Guys;
This is simple really and sometimes we tend to make things more diffucult. Especially us racers and notice I did say us.
This type of racing is coming. Now or later it is coming. I encourage you to really think about it. The cars are not slow nor do they represent you as such. In some cases they are actually faster becuase you just can't get all that HP on the ground most of the time anyway.
In my opinion we have always based racing on the drivers. Good but only to a point. Its the fans that pay the bills not us. If we don't draw the fans then you simply won't have anywhere to race. I don;t believe your average fan comes to see street stocks. Nothing against Street Stocks becuase there are some pretty darned good drivers in that class and they just cannot afford to move up to a $20k Limited Late Model engine or a $30 Super Late Model engine. REMEMBER THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HOBBY!!!
You and I can't hardly see 3/10 much less the fans being able to see. We all know that Limiteds and Supers are no different other than one is aluminum and ne is a steel block. I hear people say lets just go with a steel block. There are a lot of different ways to acheive a cubic inch rule. Lots of ways. It takes a lot of money to build a up front steel block engine. If you want to do that I don't but that is not the point. There are a lot of people out there that DON'T or CAN'T do that anymore!! You know what thier options are? Quit or run a lower division.
Someone came on here and posted something about having 12 Supers in a class. Isn't it amazing how we have come to the point that 12 is an acceptable number for a car count? I have been around a long time guys and truct me that is not an acceptable car count. There were days when 20 was a low number anywhere. I mean racing hads gottan larger with Nascar and all but our car counts keep shrinking. SO WHY IS THAT? The less expensive classes seem to be gorwoing. If the track doesn't pay 1200-1500 on a weekly basis to run Supers then you are just nuts for cranking them up period or either you just have a bunch of money to blow. Most Limited classes run for $600-$800. HELLO.
Common sense.
Promoters: Track promoters need to promote. The ones that are successful now are the ones that do just that. Money alone does not get it done. IN most cases drivers are from the local community. Promote then within the local community. Some TV commercials are pretty cheap or at least reasonable. Lots of things can be done. When is the last time you actually saw a program for a local track for local drivers? How do people expect to have local heros if they don't even know who they are? One of the tracks my dad used to run at in 1963 had a local program. Peole still come up to me and tlak about how they used to go to Athens Speedway and watch my dad race. I'm not sure if he know them or not but they sure knew him. heck you know President Busch but you don't really KNOW him!! PROMOTIONS!!!
Series: The Series in the area need to do the same thing. Promote. Why would a track pay them to come there if they don't? What would be different? The Series needs to participate with the local track they are running at to make them both successful. If your Series isn't doing that, and most are not by the way, get someone else!!! How did you learn about us? We have never advertisied in your area. PROMOTING, MARKETING.
Drivers: Hey I was one for longer than most of you so I can say this. Change is not easy but it is needed. The proof is in the pudding. Car counts are lower, fan counts are down and purses are bascially the same as they have been for 10-15 years. Why? Think about it really. The tack owners don't owe you anything. This is a business. It has to make money. WE HAVE TO REMAIN OPEN MINDED. What we have been doing is not working anymore. If tracks don't make mney they become subdivisions. IT AIN'T ROCKET SCIENCE!!!
The cloest track here on a local basis before we started had 2 cars his first crate race. Then 6, then 10, then 12 and now he averages over 22 cars per race and its the best racing there. Side by side and yes a little bumping and sometimes a lot. Now that class is the ony reason his track is surviving. He took a chance. In business you have to. Even water, which has no smell at all,if it sits still long enough will start stinking. You take a chance getting in your car and going to work everyday.
Guys, if you want to spend 30K on engines and go race with twelve cars and you call that racing then go for it. YOU WILL PUT YOURSELF OUT OF BUSINESS EVENTUALLY. The guys with the big money are the very ones that need to help this class get started as a support division so the Super Late Model class can grow again. Wake up, you are not increasing in numbers you are decresing in numbers. Get mad at me if you want. I could care less. I care a lot more about the sport than I do some knucklehead that gets mad at me. Don't you guys want someone to race with?
Spec motors, shoot yea if you are talking about the brodix head deal. They were invented to run with Supers with a weight and spoiler break. They were never intended for a Limited class. Those guys have a good program. Its a good piece. IT IS NOT A LIMITED. Mix the spec cars with the Supers, they will run together, then do crates as your limiteds and all you have done is increase your car count. SIMPLE!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for letting me come on here and chat with you guys. I have to bail out until probably after Christmas. Hopefully we will see you guys one day. Maybe not. THats up to you and your local tracks. Not me. I don't beg for races or for racers. Our program works. Period. It benefits everyone.
For those of you that think I am "what did you say" a snake oil salesman. Call me and lets talk about it in person. What am I supposed to do, run? Hey remember I am a racer too. I am a little to stubborn for that. By the way that was a pretty cheap shot.
Merry Christmas everyone. Remember what it is truly about. Not gifts but family, friends and patience.
If you need me emaiul me direct and I will get back to you.
God Bless and Merry Christmas!!!
