Looking at the attendance at NASCAR races with all the empty seats you see that the days of people paying up to $100.00 to watch a show that they can see at home is about run it's course.
The Tour Modifieds are drawing a BIGGER following on the tube then some of te NASCAR events. The race at Bristol with Ryan Newman and TC was BETTER than the Kyle Busch show for sure.
I think in my humble opinion that the local tracks NEED to bring back the Vintage cars and show people what it was like and let the older generation have a reason to go to the track and bring the grandson or grandaughter to see what he grew up with. Then if they can get in the pits and sit in the car after the show or in some cases BEFORE the show you have a fan for life.
The Vinatge Show has a place along with the Vinatge Racing. The SHOW part is the SPortsmen divison in CAARA where the older cars, suspensions and those cars that do not want to run very fast can enjoy the night at the track. They can pass and have fun or just ride and enjoy like I did at Hammerdown last season. The stands will like the "SHOW" but they do go to the races to see a race. That is where the Modifieds come in. They drive harder and faster but all the drivers understnd that RUBBING is not RACING in an open wheel car. This group is what piuts the fans on the edge of their seats and makes them want more.
My HOPE was to have the ability to run a split show of Sportsmen and Modifieds based on engine alone but I think that allowing the faster in line 6 cars to run with the Modifieds will add interest in the stands. Then we can use the Sportsmen class as the "SHOW" and teh Modifieds as the "GO".
That is my $.02 what do YOU THINK???
I think anything that takes the current day fan back to the grassroots, and evokes memories in the long time fan like me is as good thing. I do not, however, know all the details about the different divisions to comment on that aspect, but I love those old cars!Tim
Well it is REAL SIMPLE that is why it worked back in the day.Lets go back to 1966:ALL bodies where the same in all divisions, Coupe or Coach no matterLOWEST and SLOWEST where the Novice Cars, V8 or in line 6 up to a 2 barrel Carburetor and a stock block and you go race 327 Cu in maxNext you had the Sportsmen class these where either in line 6 OR V8 with a 4 barrel on a stock engine, more or less and you go race. 327 to 350 Cu in maxIn BOTH of the above the more matched the body, Chevy in Chevy and Ford in Ford.The purse kept down the money spent and the owners did not go crazy, you needed it you built it.Now the Modifieds where another story, Full house modified was up to 500 Cu in, fuel injection on Methanol. These where the bad boys of the sport back then. You had the saying which is around today "By the Grace of God and 600 Hp"Today we dropped the Novice and kept the Sportsmen cars. MOST of the Modifieds are 350 Cu in on race gas with a couple a little bigger in the Cu In area. But with no money to race for it keeps it all in check. If you want to buy a real Modifieds from back in the day and come race you can, fuel injection and all. You race for the same winners trophy and no money but you get there a little faster. The drivers have all been there and done that so they do it now to enjoy the fun of driving and they get more fun out of the crowd and how they react.Hope this helps a little
I think that is a great idea! Like you said, the Kyle Bush show is getting old!
Saturday at Sumter will be a SHORT field of about 6 to 8 cars. The guys ran last weekend 8/21 at Carolina and there where some problems sine the old stuff needs some work, the cars also.The fact that we are getting questions asked by MODERN classes as to how to get the people and track behind them shows that the Vintage deal is getting some attention. We are HOPING to get a sponsor so we can pay tow money to the guys since some tow up to 280 miles one way to come play.I understand a budget and running back to back weekends is not in it for most of the guys. Bobby C and I are talking about what to do for 2011 and where to do it if the car count BASE does not build up to support twice a month racing.The premier clubs that run like we do have a base of 90 and 45 cars to draw from the latter being 100% Modified Sportsmen cars. They both run 2 or sometimes 3 times a month but with that big of a pool you can see how 18 to 20 cars a show is easy to do.Our pool has 12 cars among to groups with the largest being Bell & Bell Vintage which is run by Bobby Williamson. I like to say that Bobby Cheated since he owns a parts store and has "NORMAL" Connections for sponsor items and goodies.LRP Modified Sportsmen series is my thing and was only formed to be a clearing house so we did not step on toes with so few cars around. Mt business contacts are not into racing on dirt or in a circle, For some reason I do not thing that Rolls Royce, Porsche, Jaguar, Land Rover and Corvette would want to support what we do.We will keep plugging along and not throw in the towel. The CAARA Schedule is in Vintage Oval Racing Magazine showing Sumter Speedway as our home track. This is a big help since you now have a target that a person who wants a car can see where that track is compared to where they live.I think that some of the existing classes might do better following our lead and running for trophies and fun till they get the experience and money to move up in the racing world.
Well lets talk some PIE IN THE SKY stuff for 2011 Season. The addition of a title sponsor will allow us to pay $200.00 per car tow money at all events. The Contingency sponsors will allow us to give away products and make this a good fun thing to do that helps pay for you to play. We will still not race for a purse but will give out Year end points trophies in Modified and Sportsmen division, wait we are doing that this year.Home track will be Sumter Speedway (that is a FACT) with other shows at I20, Gordon Park and the Dirt Track at Lowes (don't laugh).The Vinatge Dirt Track Race of Champions will be held in 2011 based on the All Star Series of the 1960's.OK Santa that is what I want, PLEASE!!
CAARA is ADDING a Preservation class for 2011 so that the TRUE period cars that HAVE not been upgraded to race but HAVE the correct Safety Items, like SEAT BELTS. Can get some limited track time and not get into the racey things that the guys do on track.I feel this was the missing link in the vintage area and I feel now all the holes are plugged and anyboy can enjoy their car on track.