[Mopar93]

This is being posted for Paul Zimmerman and Jim Leasure

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THE NEXT GENERATION OF RACING

PROBLEM:

Spartan Speedway has been experiencing car count issues for the last few years. There are likely several reasons, some of which include a weak Michigan economy, cost of fuel, change in social habits, competition from other venues, an inherent attrition rate that is not being replenished with a younger generation of drivers as well as other factors.

One certainty that we have to acknowledge is that what we are doing today will not work into the future. In fact it isn’t working now. Our Super division is often as low as 7 or 8 cars and there is no clear sign of improvement. If we continue what we are currently doing today the Super division simply will not survive as a weekly show, and this will not be acceptable to the spectators and fans.

Countless hours have been spent evaluating Spartan’s future and we have concluded that change is imminent. The change will be in two phases during 2008 and 2009, in order to lessen any impact on drivers/owners expense as well as the general public’s perception and acceptance.

The following information is intended to be an overview of what is planned and should not be interpreted as specific. This is simply an attempt to give all a “heads up” and we will narrow things down in the next few weeks. During the phase-in period there will be some variations within the rules in order to achieve as equal of a playing field as possible.

Super Late Models

Problem:

• Car Count

Logic:

• We are losing drivers for many reasons and very few new people are entering the SLM division.

Reasons:

• Purse - The purse is not sufficient to sustain a Super let alone even get started in this division.
  
• Attrition - We have looked at each driver lost and why, and have concluded that the drop out rate is much greater than the number joining.
  
• Travel Cost - $3 plus per gallon has required people to reconsider how far they will travel weekly as well as how many nights per week they can race.
  
• Competition - Several of our Spartan drivers are prominent Super Late drivers and going up against this field could be too intimidating for a young driver.
  
• Friday Night - Racing on Fridays often requires people (driver and crew) to leave work early. With the uncertainty in today’s economy people are working when they can.
  

Possible Solutions:

Racing Late Models just has to be more affordable to attract new drivers/owners. The purses are not going to get bigger so we must cut the cost of owning and operating a Late Model in half.

There must be more parity within the division. The chance to place toward the front is what every team strives and works so hard for.

We shouldn’t structure our rules with the idea of attracting travelers; we should structure them to make the divisions easier to get into for the average competitor.

2008
Beginning in 2008, Spartan will begin the phase in of crate motors in the Late Model division.

In 2009, crate motors will be a requirement. Substantial weight breaks will be given for crates in 2008.

We are assuming “outlaw” bodies will be the choice for most but we are hoping some will choose template.

There are many details to sort through and we will work on those reasonably soon, keeping in mind the direction in which Spartan is heading while considering added expenses for our current Super Late drivers/owners.

Some of the open issues will be tires, shocks, weights, percentages, wet or dry sumps, cast or aluminum heads, just to name a few. Although 2008 may have some gray areas, 2009 will not.

Sportsman

In 2008, Sportsman will be required to run the Holly 4412 carburetor along with a spec. manifold (to be named).

For 2009 there will likely be some subtle changes made, as we are anticipating some driver movement into the Late Model division, as the cost of owning and operating a Sportsman or a Late Model become closer. However, today’s Sportsman will not qualify for a 2008 or newer Late Model.

The 2009 Sportsman will become Street Stocks as we attempt to lower the cost of fielding a Street Stock.

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Please keep in mind that this is only an outline and that we welcome comments and suggestions which should be sent to:

Spartan Speedway
959 Eden Rd.
Mason, MI 48854

or Email to: info@spartanspeedway.com

This information is endorsed by Paul Zimmerman and Jim Leasure.

[Bardenracing42]

Even though I'm sure your still gonna catch hell from some people(because there are those who can do nothing if not complain), I would like to commend you on announcing these changes now. That should allow people plenty of time to make the necessary changes in a way that the most cost effective.

I have a couple questions:

What will happen with the RWD pure stocks? Will they be absorbed back into the street stock class? I could see this being ok as long as there was a Spec carb (the 4412) and a spec manifold and KEEP THE STREET TIRES!!! This has been one of the best choices in rules, and has helped level the playing field.

What about the fwd 6 cyl cars? Even though they have gotten off to a slow start, there is still great potential for this class to grow. Will they still be around next year and beyond?

