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“BROADSLIDING THE OVALS “

By Bob Altman

“ What‘s Up In Racing “

This installment of Broadsliding The Ovals will take on a different look from what I’ve written in the past , just my own way of stating facts , and opinion of how I see it these days .

Much is going on in local and national racing and how fans are getting the blunt of it , cost factors ,in consistent track conditions , lack of promotion , or should I SAY NO PROMOTERS like years ago , poor marketing ideas , lack of what fans want to see , and the list goes on . I hate to sound negative but these are some of the facts or what ills racing in general whether it be dirt or NASCAR .

While some of the racing this year has improved such as in dirt racing with USAC, WoO, and your local tracks. I’ve also viewed some pretty good winged 410 racing this year , better then I thought I would , is it due to the harder sidewall Goodyear tires maybe ? or maybe there are other variables coming into play , like more balance that a lot of teams have caught up . I know there are still a lot of high buck teams out there , but even these teams are having trouble because of the cost factors . Believe me if this trend continues it will be the ruination of winged 410 racing as we know it today . An example of this happens quite often when you see teams run with different traveling organizations and they can’t continue the pace , so they drop off for a while , run at various tracks or with other sanctioning groups to recoup there losses or to make necessary money they need to be able to race weekly or even a few times here and there . Just maybe its time to look at other alternatives in presenting quality racing , higher car counts and find positive ways to lower racers costs .

Sure our economy has something to do with it, but this was going to happen no matter what , as the foresight wasn’t there even though they knew it was coming .

I love sprint car racing and would love to see it return to what it was long ago, not what it has become.

Just maybe its time to make changes that will benefit all those involved including the fans. Why , not share track preparation information , so we may see a consistent track weekly or close to it , or budget track money to resurface a track yearly or every other year ,this will enable fans to view a good show . Or why not alternate weeks at a local track so that you will see a great show and a larger car count providing more of your favorite drivers to appear .Guess what promoters or track owners everyone will make money and your fans will return to see good racing . Unfortunately there are only a handful of good promoters or event organizers today , this is sad but true ? .

I understand more changes are on the way , well that maybe good but hopefully not the way the tire rule was implemented . Consult teams first & often for there input , don’t rush into anything , sure we need better racing to keep our product viable and exciting to attract crowds , sponsors , or even TV . But we also need creativity to put more excitement into the shows themselves not outside entertainment like NASCAR is doing , sure it’s great but not the way its being done . More is on my mind but I will save that for a later date as news develops from the sprint car world with the annual meeting coming at Knoxville in August

Oval News & Notes

Recent visits to the shows of the eastern tour of USAC suggest that fans want more of the non-wing variety , so it would be wise tracks to think of scheduling a race for next year .

Knoxville is just around the corner fans , hope you can make it this year as there maybe some surprises I hope ? if we have a repeat winner again , it could be the worst thing for sprint car racing and Knoxville on there 50th Anniversary which may reduce crowd size in future years .

If you haven’t visited Sharon Speedway please make it there sometime , just to see the facility and convenience for fans.

Tough year for many drivers , is it the tire or other factors ? I’d like to know wouldn’t you ?

Visit the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame if your going to Knoxville , a lot of good racing films will be shown in the new 2nd floor theatre ,along with daily seminars and more

What is good for the growth of the sport and our fan base is what has to be considered nothing else .

And on a personal note , I have many plans coming your way from RFD to provide more tours , a new website , more valuable discounts, giveaway prizes , and more , so please follow my activities, which are designed only to benefit you .

Thanks fans , see you at Knoxville, Bob Altman

 

 

 

My Racing Utopia & Oval News

Today , I am going to write what I feel would be the ideal or utopian situation in sprint car racing locally as well as the national level .

I have been lucky in my life to witness some of the greatest racing , the greatest drivers , and great rivalries that existed on a weekly basis . This thrill or rush could happen again, but not highly likely because of many variables of greed, lack of true present day promoters and in general, lack of understanding the racing fan.

But let’s start with our national sprint car circuit which governs most all of our winged racing or who sets the standards .It would be to there benefit to go backward in time to construct money saving efforts for teams , put sprint car racing back on the map to be shown weekly on TV ,or to NASCAR fans , the real thrill of racing not what it’s become today . Sprint car racing could again capture what it was before of constant passing ,cars moving inside , outside all over the track of side by side action .It would be put back into a drivers hands not by a locked down car that is limited .Yes, the car produces high speed and some passing but not the action fans should view of what makes these cars exciting .

How do we bring this about is easy, but not maybe to the liking of present day drivers who may be use to there cars .I have spoke to several people who are certainly more knowledgeable then me. They suggest we eliminate front wings ,extremely down size the top wing to where it was years ago with the elimination of the huge side panels that were created mainly for advertising not for real racing, create less costly engine expense or expand motor longevity , and go back to a 12 inch tire on the right rear . The costs of owning a sprint car would be reduced significantly and fans would enjoy racing more.

