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Lessons Learned And The Value Of Growing Old
The Infield by Paul Pittman
Plover, WI (Dec 27, 2006): Wow! Take some time off and look at
what happens. As most that know me already know; reluctantly, I’ll be
staying at my post in 2007 seemingly far far away from the breeze of wings
flying by me trackside. But, that is by choice and it’s a choice that
personally, I need to follow through with. So, with that being
said, I want to focus on some of the things that have happened and are in the
works in sprint car racing in general. If I offend, my apologies up
front and right now but like I have said often in the past, it’s my column
so if you don’t like it, click over to someone else’s that is writing what
you want to hear. I’m getting to old for the sweet candy
anyway.
First and foremost, I want to express my thanks and farewells to a couple
legends who retired late in 2006. With both Al Hamilton’s #77 and the
Apple Chevrolet team joining the ranks of spectator, I kind of feel like
another chapter in the annals of PA sprint car racing is closing. These
are teams that I grew up with. Watching the Hamilton #77 in victory lane
was as common as a cool breeze by a creek on a hot summer evening as a kid
growing up in St. Thomas, PA. Hearing about the Apple Chevrolet whopping
up on the visiting touring groups was as common as the cold. These are
(were) things that you could pretty much count on. A few years ago, when
Walt Dryer retired the famous brick-mobile, many thought then that an era was
coming to an end. Lo and behold, they returned and all was well in the
universe. Wiekert’s “Beef-Mobile”, while they may no longer be on
the #29, is still visible for me when I do get a chance to see Jake Peters
run. Every time I see that decal I simply smile to myself, remembering
many nights of watching Doug Wolfgang sitting in victory lane. Maybe I
am getting old.
You know what I get a kick out of though? How everyone has their own
theory on how to save sprint car racing and what needs to be done in order to
ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the same rush of
adrenaline that we did as kids. I will not disagree with anyone that the
current state of sprint car racing in general nationally is in the midst of a
change, but you can look at it however you want to. Is it a problem with
change or just evolution? I guess it depends on whether or not you look
at your glass half empty or half full. I can remember well a handful of
years ago when the advent of the 360s in sprint car racing was the end-all
be-all, our saving grace so to speak. Well, now that some years
have past, we see the costs of the 360 sprint car racing right around the same
place as fielding a 410. So much for that theory. And running for
less money. I guess that makes sense to some. What I have seen
though is the gradual trend away from 410 racing to 360 though and the
reasoning is more to do with the cost of promoting a 360 show vs a 410 show
more than anything. What this has done though is actually set the 410s a
notch higher in the overall scheme of things. Hey, as a promoter, now
you can promote a regular sprint show and then sprinkle in a BIG show for the
410s every now and then. The problem is, the guys that are out there
trying to live their own dream of fielding a 410 sprinter gets lost in the
shuffle. Another point I’ve made many times is how it never ceases to
amaze me at how many of these teams continue to show up at all these shows,
knowing that they are out spent, for nothing more than the chance to run
it. To them, I salute you! As far as the evolution theory goes, I
wonder if our grandparents thought the same thing when the Offenhouser engines
were replaced?
Remember back a few years ago when the weight rule was the answer? How
much money was spent on countering that to make up for the “extra” weight
now required on a competitive car. Now though, it’s odd when a car
weighing less than 1400 pounds crosses a scale. Then there was the
wickerbill and wing issue. Now there is a tire rule being
discussed. Before you even start, no, I am not siding with anyone, I
simply want to make a point or two and am asking you to really think about
this before you start typing your email. Yes: There will be the typical
debate and the squashed toes from someone stepping on some else. Of
course there will also be the normal feelings and pride hurt in the name of
progress as well. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying it’s
bad. Again, it goes back to the theory of evolution. All I am
saying is that buy the time we all end up debating the change to death, more
harm seems to be done to relations and more time spent re-building burnt
bridges than is necessary. Then there is the whole debate of
monopolizing sprint car racing. Hmmm... Haven’t we been asking
for a level set of rules for how long? I guess the bottom line here is
simple. Racing is a business and needs to be approached as such.
If a company is going to step up and support it, then the industry needs to
take the necessary steps to welcome it and, (here’s the important thing),
take care of those sponsors and supporters. However, some people just do
not like change. End of discussion.
One other item I want to explore here and, while it may not have anything to
do immediately with sprint car racing in general, it does have an impact on
racing. I am going to stay away from identifying specific groups, but
you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure it out. The bickering
and squabbling that has and is going on between clubs needs to find an
end. The initial pretense was understandable, but things have simply
gotten out of hand. Whether it’s greed, ego or what, it’s not
helping anyone any longer, least of all the end user; the fan. The
message boards on the internet are full of arguments for both sides and while
it sometimes it makes for interesting reading material in the bathroom (if
printed), it infuriates me to have to sit back and watch arguments grow from
people who actually sit beside each other at a given race and not realize
it. By the way; I want to make it known that I am not a fan of these
message boards and if I had it my way, we’d all go back to getting the
results via papers and let the columnists do their own part in offering
stories and observations. While I know that it probably will not happen,
I say lets start looking toward the future and work toward an end that will
best suit the racers and fans alike. Civil wars are ugly and their
results are more often than not have lasting repercussions that affect far
more than the intended purpose. There, I said it. Lets see how
long it takes before I get some nasty email on this point.
With all these points now made, it’s time to look ahead to 2007. For
the IRA itself, they continue to be the exception to the rule when it comes to
410 racing nationally. With sponsors securely in place and preparations
well underway, teams will take a short time out to welcome in the New Year,
then, just as quickly, get back to work on their individual projects.
While “Santa Steve” (Sinclair) works out the final dates on the 2007 IRA
schedule which I am told, should be out soon and appeal to most teams, (some
will never be happy), he is pleased to see the positive responses from
all of the tracks that hosted IRA events in 2006. It makes
everyone’s job a lot easier when you have a good show that continues to
improve and at the same time, gives fans what they are looking for. A
high excitement show that is still very affordable and fan friendly. A
hard combination to beat and one that many sanctions are still looking at
trying to emulate. The problem with that is building the core family
that sustains it year after year. That is the secret. My
congratulations to the 2006 IRA Champion Travis Whitney. When the 2006
season started out, many figured that he would be one of the major players in
the title race. Between him and Mike Reinke, the duo kept many
scratching their heads for most of the season in what was, once again, a good
old fashioned season long points battle. Also, congratulations to the
2006 “Rookie of the Year”, Alex Bliesner. Normally, I am around more
and can really expand on the overall year that the IRA rookies have, but, as
you know 2006 was far from a normal year. Alex joins the many IRA
rookies like Travis, Scotty Neitzel, John Hainei, Donny Goeden (seeing a
pattern here yet?) that have gone on to even bigger successes. The
torches have been officially passed.
As for me and my own plans, well, as I already indicated, I will attempt a
similar schedule as last year; supporting my role in Antigo through my tenure
there with a hit and miss role with the IRA, at least as long as either will
have me. For those also wondering what else I am up too, stay
tuned. Hey, anyone that knows me KNOWS I am not going to be just sitting
around waiting for something to happen. ‘Nuff said! To all
taking the time to read, I sincerely appreciate your time and, believe it or
not, your emails. Even if it is nothing more than to bitch me out for
not writing in so long. My apologies. To the ones that complain
that I am too cynical or just don’t know what I am talking about.
Those are welcome too. I need a laugh now and then. To everyone
else, have a safe and happy New Year and, God willing, we’ll see you at a
track somewhere down the road in 2007.
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