Ive got to drop some words in on this.

First, thank you to all at the Lawrenceburg speedway for having the TQ's there. It wasn't so long ago that the TQ's weren't down there for a couple of seasons. I cut my first TQ teeth so to speak down there, smelling the brewer's yeast all night long....

Second, thank you to all the drivers that showed up, even if they were a little "unsure" about how the car was going to run.

And last but not least - a GIANT thank you to the MTQRL and every one associated with it for making this all happen.

First-race bugs ALWAYS happen.

Now, without naming names - I'm sick and tired of "All the MTQRL is going to do is hurt TQ racing blah blah this negative that..."

I find it funny that all the years I raced with the UMRA, with good people in charge, that the club as a whole didn't go out and find sponsors to help the racers. Where was the larger purses? Where was the dash for fuel? Tire discounts? Etc etc etc etc?

Please - do not read Im bashing the former or current UMRA. There are good people in that club still, as there were back in the day.

What Im saying is - how can one justify saying that the MTQRL is hurting the sport of TQ racing when they have gladly changed rules to accommodate the West coast, Florida, Iowa, and Illinois cars? How can you justify bashing the MTQRL saying they are hurting the sport when the UMRA costs over $400 JUST TO REGISTER A CAR? How is a $400 registration bill and a $300 to win purse helping the TQ sport?

Please, I'd like to hear your thought logic.

As for changing engines.

Yes there are several people working on trying to get the new(er) engines to work.

I think the main reason why the TQ's have never gone to a street bike "drop in" chain system is the fact that the TQ's were (and I still think ARE) a stepping stone to getting in a sprint car or full midget.

That being said, you need to learn to get used to a torque ball & tube between your feet and how to operate a push/pull gear shifter cable. You can't learn these things with a clutch, 6 gears, and a chain running down your left side.

No chains!! I agree. The 2 things I hate most about mini-sprints are 1. the wing, and 2. chain drive. My sugestion was to keep the torque tube and quick change, but to change the rule about having to connect the drive shaft right to the crank. Just keep the tranny intack and run the drive shaft with a coupler like the Modlites and dwarf cars run. By leaving the engine intact with the trany, that gives you the clutch and on-board starter. You don't use all 6 gears. mini-sprints, dwarfs, modlites, ect all run in 2nd gear. Some only have 2nd gear in the tranny. By still running the quick change, having a tranny should be no power advantage.

Please forgive me because I am completely mechanically-challenged. Is there a way to use these engines without a self-starter? We want to find a way to get the engine costs down without straying too far from the original TQ build. Even though it is time consuming and somewhat of a pain, I like seeing the army of push-off trucks and 4-wheelers. To me, it adds to the ambiance of the race, just like smell of fuel fumes mixed with dirt.

Just wanted to make a small correction to your statement!! Car reg is just 55.00 and the Purse is $350.00 to the winner. Just a small difference. There is one positive thing about this non-sense. Family ties are hard to break and when you insult someones family or friends those ties grow stronger. There is passion on both side just like Chris said until the line in the sand can be washed away this is how it will be because of how it was all started. I don't believe that anyone has stated they were unhappy with having a second club or place to race! What the true problem is HOW it was started! The whole reason I have seen that the MTQRL was formed was because there were so many cars garaged or going to be sold becuase the didn't like the UMRA 40 or so cars and the dislike of 1 particular group. I would think that if you were going to take TQ's to the next level or make them greater than they are wouldn't you want all of the TQ's garaged or still running at your events? Not just the ones who dislike the other group.There is alot of passion for TQ's out there which is evident by the posts and puiblicity this has gotten. I will have to agree with Zach I want all TQ's there every night. So if I happen to win I will be able to say I beat the best in the business and then no one can take that from me or discount it in any way!!!!! All we hear is the two groups need to get together and work it out! I know for a fact the UMRA has contacted the MTQRL and I have contacted the MTQRL myself also. I will reach out AGAIN!!!! to preserve a great group of racers! If half of the cars that ran Lawrenceburg Sat night show up (9) Friday night at GAS CITY I will run with you the MTQRL the next night we are off IF all cars are accepted regardless of color. and yes AJ I know its in the rule book! So If the MTQRL really wants to make TQ's better here is the second opportunity to get the TQ racers together. If you don't then everyone will know the reason for the new club was not to better TQ racing but to exclude certain people.. There is not 1 neg statement here just a concerned racer who want to race! Any takers on Gas City?

