I want to apoligize to my Indiana friends that took vacation, booked hotel rooms and drove, what, 1500-2000 miles round trip for the pathetic track prep the Pennsylvania tracks gave ya. If it would not have been for Grandview, (dusty, but thats just Grandview) the trip would have been a total bust. I want to see you guy's in PA next year, but not if thats the effort the PA tracks are going to give. Hell I'd rather drive to Indiana.....

If there is a next year, get rid of Big Diamond and Mercer.
And for Williamsgrove, you book a National Series, have 100's of people from out of state and you cancel at 2:30 in the afternoon, because they're, CALLING FOR RAIN (that might be OK in Indiana). This isn't a REGULAR show. Although they made the right call in the end, that's still unacceptable. The Grove "SHOWED" about as much effort, cancelling at 2:30 in the afternoon, as Big D and Mercer did with their track prep.

I also want to thank the drivers and race teams for putting on decent shows under TRYING track condition's.

If there ia a next year, make the Grove take Friday night and that would eliminate an off night. No track in this area is going to go up against "THE" Williamsgrove.

Here's what I'd like to see:

Wed......Grandview
Thurs.....Susky
Fri.........Grove
Sat........Lincoln
Sun........Path Valley

Get to work on these tracks Spridge:2:

KUDOS to Jeff Kolher of ABC West Bowling Lanes for giving bowling discounts to the USAC fans and race teams. I heard a good time was had by all


P/S....Sounds like I had a horrible time, WRONG....The party was TOP NOTCH, all week long...

P.S.S....BRING ON INDIANA MIDGET WEEK...

Pine-
I think the Eastern swing will be back again for next year, and it'll be solid. I'm thinking some good things will happen with the schedule for next year.

I see you listed those tracks you like....what others do you like?

If Williams Grove runs them on Friday, and Lincoln is not available to run Saturday, I'm thinking that something on the way home would be decent? Or even a return to Hagerstown?

I've tried to tell all the guys who head out there that they can make their tow money just by bringing a good supply of shirts. Maybe there can be some way to gather up some money to draw more guys out that way next year? I know just some help to cover fuel and hotel costs would have probably brought 5 more guys this year...

I "think" there was a good battle between Levi and Cole last night.If your inexperienced it is was very helpfull to have a Dayglow Orange racecar. Had fun anyway, missed you Pine.If RB doesn't have a midget ride ,where you going this week?

In my opinion after seeing how great the SCRA was at Lincoln ,it's hard to justify a trip East without Lincoln on the USAC schedule.If there was nothing on the trip but Lincoln ,I would go.

Lincoln,Grandview,Lennerville, would be OK with me , but I wouldn't build a whole schedule around what the Grove wants you to do.If
they'll give you Friday fine,but don't let them tell you that you can't run against them. I might give Mercer a second chance it has potential. Hell Sharon,Fremont, there are alot of tracks east of Indiana,why does the Eastern swing have to be just Pa??

Well thats good to hear for next year...I have some people I want to talk to about sponsorship money for next year to try to help these guys out.

Like I said, in this area, the key is Williamsgrove. If the Grove takes Friday night, there are alot of possibilities. It depends then on how many tracks co-operate and how many races USAC wants to run.

Wed....Grandview
Thurs...Susky or Path Valley......Unless you want to give Big D another shot....Maybe Lincoln with a Thurs. Show
Fri.......Williamsgrove
Sat.....Lernerville
Sun.....Sharon or even Attica

I promise you if Freddie Rahmer took the wing off, Lincoln would be the first in line to get a USAC show. Kevin Miller has to find a way to get Lincoln on board. It would be a great show...
I think even Port Royal would be a pretty good show. Alot like Terre Haute.....

Who knows....Plenty of choices if the tracks co-operate.....

---------- Post added at 05:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:48 PM ----------

Whats up Koonzee, RB is working on a midget ride. I'll be at Midget week either way. Starting at North Vernon.

I agree with ya about the Grove. BUT to get Lincoln on board, they'll probably want their Saturday night show. And if the Grove don't take Friday that will either leave an off night, or alot of extra miles to get back to Lincoln, because NO TRACK will go head to head with the Grove. (Lincoln and the Grove are about 30 miles apart).

Actually Koonzee, I'd like to see Lernerville, Sharon, Attica, Freemont and Lima Land thrown into the mix....Man I wish I was a KA- BILLIONIARE....

Here's some food for thought.

Back in 1990 CRA offered a $10,000 bonus to any non CRA driver that could beat them on their Midwestern swing. I think something like that should be done for the USAC Eastern Tour next year. If I remember right Frank Lewis (CRA President) bought an insurance policy from Lloyd's of London for the bonus money. I wouldn't want it opened up to all PA Posse drivers as that might be a recipe for (crashes) disaster. Maybe they could offer it to the top 5 or 10 in Pennsylvania Speed Dog points or something like that. That would get car counts up and create more interest from Posse fans as they would now have a rivalry just like they do with "The Outlaws". However these select PA Posse drivers should have practice night's set up for them in advance as to not embarrass or hurt themselves in the process.

