Forum: Oklahomatidbits.com General Forum (go)
Moderators:  /  David Smith Jr

I brought up that topic for discussions. I want to hear what everyone else feels about it.

Not to try to sway the discussions in anyway but I did speak to someone and they had informed me that he had spoken to some people that feel racing as we see it will be around for about another 10 to 20 years and that is it. Also, I spoke with a fan last Friday who attended SFS but once the rumors, at that time, started to fly about tearing the grandstand down he quit going. However, he said he is more than willing to support other tracks.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands 
in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he 
stands at times of challenge and controversy." 
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Erich Petersen 

I don't see racing dying in 10-20 years. I have been around since 1985 and that was the start of the oil bust and there were people still building cars during that time. What hurts racing, as a whole, now is the current economy and the closing of SFS. As long as racers have the money and can justify the expense they will race. This is the first year without SFS and the racing community is adjusting to it. If a track opens in OKC that would help some if it was run correctly. The 2 things that I think would help increase car counts everywhere and bring new people into the sport are:

1. Tracks in Oklahoma have a uniform set of rules for Sport mods, modifeds, sprints, and stock cars. Every promotor thinks he is smarter than everyone else and has to come up with just enough difference in his rules so that cars won't or can't compete at other tracks in the state.

2. Strict rules enforcement by qualified personnel. Are you going to catch every person cheating? No, but put some effort & time into really checking the cars.

Kenny, you're exactly right on both accounts. I can say, however, to stay tuned within the next couple of months. I can't say anymore as I would be castrated and they'd be tangling from somebodys truck rear bumper.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

Do you even use them anymore???

HA-HA You did open the door David...

 Randy       

       DIRT TRACKIN
"When it's wet slide it in"

The only signficant sprint car racing, in terms of car count, in or around these parts this weekend is on the Arkansas line and at Cowtown. That tells you the state of the state when it comes to sprinters. It ain't on life support, but it ain't good either. Lawton has become the next best thing for many of us in the central part of the state and the sprint car racing that track produces is a far, far cry from what we experienced at the fairgrounds.

"I'd pay $15 to watch a sprint car sit still."

I could not have said it any better Kenny...

 Randy       

       DIRT TRACKIN
"When it's wet slide it in"

there are too many options of entertainment fighting for a person's money. It is easier to get a computer, play your xbox, watch you larger than needed most upto date flat screen liquid crystal TV, text, chat and pay per view gadget your way into happiness and bliss. Why race when you can push pause restart and change the level to what you can win and be happy with it? Why race when you can go down the street to see the next big nba player, pro hockey sooner cowboy broncho trojan bat swinging over priced downtown car named beer pavilion?

There will always be people that want to race. We might all be in one class someday, but we will be racing.

As for the state of racing, it has been hit hard in our state and will be sometime, if ever, before it rebounds to where it was atleast 5 years ago. It's not just dirt oval racing but all forms of motorsports in Oklahoma are suffering. There are too many other things going on to draw in newer groups of racers. Too many things that are easier to do, than race a race car.

I dont see the racing around here completly dying in 10 to 20 years but i do see it struggling for at least another 2 to 5 years. Clay Bennett and his stooge hurt us bad, with everything they have done. It turned alot of the lower budget guys away from the sport cause they cant afford to go out of town. They maybe able to go everyonce in awhile, but it becomes harder to justify paying all that money to go run in the back. Im not saying every low budget team is slow or can win, but its hard when you have people putting 5000 dollars and more into there motors. IF and new track gets built in the OKC or surrounding area it will help, if it is run properly.

Like it was said earlier, the promotors in this state need to get together and have a meeting, and iron out a uniform set of rules, pay scale and nights they run. This goes for every track, rather, your racing sprint cars, mini sprints, or full body cars or mods. Aslong as we keep trying to cut each others throats we will continue to watch car counts dwindle. Same goes with racers, the more that we bitch and moan to promoters and track officals, the more Promoters and track officals want to sell the track, close down the track or quit being an official. We are not perfect, yet we are held to a perfect standard and when we screw up, its always you just favor that driver or this driver your out to get us. As an official we are to be bias, i know that not ever official is bias, but if that clouds our judgement then we shouldnt be an official or a promoter. Same goes with our promoters around this area and the state, they need to keep there bias opinion to themselfs if you tell drivers if they dont like they dont have to race here... Guess what they will go somewhere eles.

