[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by SpaceCadet

No, you're not wrong, at least in the division I'm talking about. Back in the days of Jim Shampine these cars were built from scratch in the garages. Now, these machines have grown to be so sophisticated that you have to depend on performance parts. No one has a machine shop sophisticated enough to make, modify, alter, whatever, these parts. Sure, there's still plenty of stuff that you can do yourself if you've got the know how, but the top performers are all cars with the high performance bolt on parts. Now, the really top performers are the guys who can afford the best stuff AND have some wrenches that are nothing short of brilliant. Even though these teams have money, I still give them a lot of credit because they have mechanics who can put those cars back together in a week after a major wreck and still have that car running up front. They have guys that know instictively how to fix that car no matter how big or how small the problem is. I've got to respect that.

The way I view it is that it might equate to a meal. If you're a good cook you can get the basics at the grocery and fix a good nourishing meal. Or, if you aren't so good a cook you can go out to a resturant and have someone cook it for you at twice the price.

[Racer Duck]

Unfortunately, there will always be people around who are willing to spend any amount of money for the 1st place trophy .. many of which can be bought at the local trophy shop for less than $20 - or maybe $25 including the recent inflation caused by rising gas prices.

The true "racers" are the ones who love the competition as much or more than where they place in a race. To that end, I love the story from our now defunct racing series (ROMCO) where a racer spent $70,000 for an engine to win a $3000 first place prize, then couldn't find anyone to meet his asking price of $50,000 for the used engine...last I heard he still has the engine some 5 years later. My son, racing in the same series at the same time said "That's great! I spent $5000 for my engine and I won $800. I think I'm ahead of him!"

But I don't like rules that limit what a person can spend. I prefer to be able to compete head to head with the big spenders, knowing I'm spending a tenth or less of what they're spending. Still, money buys speed and it's a challenge to find ways to compete without spending big bucks, but it's possible.

There are still people around every track who can produce a more than competitive machine for very little cash. They aren't interested in making money, but in helping good racers compete. And, they'd turn down a Johnny Benson showing up at their shop wanting a chassis or motor "right now." Sure, they'd be honored, but that's not the way they work: usually one car/motor at a time, and there's a waiting list and new names go to the bottom of the list. Like I said, they're interested in helping good racers compete. But, they are a vanashing breed, maybe even an "endangered species."

Now, that in no way means the only good "builders" are the ones who don't place the $$$$ first. Anyone who's in business, is there to make money. How much and what they'll do with it is for them to decide and I do not begrudge them the ability to suck the wallets of big spenders. Just don't expect me to use their products.

I used to not be a Tony Stewart fan, and was very dubious about his buying Eldora. But he has shown his true love for racing and for making everyone who comes thru the gate at his track, whether competitor or fan, a first class event at a first class facility. And he's not afraid to get his hands dirty doing it. To him, it's not about the money, but about providing the best possible facility to both competitors and fans. And part of that is tapping the "big names" to come to his "back yard" and play .. without their "handlers."

Hopefully there are folks around who are taking notice of what Tony is doing and will take their lead from him. It ain't about the money or the trophies .. too often that's the main focus .. it's about the competition and the show and the fans: you can't buy that.

Claimers, crates, or any other type rule which restricts competition are good in the lower series, but won't work in the premier series. When you make everyone run a cookie cutter car on a cookie cutter track, you get cookie cutter drivers and cookie cutter teams "performing" their cookie cutter act in front of cookie cutter fans.

[DOF_power]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Unfortunately, there will always be people around who are willing to spend any amount of money for the 1st place trophy .. many of which can be bought at the local trophy shop for less than $20 - or maybe $25 including the recent inflation caused by rising gas prices.

The true "racers" are the ones who love the competition as much or more than where they place in a race. To that end, I love the story from our now defunct racing series (ROMCO) where a racer spent $70,000 for an engine to win a $3000 first place prize, then couldn't find anyone to meet his asking price of $50,000 for the used engine...last I heard he still has the engine some 5 years later. My son, racing in the same series at the same time said "That's great! I spent $5000 for my engine and I won $800. I think I'm ahead of him!"

But I don't like rules that limit what a person can spend. I prefer to be able to compete head to head with the big spenders, knowing I'm spending a tenth or less of what they're spending. Still, money buys speed and it's a challenge to find ways to compete without spending big bucks, but it's possible.

There are still people around every track who can produce a more than competitive machine for very little cash. They aren't interested in making money, but in helping good racers compete. And, they'd turn down a Johnny Benson showing up at their shop wanting a chassis or motor "right now." Sure, they'd be honored, but that's not the way they work: usually one car/motor at a time, and there's a waiting list and new names go to the bottom of the list. Like I said, they're interested in helping good racers compete. But, they are a vanashing breed, maybe even an "endangered species."

Now, that in no way means the only good "builders" are the ones who don't place the $$$$ first. Anyone who's in business, is there to make money. How much and what they'll do with it is for them to decide and I do not begrudge them the ability to suck the wallets of big spenders. Just don't expect me to use their products.

I used to not be a Tony Stewart fan, and was very dubious about his buying Eldora. But he has shown his true love for racing and for making everyone who comes thru the gate at his track, whether competitor or fan, a first class event at a first class facility. And he's not afraid to get his hands dirty doing it. To him, it's not about the money, but about providing the best possible facility to both competitors and fans. And part of that is tapping the "big names" to come to his "back yard" and play .. without their "handlers."

Hopefully there are folks around who are taking notice of what Tony is doing and will take their lead from him. It ain't about the money or the trophies .. too often that's the main focus .. it's about the competition and the show and the fans: you can't buy that.

Ain't it the truth.

Claimers, crates, or any other type rule which restricts competition are good in the lower series, but won't work in the premier series. When you make everyone run a cookie cutter car on a cookie cutter track, you get cookie cutter drivers and cookie cutter teams "performing" their cookie cutter act in front of cookie cutter fans.

Add to that when sanctioning bodies "design" the cookie cutter and forget about the old rule that 9 out 10 times it doesn't work and keep the "doesn't work" product and tells everyone to shut up cause they have it so good.

And it's the same everywhere.


"When you make everyone run a cookie cutter car on a cookie cutter track, you get cookie cutter drivers and cookie cutter teams "performing" their cookie cutter act in front of cookie cutter fans."

Now would send a letter with this to NASCAR/the France family, IRL-/Tony George and the FIA-CVC to illuminate then about these things ?!

Or maybe it's that they want the cookie cutter fans (money) ?!