Home | Register | Contact | Verify Email | FAQ |
Blogs | Photo Gallery | Press Release | Results | HoseheadsClassifieds.com


Welcome Guest. Already registered? Please Login

 

Forum: SCRAFAN.COM Forum (go)
Moderators: ljennings


Records per page
 
Topic: ASCS Northwest Series? Email this topic to a friend | Subscribe to this TopicReport this Topic to Moderator
Page 1 of 1   of  5 replies
JVan
March 26, 2015 at 09:46:03 PM
Joined: 11/08/2006
Posts: 206
Reply

Ever since moving to Oregon from Southern California in 2008, I have been attending ASCS Northwest winged races at various track as time and money allows. Even though I prefer the wingless cars, they put on a pretty good show. This year I keep checking for them to release their 2015 schedule but it still has not been released. Then, a few weeks ago, I hear news of a new sprint car series that was formed out of Cottage Grove. Sadly, this new group only races once at my favorite track (Willamette Speedway) and not at all at my local track (Sunset Speedway). Almost all of their races are in Cottage Grove and points south, which is not an option for me these days. Later, I was checking the ASCS website and the entire page for the Northwest region is gone. I can only assume that this means they are no longer a presence in the Northwest. Does anyone know what happened? I'm assuming some kind of power struggle occurred between the Crocketts and ASCS resulting in the dissolution of the ASCS sanction in the region and the formation of the new group. However, I have been unable to locate any news whatsoever. All I know is that this sucks for me and my family. I was looking forward to starting the sprint car tradition with my young son. It looks like I'll have to start the tradition with modifieds and dirt late models instead.

John




bentaxle
March 26, 2015 at 10:01:48 PM
Joined: 08/03/2011
Posts: 298
Reply

this is a huge problem most dont want to admit . every track should have its own classes that sustain the track on a local basis . whats funny is when it gets to this point fans would rather watch their local heros in low powered cars , than nothing with high power cars . what makes this all work is racers supporting the aftermarket automotive industry ( thats buying parts for those that didnt understand ) , and promoters that treat the racers fairly , put on a great show , and attract fans . . 


Drama , Controversy , Rivalry 

jah42
March 27, 2015 at 10:39:53 AM
Joined: 11/26/2004
Posts: 1841
Reply

As I was told, They deceided to go there own way. 




bentaxle
March 27, 2015 at 11:33:14 AM
Joined: 08/03/2011
Posts: 298
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: jah42 on March 27 2015 at 10:39:53 AM

As I was told, They deceided to go there own way. 



each track needs to have a support group of local racers , then the people like USAC or ASCS can have races at some of those tracks if they can afford it , when i say this it means both gates make money for the promoter  . a few big shows at a track that cant support them , well it only hurts the track and the sport . whats unbelievable right now is there are tracks that are being told what they can and cant do by people that dont care about what we love so much .....


Drama , Controversy , Rivalry 

Nutz4NonWing
March 28, 2015 at 03:48:52 PM
Joined: 03/28/2015
Posts: 4
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: JVan on March 26 2015 at 09:46:03 PM

Ever since moving to Oregon from Southern California in 2008, I have been attending ASCS Northwest winged races at various track as time and money allows. Even though I prefer the wingless cars, they put on a pretty good show. This year I keep checking for them to release their 2015 schedule but it still has not been released. Then, a few weeks ago, I hear news of a new sprint car series that was formed out of Cottage Grove. Sadly, this new group only races once at my favorite track (Willamette Speedway) and not at all at my local track (Sunset Speedway). Almost all of their races are in Cottage Grove and points south, which is not an option for me these days. Later, I was checking the ASCS website and the entire page for the Northwest region is gone. I can only assume that this means they are no longer a presence in the Northwest. Does anyone know what happened? I'm assuming some kind of power struggle occurred between the Crocketts and ASCS resulting in the dissolution of the ASCS sanction in the region and the formation of the new group. However, I have been unable to locate any news whatsoever. All I know is that this sucks for me and my family. I was looking forward to starting the sprint car tradition with my young son. It looks like I'll have to start the tradition with modifieds and dirt late models instead.

