A few weeks ago, I was at Tri-State Speedway for the Haubstadt Hustler 50. During the track prep break immediately following the heat races, everybody was standing and talking, as is the custom there. A friend of mine, Frank Daigh (dirtnonwingfan here on IOW), who always sits in the row directly behind us, asked me a very good question. I’ll paraphrase here, but it was something to the effect of “Jerry, the end of the season is near. What do you think that the people of Indiana Open Wheel could do or could start doing to help make the sport of sprint and midget racing better? “ Now, at the time I was asked that question, I had just finished watching probably the best set of heats I had seen, all year. My head was still spinning and my mind was mush. So, the best answer I could have given right then and there would have been something down the lines of “Uhhhh. Duhh.” So, I deferred and said “Good question. I’ll have to think about that one.”

One thing to consider is that there are almost 4000 registered members on IOW. In my travels out there, I talk to a lot of people. And I mean a lot. I would say that for every registered member I meet, I also meet two that aren’t registered, but follow IOW faithfully. Quite a few could rattle off a list of their favorite (and not so favorite ) posters. So, multiplying that out and using the law of averages, it would be a conservative estimate, IMO, to say that 10,000 people are effected by Bill Gardner’s creation. So, what you type here, a lot of people see. A lot of people, from many different walks of life and from all parts of the racing equation.

My answer to Frank’s question, now that I’ve had time to think about it and now that I’m in a proper frame of mind to work my way through the cobwebs and find an answer, would be:

-I’m going to do my best to go to as many races as I can. And when I do, I’m going do my best to share my experiences. Recently, I’ve actually had several people tell me they read a race report here on IOW, from somewhere I’d been, had never been there before and were going to make it a point to go check it out, this year or next.

-I’m going to focus on the positive things that I see in racing. They far outweigh the negative things, although sometimes you wouldn’t know that by what you hear from some people. When I see something that is a real issue, something that could really be improved upon, I’ll bring it up. But, I’ll do so in a constructive manner. Saturday at Eldora I met OpenwheelKT. Somebody I’d wanted to meet for years. One of the first points he made was “This is such a niche sport. Why are people arguing all the time. We should be helping each other.” Tell me the sport wouldn’t be better if everybody thought like that.

-I’m going to take as many people as I can, to the track. And also talk to as many people as I can about racing, when I’m not at the track. You wear racing shirts enough places and eventually somebody will ask you a question.

-I’m going to make a better effort to be a good neighbor at the track. There are a lot of people at many of the races, that don’t know what’s going on, like someone that frequents IOW does. If somebody looks like they’re confused or looks like they have a question about something, I’ll try to help them out. Do a little “pay it back” for all that I’ve learned from people like Marv, Danny , Tim, Dave F, Jack, Mike, Bert, John, Frank, Lauren, D.O., Keith, Shortbus, Gregg, Ed etc., etc., etc. Because of the best networking site in open wheel racing, IOW, this list could go on for pages.

Those are just a few things that I’m going to try to get better at. But, that’s just me. How about you? We all have one thing in common. All of us love this sport and want to see what’s best for it.

Thanks, Frank for asking a very good question. One that really made me think.

Jerry

Another great post Jerry. I think if the answer is you will be posting more then we all win. I really enjoyed the story on Macon and such. Keep it up

That’s pretty much how I see it. I sometimes don’t understand why people have to fight and argue all the time about everything. There are positives and negatives when you go racing. Sometimes the negatives outweigh the positives. I’ve posted negatives when I see them, but I don’t get on here to fight with others on a subject.

I have been on this board in one form or another since it was called usacfans. I used to post quite a bit, but I cut back because I got tired of all the pissing, moaning, and bull that was being posted. I figured what’s the point of posting when it’s just going to turn into a ***** session. Something I don’t need and have no time for. I don’t agree with everything that’s posted here, but I’m respectful that other’s have an opinion even if I don’t agree with it. I know several people who quit posting here because they got tired of all the negativity. I’m not saying this board should be positive all the time either. Sometimes negative things need to be pointed out. I just don’t like how some people go about it. No need to be disrespectful while disagreeing. The board would be pretty boring without opinion, positive or negative. So I certainly don’t want it to be totally vanilla.

As much as we all love this sport and think its great, about 1% of the whole population even knows what a sprint car looks like (1% might even be generous). I have several non-racing friends and to them “racing” means Nascar because that is all they see. So they think I like it and that’s what I go to see. I actually would have to show them a picture of a sprint car for them to even know….and even then they still wouldn’t know they race close to them weekly. That said; we all like the same thing so I don’t know why people have to pick fights or disrespect people. To me when I go racing, it’s nice to be around people that love what I love. People you can talk to and actually know what you are talking about. Race fans in general aren’t that large a number of people really.

I have met a lot of good people on racing message boards….and I have to say a few that I haven’t really cared for even after meeting them in person. The number I have met that are great far outweigh the few that I haven’t really liked. The people I have met I consider to be my good friends. People I probably went to races with for years, but didn’t know. People I wouldn’t know today without message boards. A bad day at the race track is better than a good day anywhere else to me.

Jerry
One thing that can be done to help openwheel racing is to join a race club like Harf, Darf or Barc. Meetings are held in the off season and plans are made for club events that help promote racing.

This is sweet and I know Im not on some peoples favorite posters list but I agree to most of this.

I came back from the Terre/Kamp portion of sprintweek to read seven pages each of post of how much they sucked, were drug out and well, NOTHING LIKE I EXPERIENCED IN PERSON! Including one of the best runs I've seen a 17th to third at That and a three car photo finish feature at Kamp. Kamp was dusty, I don't think without new clay there is any getting around it but the track was perfect, the racing perfect and both nights were AWESOME!

I will continue HOWEVER to post the negatives that aren't safety related and totally within a tracks ability to control. This is not for the sake of B*Tchin about it. It is to make things better not only for my enjoyment but for those I may bring and for those who come to *COME BACK*
People are watching every dime right now. If they feel they are not getting their moneys worth or its not enjoyable. ONCE may be all you get.

Chuck, who enjoys talking racing. I've had people come up and thank me for mentions that never or rarely post here. I've had others tell me they don't agree with anything I say. I Don't hate em I try to learn what I can from them.

---------- Post added at 10:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:18 AM ----------

I only belong to one of these, Arguably the smallest. It would be worth DOUBLE THE COST OF MEMBERSHIP! Im actually way ahead on benifits. I vollenteer when I can. The interesting people (Racers and Non) The trips, Track discounts, Dinners, Meetings, Videos. Man, what was winter like without it?

.........up yours!...............

I wasn't going to call anybody out.... People like you is what makes this board............well, I'm not sure what to call it with you involved.

Back at ya. :2:

Good friends, good Bud and great racing is what it is all about.

Thanks Shane. The Illinois midget scene is a real racing hotbed, right now. You just have to see it, to believe how good it is. Hope to see you and your dad @ The Burg, this weekend.

Jerry