Stan
slester@fastrakracing.com
This is simple really and sometimes we tend to make things more diffucult. Especially us racers and notice I did say us.
This type of racing is coming. Now or later it is coming. I encourage you to really think about it. The cars are not slow nor do they represent you as such. In some cases they are actually faster becuase you just can't get all that HP on the ground most of the time anyway.
In my opinion we have always based racing on the drivers. Good but only to a point. Its the fans that pay the bills not us. If we don't draw the fans then you simply won't have anywhere to race. I don;t believe your average fan comes to see street stocks. Nothing against Street Stocks becuase there are some pretty darned good drivers in that class and they just cannot afford to move up to a $20k Limited Late Model engine or a $30 Super Late Model engine. REMEMBER THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HOBBY!!!
You and I can't hardly see 3/10 much less the fans being able to see. We all know that Limiteds and Supers are no different other than one is aluminum and ne is a steel block. I hear people say lets just go with a steel block. There are a lot of different ways to acheive a cubic inch rule. Lots of ways. It takes a lot of money to build a up front steel block engine. If you want to do that I don't but that is not the point. There are a lot of people out there that DON'T or CAN'T do that anymore!! You know what thier options are? Quit or run a lower division.
Someone came on here and posted something about having 12 Supers in a class. Isn't it amazing how we have come to the point that 12 is an acceptable number for a car count? I have been around a long time guys and truct me that is not an acceptable car count. There were days when 20 was a low number anywhere. I mean racing hads gottan larger with Nascar and all but our car counts keep shrinking. SO WHY IS THAT? The less expensive classes seem to be gorwoing. If the track doesn't pay 1200-1500 on a weekly basis to run Supers then you are just nuts for cranking them up period or either you just have a bunch of money to blow. Most Limited classes run for $600-$800. HELLO.
Common sense.
Promoters: Track promoters need to promote. The ones that are successful now are the ones that do just that. Money alone does not get it done. IN most cases drivers are from the local community. Promote then within the local community. Some TV commercials are pretty cheap or at least reasonable. Lots of things can be done. When is the last time you actually saw a program for a local track for local drivers? How do people expect to have local heros if they don't even know who they are? One of the tracks my dad used to run at in 1963 had a local program. Peole still come up to me and tlak about how they used to go to Athens Speedway and watch my dad race. I'm not sure if he know them or not but they sure knew him. heck you know President Busch but you don't really KNOW him!! PROMOTIONS!!!
Series: The Series in the area need to do the same thing. Promote. Why would a track pay them to come there if they don't? What would be different? The Series needs to participate with the local track they are running at to make them both successful. If your Series isn't doing that, and most are not by the way, get someone else!!! How did you learn about us? We have never advertisied in your area. PROMOTING, MARKETING.
Drivers: Hey I was one for longer than most of you so I can say this. Change is not easy but it is needed. The proof is in the pudding. Car counts are lower, fan counts are down and purses are bascially the same as they have been for 10-15 years. Why? Think about it really. The tack owners don't owe you anything. This is a business. It has to make money. WE HAVE TO REMAIN OPEN MINDED. What we have been doing is not working anymore. If tracks don't make mney they become subdivisions. IT AIN'T ROCKET SCIENCE!!!
The cloest track here on a local basis before we started had 2 cars his first crate race. Then 6, then 10, then 12 and now he averages over 22 cars per race and its the best racing there. Side by side and yes a little bumping and sometimes a lot. Now that class is the ony reason his track is surviving. He took a chance. In business you have to. Even water, which has no smell at all,if it sits still long enough will start stinking. You take a chance getting in your car and going to work everyday.
Guys, if you want to spend 30K on engines and go race with twelve cars and you call that racing then go for it. YOU WILL PUT YOURSELF OUT OF BUSINESS EVENTUALLY. The guys with the big money are the very ones that need to help this class get started as a support division so the Super Late Model class can grow again. Wake up, you are not increasing in numbers you are decresing in numbers. Get mad at me if you want. I could care less. I care a lot more about the sport than I do some knucklehead that gets mad at me. Don't you guys want someone to race with?
Spec motors, shoot yea if you are talking about the brodix head deal. They were invented to run with Supers with a weight and spoiler break. They were never intended for a Limited class. Those guys have a good program. Its a good piece. IT IS NOT A LIMITED. Mix the spec cars with the Supers, they will run together, then do crates as your limiteds and all you have done is increase your car count. SIMPLE!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for letting me come on here and chat with you guys. I have to bail out until probably after Christmas. Hopefully we will see you guys one day. Maybe not. THats up to you and your local tracks. Not me. I don't beg for races or for racers. Our program works. Period. It benefits everyone.
For those of you that think I am "what did you say" a snake oil salesman. Call me and lets talk about it in person. What am I supposed to do, run? Hey remember I am a racer too. I am a little to stubborn for that. By the way that was a pretty cheap shot.
Merry Christmas everyone. Remember what it is truly about. Not gifts but family, friends and patience.
If you need me emaiul me direct and I will get back to you.
God Bless and Merry Christmas!!!
Stan
slester@fastrakracing.com
