The May/June issue of SUCCESSFUL PROMOTIONS magazine has an excellent article on page 57 about how Burger King was about to be overtaken by Wendy's as the number two rated fast food burger chain. They changed their marketing plan by copying some well proven ideas, added new products that were on trend with the times to draw a more diverse crowd. The result: They've left Wendy's in the dust.

As many have pointed out on this web site, there are plenty of diverse divisions of race cars as opposed to what was available to both the participant and the consumer many years ago. And it's no secret that midget (full midgets) racing is struggling both at the front and back gate. So the question is: What is needed to turn all of this around in a positive direction? Let me list, first of all, what I think are some perceived opinions about midget racing today:

1. It's too expensive. Engines, tires, misc. equipment
2. Not enough cars show up for a race promotion

Are there more perceived opinions or should we stop here? Is the number one problem with midget racing the fact that it's perceived as too expensive? What's being done to address that issue?

What promotions are working and what aren't?

40-80 mini 600 sprints show up for a POWRi promotion.
12 midgets showed up at Columbus, OH last Saturday night.
8 midgets showed up at Angell Park last night

Is there ANY kind of plan on the table anywhere in the U.S. that is addressing the marketing of midget racing?

Not to single out a POWRi promotion but they must be doing something right to attract 40-80 mini 600 sprints. Why aren't there 40-80 full midgets showing up? Just what is the difference? Why are they more popular?

Are the midget engine manufacturers and the tire company dictating what product the fans see on the track? Is that the problem... big business is running the entire midget industry with the blessing of the midget orgs and the super funded race teams?

OK I will jump on this dead horse. I think that if a guy can get a tire deal (no matter what name is on the side of it) he should be able to run it. I paid 600.00 for tires for the night before the 500 race a few years back NUTS!. Run a hardness rule but not a name rule. Engines 40K plus 10K rebuilds not counting air frt. to Pink and back. Even I can afford the car, just not the engines, tires and travel. USAC keeps adding classes and divisions to their wall, they need to take care of what they have before its gone.

Doesn't do any good to yell at me for my opinion - I don't care to argue

This is what I would like to see happen, and I know I will probably get shot for saying this. But this is a message board, and that is that.

I love midget racing. I used to drive midgets with NAMARS, ARCA, and USAC. I even have a couple of national wins under my belt. We still have all of our cars and motors, but we can't afford to run them. The motors, and traveling cost were to high for our team.

Motor:
I would like to see them go to a stock bore and stock stroke 1000cc motor cycle motor. They are cost effective, and easy to get ahold of.

Fuel:
You can do what ever you want with the fuel system, and ECU. Meaning you can run gas or methanol. Methanol would be my choice over gas, just for safety reasons. But for now we will leave it open. Run what ever air box you want.

Drive system:
You would be able to run chain drive, or a full midget rear end. Leave the gear box and starter on them. So they are self starting, meaning no more pushing off.

Tires:
Open tire rule. I don't care what you run. If you can get a tire company to sponser you, great. More power to you.

Wings:
Not a chance.

Weight:
940lbs with the driver.

Tracks:
3/8 or smaller pavement or dirt.


These rules would alow you to run midgets that people already have. And make it easyer on their pocket.

Just my thoughts
Aaron Pollock

I think those are some great ideas, Aaron. You've overturned the apple cart on a lot of things that people are "in love with" and that's difficult for some to let go.

I ran my traditional midget at North Vernon against the 1000cc "mini sprints" and, honestly, if you were a casual midget race fan there, you would have had a devil of a time trying to figure out which car racing was a traditional midget and which one was a mini or a Focus car. I'm pretty good at recognizing how race cars look and they fooled me.

So I have two questions:

1. What's the problem with Allowing the minis to run with traditional midgets, regardless of the sanction? They were very competitive and that's not just my opinion. Many on this message board that were there came away with the same opinion. Even the Focus car was fast. If it looks like a midget, sounds like a midget and runs like a midget... then it's a midget. In fact, I'm scratching my head trying to figure out why they are called minis.

