you are having a good time. Everywhere else...

This is likely the best IOW post year-to-date !
To anyone having interest in Focus Midgets this is a "must read".
Just the first paragraph says a ton !!
"Thanks to prafan for an informative post !"



:thumb

[chadyracing]

I would recommend to anyone interested in the focus series, call Mr.James Spink. Talk with him about the upcoming schedule for the region you'll be racing in and the future plans for the series. Get as much information as you can then make your decision.
Dan Chady

[8ball]

Nice post Keith! :thumb

Up here in New England we would like everyone to know that the NEMA Lite series is alive and well. We are hoping for bigger things for this year with additional sponsorship and expanded schedules. Though you may think it is wacky for us to run wings, I will say that last season only 1 race was won by the pole sitter. The same cannot be said for the former USAC Northeast series.

It's too bad that USAC came up with something that could have revolutionized midget racing, but managed to screw it up as only they could do. :headbang

Thanks for your help Keith for our 4 years running USAC Northeast, and NEMA Lite. Whenever we had a question you took time to help us out. We really appreciate it.

-Bill Stergios

[Larryoracing]

Just more info:

1) I would be surprized if many of the FF Midget Dirt Cars in California are strickly
FF cars. I would believe most are Standard Midget Chassis' with a FF Motor
installed in them.

2) A FF Midget can be changed in 5 minutes to make it a Jr. FF Midget race car/
series. That opens up the competition to a whole new younger group of
racers/competitors...ie..if you want to pay the 1000 dollars to USAC you
can "imancipate" your driver so he can run a FF Midget and also enter a
Jr. FF Midget race on the same night. He gets twice the laps/experience.
That's important for a new young driver.

3) In California there will be races at Bakersfield, Ca also. I assume Keith will
also run some Jr FF Midget Races, also.

a) So, in California that makes at least 10 race tracks you could run your
FF Midget. Some asphalt and some dirt, North and South, East and West!


4) I have no idea why there are so many doors opened in California for FF Midget
racing. But I know this, if you could guarantee 20 cars at any race track, I bet
you get a race.

5) Also, I think Ford should show case this series a little more. I know one
racer who convinced his wife to buy a Ford Focus Passenger car based
on the premise it had the same motor used in the FF Midget Race car at
our local track, Ventura, Ca.

a) Jim Naylor jokes about it all the time at the race track, but I don't
know why Jim Naylor does not push the Local Ventura, Ca Ford Dealers to
"Pace" a FF Midget Race with a Ford Focus Passenger Car. There should
be a pretty girl inside the car and the Ford Passenger Car should be in
demonstration/display at the Entrance Area of the Race Track for display
and advertising purposes. Somebody should be their trying to promote
the Ford Focus Passenger car as a very viable and reilable car to drive
during these hard times.

b) I believe the theme "race on Saturdays", "Sell on Mondays"...lol!

6) I also believe they should still push Ford to allow all the cams and hop up
kits/aftermarket products offered by Ford Mfg for this engine. I believe
you should not accept "no" for an answer. That's like the little kid who begs
his parents for a new car on his 16th birtday. He may have to wait till he
is 18 but he will eventually get that new car/motor. Offer an upgrade to this
FF Motor is a very wise, profitable and smart marketing thing to do for racing
and selling Ford Focus Passenger cars. Ask Lee Iacocca...lol!:rolling

Sincerely,

Larry Otani


P.S. Yes, PRA Fan had a lot of good things to say, but there are a lot of things
that could still be done. People come and go and the FF Midgets are
goin' to around for a long while. It's just a good affordable racing product
that holds its own in racing value. That's what people want..value for
thier dollars, whether it be racing or the family passenger car.