Forum: Minnesota Dirt Track Racing Forum (go)
Moderators: StanM

http://www.hometown.aol.com/czascs/ASCoT.html

You can also go here:

www.czpitpass.com

then click on either of the 2008 schedule links...CZ

Don't take this as criticism but is there any possibility of booking at some of the tracks near the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin? I know about a dozen car owners who don't travel more than 150 miles and are probably going to start looking at fishing boats when they see this schedule.

Stan Meissner

Stan,

As the old saying goes, "it takes two to tangle". It's not for the lack of trying. We send out proposals to just about every track in the area you're talking about and only a few are interested.

There's a few that have hosted the IRA or a NOSA race and that's all they want and that's fine. Then there's a few that want to do their own event paying less money than it takes for an ASCS event. That's fine, too.

We appreciate the tracks that do book an ASCS event and welcome any tracks that want to in the future.

We haven't turned down a single request from any race track wanting to host an ASCS event...CZ

That doesn't surprise me. I know the situation up here and 360 racing has become a tough sell. We'll catch up with you at some of those races next summer.

Stan Meissner

Any info on the following Tracks whether they declined or waiting to hear from.

Minnesota Tracks;
Arlington Raceway
Deer Creek Speedway
Jackson Speedway
Kasson Speedway
Princeton Speedway
Steele County Speedway
Viking Speedway

Wisconsin Tracks;
Cedar Lake
Fox Ridge Speedway
Red Cedar Speedway
Superior Speedway

Thanks,
Mike Priefer

Mike "Pencil" Priefer

Any info on the following Tracks whether they declined or waiting to hear from.

Minnesota Tracks;
Arlington Raceway
Deer Creek Speedway
Jackson Speedway - How did the ASCS show's car count compare to a normal weekly show?
Kasson Speedway
Princeton Speedway
Steele County Speedway - No promoter
Viking Speedway

Wisconsin Tracks;
Cedar Lake
Fox Ridge Speedway - Out of Business
Red Cedar Speedway
Superior Speedway - New promoter

Jackson had 33 cars, given this was there Nationals and it was $2,500 to win on Friday and $5,000 to win on Saturday however Saturday was washed out.

I noticed on the CZ's Schedule that the 15th & 16th are TBA and this would be Jackson's Nationals so maybe they are still working on the details.

Fox Ridge is still in business not sure why they canceled shows last year but.....
At least there website says there season opens 5/2/2008.

Mike "Pencil" Priefer

Well that's good news for Fox Ridge. Conversations about their re-openning were pretty pessimistic over on the 20/20 board.

Fox Ridge went with the DTRA and Chris Stepan was announcing down there. Tri-Oval in Fountain City reopened and went head to head with the Ridge on the same night. I think that might have had a lot to do with it. The Ridge used to run Late Models but had problems drawing a big enough crowd so they cut the purse then dropped them altogether. That deal and a couple of other business decisions they were forced to make upset the fans not long after the track opened. It's getting tough for these promoters to make enough money on a weekly show to keep their heads above water, especially somewhere like Arcadia. There isn't that much population or that many race cars down there to start with so it was a case of two many tracks going after the available cars and fans.

The politics of the weekly racing and whether a track is DTRA or WISSOTA doesn't make much difference to us Sprint Car fans. Unfortunately we get caught up in the backlash if a track ends up shutting their gates over problems with their weekly shows. I hope they can get things going again down there because it's a nice track that's still practically brand new.

The way this ASCS schedule is looking I'm probably not going to see as much 360 racing this year but I have been leaning more towards the 410's because they're running specials closer to home. My schedule is going to be as often as possible at Cedar and Kopellah so I'll catch the Sprints when they are there. Outside of Cedar and Kopellah I'll do my best to get to Superior for the spring IRA race, the Friday of the Jackson Nationals, the IRA at Menomonie and Rice Lake, a couple of the Sprint races at North Central and the Princeton National. I'm hoping to hit a couple WCS and/or WDRL Late Model races too. I want to try to up my total for the season to 50 races and it's too expensive to travel to that many Sprint races so that requires staying close to home. I'm buying a new lens and that's going to cut into my racing budget this season but in the long run it will be worth it.

Just call me "Pure Stock Stan" because I'll probably be watching a lot of that stuff this year. One good thing about that type of racing is they buy a lot of pictures. Ironically I can make 10x more pocket change with those guys and there's a lot to be said for keeping the cooler full

Stan Meissner

To my knowledge Arlington never ran any Wissota Sprint races nor have they had any ASCS specials since Wissota stopped sanctioning the 360's. Last year they had what I understand was a successful IRA race but I had some family obligations and didn't make it down there. I have been there for their weekly shows a few times but that's about it.

Deer Creek, they're booking IRA once a year but mostly the Late Models and Modifieds are the big draw down there. I'd be surprised if they hosted a 360 race again.

Kasson? That's another one that hasn't run Sprints for quite a few years.

Princeton has a new promoter, Billy Jo Meyer stepped down. Who knows what they'll do.

Steele County...I wonder if they'll even race again this year. The only race that ever drew much of a crowd was the August USMTS Fair race.

Viking? Didn't they run a NOSA race two seasons ago? Did they have one in 2007?