2. From what I'm reading on here, it sounds like the 1000cc engines are the way to go for the future. I'm reading various opinions about costs, but I would have to say that, as a rule, the 1000cc are much cheaper to buy maintain, etc. So why are we dicking around with $16,500-100,000 engines? I have a fresh midget engine sitting in my shop that cost $7600 to rebuild. I didn't pay that but it was included in the price of the engine when I bought it. I reading on here that a 1000cc can be rebuilt for as little as $1000.

These comments, I'm sure, are going to upset all those people that are set in a pattern, but these are the type of options that need to be looked at and explored.

The 1000cc motors are pretty much built to maximum performance from the factory. You could build them up a little more but the longevity and your wallet take a big hit. I think stock bore and stroke is the way to go.
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Don it would be an embarrasment to haul cars like that around in nascar haulers :2: The little man got booted out of usac along time ago. I'm afraid it will be along time before they are welcomed back. (can not comment on powi, never seen a show).

I will throw in my $.02 worth before the nattering nabobs of negativism jump on you guys. (By the way, my keyboard doesn't have a sign for "cents", just "dollars". Does that have any significance?) I am a fan who is growing to like midgets more and more when the number of midgets racing are getting fewer and fewer. I don't pretend to have the answers, but I know it is time stop saying that something needs to be done and time to start doing it. The above ideas seem logical to me. If they make sense, implement them. If there are other good ideas, implement them. Statements that "we are evaluating the situation" just don't cut it. Stop evaluating and do something while there is still time. Lead, follow, or get out of the way. If midget racing is being held hostage by manufactures and suppliers, sanctioning bodies need to either make decisions which will benefit teams and fans or get out of the sanctioning business. Every sanctioning body decision should be based on what is good for racing, not on how to help manufacturers, suppliers, and themselves get more money. There are a lot of good ideas out there. We need is rules makers with the testicular fortitude to implement rules which will benefit midget racing.

Mini isn't that fitting, Don in the good ol days didn't they call them small cars? Ideas get pounded out pretty quick, history has shown that new ideas get turned into new classes of racing instead of improving a existing class. Late models, stocks, and modifieds... All pretty close forms of racing.. Midgets, Mini sprints, and Tqs...(small cars) Can you imagine the car counts I all thee people met in the middle... People don't like the thought of Japanese motors, ? I'm pretty young but didn't VW have a influnce of midgets for awhile... What does a midget motor, oil system, and fuel weigh?
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I think that you are taking two points and merging them together. Either one can stand (and should) stand on it's own merits, but please don't combine/confuse them.

1. Midget marketing. What is being done to market the existing product that we have? This is where I look for the major sanctioning bodies (USAC, POWRI, etc) to make the best in roads. Are we racing at the best facilities, do we have series sponsors, do we have any TV exposure. My first love was the WOO sprint cars. However, I now enjoy a good midget show more. However, I do not understand the differences in the finances. I will pay the same to go watch either race, but do not understand how one pays $5,000 to $10,000 to win and the other does not.

2. Cost containment. What is being done to make midget racing cost effective for a local/regional show. This is where the local and regional promoters need to take the lead. What are we doing to make it economical to have a weekly show? There are many different ways to get to this point. The motorcycle engine is one solution. The ASCS2 engine is one solution. Spec motors are another solution. However, I do not believe that this is the place for USAC or POWRI to help solve. This is something that needs to happen locally/regionally.

You do not see the WOO sprint cars mandate rules for the ASCS 360 series. You do not see the ASCS 360 series mandate rules for a 305 series. You do not see a 305 series mandate a rule package for a crate motor series. Each series needs to find their own niche. Understand their niche and be happy with their niche.

There is a niche for the national midget owners. There is a niche for the regional midget owners, and there is a niche for the local drivers. However, to think that all of these niches need to use the same rules is ridiculous.

From what im reading on here.....That means the most intovative promoter right now would be John Gurley with the AMCT. I people want to mix these cars and run wingless he is giving all of you the opportunity to do so this summer. with his series. If you truley want a wingless series and to mix in the midgets then we should support the AMCT. If we can provide that series with car counts that rival the sprint cars then that could provide John with the ability to provide a full series next yr instead of the abreviated on this summer. There next race is June 4th at Montpeiler Indiana it is a Friday night he charges $25 dollars to become a member of the series and pays 100 tow money.