Why don't We "Agree to Disagree".
Like Mini Sprints D2 Midgets are a HOT TOPIC. I know Andy Bradley at the MMSA is got to be just loving this discussion. D2 Midgets show a lot of promise as a workable Midget class that would allow a lot of racers to take part in Midget Racing. That is the objective isn't it???
Engine builders have an interest in this class because that means extra sales. They probably have the largest amount of control over the different organizations. They tell the the the organizations what is needed and what it will cost and how they can help out in development etc, etc. (Some people will more than likely read between the lines at this point)
The chassis and general guide lines are pretty much outlined and settled. Engine Rules and specifications were put in place at several meetings this last fall. I have talked to several people that attended these meetings and from what I understand the people who had the most time and experience racing and running D2 Midgets were more or less regulated to the back of the room and the rules were changed by other people in attendance including engine builders. In my mind this is not how to do things. I said I liked a "Benevolent Dictator",
Sounds like there were "Dictators" there but they sure the heck were not very "Benevolent". They set forth rules with profit in mind and to heck with the well being of the racer.
The guys making engine rules are still thinking in the past and the way "WE USED TO DO THINGS". These little motors ain't your dad's Oldsmobile. First off performance wise they are several time more efficient than that old "Cast Iron 2 Valve Push rod Overhead Valve Engine. They achieve to get more with less. Thank you EPA, and I don't say that very often. They do not intend for these motors to set around in Junk Yards for a very long period of time. After a couple of years they melt them down and turn them back into something else. A big advantage over Cast Iron. You will not be able to go back to a junk yard in 10 years and buy any parts for that 2.4 Ecotec because it will have moved on and came back in another form.
The rule makers have not yet got their hands around this concept. The old 350 Chevy's sat around junk yards for 50+ years not so the newer motors. Then>>>I hear that familiar argument>>>Heck you can buy aftermarket performance parts for the same price or cheaper than OEM Stock Parts at list price. LISTEN UP DANG-IT
>>>If you have to buy parts to fix that motor you really don't want to buy that motor
Most people do not realize what engineering marvels some of these engines are. They would be quite capable of powering a Midget race car right out of the wrecked car if they would fit in. They don't need a whole lot of work if the truth be known.
Then we got little Johnny Money-Bags with all kinds of Money and very little knowledge to go with it except for what he read in the Magazines. Has anyone ever wondered how many of these stories ended up in magazines? Have you ever noticed also the increase in advertising for certain parts makers that appear in these magazines both before and after that article appears telling about so and so's latest addition to the racing industry. I have been around long enough to see any of these things invented several time by several different people.
Now back to Johnny>>>Allow the engine parts people to make add on external accessories for these little Motors. Water Pumps, Dry Sump Pumps, Oil Pans, Valve Covers, and even fuel injectors. A few years ago the Mini Sprinters were faced with the prospect of a National group wanting to outlaw Mechanical injection their reasoning being to make it cheaper on the racer. The people wanting to allow the injectors to stay cited such facts like it make my Mini sprint look like a Midget and the safety fact that when the engines stops it cuts the fuel off, Not very good arguments in favor of the extra expense but at least arguments. Well they reached a stalemate, what happens is an injector manufacture steps up and donates some money to the group and buys some sponsorship. Low and behold Mechanical Injection was allowed and we all lived happily ever after. This would be but one example of how things work in the real world.
Now back to inspection and tec. Nobody wants a long tear drawn and tec after a day of racing and nobody wants to feel that they are getting beat by cheaters. That is a problem. Unfortunately the newer a racer is to the game and the more he is dependent on outside help to keep his race car on the track the more likely he is going to feel that somebody is cheating. The world is full of people that are more than willing to help him cheat also to keep up with these supposedly cheaters, thus we get involved in a never ending cycle and it only cost the racer.
It is very easy to devise methods to inspect motors. The invention of the inexpensive bore scope and measuring tools has helped a great deal. Rather than fighting with each other why not talk about inexpensive and positive ways to inspect motors. IOW is blessed with a lot of talent concerning mechanical matters. Coated pistons and light weight weight pins are not going to go a long way in making these engines more powerful. Porting, oversize light weight valves and components and higher compression will bump them up quite a bit. Why doesn't somebody like Esslinger devise an inspection kit that would be inexpensive and accurate to help the organizers have an efficient and accurate way to check the motors?
Then I always come back to my 10" right rear. Racers say well it will slow the cars down>>>Yep definitely>>>BUT is slow such a bad thing in racing. last night I saw a picture of the Great Jimmy Caruthers racing in his old VW powered Midget on Face Book again. I think he was at Eldora. He was down on the bottom the back end was all hung out and there was that skinny right rear tire throwing up a big old roster tail (NEAT). Some of the best midget drivers and the beat midget races have been raced on skinny tires.
Honest DAD himself
