I know it's been tried before. USAC many years ago tried to call it the Offy 110 division. Or just midget cars. The trouble is explaining it to a casual fan or newbie about midgets. Most do not understand that they are serious, fast, exotic and sometimes dangerous race cars. I get alot of - "What are you doing this weekend?" My reply "Goin' to a midget race." Then you hear giggles and they say "Little people runnin' around a track?" and then more chuckles. You get the idea.
So then what kind of name change is needed - officially or unofficially? Even if it helps the sport in a small way. I'm all for it. What do you think?
When crossing the border I've had a few looks when I tell them I am going to see Midgets race. Whatever term someones comes up with many people will still call them midgets. A perfect example is the people who can't let go of "champ cars" when describing what I have only known as Silver Crown cars.
I can remember coming back from IRP, and stopping to get something to eat. We got out of the truck, and some drunk guy asked us what we were racing. My Dad tells him that we race midgets. The drunk guy gets a funny look on his face and says, "Isn't that hard on them little guys"?
Originally Posted by Seadog:
I know it's been tried before. USAC many years ago tried to call it the Offy 110 division. Or just midget cars. The trouble is explaining it to a casual fan or newbie about midgets. Most do not understand that they are serious, fast, exotic and sometimes dangerous race cars. I get alot of - "What are you doing this weekend?" My reply "Goin' to a midget race." Then you hear giggles and they say "Little people runnin' around a track?" and then more chuckles. You get the idea.
So then what kind of name change is needed - officially or unofficially? Even if it helps the sport in a small way. I'm all for it. What do you think?
I've thought of this a lot, in the past, but decided it wasn't worth the time or effort, tell em go-carts, as they spell it, and they think you're riding around in your yard, tell em Sprint cars, and you get the usual dying calf in a hailstorm look, and when you say Midgets, it really goes off the screen, so anymore, I ask before I answer. Bob
"Being old, isn't half as much fun, as getting there"! Ole Robert I!
Originally Posted by Seadog:
I know it's been tried before. USAC many years ago tried to call it the Offy 110 division. Or just midget cars. The trouble is explaining it to a casual fan or newbie about midgets. Most do not understand that they are serious, fast, exotic and sometimes dangerous race cars. I get alot of - "What are you doing this weekend?" My reply "Goin' to a midget race." Then you hear giggles and they say "Little people runnin' around a track?" and then more chuckles. You get the idea.
So then what kind of name change is needed - officially or unofficially? Even if it helps the sport in a small way. I'm all for it. What do you think?
I get very upset when I tell people about midgets and get the "little people" jokes or the "what kind of car is that...like a go-kart or something" comments.
My suggestion would be call them Speedcar Midgets for a transitional period til people get used to it. Then drop the word Midgets from that after 3-5 years and that would be that. That way you're not confusing people by trying to change all at once.
