USAC Silver Crown News !!

8ball · 2/14/08, 11:15 PM

Wow, so the rumors were true. Definitely a bold move by USAC. Hopefully the owners of the old cars, and us fans will show support for this. I would love to see some more pavement dates for 08'. New Hampshire (please!), Oswego, Berlin, SGMP, or Mansfield would make great additions.

On another note, I can't believe we have seen two posts resulting in positive feedback regarding USAC in the past couple days. So far so good for the new management. :thumb

FishBurger · 2/14/08, 11:26 PM

"The United States Auto Club is announcing major steps aimed at preserving the future of its most popular and competitive racing series, the K & N Silver Crown Championship Series."

While I join everyone else in the hope that this move will rekindle the fire for the SC series, I must respectfully take exception to the above statement. The Silver Crown Series is neither USAC's most popular nor competitive series now and has not been since USAC in their infinite wisdom removed these cars from the Championship Trail. Yeh, I'm a sprint car fanatic but I actually go to races in all the USAC sanctioned series and the SC cars have fallen far behind the sprinters in paid attendance and in the competitive quality of cars in the pits. JMHO as always.

Again, I see this as a much needed and logical attempt to right the SC ship. I hope it works and will continue to support the series.........when they're not in conflict with a sprint car race. :wink

CTtoPA · 2/15/08, 12:27 AM

I'm 24 and I love the 'old' style silver crown cars. The 'new' cars are ugly as sin.

AlkyMadness · 2/15/08, 12:45 AM

Overall, this is good news but had to be expected. If you go back and review the agenda that Kevin Miller announced when he was hired, reviewing the Silver Crown series was a top priority. When you have a full field of traditional SC cars sitting out there, it only makes sense to put the NG cars on hold until you can fully develop the new plan (not to mention it's a political coup and wins you a ton of applause from all of the old school fans).

Now, I hope Mr. Miller will provide us an answer to the other item that was a priority: the Focus midgets.

IMO, I hope the new direction takes the SC events away from the NASCAR connection and aligns it where it belongs, with the IRL (apparently the sole Indy car sanctioning body now).

The idea behind the NASCAR connection is good, but let's face it, the average good ole boy fendered fan doesn't give a rat's ass about an kind of open wheel racing (especially one that he's not at all familiar with). The biggest draw to these fans is to see the the open wheel cars wreck and flip. I know this because I've lived here for years and have heard it all many times over.

And, even if aligned with IRL, they would not be that far removed from NASCAR because most everyone thinks.knows that TG is, for all practical purposes, in France's hip pocket.

SC already races with IRL at Richmond. I think they's be great as a support class at the races at Homestead, Milwaukee, Texas, Kentucky, Nashville (Fairgrounds), etc. This could than become the logical progression to an IPS ride and then eventually IRL.

They would not be good at tight short tracks like Martinsville or Bristol. Even SGMP was a little too tight of a track when I saw the PRA there last year. I'd love to see it because I live within an hour's drive of Martinsville, but I've been there enough to know the show wouldn't be very good.

Tracks that are big/wide and would be good: Oswego, Myrtle Beach, Birmingham Fairgrounds, Lakeland, Memphis, Berlin, Jennerstown, Toledo, Mansfield, Sandusky? (maybe too much like Martinsville), and there were some tracks in Wisconsin/Minnesota I remember from old ASA broadcasts (Madison, Minnesota Fairgrounds).

At least we have something to look forward to now.

E.P. · 2/15/08, 8:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dwight Clock

Good point, Eric but what do you feel past management would have done?

To quote the once headed for Cooperstown Mark McGuire, "I am not here to talk about the past. I am here to talk about the future."

I think the very fact there is a thread that exists on this subject only two months into the new regime answers your question about past management.

