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"Dale's View" Editorial Page 09/30/07Let's change chairs and look at racing from a different angle. On August 22nd and then again on August 29th; the "Lions Race Slinger Shoot-Out" was rained out. I did most of the promotion for this race in the Washington Cnty area. Meaning - distribute tickets, hang banners, line-up workers for the track, advertising, ect. That was alot more work and running around than I ever thought it would be. And then, the Lions Race Director and myself had to make the call on the "rain out". Darn - twice in a row. I gained alot of respect for track owner Wayne Erickson. On the first date, it was obvious at noon that it was a wash. But the second date, the skies cleared at 2:00pm, the winds changed and I said "Let's Race". Only for the rain and fog to return a half an hour later. What a disappointment. And it was our call that had many drivers tow north to Slinger just to get wet. Mr. Erickson patiently hoped that the weather would cooperate. He called his contacts to the west. He watched the computer radar. He gave us to 4:30pm to make the call, even though some of his employees had also arrived. He went the extra mile to make this show happen. And the Lions were not billed for anything. A big THANK YOU to Wayne Erickson.
Fifteen years ago, lettered on the rear spoiler of my racecar was "Less crashen and more racen". It is time to paint that on the back of the car again. When the cost of racing has taken such a big hike, as it has for 2006, no one should be crashing himself or other competitors. It is not hard to identify the guys driving like sluggos. Just go to two or more races and you will see the same slammers banging their way through the field, till either they spin out or leave on the hook. Solution...that's a hard one. I have always said that, at the drivers meeting, the starter should let it be known that rough driving will not be tolerated. Then the second warning name those sluggo drivers in front of everyone. Call the sluggo aside and warn him he is out if he so much as touches another race car. D.W.
Going racing is like going to the bar. When you walk in, you are entering someone else's business. That bar owner sets prices at what he wants, he has decorated the place as he likes, and that bar owner sets the rules. If you don't like it, then go somewhere else. For years we have heard the LTN crowd bash NASCAR's decisions, lately the ROL is packed with four banger drivers crying about rules, and I always gripe about tech inspectors. I guess the light has final gone on in this race shop. You are playing by that man's rules. He has no obligation to make you happy or adjust to what you want. That promotor can state what days his specials are on, he can price pit passes sky high or reasonable, even charge $5.50 for a cheeseburger. Again, if you don't like it, then go somewhere else. D.W. 8/01/2004 Race Season is 3/4 done, and I haven't had nothing to say. But there sure is a problem brewing with the Mid-American Stock Car Series. In the first 8 races; two winners were busted down to last place for having MINOR infractions. I mean minor, insignificant things that have no effect-what-so ever on performance.Having been involved in racing for 30 years, having been through tech at most paved tracks in S.E. Wisc.; I cannot believe that the series owner or promoter would allow this to happen. After the hours of work all week, the entire day at a racing event, a driver should not be kicked around and treated like a "tire soaker" cause a stock stub frame rail is 1/8" low.There needs to be a line drawn between major (your busted) or minor (fix it by next time) infractions. D.W.
8/31/2003 I have been pretty quiet lately; probally cause all is going great with our racing effort. The Road America We are about one hour away from leaving for Slinger Speedways Labor Day Weekend Sunday show. Our whole group is looking forward to a good, fun, clean nite of racing. I sure was disappointed Sat. nite 8/30 at Hales Corners big last nite. Things like two ticket windows open with five available (and a line 300 people long), out of cold soda and water 1/2 way through qualifing, and then the lights go out canceling the show. And no . . . lites were not all over - leaving the track- everyone else in sight had power. 4/19/2003 Alot of effort goes into a race car all summer and over the offseason.We here at our shop are looking forward to seeing how our improvements work. The Mid American Series owner and his staff make an effort to have drivers hold down the rough driving. I applaud them for that.It sure is no fun coming home with a crashed car the first race: Like so many at Rockford did 4/13 July 20, 2002 Having spent the last two weekends at two new tracks, has really shown me the two extremes that a driver, car, and crew are subject to. Road America and Iowa's Mid American Motorplex are two well run and organized facilities. The officals treated everyone just great. When one driver needed an engine part; two track people offered to drive him to auto parts store 4 miles away. We were all; thanked for coming, calmly told of track rules, and welcomed as competitors. The above are my personal opinions on what I see in racing. A great sport where anyone can get up close and involved. WHERE IS THIS GUY COMING FROM?? Dale has been an owner, driver and sponsor for 30+ years.No ball sports,no hunting, or fishing; just oval track racing. He currently owns a MidAm Stock Car and is the primary sponsor on Dennis Prunty's super late model and Dave Obermeyer's MSC.}} |