Jon do you even have a TQ?

Michael Koontz

Many people did go to street bike "drop in" chain system. It is called a Mini Sprint. Good idea, Cheap to run, however, not a "TQ". I am sure that they have just as much fun as TQ's do.

I like the idea that people can race the type of car and track that they find both fits the budget and time that they have. I also love the smell of alcohol burning in the evening regardless of what kind of car it is.

See you at the tracks

I do. Its in pieces. Why do you ask?

Jen, so far, all the "new" engines have been adapted to the quick change rear end, with most of the hardware used on the Honda's. The initial cost of adapting one of the newer, production bike engines, is offset by the lack of having to buy aftermarket pistons, rods, cams, and etc, by a bunch, plus the fact that the newer engines are very plentyful, not that the Honda's aren't, but it's the amount necessary to spend to buy the aftermarket racing parts for them. The newer engines, come from the factory, with all the pieces needed, to go racing, they run them harder on the street, than we do in racing them, we've been running one now for almost 5 years, with very little problems, mostly my fault, certainly no engine failures. And, I have an onboard starter, that I can use, sitting on jackstands in the shop, if I want to ck for oil leaks, or anything else. Bob

Sure, just take the starters off. I know getting pushed off is cool and I understand how it adds to the ambiance, but how much is that worth? 4-wheelers are not cheap.

Let's face it. The guys running TQs now will probley race TQs forever. I was the anouncer at Lawrenceburg for 5 years (1999 - 2004) and most of the names I heard Sat night were the same names I used to call when the UMRA would come to the "Burg. So, for TQ's (and every other race car out there) it is about bringing in new people to the sport and growing the club, series, league, or car counts.
I am a perfect example of this. I used to run a modified at the 'Burg 14 years ago, and this past winter my father and I decided to go racing again. My first choice was a TQ, that is what I wanted to race, but #1 the engine rules and #2 needing a 4-wheeler is why I went with a mini-sprint instead. The engine cost and the prices on 4-wheelers just made it to expensive for me to get started. Plus to build an engine myself I have to cut the tranny off and get access to the crankshaft. . TQ's and Mini-Sprints are competing for the same newbee racer, and i feel both of these race cars are perfect for the new racer, but when you look at car counts, mini-sprints are winning. There were more mini-sprints at the Burg Sat. night than there were KISS Sprints or TQs. In fact the AMSA has had highest car count the last two times they were at the Burg. And I know about the split of the UMRA. The same thing is happening in Mini-Sprints (AMSA vs. MMSA). The point I am tring to make is that car counts keep the series alive, and you have to make it as easy as possible to get started.

TQ's haven't lost me yet, update the crank rule and my mini-sprint goes up for sale!

Carl Cruse

If your really worried about getting the tranny cut off, its not really that big of a deal. i just had it done

That is kinda my point. Why worry about cutting it off in the first place? Does it make more power? Does it save money? Does it save the track promoter time? Is it easier than stock? Why cut it off in the first place?

---------- Post added at 01:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:24 PM ----------

I am not suggesting that all the cars have to change. All the current cars can stay the way they are. I am just suggesting updating the rule.
.
11.03 Driveline: All cars must have an active driveline between the driver’s legs, perpendicular to the axles. The drive-line must consist of a continuos 1 to 1 ratio connection, between the crankshaft of the engine, and the lower quick-change gear in the rear end.

"between the crank shaft of the engine, or stock output shaft of transmission"