Plus USAC must take a more proactive stance with the PA Promoters when it comes to track preparation if they want their races to be a success. The promoters out this way haven't done their homework on traditional sprintcars. They don't know a typical winged slick track doesn't work for non wingers. I've heard locals say you can make the track heavy for USAC or CRA because they'll turn over. Every regular on this board knows what a crock of $hit that is. It just goes to show their lack of knowledge concerning real sprintcars out east. Let the sprinters pack the track instead of the push trucks or tank trucks and you'll have a much better race.

My picks for next year's USAC Eastern Swing:

Wednesday - Grandview - w/ARDC
Thursday - Trailways - no support division
Friday - Williams Grove - no support division
Saturday - Lincoln - w/ARDC
Sunday - Susky - no support division

I think some type of point fund money should be awarded to the top 5 in points from this series of races.

If Trailways & Susky are too scared to participate due to fear of not making the purse, then Bob Miller (TOTH promoter) should lease the tracks for the night. He'll make it a success. Really as far as I'm concerned Miller should run the whole deal as he pays attention to details and is a promoter, not just a track operator.

Also, if you're going to charge $25.00 at the gate you either got to bring in ARDC as your support division or you have no support division and use that extra money to help pay tow money to USAC's long haulers.

What do you guys think of these ideas?

I like Jeff's ideas. I think his five days look great. Would also be beneficial for the drivers as they could drive in to Grandview, leave there and drive to Hanover for a motel. Trailways is only 10 minutes from where the hotels are in Hanover and Lincoln is only about 5 minutes. The Grove would be about 35 to 40 minutes and Susky another 35 minutes. If Susky wouldn't want to do it I think Path Valley would be a great alternate track plus it get the drivers heading somewhat west a little. Jeff is also right about running in the tracks. They have to let the cars do it or it will be packed down to hard. Might as well rent a steamroller. Great points Jeff. Like your thinking.

I've been out to the midwest to see USAC and I have also been to the Eastern Swing the past 3 years. There are a couple things I've noticed:

Many of the USAC teams load up and leave before the fans have a chance to enter the pits. For some reason they just don't understand that this sport will live and die by the fans. This is the best opportunity for the teams to make money selling merchandise and offset some of the travel costs. Even Bryan Clauson, who towed back to Indiana Friday stayed for the fans. Maybe it's his PR training from Ganassi, or maybe he acknowledges the need for fan interaction.

Also, the track prep is something that needs some serious work. Part of the issue is what they are starting with. There is way too much sand in the clay. I would seriously hesitate to schedule another race at Big Diamond because unfortunately it is a misrepresentation of the product USAC is marketing and people who are reluctant to accept traditional sprint cars will use this as ammunition to criticize the quality of racing.

No. He definitely already had that before he started driving for Ganassi. I remember the night he won the Pat O'Connor/Joe James double header @ Salem. After it was over, you could see a big crowd that had gathered at Kunz's pit to celebrate them doing what only three drivers/teams had ever done before. The only one that was missing was BC. He was still on the track, by the inside guard rail signing autographs for a bunch of kids that were waiting to talk to him. And he looked to be in no rush to leave that crowd, to get to the other one. That's a big reason I would like to see Josh Spencer win a few more features. Like Bryan, he's always been real good at this part of the sport. Chuck Amati was the king of this kind of thing.

Jerry

Okay, I accept your apology Pine. That was a really tough drive on Tues.!!!LOL You were all "sh*tfaced anyway but we all still like ya.

Later, JERSEY

"If Trailways & Susky are too scared to participate due to fear of not making the purse, then Bob Miller (TOTH promoter) should lease the tracks for the night. He'll make it a success. Really as far as I'm concerned Miller should run the whole deal as he pays attention to details and is a promoter, not just a track operator."

i think thats the only way to get both these tracks and if anyone could make it happen, its bob miller.
he did pretty well for himself, the fans and the racers on tuesday night.
as much as i love the grove, i think some of the smaller venues would put on a better show. forget path valley. there isnt enough of anything there and im still not real sure about the safety issues. lindas could be a rip roarin affair but it too has issues.
up in lower new york, there is accord speedway. racey joint and quickly becoming a first class facility. food is good, the grounds are well kept, the track is great and it has the fan capacity.
sorry to hear that mercer was a dissapointment. every time i have been there, it was great.
heres my votes for the tracks that could possibly run next year
grandview w/ardc
trailway w/ardc
lincoln w/ardc
big diamond w/ a functional water truck and more CLAY
grove w/winged 410's.........maybe a 2 day show like the WoO