Sprints Touring???

[rjrinc]

Looking back at the Frosty race at Sunset Speedway, I remember the car count was the same in the Sprints as it was in the cars and trucks. Seeing the new 2008 Grand Bend schedule I see Brad has all of the Sprint divisions visiting other tracks at one time or another. Personally, I see this as a good thing in terms of "driver development" allowing our kids/racers the opportunity to compete at different tracks (sizes, shapes and so on).

What I would really like to see here, is if the parents of the sprint car drivers can comment on their thoughts (would be good if they could say who they are so their comments could be followed up on), to see if there is a need to offer a traveling series.

Perhaps, this could be done in conjunction with the trucks or in some other manner, obviously there would have to be tremendous support.

This is just something I thought I would throw out there. I’m not trying to ruffle anyone’s feathers, just trying to see if there is a need for something that isn't there at the moment.

Rob James


Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7151.msg38370#msg38370

[25_JLM_13hp]

I'd like to see that, the sprints usually put on a good show. If they traveled under the JCAR banner, they would probably have to have a system where two divisions travel and one races at GB, because I can't see how many tracks would want three traveling divisions on one night.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7151.msg38402#msg38402

[hurr15]

There allready is a traveling series,   hurricane midgets

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7151.msg38417#msg38417

[hurricane7]

 chuck they are talking about the kids in the 6 and 9 horse mini sprints not the 440s

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7151.msg38418#msg38418

[racingwrench]

So the non suspension sprints are travelling?
Man I really like those suspension cars, thats a great class.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7151.msg38424#msg38424

[Turn1]

Personally I feel the sprints are borderline unsafe to run on big tracks.  They are not inherently more dangerous than the other classes when they were running on small tracks (like the old grand bend), but larger tracks and even the new grand bend make me cringe with fear everytime I see them race.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7151.msg38426#msg38426

[rjrinc]

Looking back at the Frosty race at Sunset Speedway, I remember the car count was the same in the Sprints as it was in the cars and trucks. Seeing the new 2008 Grand Bend schedule I see Brad has all of the Sprint divisions visiting other tracks at one time or another. Personally, I see this as a good thing in terms of "driver development" allowing our kids/racers the opportunity to compete at different tracks (sizes, shapes and so on).

What I would really like to see here, is if the parents of the sprint car drivers can comment on their thoughts (would be good if they could say who they are so their comments could be followed up on), to see if there is a need to offer a traveling series.

Perhaps, this could be done in conjunction with the trucks or in some other manner, obviously there would have to be tremendous support.

This is just something I thought I would throw out there. I’m not trying to ruffle anyone’s feathers, just trying to see if there is a need for something that isn't there at the moment.

Rob James

Just a reminder, this was a topic for discussion for the parents of the the racers in the 6.5 and 9hp classes. There is nothing in stone or even being talked about to my knowledge, I wanted to bring it up because of a couple reasons.

1). After the Sunset race, there was feedback about all 3 classes....people liked the action in the Sprints as well.
2). I know some Sprint people and from what I hear, some would like a touring series, some wouldn't......I'm courious to see how many are interested.
3). I am all for programs that support driver development. Taking our young hot foot drivers to other tracks will also make them more concious of of car setup if we teach them correctly and talk to them about what were doing so we don't all raise a bunch of Cole Trickle's.

RJ



Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7151.msg38427#msg38427

[Wheelsspin]

Personally I feel the sprints are borderline unsafe to run on big tracks.  They are not inherently more dangerous than the other classes when they were running on small tracks (like the old grand bend), but larger tracks and even the new grand bend make me cringe with fear everytime I see them race.

My son hit the wall head on, wide open, at Varney 2 years ago in a 6.5 microsprint. The only injury he rec'd was a rash from the seat belt. As for the car, a bent front bumper. he was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons and came back and ran the feature.
He had 2 hard head ons in the wall at Grand Bend this year with no injuries. I'd like to know where you get your information that these cars are unsafe. As i recall Nathan Ray in the 35 truck had an accident at Grand Bend where the roll cage was crushed. Luckily he walked away with a few scratches on his helmet. I've never seen that happen to a roll cage on any of the micros. I will agree that the micros could use a few bars in the front to protect the kids feet.


Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7151.msg38432#msg38432

[Doherty]

I had only seen the trucks and cars a few times never seen the sprints before the frosty, and i enjoyed the racing in from all 3 divisions and am looking forward to seeing them at sunset again this year.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7151.msg38433#msg38433

[RacingMom3553]

I believe that a 400 lb micro is no less safe than the 800 lb mini truck. I have personally witnessed the micros flip, barrel roll, hit the wall head on, pile up in 10+ pile ups, etc. in the five years we race micros and I can count on one hand those that didn't walk away with anything but minor injuries. The worst injuries I remember occurring happened in the 9hp mini and they were a broken foot in one incident and cracked ribs in another. The 800 lb vehicle hitting the wall is 800 lbs of inertia that has to come to a stop and therefore the vehicle needs a beefier frame to withstand the energy.

We would've loved to have a traveling series available for us when we raced the micros. I strongly encourage the micros and minis to support a traveling series as it was a terrific experience this year traveling with the mini truck. The biggest challenge is trying to fit visiting series into already tight schedules. Time is so short at the traveling events that it wouldn't be possible to take all the series to other tracks at the same time, but that doesn't exclude creativity in scheduling.

Keep the positive support and creative ideas coming and focus upon the good that is occurring. The exposure that junior racing gets when the micros, minis, JLMs, and mini trucks go to other tracks will only serve to build the sport, and also give exposure to the great things that occur at GBS.


Murray Wray


Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7151.msg38437#msg38437

[Turn1]

I'd like to know where you get your information that these cars are unsafe. As i recall Nathan Ray in the 35 truck had an accident at Grand Bend where the roll cage was crushed. Luckily he walked away with a few scratches on his helmet. I've never seen that happen to a roll cage on any of the micros. I will agree that the micros could use a few bars in the front to protect the kids feet.

In my post I never outright declared the vehicles unsafe...  If they were actually "unsafe":

a) No parent would let their child drive one.
b) We would see more injuries.
c) No insurance company would insure the track.

In my post I said I feel they are "borderline" unsafe, meaning that a lot of careful throught and research needs to go into this before the cars and drivers hit the big time and go travelling.

I'm not a driver or a parent in this division, but I have seen them race.  From my perspective the lighter construction of these cars puts them at additional risk.

As for the injury and damage to a mini truck, an accident can happen at any time in any division anywhere.  What my point is, is that historically the mini-sprint cars of Ontario design have been largely confined to the small track at Grand Bend.  When this type of car moves on to bigger tracks elsewhere in the province, very careful consideration should be taken.  Transitioning to a travelling series may be well intentioned, but bear in mind that with increased speed comes substansially increased risks.

Touring does bring attention to GBS and the various series which can be positive, but a word of caution; you want to make sure it is positive attention.  If a mini-sprint went barrelling end over end at sunset speedway or any other track in front of the fans or injure a driver, it would not be positive attention.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7151.msg38438#msg38438

[RacingGirl16]

As a racecar driver who has raced,and won at grandbend,varney,and sunset..i definately think that my car is safe.although it dependes on the way yuu race it*.i recently won championship,and if my car wasnt safe i probably wouldn't have. i love racing with all my heart,and if i new it wasnt safe i would never do it..which is pretty hard to understand because of how addicted i am to it..

i think it would be a great experience to try a few travelling races...it gets kind of boring racing at the same track every single weekend!...its fun but its always nice to have a change:)


Courtney:)<3

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7151.msg38439#msg38439

[25_JLM_13hp]

Barrel rolling is probably the best way to wreck, because every time you hit the ground, you are scrubbing off a little speed and energy, instead of all at once. Also, bigger tracks means more room for the micros to avoid each other in case of an accident, and a lot more distance to the wall in the corners. It is usually a very rare occurrence to see a mini-truck or JLM hit a wall in the corner, because of the distance you have to get some semblance of control.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7151.msg38445#msg38445

[microsprint52]

i dont know how many times ive seen people flip widly or barrel roll and not be hurt in a micro ive even done it and was completly fine.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7151.msg38470#msg38470

[MR52]

I would like to try my 6.5 sprint on a different track besides grand bend, like delware. I would join a traveling series if their is one?


Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7151.msg51825#msg51825