Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

How about putting the whole country on the same tire package so that racers on a lower budget can go race with whatever series they like whenever they choose without having the burden of having to buy tires for just one night or one weekend to race with a specific series, then having the excess unused tires laying around til they rot away. 

ASCS, WoO, PA, Knoxville, King of the West, All Stars, etc.

In NZ and Australia its pretty common to split the field up into groups, say 4 groups of 6 cars, no TT, pill draw for first heat grid. Then magical grid pixies (Actually its easy to explain with a diagram) organise the groups to race each other group once, so round 1 A vs B, C vs D, round 2 A vs C, B vs D round 3 A vs D, C vs B. With each driver having a front, middle and rear grid start so its fair.

Every car has to race every other car at least once during the night other than the A main. And no time trials saves the track which allows the sun to go down to keep moisture in the surfacee, the marble draw ensures plenty of passing and extra heat racing. Run a B main, they tag the back of the A. Line the cars up by overall points for the A main or do a pole shuffle OR do a reverse pole shuffle, basically an inversion to set the A main grid.

Youtube world sprintcar classic pole shuffle if you arent sure what a pole shuffle is. Schatz vs Peter Murphy finale was epic.

The limitations of this format are that it probably works best with a smaller field and spread over two nights, packed into one night though its alot of action for the fan. The pole shuffles in particular allow driver rivalries and drama to shine, and create a better show.

I dig a lot the way some races are run in Australia. When Geoff was back there last year, I paid close attention and still couldn't figure it out, but from what I saw, it was two heat races with the second heat inverted. However, the inside row stays in the original spot and somehow the outside row goes to another heat. 4 original heats = 8 heats total. Passing points obviously. At the end either the top 6 in points do a pole shuffle ala Front Row Challenge or they then qualify, starting straight up from qualifying. It was different (to me at least) and made sense because you always wanted to go fast and the fastest guy earned the pole from hauling ass all night long. -  Ron

Lets say you have 30 cars

2 lap tt plus 3 10 Lap heats = 360 laps on the track after heats are done.

No tt, 2 - 10 lap heats per car = 600 laps on the track when heats are done

That leaves you with a lot of rubber down A mains or a lot of long intermissions to rework the track.

Not to mention more wear on the cars, double the chance of tearing up a car in a wreck, more money spent on tires & fuel. That means raise the purse ( higher ticket prices ) or drive more lower dollar teams out of the sport.

In NZ and Australia its pretty common to split the field up into groups, say 4 groups of 6 cars, no TT, pill draw for first heat grid. Then magical grid pixies (Actually its easy to explain with a diagram) organise the groups to race each other group once, so round 1 A vs B, C vs D, round 2 A vs C, B vs D round 3 A vs D, C vs B. With each driver having a front, middle and rear grid start so its fair.

Every car has to race every other car at least once during the night other than the A main. And no time trials saves the track which allows the sun to go down to keep moisture in the surfacee, the marble draw ensures plenty of passing and extra heat racing. Run a B main, they tag the back of the A. Line the cars up by overall points for the A main or do a pole shuffle OR do a reverse pole shuffle, basically an inversion to set the A main grid.

Youtube world sprintcar classic pole shuffle if you arent sure what a pole shuffle is. Schatz vs Peter Murphy finale was epic.

The limitations of this format are that it probably works best with a smaller field and spread over two nights, packed into one night though its alot of action for the fan. The pole shuffles in particular allow driver rivalries and drama to shine, and create a better show.

Hmmm, maybe Petaluma should try a few alternate format nights.  Maybe one show a month throw a curve into the weekly format.   A twin feature night would be cool too.

When the WoO come to Knoxville in June for a regular Outlaw show there are 45 - 55 410's there. Don't think each car running 3 heats is going to work well with that many cars. Maybe at WoO shows that only draw enough cars for heats but not enough to run a B then your format would make for a better night of racing for the fans. 

I've watched racing from NZ on TV. I wouldn't be trying to mimick anything they do down there, still a long way from being anywhere near the mark 

1. Invert 6, take 5 to feature (if 4 heats), invert 8 take 6 to feature (if 3 heats) - if only 24 cars, only top 6 finishers in heats go to invert

2.  ELIMINATE THE DASH

3.  B-main cars line-up behind everyone that qualifies through a heat race

4.  random invert of 0,4,6,8, 10 or 12 for feature (guy starting last in the B-main pulls the pill prior to b-main).  If no B-main, guy starting last in the feauture pulls the pill.

5. keep time trials but go to 2-3 car sessions on short tracks and 4-5 car sessionson 1/2 miles to cut down time trial time

6. ENCOURAGE local teams to participate (do away with $100 DIRT license)

7.  Change tire rule to (1) tire per night for TT, heats and feature (instead of TT, heat and dash and you can put on new ones for feature) - should make it so tire choice becomes more important.  Do you give up some TT speed for a tire that will be better in the feature?  Do you bolt on a soft tire to have a great TT lap and move forward in the heat and hope it makes it 30-40 laps in the feature?

Out of curiositing what racing did you watch from NZ?

1. Invert 6, take 5 to feature (if 4 heats), invert 8 take 6 to feature (if 3 heats) - if only 24 cars, only top 6 finishers in heats go to invert

2.  ELIMINATE THE DASH

3.  B-main cars line-up behind everyone that qualifies through a heat race

4.  random invert of 0,4,6,8, 10 or 12 for feature (guy starting last in the B-main pulls the pill prior to b-main).  If no B-main, guy starting last in the feauture pulls the pill.

5. keep time trials but go to 2-3 car sessions on short tracks and 4-5 car sessionson 1/2 miles to cut down time trial time

6. ENCOURAGE local teams to participate (do away with $100 DIRT license)

7.  Change tire rule to (1) tire per night for TT, heats and feature (instead of TT, heat and dash and you can put on new ones for feature) - should make it so tire choice becomes more important.  Do you give up some TT speed for a tire that will be better in the feature?  Do you bolt on a soft tire to have a great TT lap and move forward in the heat and hope it makes it 30-40 laps in the feature?

I know this has been a topic of discussion for a long time. Add or change what I have.

1. No more qualifying

2. Top 2 cars make the dash out of heat races.

3. B mains must consist of at least 8 cars

Western Springs.  The races where the Americans ran 123 and dominate every time! 

Dont be fooled by the slick professional presentation of the cars or the tv show, all racers in NZ are very much weekend warriors racing for no more than a hobby, semi professionals, lucky to get $500 for a 410 A Main win. When the Americans come to NZ its no different to the Outlaws racing against NOSA or IRA drivers, professionals vs enthusiasts/guys out there for fun. The difference is the marketing spin The Springs and its teams are pushing is that they are the best racers in NZ which is fair enough, except when international drivers come to the party.