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

Alright, I need some help. I am lost about our car count right now! I waited til Monday to write this, so it wasnt a letter of frustration. I truly want input. When I talked to racers in the off season and last year, here is what I heard from them that they wanted.

HIGHER POINTS FUND: Went from $5,000 to $20,000

A DO-ABLE WORKING MANS SCHEDULE: 20 races. Normally 2 on, 1 off.

CENTRALLY LOCATED TRACKS: Santa Maria, Hanford, Tulare, Bakersfield seems pretty centrally located.

SOMEONE TO ENFORCE RULES AND STICK BY THEM: Done. Heck we had to disqualify or points leader and second in points on a couple different occasions. Rules are rules

MORE PR FOR THE DRIVERS AND SERIES: I believe Lance Jennings and USAC have done a great job of that.

UNIFIED RULES: Did the best I could here. I was told by a promoter in another state that runs a Big 360 race, that he thought he would go by our rules for his big off season race, because they basically allow any 23 degree 360 in the country to be legal with minor changes. Dont even have to take your intake Manifold off to ad gaskets. (for the record, I think the gaskets are a joke!!!)

HIGHER PAYING RACES: I believe Tulare handled that this weekend.

So racers have proven to me that this is not about money. $20,000 points fund and only 5 drivers made every show. $2,000 to win $300 to start this weekend in Tulare and only 17 show. They had almost double that at the beginning of the year for $1200 to win and $200 to start. I know of a racers that drove right by Tulare, to go race for half the money. I dont comprehend it.

I think we have a great series. Great racers and great PR. Racers are actually getting a little notoriety. We have had 12 different winners on the series this year. I think that is Awesome! It shows the level of competition and the how even the rules make the field of cars.

I believe we have had over 50 racers run the series this year, so I dont think its the rules or the membership or economy?

Tell me what I am doing wrong or what I can do different. Because at this point, I am WAY to vested in this series to just run Sprints locally @ Santa Maria. I am in this Sprint Car deal for a long time!

I am asking for some help-input. I am not asking for non productive posts.

Thank you, Chris Kearns

P.S. and just in case any rumors start flying. I am contracted to run Santa Maria for 2011, 2112 and an option year of 2013.

Roy- thanks for the input. I need fresh ideas (or old ones) for Promoting. I am still the rookie here in California and just trying to do the best I can.

Harryfan- I think other than the tire, our rules are about the same.

RichCee- The reason I came on here is that I need input of the racers NOT running the series. I dont have their info. Plus, having inputs like Roy's is a great deal of help. Input could come from a fan or former promoter. Who knows.

KennyPowers- Until you can man up and use your real name, I am not going to take you to serious, but I am going to clear up one thing. No racers has ever waited "weeks" for a check from me. i have never mailed a check out later than the Thursday after a race. No racers check has EVER bounced. And i return EVERYONES phone call. If I didnt return yours, its because you must have complained to much. I believe racers on the series will back this up! I suggest you post your name and start speaking facts!

I am in no way comparing what we have with VRA. One is a traveling series, the other a weekly division at a track. I dont expect the same car counts. Plus, I am nowhere near as smart or knowledgable as Jim Naylor. He is the man when it comes to car count and promoting his track. Not just anyone can survive in this business for 32 years! Plus, I dont think most people know how hard he works. My head would explode if I had to do all the stuff he does. First thing I said when I heard about his new Midget series was "Well I guarantee it will be successful.". I should listen to Jim more and stay the heck off the Internet, but i just cant seem to do it

Chris

I for one commend you on this last racing season... Every WC sprint car race we attended this year was great...I have both perspectives as a spectator and a car owner....I know at the beginning of the season I told you I was going to be out there but the economy hit my business And I had to make cuts somewhere..Family comes first and racing has to take a back seat to them....But....The car is finished to a roller and the motor that was put on hold is ready to be assembled.....Business is starting to slowly pick up so I am excited as this is the closet I have been.....For myself anyways Chris the economy was the biggest issue for me not running the car....As a racer it was also frustrating to be relegated to just watching from the stands...But again as I said before it was entertaining and the shows were very well put on..It seems so many have short term memories as to how things used to be not only from a racers standpoint but from a spectators viewpoint also....

Jeff Ferrin

Please your great series to Perris. We love going to SM and Tulare, but we would like to see them at the PAS also.

Jeff, would sure like to see that Ford out there!

Tdmadmac- I appreciate the support and effort it took to make all 20 shows. Thank you.

Chris and FordFan....Yep I'm the Ford guy....As I said the car is a roller, painted, just sitting up on the stands waiting for graphics and the motor to be put in. I can send you guys some pics if you want...

Jeff Ferrin

Alright, I need some help. I am lost about our car count right now! I waited til Monday to write this, so it wasnt a letter of frustration. I truly want input. When I talked to racers in the off season and last year, here is what I heard from them that they wanted.

HIGHER POINTS FUND: Went from $5,000 to $20,000

A DO-ABLE WORKING MANS SCHEDULE: 20 races. Normally 2 on, 1 off.

CENTRALLY LOCATED TRACKS: Santa Maria, Hanford, Tulare, Bakersfield seems pretty centrally located.

SOMEONE TO ENFORCE RULES AND STICK BY THEM: Done. Heck we had to disqualify or points leader and second in points on a couple different occasions. Rules are rules

MORE PR FOR THE DRIVERS AND SERIES: I believe Lance Jennings and USAC have done a great job of that.

UNIFIED RULES: Did the best I could here. I was told by a promoter in another state that runs a Big 360 race, that he thought he would go by our rules for his big off season race, because they basically allow any 23 degree 360 in the country to be legal with minor changes. Dont even have to take your intake Manifold off to ad gaskets. (for the record, I think the gaskets are a joke!!!)

HIGHER PAYING RACES: I believe Tulare handled that this weekend.

So racers have proven to me that this is not about money. $20,000 points fund and only 5 drivers made every show. $2,000 to win $300 to start this weekend in Tulare and only 17 show. They had almost double that at the beginning of the year for $1200 to win and $200 to start. I know of a racers that drove right by Tulare, to go race for half the money. I dont comprehend it.

I think we have a great series. Great racers and great PR. Racers are actually getting a little notoriety. We have had 12 different winners on the series this year. I think that is Awesome! It shows the level of competition and the how even the rules make the field of cars.

I believe we have had over 50 racers run the series this year, so I dont think its the rules or the membership or economy?

Tell me what I am doing wrong or what I can do different. Because at this point, I am WAY to vested in this series to just run Sprints locally @ Santa Maria. I am in this Sprint Car deal for a long time!

I am asking for some help-input. I am not asking for non productive posts.

Thank you, Chris Kearns

P.S. and just in case any rumors start flying. I am contracted to run Santa Maria for 2011, 2112 and an option year of 2013.

From some messages on here and some emails, its seems as though maybe I am just being greedy and should be happy with the new series. We did average just over 20 cars per race for the 20 race series. I guess i am basing my frustration on only 16 cars showing up for the purse at Tulare and the fact that only 5 supported every race for a $20,000 points fund.

I guess 20 per race average in these times, for a traveling series is actually pretty good!

Hi Chris,

It wasn't to horribly many years ago that the Bandit series could only muster 5 cars at some of their shows. With that being said I think you have really done a bang up job in your first year with the series. The only change I can see that could need to be changed is to phase out the RC3 R/R tire and bring in the ASCS medium tire. The reason being, it looks like ASCS is coming to Northern CA and some of your cars and their cars can possibly run with each other on off wk ends. Just a thought.

Brian