The modifieds and the ponies seem to be stable right now, but are there any changes for them to be aware of?

Again, having these changes known now instead of November or December is a great example of forward thinking. I hope we can have the rules in place and published no later thant the end of October. This will give us 6 months to plan and execute the necessary changes.

[Racedog2000]

I think that this might be a great idea to help bring in some other drivers but i do have a few concerns. The first concern I have is who is going to be teching these engines because I know there are some improved crates all ready running, you can send you stock Chevy crate to Ohio and get a 90 horse power upgrade or if your a ford guy just call up McGunegill Engine Performance and get one from them everyone already knows they have more power look at Super Pro they make the fords weigh 100 pounds more and not even to mention all the the money carbs and exhaust you can buy because each give you 15 to 20 more horse power. Also the ASA late model guys say they send there motors in after every 2 or 3 races because they have more horse power right after they get rebuilt. The other question is where is the savings i have seen on MSTRC.com where guys have asked what would it cost to put together a crate motor car and every answer I have seen is that they are the same cost as a Super as they stand right now. I see that you have got some different rules for the street stocks for the coming years because they are getting a low car count to i think last Friday there where 7 or 8 maybe we should try and put crate motors in them to. Has the track talked to any drivers or has any data that says that if Spartan runs crate engines they will get more cars and how many of the drives you have now are going to go to crate motors and if any do after the guys spend 10,000.00 on a motor is there still going to be the same number 7 to 8 cars a week but now we have all spent 10,000.00? I do like that we are looking for ways to get more cars because it is not a lot of fun to run or from a fan point to watch a heat race with the same cars that is in the feature. One last thought is everyone says that if we ran the 970 tires we might get more cars because Spartan is the only track on the American Racer now Spartan will be the only race track that runs crate engine with outlaw bodies i guess we are hoping that the Super Pro drives with template bodies that are a lot more costly to buy and repair will come race with us but those guys all ready race for more money to win and start that what Spartan pays. Evan Barrett #94slm

[gunner]

making it more affordable for new guys is well and fine, but why make the guy who already has a motor spend another $8K or $10K ? That makes it less affordable for the guy who already races.

[Bardenracing42]

Gunner,

If you are referring to the superlate crate engine, that is why they are being phased in over a two year period. It is very unlikely (superlate people please correct me if I am wrong here) that any superlate engines running in 2007 will be running in 2009. Usually people have about 4-6 months to adapt to a rule change from the end of one season to the beginning of the next. In the case of crate engines they have 20 months. I would think most of those running supers will make sure the next motor they buy is a crate motor, while the stuff they are running now gets used up.

My concern as a purestock (streetstock?) racer is that I can build a decent motor cheaper than buying a crate motor. I respect that they are trying to keep costs down, but what may work for the late models may not be a good option for street/pure stock cars.

[matt kirchen]

I for one am getting sick and tired of all the changes that are made on a almost yearly basis. 2 years ago everybody in the sportman class voted on a set of rules, now 2 years later I have to buy a 4412 carb and more than likly the same intake that I ran 2 years ago, but now sold to reclaim some of the losses from buying a new 4 barrel-$500,and a new intake-$250. So what can the racer do? buy new carb and intake for $400 and sell the current stuff for 1/2 of what its worth only to be told in a year or two that the suff you sold will now be allowed. I for one think you will piss off more of you loyal racers than you will bring old ones back. Thanks, Matt Kirchen

[51fan]

I, for one, am 100% in agreement with you Matt!
I'm sure everyone that is competitive, in the Sportsman division, is in the same boat.
If you think the division is struggling now, just hold on to your hats!

[Gusey Racing]

I only plan on racing Springport next year. (if there is a next year)


As a pure stock driver it was ALOT cheaper for me to buy and have my stock 4-barrel rebuilt then to buy a 4412.
Isn't really worth it to me if I have to buy a new carb and manifold
and spend more money.
So I'm for stock carbs,manifolds, and tires for the pure stocks.