Cedar...IRA, WoO and maybe a couple 360 shows. The Billy Anderson Memorial for sure. They always release their schedule at their banquet in March.

Fox Ridge??? Who knows.

Red Cedar...one IRA special in August. The promoters aren't Sprint Car people but the IRA has been drawing over 30 cars every year since they've been going there so evidently they like that. Otherwise it's a Late Model and Modified crowd and would be a tough sell for 360's unless they can guarantee 30 cars like the IRA has been drawing.

Superior? Two IRA races and again there will be new promoters for the second season in a row.

Unfortunately for us Sprint fans these promoters and fans around here prefer Late Model racing.

Stan Meissner

That May Superior IRA show is not listed on the 'first draft' IRA schedule for 2008 - that traditional Friday is listed as a TBA for right now. I've always enjoyed that travel weekend up north, and hope to see it listed again in 2008. Chuck Swenson took the ASCS race in 2006 at Superior correct??Not sure where the Billy Anderson Memorial race would fit in, posssibly the July 4th TBA???

I look forward to the ASCS and IRA schedules for 2008!

What's the new lens Stan?

Superior changed promoters again and they officially take control of the track the first of the year. There's still a lot of speculation going on up there as to whether it's going to be DTRA or WISSOTA. One of the partners I understand is Arnie Ranta who is a DTRA supporter and I believe that Butch Erickson is going to be involved as well. Last year they had Gondick or whatever his name is, the attorney from up there in the Twin Ports. I don't think any of these people are very big Sprint Car fans so I'm thankful that they have been booking the IRA. As far as your "Sprint friendly" promoters in Minnesota and western Wisconsin I can name them on one hand. Jon down at Jackson, Bob Allen at Arlington and Cliff up at Brainerd. Ron Bernhagen sold out his partnership share at Cedar Lake but he's still involved with track preparation and I understand he's still helping out a little with the Sprint bookings. Ron in his younger years used to chase the big Sprint Car races all over the country as a fan so be sure to give a big thumbs up to the Swamp Man next time you're out there.

I would guess that the new promoters at Superior are still busy sorting things out. The May TBA on the IRA schedule is probably because Steve Sinclair can't get a confirmation until the new promoters officially have the track.

My guess is that the ASCS July 4th TBA is the annual Kouba Memorial at Brainerd. The August TBA's would most likely include the Jackson Nationals.

Cedar Lake might be going unsanctioned with the Billy Anderson Memorial but we'll find out more as time goes on. I'll be getting together with one of the people associated with the track in a couple weeks but he might be sworn to silence until the schedule is released.

My plans don't hang in the balance awaiting the release of the schedules. Pretty much all of your big events are going to fall on their traditional weekends and you can take that to the bank. The Masters, CLS WoO, USA Nationals, Jackson Nationals, Princeton National, annual IRA dates at Cedar, Rice Lake, Menomonie, and the specials at Brainerd all fall on the same weekends year in and year out. I base my schedule on those races then fill in with weekly shows and refine my schedule as new dates are announced. I'm in a seniority based shop and have to schedule three of my four weeks vacation right after the first of the year so I can get the dates I want.

The new lens I'm looking at is the Sigma 50-150mm f2.8. It's getting great reviews for fast sharp focusing and excellent image quality throughout the entire focal range. Right now I'm using a Tamron 28-105mm f2.8 for my night shooting but I have been disappointed with the image quality. It was recommended to me by one of the Late Model photographers and it works better for that type of racing. 105mm is a little too short for Sprints when they're running up on the cushion. I just put some money in my truck a couple weeks ago to get another year or so out of it. The total expense for the truck and photo equipment adds up to more than I spend on racing all season but it's a necessary investment. Getting by with the Ranger for another year will free up money to fill my tank with some of that $4 per gallon gas we're probably going to be seeing.

Do you take photos and if so do you shoot Nikon? I'm seriously considering buying a new D300 body by mid summer. If I do I'll have an extra Nikon D70 body that has seen very limited use (not at the races) since a complete refurbishing by the Nikon factory in the fall of 2006. I'll probably sell the D70 body in original box with all accessories and the Tamron 28-105mm. The camera includes a spare battery and I'll throw in a CF card. I'll know more about how things are going by June and will announce it on all the local boards if I decide to sell. Nikon has resolved noise issues at high ISO settings in the D300 to the point that shooting at ISO 1000 is equivalent to ISO 200 on their previous cameras.

Stan Meissner

The promoter in Kasson is actually a big open wheel fan and with the right persuasion could possibly be talked into booking a sprint car show,,,, As far as Steele County,,, well let's just say that I'm glad that we are not there anymore,,, and if anyone wants to work with the fairboard,,,, I wish them "Good luck".... I'll be drinking a beer and enjoying life....(maybe one or two of Steiny's!! LOL)...

Thanks,

Brian

Thanks Brian, I don't know the promoter at Kasson and have only been there once or twice. Evidently the promoter must like Sprints but isn't willing to take a chance on them.

I'll probably be sharing one of those beers with you and Steiny. Owatonna has a lot of history but that place has been tough to promote in recent years. I've seen you guys give it your best and I thought you did good considering what you've got to work with.

Stan Meissner