With these changes in action, now we could move on to local weekly shows of present day promoters in your back yard . I propose a rotation of weekly Saturday night shows between local tracks that seem always to have too many tracks running on that night and taking cars from each other . What this does is lowering car counts and again fans lose by not seeing there favorite race at there track near where they live . So wouldn’t it make sense to alternate weeks of operating your shows , pulling in huge car counts , larger crowds to provide good racing and a total win situation for all involved .

I know this may seem ridiculous to many who read this article but sprint car racing is at a point now of out pricing itself .Not allowing new or current owners to afford to race even one night a week or even able to think about racing three nights in some states . The inability of cultivating new drivers , owners , sponsors into a business that could be affordable doesn’t make sense . Our present day stars are not getting any younger , so we need new energy to revitalize the sport we so love and bring new fans with there families to realize the excitement of sprint car racing .

Oval Notes:

The Goodyear tire issue is still in question around many tracks with drivers , tires going down , some still not able to pass . Next year I understand the sidewall will be even harder? What will happen then?

Ever looked around at our track queens , or various young ladies who represent organizations and see that they don’t even project an attractive image by there choice of outfits . Ladies look at some photos of last years MS MOTORSPORTS , MS Alyssa Sharman and see how to present a true feminine image .

Knoxville decided on 50 laps for this year’s race ,thanks to you , now I hope they only ALLOW A FUEL ONLY STOP , no adjustments allowed, only time for fuel .

Next year rule proposals, are no fuel stops and a larger fuel cell , hope it helps for better racing .

I didn’t like what I read during Florida speedweeks about the tracks not trying to re-schedule a cancelled race the next day . This was awful for the fans and drivers who went down for these races , added expense , no racing and I understand some poor racing at the tracks that did race .

Let’s hope more promoters will consider you in the future and just maybe learn from two excellent promoters I know Mr. J.R. Keifer of Bedford Speedway & Bob Miller of Thunder On The Hill Promotions

I enjoy bringing you this column and I hope you enjoy it as well as I always bring facts and opinion from a fans point of view . Thanks, Bob Altman, robertaltman@bigplanet.com .

 

 

The Top Ten Report for Fans

Originally I had wanted to do a whole different article for this month , but because much is going on , I thought it was more appropriate to present some news and notes .

1. While racing is slowly getting into gear in some areas we have seen some new unexpected results. One is the early success of the Goodyear tire that was pushed on teams , more because of there sponsorship dollars being added to various tracks and sanctioning groups for point funds and weekly purses . But so far these tires or the new tire rule have produced more passing in the short time they’ve been in action since the early days under the WoO banner .

2. Maybe track conditions have played into this equation to some extent , and knowing how to set up the car for the track conditions as shown at Las Vegas Dirt Track . Once again the track appeared visibly dry and slick as it is most years that I attended , I think its time for new clay at Las Vegas .

3. USAC has had a different look so far this year as Damien Gardner has dominated it’s racing , some passing as demonstrated at recent Las Vegas race . But at East Bay it was wire to wire for the demon , as this was surprising to me in light of track size which favors USAC wingless racing to produce quality racing .

4. Now hear this fans you are being heard for the first time in years as indicated by the disappearing cone , double file restarts , and other changes to create more passing and better racing . Keep the cards , letters and e-mails coming fans and just maybe they will reward you when you enter those gates each week with a gift or a race program you won’t forget .

5. It’s time for uniform track conditions or to share how to prepare tracks or not be granted a sanctioned race that save the season for the non-promoted tracks .

6. Driver changes everywhere, but allot of good drivers without rides?

7. Tracks in the east getting ready to open over the next few weekends , I hope you can make it out to support them even though it is still on the cold side

8. Ever get bored with watching racing on TV, I sure do , just watch NASCAR. It’s time to shorten the races Mr. Helton and crew , ever think about presenting a 25 or 50 lap race before the main event of modifieds or late models ?

9. Looks like the Tony Stewart team of Steve Kinser and Donny Schatz could dominate WoO racing season ? We will see in weeks to come.

10. What do you think fans? isn’t it time for larger fuel cells or tanks on these sprint cars then there would be no fuel stops and you would see the races that you long to see .

Notes for all you Broadsliding Fans:

Take in a race at your local tracks , they are the best bargain , and you don’t have to travel as far or spend as much money .

My personal thanks to Brad Vores for mentioning RFD in his column , he does a great job and a passionate fan as well .

My condolences to Deb Sauers on the passing of a great man, husband and a great racing fan Mr. Charles Sauers , we all will miss him especially at Selinsgrove Speedway where he visited quite often

A personal get well wish to Cody Darrah and Joe , we all miss you as you both are great representatives of racing , and to our fans who you always gave your time to every week at the races .

I sure hope Kevin Swindell gets a ride in USAC Non Wing racing again this year , what a job he did last year and at the Chili Bowl this year.

Well that it’s for this month , sorry for the delay in getting out my article , until next month or sooner . Please feel free to contact me anytime at racingfansdirect@bigplanet.com or even call me at 443-974-7027 , always here for you, Bob Altman