Stagger · 2/15/08, 9:20 AM

Very Interesting. Good Idea? Hope so. But the other angle could be not saying it is, but could happen? USAC pretty much crapped on the heads of the older SC car owners for 2 years. Why do they think these guys they crapped on while come out and bail USAC out? Oh sorry guys you are all screwed but hey can you bring out your toys we abandoned and play for a bit??? Then we will want you to spend more $$$$ on the revised addition of a bad Idea? Funny when you think about it. SC cars should never run tracks bigger than a mile ever!!

Blake Johnson · 2/15/08, 9:48 AM

Congratulations to USAC management for seeing the problem and coming up with a solution as the clock was ticking towards the first pavement race. It will hurt those that invested in the new cars but it is a necessary decision if the SC Series is to succeed. Maybe they can have a "gold crown" series for the bigger tracks. Lets get behind their decision and prove that they made the right one. Go see the series when it is near your hometown. Prove the promoters right when they schedule a race by attending. Maybe even drop an email to USAC saying thanks. I am sure they hear pleanty of complaints. Congratulations again to USAC for making things happen.

Geoff Kaiser · 2/15/08, 10:03 AM

Without a few more pavement races added to the schedule can we expect car owners to pull out these old gen cars from the moth balls and get them ready to race. It already middle of February. A few kept running with the PRA but alot where shelved and a few more were turned into sprint cars or sold off in peices.

IndyBound · 2/15/08, 8:15 PM

8Ball & Alkymadness, I have heard rumors for two months that Oswego has been trying to obtain a 2009 date to run a USCA SC race. I have no inside information, just hearing rumors. My best guess would be that a track the size of Oswego will expect to pay about half the purse the SC cars were racing for the last two years.

With todays economy being what it is, sponsorship dollars becoming harder and harder to find and tracks wanting to pay the lowest purse possible; what incentive is there for the owners to dust off their old cars and go back to racing?

Patti

usac14 · 2/15/08, 9:45 PM

Nice commentary TJ

http://www.tjslideways.com/modules.p...ticle&sid=1393

Now that you got what you wanted....Are you "complainers" going to support it?

2/14/08, 11:15 PM	#31 Re: USAC Silver Crown News !!
8ball Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 29	Wow, so the rumors were true. Definitely a bold move by USAC. Hopefully the owners of the old cars, and us fans will show support for this. I would love to see some more pavement dates for 08'. New Hampshire (please!), Oswego, Berlin, SGMP, or Mansfield would make great additions. On another note, I can't believe we have seen two posts resulting in positive feedback regarding USAC in the past couple days. So far so good for the new management. :thumb

2/14/08, 11:26 PM	#32 Re: USAC Silver Crown News !!
FishBurger Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 4,356	"The United States Auto Club is announcing major steps aimed at preserving the future of its most popular and competitive racing series, the K & N Silver Crown Championship Series." While I join everyone else in the hope that this move will rekindle the fire for the SC series, I must respectfully take exception to the above statement. The Silver Crown Series is neither USAC's most popular nor competitive series now and has not been since USAC in their infinite wisdom removed these cars from the Championship Trail. Yeh, I'm a sprint car fanatic but I actually go to races in all the USAC sanctioned series and the SC cars have fallen far behind the sprinters in paid attendance and in the competitive quality of cars in the pits. JMHO as always. Again, I see this as a much needed and logical attempt to right the SC ship. I hope it works and will continue to support the series.........when they're not in conflict with a sprint car race. :wink

2/15/08, 12:27 AM	#33 Re: USAC SIlver Crown News !!
CTtoPA Senior Member Race Count This Year: 6 Race Count Last Year: 4 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 489	I'm 24 and I love the 'old' style silver crown cars. The 'new' cars are ugly as sin.

