#with every passing year f1 become more popular and it gets harder and harder to meet the drivers on thurs

[cedobols]

went to the gp last weekend .. oscar going past !!

[itsworn]

How to Regulate Short Track Racing to Death

In racing, we have in certain circles what is known as Balance of Performance. It is actually called that, but in many other forms of racing it’s not called anything, but it has the same intent. That is, regulation of the innovation in order to provide a level playing field. And it is applied sometimes on a team-by-team basis.

When you really think about that concept, it really doesn’t make sense. Rules are one thing, and I and many others are of the agreement that we need rules, to a point. When rules are enacted for the sole purpose of holding back a more innovative and hard-working team, or teams, then the concept has gotten out of hand.

The way this whole thing called auto racing got its start was that there were very limited rules and a lot of imagination and hard work. If a team began to dominate, the other teams didn’t cry and complain, they just respected the winning teams and then tried to work harder to beat them.

Is having a dominant team good for the sport, some might ask? When the Green Bay Packers were dominating pro football back in the early 1960’s, it caused the other teams to buckle down and work harder and smarter. Then eventually other teams grew in strength to overcome the dominance of Green Bay. And it grew pro football because of it.

But what if the league in their infinite wisdom told Green Bay that since they were winning so much that they had to change quarterbacks (i.e. carburetors), or add fifty pounds to each player to kind of slow them down. And what if the league didn’t want the fans to know what they were doing lest there be a revolt.

That is exactly what is happening in auto racing in a lot of areas. It is happening in circle track racing as well and it needs to stop. It is ruining the sport that was born and bred on innovation and hard work. And it’s all because of a few less innovative teams who cannot beat the winners. It’s also because of promoters who don’t want the dominant team to “stink up” the show.

Then there is the sponsorship angle. What if the sponsor for the track or series were to also sponsor one of the teams racing there. The sponsor likes to see their car win, but another team is always winning instead. They go to the track or series management and want something done about this situation. “They must be cheating” the sponsor says.

So, the hard working team all of a sudden gets extra treatment in the tech shed and lo and behold, some little technical infraction that had nothing to do with the performance, suddenly gets discovered and they end up getting disqualified. This happens in even the most visible of series. I’ve personally witnessed it in action.

Then you have honest series and forms of auto racing. A couple come to mind, like dirt racing where there are few rules. If you make weight after the race and your body panels pass inspection before the race, you can keep your win.

Formula One has a lot of rules, but the construction and engine rules allow complete innovation within certain overall parameters. If a team dominates for a year or more, then the other teams must play catchup. And F1 is very popular globally. That formula has not diminished the sport, it has actually grown it.

Way too many promoters, series and tech officials feel that they have to control their racing. No, you don’t. You need to set rules for everyone and then let things play out. If a certain team, or teams, end up winning most of the races, then so be it.

When winning teams are singled out just for winning and made to follow a different set of rules, that to me is sacrilege. It goes against everything racing is about. And, it will kill the sport. Everywhere we see over-regulation that produces cookie-cutter cars, or “pack” racing is doomed to failure.

Everywhere we see the allowance of innovation and fewer rules, we see growth. Dirt racing is growing and has been for some time, as is F1. Those two should be a model for the industry on how to conduct your racing program.

Maybe if we had less cry babies, we’d have better racing. Just saying.

Editor’s Note: We had asked readers to tell us about how their track was being managed related to safety and these are some of the responses we got. As promised, where appropriate, no readers names will appear.

Track Safety Comments

Hello Bob,

I read your article about track safety from May 2017, and wanted to let you know about a local dirt track in Calhan Colorado. The track name is El Paso County Raceway in Calhan, Colorado. It is County owned but not operated by the County.

When anyone questions the promoter on how to get in touch with someone at County when we have and continue to have issues, he becomes very belligerent, verbally abusive, curses yells at people and makes such a scene trying to scare others to not ask questions. Let me list some of the issues that have and continue to happen: – County personnel state that the promoter is given $20,000 per year for track maintenance. This track is the worst track in Colorado with ruts, dirt and rocks chunks of concrete that have damaged cars and so much dust from early on every race day fans complain about the dust, drivers and photographers complained to no avail. – There’s usually accidents that cause an individual or individuals to have to be transported to medical facility and the promoter hurries the races to begin again with no medical personnel nor ambulance available and if questioned about it he disappears into his large toy hauler and ignoring safety concerns again. – He doesn’t have trained staff that can handle safety properly, he has several young ladies working race nights and others that are a mix of people that will kiss his b. – He will start a pit meeting off each race night immediately cursing at and or about people, Facebook issues, yelling and threatening people and claiming “SAFETY” first but then his own kids drive through the pits on golf carts or four wheelers way too fast. Then one particular night we had a rain delay and he gets on PA system yelling at people to get their cars on the track we’re going to get these main events ran! – When there are accidents, the flag man is not quick enough to notice and is late putting out the yellow which has created more accidents. – Local photographers have had to jumped in many times to help during accidents because there is no track safety personnel.

