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February 17, 2012 at
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Reply to:
Posted By: vande77 on February 16 2012 at 03:00:35 PM
I remember the days when there were only 6-7 full-time traveling teams. (the 1980's)
To many fans, those were the heyday of sprint car racing....
The Outlaws will survive as long as the "little teams" can still show up and race (and compete if hte track conditions are correct). I have a hard time calling hardly any teams little anymore though, some of the so-called "low buck" teams are spending as much (if not more) on a per-race basis to race locally than some of the traveling teams do. Do you really need a semi truck and 53' featherlite trailer to race 35 miles from your shop?
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The difference between the late 70's and early 80's and now is that back then we just had local Sprint Cars and they weren't divided up into 410's, 360's, 305's, etc. Now there are only a handful of 410's in a lot of the areas they race in. We've been pretty close to that magic number of 24 in recent years.
Stan Meissner
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February 17, 2012 at
11:44:44 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: dsc1600 on February 15 2012 at 02:41:52 PM
One could wonder the same thing about the Grove when they get their 800 fans for a regular show when the "circus" or a "Speedweek" isn't in town.
Funny how all the bashers turn to fans when May/July/October comes around. haha
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not bashing necessarily.
They kind of know that they have the best local crop of everything when it comes to sprint car racing (arguably). I bet they do love the tradition/rivalry rich WoO vs. Posse shows there.....and by that token I think they are rooting for their guys and against the invaders - not necessarily against the WoO as a series. I prefer ASCS to 410 racing and I don't want to see 410 racing die off.
How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a
wouldchuck could chuck would
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February 18, 2012 at
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Reply to:
Posted By: boggsdude on February 14 2012 at 04:02:15 PM
It's all Obama's fault!
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No, Obama & Michell
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February 28, 2012 at
07:46:13 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Mod9Fan on February 16 2012 at 08:55:12 PM
Yep, how about "Quick Nick" blowing that sucker up, running about 100% nitro, Yeeehaaaa that was fun! Those days will be no more, but for those that had the chance to witness such events, we can only dream of yesteryear. By the way, the only Super Modified Driver to every beat the World of Outlaws in a "A main event". That I know of.
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In the first year of the WoO, ANY race that paid at least $2000 to win, anywhere, was considered a WoO race.
In October of 1978, the regular WoO followers were on the West Coast, but Syracuse scheduled at $2000 to win race. Bentley Warren won it in an ASPHALT Super Modified.
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February 28, 2012 at
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Reply to:
Posted By: linbob on February 15 2012 at 11:16:45 AM
A stock car track owner said also that there are no younger fans in bleachers, he said it was all the grey hair old folks that have been coming to track for years. I think there are alot of fans that just want to go to special races. These people go to ncaa finals, nba, kentucky derby, rose bowl, Indy 500, but do not show up for weekly shows, don;t ask me why.
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I live in South Dakota and I know or have heard about "racing fans" who only go to the WoO show at Huset's or to the Knoxville Nationals, but wouldn't be caught dead at a weekly show.
Some of them even treat weekly fans with contempt for going to non special races.
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February 29, 2012 at
08:39:37 AM
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This message was edited on
February 29, 2012 at
08:42:18 AM by StanM
Reply to:
Posted By: butchknouse37 on February 28 2012 at 07:58:26 PM
I live in South Dakota and I know or have heard about "racing fans" who only go to the WoO show at Huset's or to the Knoxville Nationals, but wouldn't be caught dead at a weekly show.
Some of them even treat weekly fans with contempt for going to non special races.
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My observation has been that there is a large number of "casual fans" that follow that type of schedule. I live in Minnesota 25 miles north of the Twin Cities and have a half dozen race tracks within an hour and a half of home. There is an annual WoO show 40 minutes from my house yet I know of life long Sprint fans who only attend big races at places like Knoxville or Eldora and wouldn't even consider a local show. There are many fans including ex owners and drivers (one is in the SCHOF) who only attend one or two of the nearby big Sprint Car shows per season. Most of those folks don't know or don't care about racing internet sites or the politics of tire brands, imported chassis or lawsuits. They're not into racing that much but they see the add for the WoO in the local newspaper and come out for the big shows.
