The rumors have been out there, but yesterdays mail confirmed that Kawartha Speedway is planning to merge the two classes as soon as next season. I can see how Derek is trying to up his car counts but I doubt very much that this will have the effect he is looking for. For starters, I have heard that there are a number of LM drivers not returning in 2007. This is not to say they are not, just rumors I have been hearing. Hanley is rumored to be leaving to race elsewhere, Kimmerly is rumored to be returning to LLM as well as Inglis. Also, do the Beyores follow Hanley ? That's five cars. Linc Brown is also unsure if he will run a full schedule this season. I do know that Morgan purchased Thompson's Alstar car and Toms bought a Howe car from the States. Another Tom's will be running their old car. So it looks like the LM will stay close to 2006 numbers. The LLM numbers I'm not as aware of but assume they will also remain like the LM, near 15 cars.
Now to the proposed merge. How does Derek plan to bring the two classes together as far as rule changes go ? Most of the LM guys have been updating there cars over the past few seasons or building new ones so are they going to be told to take parts off of their cars ? I'm sure that will piss a few of them off. Now the LLM. I'm sure that most of the front running LLM guys can afford to run LM if they want but choose not to, for a variety of reasons. I would think the most predominant one being the vast number of tracks they can run at ( Mosport, Peterborough, Barrie, Sunset, Kawartha, Sauble and Varney ) without changing too many things. Derek has to remember this and if he chooses to merge I'd bet that a large number of the LLM's would rather keep their track options open as well as save themselves the cost of converting to the top class. Peterborough and Mosport could see an increase in their car counts in the future if Derek can't convince all parties involved that his plan is the best.
Another thing that the merge will cause is a huge gap between the haves and have nots. LLM is a somewhat affordable class for the little guy but if he wants to remain at Kawartha what little money he has will have to be spent updating his car. A LLM backmarker will now be a moving chicane on the track and it's only a matter of time until he decides to race elsewhere or quit.
One final problem I see is the even greater gap between the bottom and top class. The jump from Thunder to LLM was big enough with regard to money and experience but now a jump right up to LM is one that only a few will be able to afford. There will be no class to feed the LM.
In stating my opinion I am in no way saying that Derek's proposal will fail or , after consulting with his drivers, will even happen. I'm sure in time the full plan will be anounced by Kawartha, and here's hoping that it does work. Twenty-five cars taking the green flag on a regular Friday night would be something I would look forward to.
Looking for some more opinions on the topic.
tracks didi this before and it ended up with lees cars,hanley going to flamboro maybe with all the mergers and silly rules thi is why osscar is having such growth there were over 25 teams at there meeting,spending same money,better purse and only 12 shows,and the rules allow racaers to be creative and build there race cars with some individuality ,not cookie cutter off the shelf racecars really all we are are weekend racers who work for a living and race for fun we are not going to race for aliving and if you want to go to nascar or cascar or where you like to be the same as everyone and leave the weekend racers to have fun
Why would Morgan purchase Thompsons Alstar car? it is a great car but it is already outdated to Kawartha rules , he didnt even bring it there for the specials. Seems like money wasted to me!
Well....Isn't that interesting....I agree that it needs to be done at some point in time down the road, but I'm not sure if doing it with little notice for this season and expecting it to work is the way to do it...
I don't agree that it needs to be done. The LLM class has had incredible growth in the few years of it's existence and is the top class at many Ontario tracks, providing good racing and (at most tracks) good fields. I can't really see too many LLM teams wanting to upgrade to LM specs, nor many LM teams wanting to come down to LLM rules. I also don't agree that most of the front running LLM teams could afford to make a move to LM; maybe a few could,but most are at their limit now. They may be able to move up, but not likely compete for a win. Everyone wants to at least have a chance to win, I can't see many being in too big a hurry to give that up. Maybe when the details of this come out it will make sense, but I can't see it. I don't see any way that a move like this can be made without it being at the expense of the teams in one class or the other and that's simply not right; they're all where they choose to be, they didn't ask for this, why should they be faced with expensive changes and possibly no longer being competetive for something they don't even want?