But nobody knows for sure what's going to happen at Springport next year. So it's a wait and see deal.
_________________
Just a fan for now
"We have done so much, with so little, for so long, that now we can do anything with nothing"
Dave Marcis

[jeff finley]

As for the supers jim has got to try something.The rules will be watched to create equal avenues for every one.You can still run what ya have and be compeative.Crate motors are 4200. to 5500. at your local car dealership.As far as changes go you have to keep up with the times.The biggest thing will be how to police it.There are several cars out in the super class because they can not afford to spend 8 to 10 thouasand for a rebuild.Change is coming for everyone in racing from here to califorina.Michigan is just behind.
_________________
Respectfully Jeff Finley
www.chadfinleyracing.com
www.northsidetowing.net
www.autoparts2020.com
www.raineater.com
www.airliftcompany.com

[gunner]

If something has to be tried, how about things like adding or shifting weight? Adding/taking away spoiler? Different ride heights? These are of minimal expense and don't need to consider how long a particular piece of equipment lasts, and don't force anyone to make a capital expenditure. These things would allow a chance for the car count to increase and determine if that does, in fact, lead to an incrase in attendance, beekuzz, frankly, you gotta be wondering if the fan base is there to support the purse level needed to support even your concept of less expensive super late racing.

The guy who has a SLM sitting beekuzz he won't pay 8 or 10 K for a rebuild is not likely to spend even 5 or 6 K for a new motor so he can test the waters of yet another attempt as reviving the faint pulse of SLM racing in the area.

As for making is less expensive, do you think that you can force a guy to spend less money on his racing program? C'mon, if these guys had fiscal sense they would not be racing SLM. If you limit the money that a racer can spend on his motor, he will divert the resources to another area of his program to enhance his performance. You are sticking your thumb in one of many holes. You better be ready to IROC this thing down the road if you truly intend to control costs.

I know that I am sounding very critical here, but I really can't beleive that this isn't terribley short sighted, and a knee-jerk reaction. I understand and appreciate the motivations behind it, but I don't see the sense of it. Please, someone, convince me otherwise!

[SSracer6]

I agree with you Matt! I don't think changing the rules back to street stock style is such a great idea. It may be more affordable for people building cars and looking to get in racing, but think about us Sportsman drivers who are regulars at the track and have already adapted to the major changes that were made a few years back. Look at how the class has evolved over the years and how much money people have put into their new equipment. It seems like it will cost more money for these current drivers to change back to the "street stock" because of all of the money that will have been wasted on their current equipment. We should leave the class the way it is and see how many more cars we can pull in.

-Sprague Racing

[61SSracer]

This is my 2nd year of racing ~ i buy a car at the end of '05 Then you change All the rules causing me to dump a ton of Unexpected money into my car. Then i save up to buy a 4-barrel carb(sold the 4412) and cam,not to mention a Ford 9" 3-link rear end the next year, all to Maybe be a Competitive car !

All the money spent, and NOW you want me to spend MORE just to go back to where i started ! ! Oh that's right i COULD sell my $650 carb for about the price of a new (legal) intake ! !

That would SAVE me money ~ OH NO i still need to come up with the money for the 4412 i SOLD last year, and a new cam shaft that would work with it ......

Not to mention my car CANNOT run ANY headers besides the Crossovers i currently have on it, so there is about $200 more to save me OOPPS.... i mean Spend !

If it sounds like i'm BIT--ing and Complaining, well Sort of ......

You want a Class to grow, and you just get it started, the big thing is JUST get the class to be competitive...

NOT HAY --LOOK DANE WON ANOTHER ONE, but Look one of the FIVE Great cars WON ANOTHER one, and now you want to change it all again to .........

MAKE IT CHEAPER ! !

I say LET the class Finish growing....then take a look at things ! !

Keep making changes, and the low car counts WILL get lower, people CANT keep Adjusting-- OOPPS -- SPENDING MORE MONEY ! !

THIS IS JUST MY OPINION ~ LIKE IT OR NOT !!!

