you know what Shadow, I'm PO'd and spending a ton of money fixing a really fast race car, but I agree, I don't think its blatant; I seriously think it is a total lack of talent and common sense
I understand not only your frustration, but also the drain on the pocket book..
What if anything has the track said to you when you complained about the issues of the past few week??
to Gary 36, you said that drivers should work on first finishing in the top 15, then work on the top10 and so on, if half the field had that mentality, i think there would not be all the carnage going on. Some drivers, when the helmet goes on there is no connection with the right foot. A little RESPECT goes a long way
Shadowracer listened to Race Time Radio re broadcast of last nights show and they did a interview with Kirk Hooker in which he was fast qualfier in the 150 lap Late Model Special and finished 7th in a race won by Dion Verhoeven.Was asked about his season and he said he was 4th in points in his Dirt Late Model at SBR and was very happy about that and said he will be concentrating more on dirt and will probably going state side to compete there.As for Delaware all he said he was 20th there and would probably be racing Specials and would be trying to run more races at Flamboro.Tone of voice did not sound like he was happy about his Delaware experience this year.When Kirk speaks he means it.Sure he has had some bad luck at Delaware this year but also was forced out of a couple races due to accidents which were not his fault.Remember it costs big money to fix these machines.The Late Models are Delawares big draw and take a look at car counts from 30 on May 8th ,28 on June 12 & June 26 to 23 July 10 in which 4 cars were non finishers.Hope this is not meaning anything but when you get drivers like J.Urlin taking out American Robbie Pyle and the #15 Steve Mathews involved in a couple of accidents which looked like the cause of himself.Sure Urlin was sent to the back of the field reguarding his insident with Pyle.When incidents happen like this donot put them to the back of the field park them for the night.As for your comments reguarding where is Ron Sheridan not trying to pass Steve Robblee well what he is doing is the smart thing why go wreck your car trying to take the lead when you could sit in second and collect his high points for the Whalen Series as he is sitting second to Robblee right now.
Well, the late models certainly are Delaware's top draw, aside from the King of the hill races.
I guess the bottom line is this: if in fact guys are dropping out, then there's a reason - seasoned guys don't generally quit because they're whiners. If its the case, then something needs to be looked at.
Maybe it is time to go back to the old up-to-the-door rule, ditch the spotters, and maybe start taking guys who do dumb things and parking them for the rest of the race, rather than sending them to the back, mad and with something to prove. If its a rookie, he can learn from that too. Besides, was there not a time when a black flag meant you were out?
Might go along way towards un-ruffling some feathers if it was known that the problems (percieved or otherwise) are being addressed.
Frankly, I still don't think its that bad...but then its not me on the track putting my 40,000 dollar car on the line every Friday night either. And a percieved problem is still a problem, even if its much ado about nothing. If there's experienced guys staying away...then a dialogue should be opened, and fast. (This is one case where the inmates really should have a say in how the asylum is run.)
Those 30 car fields we had at the beginning of the season are testament to the fact that Delaware's getting something right. Now, historically, counts do drop off as the season progresses...always has, always will. So I'm only a little concerned.
But there may be some food for thought here.
Maybe it is time to go back to the old up-to-the-door rule, ditch the spotters, and maybe start taking guys who do dumb things and parking them for the rest of the race, rather than sending them to the back, mad and with something to prove. If its a rookie, he can learn from that too. Besides, was there not a time when a black flag meant you were out?
Frankly, I still don't think its that bad...but then its not me on the track putting my 40,000 dollar car on the line every Friday night either.
I agree there needs to be more black flaging, and park a racer if nessessary. The drivers meetings for as long as I can remember, Jeff has pleaded, take care of your equipment, respect your fellow racer, if its not your night back out . I feel Jeff has done a great job relaying this message, but the drivers seem to forget as they walk out the garage, Jeff (race directer) is the only one that can fix this, and until it is we will loose more great competitors and become labeled as the roughest track in ontario. Guys like Kirk Hooker, Jason Shaw, Pete Vanderwyste & Dan Deslile can wheel a race car, we need them. Lets get our acts cleaned up.
OH one more thing, 40k is a down payment on a late model, I remember McColl saying 20 to 25K plus a crate when the track was contemplating the change. hhmmmmmm