The casual fans are a large necessary part of the total picture and probably outnumber those 100 hard core fans that will be there come hell or high water. They watch racing on television so they hear the WoO mentioned during NASCAR races and probably attend a mix of oval, drag racing, car shows, and travel to an occasional NASCAR race. You'll probably never see them at a weekly race and if they'd rather go fishing or attend some other type of event they feel absolutely no obligation to "support" racing.
In other words they're not wild eyed fanatics like us. ;)
Stan Meissner
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February 29, 2012 at
12:20:18 PM
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Tough times everywhere, WoO will keep on keep in on.
However, we all must take an active roll in growing the fan base. Kids are the answer and it is high time that all groups realized this. You think there is a lot of gray hair at a WoO event, go to any USAC race. Hair itself is in short supply.
There is no reason that the WoO and a couple of cars / drivers can not hit a school or two a few days before a nearby race. Hand out a bunch of propaganda, get the cars out of the haulers, fire one up, get the drivers suited up, take the kids into a hauler, hand out some shirts and hero cards COME ON MAN this is not that difficult to understand. It's like everything else, lip service don't get it done. WoO, AllStars, USAC, ALL need to step up to get the younger crowed involved. We as fans must also do our parts. There are so many things that can go wrong when you take someone to a race for the first time and going to a race is a chore to be sure. But, new blood is a no brainier. Not everyone will be dedicated morons like most of us, but if we each take one new fan to a race, and they tell 5 of there friends about it, well you get the picture. Try this, invite a buddy and have him bring his kid. Spend time explaining things to both of them, get into the pits before or after and introduce them to a driver, let them see the cars up close. Put it on this years bucket list and get it done. Make that buddy and that kid feel there welcome, a part of it and get them fired up!
Here's one for the track owner.
I understand the back gate and having 3-4-5 class of cars, I get it. But check this out. Kids need to get down in the pits. They need to MEET a driver, touch the car, feel the heat coming off the tires. While you are running stock cars around the track the kids are falling asleep by the time the last race is ran its midnight. NOT GOOD.
Eliminate one division, or get it down to 2 or three at MOST.
Start qualifying EARLY, get it out of the way. Then, before the event starts, open the pits, encourage the parents to take the kids down. Make damn sure the drivers are ALL out and ready to be personable. Get some handouts and related race crap into the kids hands.
Now, they go back to the stands and guess what, the each have a driver that they will pull for not only all night but next week, next month, next year, next decade. Ya DIG?
Bitchin don't fix squat. it is not someone else that needs to make the effort it is all of us that needs to step up. Track owners, series officials, teams and us, the hard core fan.
Sorry to get on the soap box folks, I get fired up when I see the lack of give a rats- that is prevalent in our sport when it come to growing the fan base. Always pass the buck, screw that, get involved!
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February 29, 2012 at
01:00:43 PM
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Good post Stevew. Ticket prices are still the biggest issue. You first need to make it affordable for a family to go to the races.
Still love husets
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February 29, 2012 at
03:49:37 PM
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A lot of talk about getting kids to the track and I 100% agree, we need them there in order to grow the sport. Is the Sprint Car & Midget Magazine Stay In School Program still around? If it is, it would be a good opportunity for teams to get involved and help promote the sport we all love.
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March 02, 2012 at
12:23:09 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: to be determined on February 14 2012 at 08:18:53 PM
Merced California is a shi%$ole. High crime, high unemployment (18%) yet the outlaws came here last year for the first time and filled those stands. I was with a central California team. Some fans came to the pits after the show, they told me they heard the outlaws were coming, they couldn't afford it, but thats why they came. Blew me away that they filled the stands. On a Sunday 360 non-wing show (carbureted) that track gets 8 cars and it looks like 20 people in the stands.