CHUCK"Shaggy" (sounds like SOON to be Jack stands AGAIN) AMMERMAN

[Jim Leasure]

Chuck and Ian, The carb and manifold was announced at a drivers meeting three or four weeks ago. There are so many illegal heads we can't DQ everyone with them or we won't have enough cars to run a feature. Would either of you suggest we have half of our Sportsman change heads or don't run? Should we turn our heads and pretend that we don't have this problem? Now please don't over look these questions, answer them to yourself or post, either way. Also, the word subtle is in the post that you are worked up over so if you need more specifics call me but your posts are clearly assuming a lot more than I am aware of. I worked with two prominent machine shops and various other well seasoned racers and exracers to determine the best way to off set the (illegal) cylinder head issue as cost affective as possible and ALL were in agreement. As far as Matt's post, I don't know what Maurice is doing at Springport, this is for Spartan.

[Jerry Garland]

Now take what I am about to say with a grain of salt, because I dont race at spartan "currently". I have a "owosso" street stock and built the car to there rules because they run what I consider a true street stock class. When Jim and others changed the rules at spartan, they did so because they were looking for more cars from other tracks, Well it didnt and hasnt happened except on slugfest nights. Look at the autocity gents, they wont even come and play because they feel they are at a disadvantage (which they are) So what has changing the rules done? Well, nothing but hurt the class. If you look at flat rocks street stocks, they havent changed the rules in about 15-20 years for there street stocks other than the bodys, and if you go out to watch them you will see that they run 4 Features for streets alone. ( I have watched this year just to go see what they had) Now I am pretty sure that "owosso" is going to close the doors after this year due to financial reasons (my opionion) and I am willing to bet that there will be some cars that will come over. But to say which way the cars should go as in rules I dont know.
I know most of you guys have changed alot on your cars to keep with the current times but what about your pure stocks that are going to want to move up one day or another? You need to make it so they can do that affordably and not make it so costly that they will never move up! So I ask you (sportsman racers) to look at the BIG picture. You want to race the class, but you also have to look at bringing in drivers that are willing to move up over the years. It unfortunate that all this money has been spent, but in my opionion we all need to look at the overall survival of the track because with todays economy and lack of participation you really need to look at the big picture for Tommorrow, because if we dont there will be no track to take the race car to!!

thanks for reading and I hope that you all can sit back and think of the big picture instead of just our tiny little picture.

Jerry Garland
_________________
Torg Motorsports!

[Mopar93]

I think some of you Sportsman guys are reading the first message here and not understanding it fully. Jim called me yesterday and asked me to post that message for him. He spent a lot of time talking to Paul about these ideas with the primary focus being on the Super Late Model division. The other focus was aimed at the Sportsman division. They felt the Modifieds and Pony Stocks were pretty solid the way they are now. They are unsure about the Pure Stocks, but would still like to see the FWD Pure Stock class grow like the Pony class is.

As for the RWD Pure Stocks, I'm not sure what their thinking is on that class yet, but I'd suspect they still want to draw out some of the Street Stocks that are sitting and rather than make them downgrade to become a Pure Stock, instead take the existing RWD Pure Stocks and allow them to blend back into a Street Stock. This may not happen right away and it may not happen at all. I'm just taking a wild guess on this one right now.

Go back and reread the part about the Sportsmans. The only change for 08 will be the 2bbl carb and a particular manifold. There are still some Sportsmans with stock factory 4 link suspension that could be Street Stocks like the class used to be. Some cannot due to the design of the rear frame sections and suspensions. So, you might end up seeing both a Sportsman and a Street Stock class in 09.

Here's what I think we have to look forward to in 09, but don't take my word for it, this is just speculation:

Pony Stocks
FWD Pure Stocks
Street Stocks
Sportsmans
Modifieds
Super Late Models

If any class were to be removed from that list for Spartan, I'd say probably the FWD Pure Stock since it doesn't seem to be taking off at that track very well. Although, from a cost standpoint, it's a cheap way to get into racing and get your feet wet.

As for the Sportsman class, it can still grow like you guys want it to grow. It's got another year to prove that it can grow. Don't forget, we almost went back to the 2bbl in the middle of the season last year when Gary was running the show. And we almost went back to the 2bbl again at the beginning of this year. So, going to the 2bbl next year should be no surprise.

P.S. One thing you guys should never do is sell a good carburetor. If you have a good 4bbl and are not using it, don't sell it. You never know when you might need to use it again. Or you might travel to another race and will need it there.

Just stating some of my own observations in order to keep everyone calmed down.

Have fun racing...

-Maurice