Sorry for the ramble, have had this on my mind for awhile now. I know that it will never happen cause we dont live in a perfect world, But wouldnt it be something to see if it could work, and ever track would have full classes the drivers and owners would talk calmly to track officials and promoters and visa versa.

David Foley

"Just let me make it to the Dirt Track.. Truck then u 
can break down!!!"

I think the answer to this question is simple... MONEY. It costs way too much money to race these days and people have less of it. Every year, it seems the parts you bought last year are about 5-10% higher than they were the year before. The costs to be competitve is much higher now because of all the high-dollar parts, titanium-this and billet-that. If want to win, you are gonna have to spend! Pit passes have gone from $15 to $25 in less than 10 years. Purses are staying the same. Racing fuel is now $7 per gallon and gas for the truck is around $3. I think this alone had a huge impact on the decline back in 2008 when gas was $4/gallon. Just pulling the car to the track and back could easily be $100. By the way, I have yet to get an answer to why racing fuel never came back down like gasoline. It went from $3.55 to $7.00 because gasoline went to $4. When gas came back down, why didn't racing fuel??? Is it because they didn't see much of a dip in sales?

I also think that the make up of the average dirt racer, a modified or stock car racer, is in the class that has been hit the hardest by the ailing economy. More racers are blue-collar workers and these people have lost more jobs than anyone. When you lose your job or are forced to take another with less pay, you have to cut somewhere and racing seems the most logical. Although some will fight this as hard as they can before giving in! I also think that once drivers are forced out, it is hard to get them back in. Some will find other things to do with their money or realize how much they were spending! I will say though, as long as there is a place to race, people will find a way. It's like what Richard Petty said, the first race happened the day the second car was built! People are going to race!

The dream of the steel horse on dirt is just as natural as a dogs need to poke its head out of a speeding cars window.

No real idea here as to where it goes.

I just read the title and was like "here we go lol"

I have a ton to say, but at the same time, I am hesitant to. Not sure if I want to take this one on lol.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

Well Cody you know I like to stir the pot sometimes. Shoot people at Brill's were like it is boring on tidbits lately you need to liven it up lol.

Go ahead and say that is why I posted this topic. I know it would be like War and Peace but hea nothing better than reading it at 3 in the morning lol.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands 
in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he 
stands at times of challenge and controversy." 
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Erich Petersen 

Agreed.......

and I will add that even an unsatisfying Lawton trip is still 100x better than Creek County........

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

The places now with all the money are the casinos. Somehow or someway we need to get the casinos involved in racing. C Foster brings up some good points. Wish I had the answer

Here we go... Go ahead and unleash the beast, haven't had a good read in awhile. I'm a setting here in a quite house while others are working or a going to school. I been a looking for a good novel full of CCC inspiration and a good chuckle before I give it up and go to bed after working all night. So... Cody you need to help a brother out and tell us how ya really feel... I don't go to alot of races this season (gota buy the kids a new pair of shoes lol) and I miss out on all the bench racing. You and this site is my Life Line, So can ya help a brother out???

I will check in later so good night, good morning or what ever the hell it is. This sucks because I never know what day it is either... lmao...

 Randy       

       DIRT TRACKIN
"When it's wet slide it in"

Dont go to Cowtown this weekend, ASCS Lone Star cancelled due to National race at Little Rock being so close.

If you're going to drive all the way to Ft Smith to OCRS, you may as well drive a couple more hrs to Little Rock for the ASCS National race.

Otherwize, go to Lawton !!

Given the choice of Pocola or LR, would take the extra time and go to LR. The LR track is friggin awesome to watch racing on. The facilities leave a bit to be desired, but is well worth it. First time I went it was like stepping back in to the early 70's. Track announcer sounded a lot like the guys you here in the background on some of the old racing movies like "The Last American Hero" or "Greased Lightning".

I highly recommend the frito-chili pie at I-30 in Little Rock. Make sure you have your money out and ready to pay though, the old lady at the register can get a little snappy! Also on the announcer, he sounds JUST LIKE Boss Hogg. Even more unbelieveable, he dresses just like him too! He has the white shoes, pants, and hat. The only thing that is out of place is he is as skinny as a post!

I can remember when we used to kick around those kinds of things relative to Oklahoma tracks. Sad.

"I'd pay $15 to watch a sprint car sit still."

The fried pickles are good as well.

I almost forgot about the lady taking the money. She sure can be a little snappy! LOL Probably been doin the same job on sat night for many many years.