The other thing is, when I tell people I pit on a 410 sprint car, they say "what is that? and like this post says, Kids today are busy on there phones texting and crap. No one virtually knows what a 410 sprint car is. when I tell them there all aluminum block, Methanol injected, 900 hp, they are blown away. I have pictures in my shop office and get questions all the time. I watch the speed report every sunday. you will see the same nascar story 3 times. As for Sprint cars, you get 10 seconds near the end of the show. They should call it nascar channel. the public needs education. I like nascar, but I feel sprint car races are way more exciting.
how do you reply without getting someone else's post on here? thanks.
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I was there too and what a boring race
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March 02, 2012 at
12:33:17 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: 800horsepower on February 18 2012 at 09:23:14 AM
No, Obama & Michell
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LMAO, Obama's stimulus WoO plan, let the guy standing in line behind you pay for your ticket.
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March 02, 2012 at
06:30:01 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: stevew on February 29 2012 at 12:20:18 PM
Tough times everywhere, WoO will keep on keep in on.
However, we all must take an active roll in growing the fan base. Kids are the answer and it is high time that all groups realized this. You think there is a lot of gray hair at a WoO event, go to any USAC race. Hair itself is in short supply.
There is no reason that the WoO and a couple of cars / drivers can not hit a school or two a few days before a nearby race. Hand out a bunch of propaganda, get the cars out of the haulers, fire one up, get the drivers suited up, take the kids into a hauler, hand out some shirts and hero cards COME ON MAN this is not that difficult to understand. It's like everything else, lip service don't get it done. WoO, AllStars, USAC, ALL need to step up to get the younger crowed involved. We as fans must also do our parts. There are so many things that can go wrong when you take someone to a race for the first time and going to a race is a chore to be sure. But, new blood is a no brainier. Not everyone will be dedicated morons like most of us, but if we each take one new fan to a race, and they tell 5 of there friends about it, well you get the picture. Try this, invite a buddy and have him bring his kid. Spend time explaining things to both of them, get into the pits before or after and introduce them to a driver, let them see the cars up close. Put it on this years bucket list and get it done. Make that buddy and that kid feel there welcome, a part of it and get them fired up!
Here's one for the track owner.
I understand the back gate and having 3-4-5 class of cars, I get it. But check this out. Kids need to get down in the pits. They need to MEET a driver, touch the car, feel the heat coming off the tires. While you are running stock cars around the track the kids are falling asleep by the time the last race is ran its midnight. NOT GOOD.
Eliminate one division, or get it down to 2 or three at MOST.
Start qualifying EARLY, get it out of the way. Then, before the event starts, open the pits, encourage the parents to take the kids down. Make damn sure the drivers are ALL out and ready to be personable. Get some handouts and related race crap into the kids hands.
Now, they go back to the stands and guess what, the each have a driver that they will pull for not only all night but next week, next month, next year, next decade. Ya DIG?
Bitchin don't fix squat. it is not someone else that needs to make the effort it is all of us that needs to step up. Track owners, series officials, teams and us, the hard core fan.
Sorry to get on the soap box folks, I get fired up when I see the lack of give a rats- that is prevalent in our sport when it come to growing the fan base. Always pass the buck, screw that, get involved!
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Stevew,
Good post and I agree that we have to help get the younger crowd interested in dirt track racing. As a matter of fact, I took my son to Knoxville back in '86 for his first race and we are taking his 7 year old son this year. Can't wait.
My original question is what happens to the WOO AFTER Steve and Sammy are gone? The WOO has to build PERSONALITIES and people we want to follow, like Steve, Sammy, Scruffy, Wolfie and so on. Who is going to be the main draw for the WOO? Sorry but none of the current guys like Schatz, Saldana, Dollansky have the "right stuff". So.... what is the future of WOO after Steve and Sammy retire????
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March 02, 2012 at
06:52:32 PM
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Once the WoO lose all of those drivers USAC is going to be the most competitive racing serious in my eyes.
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March 03, 2012 at
09:39:45 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: d.man.simmsF5 on March 02 2012 at 06:52:32 PM
Once the WoO lose all of those drivers USAC is going to be the most competitive racing serious in my eyes.
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Been WoO free for 5 years now and I have never felt better.
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March 03, 2012 at
10:32:56 AM
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just let the sprint car racing begin k?
Ascot was the greatest of all time..
West Capital wasn't half bad either..
Life is good...
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