Written by contributor: AJ Payne (The Dirtracer Insider)

April 17, 2009

Now as many of you may know by now from our chats both in person and online that I have been around auto racing and more directly dirt track racing all of my life. In addition, it needs to be made clear that in no way am I trying to come across as slamming any one, or origination. However, I have been doing a great deal of reading, checking as well as putting my thoughts together on the current state of auto racing and in general dirt track racing. Now there is a good chance that this article will be one in a series of articles that I will contribute about this subject.

http://www.theautolog.com

              Over the past two weeks, it has come to my attention, that a new issue has come to light that has the whole Usmts, IMCA, and UMP world up in arms. One might ask what kind of issue could be so awful that it has taken the place of items like traction control, engine, and body rules. You would surprised to discover that this big issue that has the bloggers up in arms is the relocation of the frame rail on the right side of many modifies built in the past year by some of the many car builders around today. When I was watch the interview of Gary Clark done by an interviewer from the Kansas City area on YouTube, I was taken back that some in the world of dirt track racing have sunk to such low levels that we have made a mountain out of a mole hill as the information, suggested to me as I was listening to another interview, talking about an problem that is not a problem within itself, because if my view it does not give a completive advantage in any way, however, I will add that this series and of racing bodies do have a rules package in place to address this issue. Therefore, to me anyways it should be a clear what this area of the car should look like. 

http://ajpmotorsports3.com

            Something else that should be of higher concern is the rules package for the bodies, and again this is not in anyway me suggesting that the world of modified racing should go backwards in its body rules, however, for me it is clear in my mind that one can make the body of their car into somewhat of a upside down wing. Now do not get me wrong, because in most cases it only helps to a point, which possible could be looked at as a completive advantage. Now my basic for making this claim comes from two areas. One my background in the building of race cars in the 20 + years of being around the dirt track community, two the fact that I have seen body styles on some cars that go way out there in my mind, when it comes to something, which folks should be looking at as a completive advantage. Again another example I could add is the fact that back east in upstate New York primarily for the east coast style mods, which is what you call a run what you have race. And of course there are those that go all out with cars that have wings as high as two stories, which no doubt help with the speed of the car and one could only guess what would be stirred if this began happening across the board in the Imca/Usmts style modifies.

http://redbearhandcleaner.com

          Moreover, the idea that someone that possible had to many cans of brew, before he spouted off to some track officials makes this whole deal—even more off the wall to me, to say the least. Therefore, the correct way in which this issue should have been addressed was to address this in more of the manner that the Imca/Usmts went about addressing this issue, which was to research the statements made and look at the cars in question. Not to drag this across the forums, by trashing chassis builders, that other wises are well respected car builders, who’s only short coming was—one keep up with other car builders that have been doing more than just rolling this right side frame rail up, in addition, to that begin to provide more invitation for their loyal customer’s.

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           However, do not mistake this as me referring to the justification of any rules to being broken here, since to me those people were making more of an issue, than it truly should be with many, more important issues at hand. For example, up until this year I had noticed problems with the rules package that the Usmts had put into place to try to begin to curb the skyrocketing cost to the race teams of the parts and pieces that had been getting out of hand in many cases. Nonetheless, I noticed a real lack of a plan to enforce this rules package. Of course I should be very clear, that I saw an improvement in this issue this year at the West Siloam race. Although I will add, that from my view point there is still a great deal to improve on with the engine package, it did come along ways in my mind—beginning with this past race at the West Siloam Speedway (OK).

 http://ajpmotorsports3.com

           In addition, this got me thinking much more  about what I have been hearing from different folks right before the season gets under way on their thoughts on issues within the dirt racing family that are important to them. For example, how the economy and the effect in which it has had on them in the past few months. One thing that stands out to me, is the fact I have heard of more tracks closing down before the season gets underway and others that have been sold with no chance of anyone coming in and saving the track from the wrecking ball. Another thing is there are tracks cutting back on events in which they are going to hold in the 2009 race season. Of course it does not stop with the tracks, there are race teams from every level that are shutting down, or cutting back on what they will do until things turn around for them.

http://redbearhandcleaner.com

          Of course my last point addresses the issue of track prep and how in some places it is much better than in others. Now it has not escaped my thinking that there are those cases, in which there has been way too much rain for the track to ever be 100% prefect for good side, by side racing. However, I know that there is still no reason why either the race is not postponed or possible cancel due to the simple fact that the track will not be in the shape it has to be in to produce the type of racing that people paying at least $8 or more should be able to get for their hard earned money. Do not get me wrong, I am in no way putting down those track works that work very long and hard hours to put on a race. Nonetheless, it is important to note—the car owns that have to folk over the amount of cash it takes to fix their car each time their car hits a track that is rougher than a cob. This could very well cause that car owner to think twice before going back to a track that is under prepped for the type of side-by-side racing that those that payout such high prices should be getting from there local race track.

http://www.theautolog.com

           Finally, I end with this, which I find it in very poor taste to throw a company like Dirtworks race cars under the bus, which from my view point is what has happen here. Because the truth of the manner is here, that what has folk’s all up in arms—has been happening for many years now. Plus much more than just a frame rail, which is the case, since those I worked with on race cars in my area, have done different things to the frame, to make it more to their liking. Of course with most track in this area at the time this was perfectly legal since most tracks at the time were concerned outlaw tracks, which simply means anything went, and no doubt it do go on, and at least from my view point helped make the modifies a overall much better car in many ways.Oh, by the way I will be continuing my comments on this issue in an on demand format with more of my thoughts on this issue.