Originally Posted by DonMoore10:
Baue, I always enjoy ur spin. The Governor of Illinois needs somebody like you badly right now. You could easily get that alleged crook out of jail in no time.
Back to the Fontana and Esslinger. For the record, and I like facts, not opinion, in 17 stand alone POWRi events, and correct me if I am wrong, the Esslinger/Fontana motors accounted for about 16 wins. One win by the Mopar/Sesco. So, it's not looking good to be buying some other motor. And apparently that Fontana ad is correct according to the facts here that you need to spend $37,000+++++++ to win. Now the traditional Gaerte Chevy was very competitive before all these inches were granted. Ryan Scott came close to winning in my car (Gaerte Chevy at the time) a few years back at the USAC Limaland race, once part of the Buckeye Nationals which has disappeared from the face of the earth, BTW.
So, I am back to my original thinking. Baue, you know this.... the Esslinger/Fontana motors are winning and winning big. More money, more money, more money obsoleting more engines. How did this all happen. What research or testing took place that these motors were given more inches? Travis Minia won at the half mile Route 66 USAC race with the small Esslinger. So... again why more inches???
And ur opinion that the STT would be competitive ( and I noticed you stopped short of saying winning)... well so is the Gaerte Chevy but it's not winning either.
AND, I know of at least one independent engine builder that was flatly turned down when he ask for more inches also. So who's Zooming who?
AND, does any of this matter if nobody is checking midget engines?????? Yeah... if they found an illegal engine, that may be really bad PR.......... these orgs may not want to go there.
So you do admit then that your particular motor was one of the three most dominant motors in Powri last year and thus it should be regulated to keep the sport more competitive.(Kidding)
As far as the ******** with USAC and the engine builders, I have no idea what hoops have to be jumped through. It is probably a mind numbing process.
I'm honestly not trying to spin anything. I think the Esslinger ST and STT are great motors and as long as they are being run by a good team and a good driver, they have a chance to win 90% of all midget races held. Even the best cars and motors will not win when in the hands of people who are not yet capable of winning.
I think things are: A)Not nearly as bad as we think they are and B)If they are that bad, it will eventually self regulate and swing in a different direction or C)Fail terribly, but from the ashes will come something better to fit the times.
Things will work out. They may not work out exactly how I or you or someone else wants them too, but they will work out. We live in a free market society and we all have the choice where and how we spend our money and time. Sometimes we have less money and time than others, but we still own that right. If less and less people choose to spend them a certain way, but another way comes up that is more popular, then that is where it will turn to.
Ex.) I love reading the morning paper, but it is basically a dead medium. The news paper industry is only a shadow of itself. The once powerful industry with colorful writters is all but gone. The internet has taken over and no amount of cut backs and the alike will save it. Does that make me happy? No. Do I have to accept it? Yes. Do we still get the news, Yes. Do I have to read the internet to get that news? No; I could wait to get home or wake up early(No way)to get the news.
I think that the explosive growth in the sprint cars have limited the growth in the midgets. Why run a midget when you can run a fire breathing dragon? That is how I think many people see it. That said, I think that is why the midgets appeal to some others in the fact that they travel and that the series can offer the promotors something a little diiferent than the same old show.
I think that if the car counts get low enough and the promotors don't want to take the chance anymore, then the sport will change to meet the times.
I personally am not happy about what the teams have to spend to go pavement racing, but the teams keep going and spending the money, so they must be alright with it. While I don't agree with it and I have already voted with my time and money by not doing it anymore, it will still happen as long as teams show up and promotors still pay the purse and enough patrons show up.
If the sport isn't where someone wants it to be, but they are not willing to change it themselves, then it must not be as important to them as they think. If someone loves the midgets, but doesn't agree with the direction of the sport, but their voice isn't being heard; then you have to speak with your time and money. You already have alternatives with great clubs like IRS and Powri or the right to stay home.
As a racing business owner, do I want to see the sport become a shadow of it's former self; absolutely not. I consider Don a good friend and he is one of my better customers who I have taken alot of pride in seeing his team grow and watch him achieve some of his goals. I would hate to see him leave the sport because I think he brings alot to it, but I respect his right to do with his time and money what he sees fit. If he chooses to spend his time and money somewhere else, I have to respect that.
I have found that when people get out they often say money as the reason, but once you get to talking to them it is often, not always; but often much more than that. They mostly feel they have other obligations that need to be meet that are more important to them. I don't race anymore because of the time it takes to do it right and the fact I enjoyed racing with my brother as the driver more than I would with anyone else in the seat. I still help others, and as much as I enjoy seeing their success, it's not the same.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Powri take some sort of lead in allowing production based motors and it looks like Badger is looking at some alternatives, so maybe the move is already taking place. Of course the ASCS thing and while I know Emmet has failed terribly with the Chili Bowl deal and his sprint series, he may get it right this time.(Sarcasm)
There is always this talk of protecting the racer from themselves. That is a little rediculious as they are grown men and women(at least the owners). It's their choice. Racing is somewhat like a drug addiction in many ways and basically we are saying that we want the herion users to just become run of the mill Marijuana users or Alcholics so they have more money left over. Of course any drug addict(or racing addict) I have ever known is only going to buy more drugs with their extra money so it's kind of pointless.