2/15/08, 12:45 AM	#34 Re: USAC Silver Crown News !!
AlkyMadness Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 233	Overall, this is good news but had to be expected. If you go back and review the agenda that Kevin Miller announced when he was hired, reviewing the Silver Crown series was a top priority. When you have a full field of traditional SC cars sitting out there, it only makes sense to put the NG cars on hold until you can fully develop the new plan (not to mention it's a political coup and wins you a ton of applause from all of the old school fans). Now, I hope Mr. Miller will provide us an answer to the other item that was a priority: the Focus midgets. IMO, I hope the new direction takes the SC events away from the NASCAR connection and aligns it where it belongs, with the IRL (apparently the sole Indy car sanctioning body now). The idea behind the NASCAR connection is good, but let's face it, the average good ole boy fendered fan doesn't give a rat's ass about an kind of open wheel racing (especially one that he's not at all familiar with). The biggest draw to these fans is to see the the open wheel cars wreck and flip. I know this because I've lived here for years and have heard it all many times over. And, even if aligned with IRL, they would not be that far removed from NASCAR because most everyone thinks.knows that TG is, for all practical purposes, in France's hip pocket. SC already races with IRL at Richmond. I think they's be great as a support class at the races at Homestead, Milwaukee, Texas, Kentucky, Nashville (Fairgrounds), etc. This could than become the logical progression to an IPS ride and then eventually IRL. They would not be good at tight short tracks like Martinsville or Bristol. Even SGMP was a little too tight of a track when I saw the PRA there last year. I'd love to see it because I live within an hour's drive of Martinsville, but I've been there enough to know the show wouldn't be very good. Tracks that are big/wide and would be good: Oswego, Myrtle Beach, Birmingham Fairgrounds, Lakeland, Memphis, Berlin, Jennerstown, Toledo, Mansfield, Sandusky? (maybe too much like Martinsville), and there were some tracks in Wisconsin/Minnesota I remember from old ASA broadcasts (Madison, Minnesota Fairgrounds). At least we have something to look forward to now.

2/15/08, 9:20 AM	#36 Re: USAC Silver Crown News !!
Stagger Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 243	Very Interesting. Good Idea? Hope so. But the other angle could be not saying it is, but could happen? USAC pretty much crapped on the heads of the older SC car owners for 2 years. Why do they think these guys they crapped on while come out and bail USAC out? Oh sorry guys you are all screwed but hey can you bring out your toys we abandoned and play for a bit??? Then we will want you to spend more $$$$ on the revised addition of a bad Idea? Funny when you think about it. SC cars should never run tracks bigger than a mile ever!!

2/15/08, 9:48 AM	#37 Re: USAC Silver Crown News !!
Blake Johnson Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 41	Congratulations to USAC management for seeing the problem and coming up with a solution as the clock was ticking towards the first pavement race. It will hurt those that invested in the new cars but it is a necessary decision if the SC Series is to succeed. Maybe they can have a "gold crown" series for the bigger tracks. Lets get behind their decision and prove that they made the right one. Go see the series when it is near your hometown. Prove the promoters right when they schedule a race by attending. Maybe even drop an email to USAC saying thanks. I am sure they hear pleanty of complaints. Congratulations again to USAC for making things happen.

2/15/08, 10:03 AM	#38 Re: USAC Silver Crown News !!
Geoff Kaiser Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 662	Without a few more pavement races added to the schedule can we expect car owners to pull out these old gen cars from the moth balls and get them ready to race. It already middle of February. A few kept running with the PRA but alot where shelved and a few more were turned into sprint cars or sold off in peices.

2/15/08, 8:15 PM	#39 Re: USAC Silver Crown News !!
IndyBound Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,626	8Ball & Alkymadness, I have heard rumors for two months that Oswego has been trying to obtain a 2009 date to run a USCA SC race. I have no inside information, just hearing rumors. My best guess would be that a track the size of Oswego will expect to pay about half the purse the SC cars were racing for the last two years. With todays economy being what it is, sponsorship dollars becoming harder and harder to find and tracks wanting to pay the lowest purse possible; what incentive is there for the owners to dust off their old cars and go back to racing? Patti

2/15/08, 9:45 PM	#40 Re: USAC Silver Crown News !!
usac14 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 69	Nice commentary TJ http://www.tjslideways.com/modules.p...ticle&sid=1393 Now that you got what you wanted....Are you "complainers" going to support it?