[QUOTE=Ovalmeister;146133]
Originally Posted by quicktime3:
Good stuff. I really appreciate your enthusiasm, but I still have trouble with a few things...
[B]Thanks, there is alot to be enthused about.[/B]
How is getting races going to be any easier for this new series? If we're having trouble with the old cars, I can't see how the Gold Crown cars will be any easier. NASCAR is kicking USAC out of Phoenix and is not helping them out at Richmond. Why would it be any different for these cars, which they have already said they like less than the old Crown cars? If their tracks are not willing to pay a Silver Crown purse, why would they want to pay a higher purse for a series they don't even like? And they didn't like them before, which is why the series was shelved, and everyone is saying there is still no interest in them...
[B]Remember, I'm nothing more than an interested observer. It is certainly not my place to blab the hard work of several key people involved. They will come forth with the info when they deem it appropriate. I can say I'm very excited, and was initially surprised, at the amount of interest this deal is generating. (not to mention who is interested in it).[/B]
I am hearing that USAC is pretty confident they have new races coming for the Silver Crown cars. No, they're not the level of Phoenix and Richmond (which I'd heard was still a possibility), but they're races on competitive, good-sized tracks. Let's hope the payout isn't bottom of the barrel!!
[B]I love the Silver Crown cars, as I stated before. I absolutely hope they can rebuild as big as ever. I'd love to help! Midgets and Silver Crowns have always been my first love. Anyone who knows me knows that.[/B]
Getting "big track" experience has never really been something that has held anyone back from going to NASCAR. Heck, Roush signed Ricky Stenhouse, who had VERY little pavement experience. As far as "road course" experience, I'm afraid this will basically be a joke among the road-racing contingent. And originally, wasn't this series supposed to be just a better series for USAC racers to have the ability to make more money? What do Darland, Coons, Hines, Levi, Kuhn, etc. need to get "big track" and "road course" experience for? I'm pretty sure if young rich kids want that kind of experience, they're going to throw their money into a different series, not one with strange new cars and a group of more inexperienced drivers...
[B]Gold Crown doesn't necessarily have to be viewed as a feeder series. Although it can be used as such in my humble opinion. It really will be a unique series all on it's own. If someone excels and gets the attention of a big time car owner, all the better.[/B]
I really think this could have been a great thing, but the people involved originally really missed the mark. Now, there's just not enough time and money to go around. Unfortunately, I see this taking away from USAC and being a distraction from their product, which is what we should be trying to push. Times are extremely tough right now, and it would be great to see this kind of effort and enthusiasm put into getting more and better-paying races for the three major series...[/QUOTE]
[B]You would think so huh? So why don't we?
David. (just a fan).[/B]
---------- Post added at 03:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:59 PM ----------
Sorry about the wierd format to the above post, I don't understand how that "multi-quote" option works, LOL.
David.
Like you, I'm an interested observer. And I don't have a dime invested as DO pointed out. I said earlier that I sincerely hope this series makes it. I badly want to see open wheeled cars running at TMS again like the early IRL did. That means with enough cars on the track to make it interesting.
But I don't really think the complaints are uncalled for. If your wife or girlfriend asks you what you think of her new hairdo, you probably better say something positive no matter what you really think. However if a celeb gets a wild new hairdo, none of us are obligated to give compliments for the sake of keeping the peace. And for those that do have a dime invested or are seriously thinking of doing so, do you really want a bunch of koolaid drinkers telling you how smart you are? Wouldn't it be far better to test the waters and find out what's wrong with your plan, so you can either fix it or abandon it before it's too late?
Part of the problem is transparency or rather the lack of it. In 6 pages there have only been a couple of post that even mention cost and they aren't much more than estimates at best. Why not put it out there for all to see? You mention that you are excited about who is involved and that there are nascar folks involved. Ok, who are they? Is Tony Stewart involved? This sounds like it would be right up his alley and if he is involved, saying so would increase the credibility of the series tremendously. What tracks are going to be on the schedule? I don't know about the rest of you, but I had never even heard of Putnamville until this thread started. Yet this seemed to be an important part of the press release. Does anyone have any doubts that these cars or almost any other kind of car COULD be ran on a road course if the participants so desired? Seems to me the important issue is how they will do on tracks bigger than a mile, but nothing was said about that. What tracks are anticipated and what kind of purses are expected? Can he explain why this car cost so much more than the existing SC car and if he can, why hasn't he done so? Wait until he gets some bodies made for the other 22 cars? There are companies that specialize in bodies. They sometimes have new models available before the new car hits the showroom. Those are not hand made aluminum bodies. They are not CF bodies. So what's the hold up?
And I don't know that attracting the attention of a big time owner is all that good a thing. Would we really like it if Penske took a liking to this series? I'd rather see a BUNCH of smaller time owners than a couple of big time owners.
And there the other questions about what's in this for Bruce Ashmore? Certainly there is nothing wrong with him trying to make money off of this or any other enterprise he chooses. But it seems like both nascar and USAC have given this the thumbs down. And while we sometimes trash both of them for decisions they make, they do have a little bit of experience in promoting races. If neither of them want to be associated with this project, why does he think it will work? It was mentioned that he understands marketing. We know he's an engineer by training and experience and a successful one at that. But what qualifies him in the marketing arena?
Like it, support it, then go. Don't like it, don't support it, don't go. Not that hard people. I don't understand how you ***** about more racing. None of your dimes are in it so what do you care if somebody's trying to make something of it? This same thread comes up about every 3 months.