Just rememberin.............

[drdoug]

Just sittin here remembering the race at Winston this year when we only had 12? cars show up. To sweeten up the show, SOD Officials made an awesome decision to run the Aussie Persuit. Dusty won it but it sure was fun to watch. Maybe run it as a regular part of the program.
Doc

[Stevensville Mike]

I'll meet you half way on this one, Doug.  I don't like gimmicks.  That's all that was that night to fill time - a gimmick.

Now, a re-draw has it's positives, as long as it is a re-draw and not a flat out inversion of the top so many qualifiers (SOD doesn't qualify, so it's a moot point anyways).  With a flat out inversion like in WoO, things get hard to follow for not-so-in-tune fan.  For the diehards, it can be followed.

Anyways, if are going to have something like that, let's make it worthwhile, like start the Dash inverted and have the Australian Pursuit there.  It might liven up the Dash a little, too, because in all honesty, I could care less what the starting order is for positions 9-12.  But if we run four laps to see who has what and who gets bumped out, now you might be talking.....   

[drdoug]

My only point Mike was if you have a low car count, do something extra for the fans. They are there to see Sprint Cars race on that given night. Send them home with something that brings them back next time.
My 2 cents..........

[Wingnut]

I have to agree with drdoug. Sometimes traveling an hour or two to watch 12-16 cars makes for a short night of sprint car racing, a extra race each night would be cool. Don't get me wrong I will be in the stands next year one way or the other, just thought it was a good idea.

[Stevensville Mike]

Want more action?  How about this idea (and no, I was not drinking when I thought of it):

Sell tickets to the fans in the stands for $1.00 apiece.  For every ticket you buy, you get one vote.  You can vote for whatever SOD driver shows up that night.  $10, 10 votes - all for one driver or split them up as you want.

At the end of the ticket sales (at the end of the heat races?), the track counts up the dollars and counts up the votes.  The top 4 vote getters can run a dash.  The money collected - winner take all.  Top vote getter gets to start on pole.

It would be like a dollar dance at a wedding with the bride (or groom) to raise money morphed with a "Fan Favorite" racing mix to it.  Imagine fan favorites like Jim Lingar, Marques Huffer, Aaron Shaffer, the Brakenberrys, Davey Brown..... running for some cash.

If someone wants to stack the deck by throwing in a C Note for DD or Brett, well throw it in!

Money talks.  Especially the fans' money.

I've won one 50/50 in my life.  I'd have more fun funding a "Fan Dash".  I'll put a sawbuck down on my bud Huffer.  I know you have your favorites, too, Doug!

And to think Mrs. Elkins, my third grade teacher, told me I day dreamed too much......    

[Mudclodbob]

Hey, not a a bad idea Mike.

[Bad Dad 54]

Did this years ago at Onekena at the fairgrounds, Sean Robinson & another car went at it for 2 laps. When the race started we had around $300, it was 4 laps & by the time it ended we ended up over $400. The fans went nuts, Fred & I even chipped in some money, the drivers had a greed to split it but they put on a great show passing each other. Only couple tim,es it looked a little fake but the fans loved it.

[dirtracer74]

Did this years ago at Onekena at the fairgrounds, Sean Robinson & another car went at it for 2 laps. When the race started we had around $300, it was 4 laps & by the time it ended we ended up over $400. The fans went nuts, Fred & I even chipped in some money, the drivers had a greed to split it but they put on a great show passing each other. Only couple tim,es it looked a little fake but the fans loved it.

Ya, I actually did something liek this a couple times. In Manistee, Sean Robinson was fast, but Tom Fedorczyk was the local hero. Not sure whos idea it was, but next thing I know, I had $400 bucks being handed to me for a 2 car grudge match. Those two pulled it off, and it ended in a photo finish, and the place went nuts.

At Gas City we had maybe 15 cars, so I ran double heat races. Drivers were all on board with it, but the best part was the track. Jiggs gave me extra money at the end for the extra heat races so I was able to pay out a little extra. Plus he booked us again for the following year. His way of saying thanks for the extra effort. Since that point, I always tried to make sure we put on a show, regarless of how many cars we had. 

[Bad Dad 54]

Yep 74 - Fred & I were there w/ you, it was wild that night

[Stevensville Mike]

And here I thought I had an original idea.....   

[dirtracer74]

Actually, in years past, the fairboard had always booked another class to help keep down time to a minimum. That year, they did not book anything but SOD, and I think we had 12 cars was all. Wild night it was. I flagged hot laps because Tim Beebe was a few minutes late, I was sick from food poisening, we ran Hartford on Friday, and Ministee Saturday and Sunday. I did learn what not to do that weekend, LOL. The drivers pulled it off though. I can not remember who won on Saturday, but Frank Taylor won on Sunday.

I am trying to think of some other non-event type races I had seen for sprint cars, but there are not many out there.