John



I too came to the Northwest (Washington) from Southern Cal as a former Ascot regular.  Not much Non-Wing here but did find the ASCS NW chapter pretty good as a substitute same as you.  Last year ASCS NW and National tour was off the schedule at Gray's Harbor Raceway.  It looked to me like in ASCS NW's place was the "Summer Thunder" series.  I did not see them run last year, I went to Indiana Sprint Week and got to California a couple of times instead.  However, the Summer Thunder series is back this year for a few dates at Skagit and Gray's Harbor.  I wonder if that series may have a different name at the Oregon tracks; (just a stab in the dark there), should be some of the same teams as you're used to seeing I'm guessing.  

The Summer Thunder series is scheduled to open up this year at the Yakima Dirt Track at Yakima (Central Washington) Fairgrounds next Saturday evening, 04 April, gates are supposed to open at 3 pm with racing starting about 5 pm.  From what I've read they are trying to have the program finished by 8 pm; Modified are also on the program.  If you haven't been to Yakima Dirt Track it looks to be a true 3/8's.  I've been there a couple of times when ASCS NW ended their season during the Central Washington Fair.  From this fan's standpoint it's my favorite dirt track in the state.  I'm planning on going, (weather permitting of course!); I'm curious if this series is pretty much ASCS NW, I assume it will be many of the same teams.  

Also, regarding the ASCS National tour, Dirt Cup at Skagit is ASCS sanctioned this year in late June as is the Fred Brownfield Classic at Gray's Harbor the following week, 03 - 04 July.  Info is on the Skagit and Gray's Harbor websites.  

 



raj
March 28, 2015 at 04:15:55 PM
Joined: 12/22/2004
Posts: 1084
Reply

While I agree with bentaxle's "formula," I'm forced to point again at the 1) cost of running a 360 or 410 sprint car vs. everything else I can think of on a dirt track (five times as expensive? more?), 2) the ever-shrinking audience, and 3) the realities of sponsorship bang-for-the-buck.

1) How many additional people can afford to obtain and operate the cars -- and the transporters -- one needs to be competitive with Ron Chaffin, the Alexanders, the Sertichs, the Vander Weerds, the Farias, the Bowmans, the Fords and a few others? (Don't get me wrong. We need =more= Chaffins, Alexanders, Sertichs, Vander Weerds, Farias, Bowmans and Fords... but where are we going to find these "patrons of the arts" in an era when so many others are beating down their doors? Big Ag, Big Automotive and Big Construction are not what they used to be in Cali.)

2) Big-time sports in big-time venues with ammenities like those at Staples and Fontana meet the expectations of those whose expectations have been raised =by= those venues. Most dirt tracks are funky and fun for us with =our= values and fifty-, sixty- or seventy-year-old expectations, but not for most young people nowadays. (Don Flanders and I used to go round and round about "bathrooms." Hahaha.)

3) Virtually all sponsors in auto racing are now in two categories: "Affinity" and "Contingency." I learned the hard way 15 years ago when I was trying to do the same thing with the Native American casinos for sprint cars that I'd managed to do in other areas: The audiences are too small from a purely bang-for-the-buck perspective. The sponsor has to have an emotional (often familial) relationship with the car owner and/or driver. Or be a manufacturer of parts or supplies. 

When I noticed last year that the "Faulkner Trucking" sign on the wall behind the back straight at Tulare was finally gone, I knew that we'd reached the end of an "affinity" era. And suspected the Steve F. understood that as well. 

See you in Hanford.





Post Reply
You must be logged in to Post a Message.
Not a member register Here.
Already registered? Please Login





If you have a website and would like to set up a forum here at HoseHeadForums.com
please contact us by using the contact link at the top of the page.

© 2024 HoseHeadForums.com Privacy Policy