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

I don't have any problem with the UMSS, IMCA, or any other track or series. Lately I have lost a lot of my enthusiasm for the sport overall. The racing thing has kind of morphed from sitting in stands enjoying a few beers to 15 years of work and responsibilities. Lately it has become kind of a drudgery to drag myself out and have to do it but not any fault of the racing, it's just my outlook on the whole deal has changed. As far as the racing there is good and bad attached to all of it. Sometimes I'll see a great race and sometimes I'm standing there all night asking myself why the hell I'm even there. The popularity of the website, writing and photos have outpaced my means to do this so I'm taking a break. I'm leaving the website and all that up and running, working on some articles and finalizing this years photo editing and just popping in here from time to time to make sure people are behaving themselves.

As far as tech issues and the things that would affect the races that's not my area of concern. I look at it more through the eyes of what the fans are seeing and the show they're getting for their money. Racers would have the same issues whether there were six cars or 100, that stuff has been a constant since the first wire wheels and leather helmets. On the other hand, money is tight and fans are looking to maximize their entertainment experiences. My concern is how does racing fill that need for the families dragging kids out to the track. I'm going to be more vocal about a show that goes past midnight and forces the parents to leave before the Features not getting their money's worth than how often a series does tech on the motors. Fans don't know or care about that behind the scenes stuff and my background is as a fan so I still mostly see it from that perspective. Also, I'm talking more from a family standpoint than one of these rabid racing fans that goes to 100 shows per year come hell or high water. Just my take on the whole deal.

Stan Meissner

To be honest that's my biggest problem with attending races at Arlington. It's an hour and a half drive and they run something like seven classes. The infield is huge so when I take pictures there I wear my pudgy little hinder out running around the place. If a guy gets hungry or needs a water it's a real chore getting across the track and runoff area before the next race rolls out onto the track. Aside from that it's a nice place but by the time I get out of there and drive home it's 1am. Granted I'm way up in the northeast metro and they're in the southwest so their location isn't their fault and for all the classes they run they get done at a reasonable hour. It's just a tough deal to justify driving 90 miles one way when Saint Croix Valley and Cedar Lake are both 32 miles from my place. That's why Arlington is pretty much off my radar with the exception of when they were paired up with the UMSS and I was helping them out with some of their PR last year.

Stan Meissner

By the way congratulations on your win Tony.