[SUPERDUKE]

Originally Posted by Speedwrench Duke - That is the most intelligent thing I've ever heard you say.

THANKS I GUESS? THEN AGAIN I MITE HAVE A LOT OF INTELLIGENT THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN RACING TODAY! BUT THE POWERS TO BE HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS AND DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO OLD MEN LIKE ME!:angry-smiley-007:

[R.Drang]

Sorry Duke im not trying get off subject, all i was trying to say is that when ur not getting the fans in the stands for whatever reason, the track owners are not going to pay more. But you are still going to have teams and owners spending big money to win. The only thing that makes running a team or a racecar justifiable for the little guy is that he/she just has that absolute passion and love for open wheel racing. And yes tires are one reason that the little guy is dropping out of racing or running a restricted schedule, but tires are not the only reason.

[Charles Nungester]

Originally Posted by Fisher79 Agreed! There are other factors keeping fans out of the stands (like gas prices, too many other options, etc.) but I think the main issue is lack of promotion. When was the last time you heard a 30-second radio spot advertising the weekend's action at your local track? When was the last time you saw a flyer posted somewhere? When, if ever, have you seen a TV ad for a dirt race? And promotion doesn't even have to be on that scale; you can start with simple things like half off admission for a group of people, giveaway nights like baseball parks do, bands during intermission, etc. I know Barhorst ran a TV commercial for his Kamp midget week show a couple years back, and someone said something about Helfrich doing radio ads down south, but the fact remains that promotion is a lost art. Sprint car racing is such a good product that it sells itself, but you've got to get new faces in the door that first time to get them hooked.

I heard radio adds on my driving travels for both the Liberty midget week and Kamp Sprint week shows.

But other than that, I don't hear or see much.

I think you need more than to get them in the door once to get someone hooked, I've taken people who never came back. I think the more access to drivers and cars they have the better. I really don't think I became hooked until I met Greg Staab although I had gone for years. ALso you used to be able to get back to the teams pretty quick after racing was over and they stayed around a bit. NOT NOW!

Chuck

[R.Drang]

Anyways, back to tires. I think the cost of tires (while still expensive) are trivial as compared to other costs in racing. As far as tire performance, I'd have to say i dont think they are that bad. Im saying that based on how chassis technology has evolved and the setups have varied. And there is also the driver preference, however he/she likes the car setup, and the finesse on and off the throttle.

[DonMoore10]

It's already been pointed out by several experts that post on here that tire costs are a major problem.

Duke's $55.00 midget tire in 1975 is equivalent to spending $209 today due to inflation. I think you stated you are buying tires for $160 now. If so how is that a bad deal?


It is if the 209 dollar tire lasts 5 races and the 160 dollar tire lasts one