Thanks, Name Withheld

It would seem, from a liability standpoint, the county would want to know what is going on. I’m sure you can find out who would be interested. Our point in doing these kinds of exercises is to educate the promoters. If they can see what is being done in other parts of the country in a more responsible way, then they might alter their approach.

Track Safety Comments II

Mr. Bolles,

I submit the example of what a fire / safety crew should be: Lawrenceburg Speedway. Their team is what every track should have.  In other words, a 10. As a photographer that has shot F1, Nascar, IndyCar, MotoGP, etc. for 25 years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway I have seen the best there is in action in the Holmatro Safety Crew.

I can honestly say the Lawrenceburg crew is the short track equivalent. Their gear and techniques are well above any other short track in the midwest and the dedication to the drivers and teams is amazing.

Thanks, Andy Clark.

Track Safety Comments III

Bob,

I am responding to your request to rate the tracks safety crew performance.  We are very fortunate at Nodak Speedway in Minot ND to have one of the most dedicated safety crews around. The head of our safety crew has been doing this since he drove a brand new Vega station wagon, which he volunteered for additional safety vehicle.

We are also very fortunate to have a sponsor whose son was in a wreck involving a fire.  Anything we want, we get.  Our sponsor built our current rescue vehicle and equipped it with jaws of life, and auxiliary hydraulic unit.  We also have the local Fire Extinguisher shop as a sponsor, so gear, chemical, hoses are very easy to come up with.  We have an Air Force Base close by, so many of our volunteers come from there. Our rescue truck has 4 people assigned at all times plus we have a side-by-side that was donated to use for quick response / fast attack.

The real problem Bob, as I see it in many tracks, is getting qualified volunteers.  Nodak host extrication training every year where they bring in old cars and cut them up plus drivers bring in their cars so they can practice removing drivers from the car.

Our problem lately has been getting EMT/Paramedics.  We have 1-3 dedicated people, but things come up and sometimes they are left shorthanded. This year Nodak Speedway has gone back to having an ambulance with trained personnel on hand at a cost of $500 per night. Due to Nodak Speedway’s level of training and personal who are willing to help, I will rate them a 10 out 10.

Jeff Barta

Nodak is one of the good ones, obviously.

Anti-Squat Question

Hello Bob,

I am reading and article in Circle Track from February, 2017 on the anti-squat. I was wondering if you move both trailing arm up to the top hole for more forward bite off the corner or just one side and if it’s one side which side do you recommend.

Thank you, Mike

What I was saying was that by shortening the leverage arm, you can produce more force on the third link. We can do that by moving the third link down, and/or moving the trailing arms up. You should do both trailing arms.

Remember not to change your trailing arm angles when doing this. Don’t just move the rear mounts up or you will be changing the arm angles quite a bit and those angles regulate the amount of rear steer, not to mention rear alignment.

Gentlemen’s Agreement Comment

Hello

I read your story about the gentleman’s agreement and calling your own mistakes if you spin somebody and thought I would offer my view of it. I run a dirt Wissota B mod in northern WI. Our yellow flag rules are if you spin a car or pinch a car down into the inside or the wall and cause them to stop you are tagged with the yellow and go to the back and the other driver gets their spot back.

Also, if you spin but save it and another car spins to avoid hitting you then you are also caused with the yellow and go to the back. Yes, there are a lot of judgment calls but also several times where the wrong call was made and the offending driver stopped and told an official it was his fault, it got sorted out.

You are correct in saying that many drivers have the “I do nothing wrong ever, its always the other driver.” Some have the mind set of “well if they weren’t on the track they wouldn’t have been hit” who think they own the whole track and do slides for life as we call them. They start on bottom of the corner and slide all the way to the top coming out and don’t car if you are there or not.

As far as myself, I have always gone to other drivers and admitted if I made a mistake and hit them going in or messed up a corner and caused a wreck. Sometimes it goes bad and other times I get a look of confusion which sometimes later turns to a thank you or respect later. Racing dirt we lean on each other time to time and never say anything about it.

I had a incident last year where I rear ended a driver on a restart due to I caught the green flag better than he did and pushed him into the infield. I lifted and let him get sorted out and come back on track and gave him his spot back and we kept racing. Never threw a yellow. After the race he was still in his car and I told him I was the one who hit him and why and apologized. His response was ” I didn’t think it was on purpose since you only did it once.” After the race he came and said thank you for apologizing and said if I need anything just ask.

Another thing is if drivers would go and be calm and talk rather than storm over and yell and swear at each other there would be a lot less issues. That also goes with officials. Any of the tracks I run at I have a great relationship with the officials because I talk to them rather than yell and scream. A simple “Can I talk to you for a minute? ” or ” Will you explain why this call was made?” without any sarcasm in the tone goes long, long way. That’s just my take. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Cy Hoaglan

Well said, I’ve got nothing to add.

  If you have comments or questions about this or anything racing related, send them to my email address: chassisrd@aol.com or mail can be sent to Circle Track, Senior Tech Editor, 1733 Alton Parkway, Suite 100, Irvine, CA.

  The post How to Regulate Short Track Racing to Death appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

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