It gets more people interested and involved that would otherwise not have an opportunity to attend the current "Series" races. The potential merits of the Divisional concept have been talked about at length in another thread by Tom Drake where a few of us supported the idea. Here is a link to the thread for your reading enjoyment.

http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic ... highlight=

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

O.K. I went and reviewed the entire 4 pages of posts from last year. The end result for anyone who is new, was the Drake consistency challenge. It was won by a rookie and the second place was the series points winner, so you got to think anybody could have won. It was a great idea.

I don't think there are enough races to divide them up into several divisions and then expect it to help/encourage most of the beginners. The current normal race program might be hurt by divisional rules, because the fast cars that travel play a big role in establishing credibility to the program as a whole.

I'm no against the idea as much as I just don't think it has strong enough advantages. I propose, that the team idea is a better use of time and resources.

I would really enjoy being a team captain for the pittsburgh race this year, and I know that some of my local friends (who already will attend) would like to race against me or as teammates. One group of drivers would have a lot of pride about helping their team win, and the other would have a score to settle next year, or a reason to try to attend more races this year to help their team, or to come back next year. (even if it's only for 1 race per year)

The team event gives guys like: Me, Greg, Brian, Phil, more incentive to get involved and gives meaning to our small contribution. Spending all my spare money and a lot of my free time working on my car needs have some meaning or new people will get discouraged.

It's already been proposed that you could split up race cars and street cars. Instead of actually having different classes, you could make teams, the rules would have to include enough gray area that a driver could improve their car a little without changing teams in the middle of the season. You could give teams points for participation, so shear numbers could win or lose a race. The street team would have won several races this season on that kind of system. I guess it all depends on defining what a street/race car looks like.

Lots of work to do, but everyone is throwing out good ideas. Please understand, that while I'm forming some opinions, that I'm still in favor of anything that improves slant six racing. Discussion is good.

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1980 Aspen 225 super six

Ditto!

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

Oh no Tom, ( man, computers are SO impersonal ) What I mean is if you're going to have a race make every effort to "piggyback" it with an established event where, instead of just a couple of dozen local gentry are watching, you have a larger fan base where an "unattached" Slant Six owner my attend i.e. Mopar shows, muscle car shows and shootouts, or nostalgia drags etc. But the Slanters would have there own race, just like we have now. Drawing eight cars per event would be absolutely fantastic, but realize the points work down from twenty, not up. Example: if three cars show up the winner gets twenty, the runner up fifteen, and the lone semi gets ten. If twelve cars show up the winner still gets twenty, the runner up fifteen, semi losers ten, quarter losers five and the first rounders would end up with zip. As far as divvying up street cars and drag cars: NO. They're all race cars on the track, besides look what Paul did with the "Killer Fridge" at one race this year (It's scary to think how tough he'll be when he gets it runnin' like he wants) And as sure there's a daytime some nut will show up with license plates on an 11 second car and want to run all the streeters. I believe we're on the right track Paul. IMO the key is to get the Slant Six owners with "daily drivers" to dabble in it a time or two, in addition, and this is important, let wanna be racers know that they don't need a $50,000, ten second, full caged, 500 inch Hemi powered car to come drag racing. That's where having small races all over might help draw out some folks. RICK

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If you can't be good, at least be colorful

That is a very valid concern and one that was addressed when we tried a street car type shootout. The DOT tire and exhaust rule will keep most "race" cars honest. I can gaurantee you that it is a crapshoot hooking an 11 second car on DOT tires.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Ok got it! I think all of races should be in conjuction with Mopar shows. That way we get exposure for the series as well as any sponsors that are putting up $$$.

I do not think rewarding the same points no matter how many rounds it takes is fair. If it take 5 rds to win then you should be rewarded for those 5 rounds if you win them. If only three cars show up and you win two rounds then you should be rewarded for those two rounds...etc.

Thanks for everyone showing an interest. This is what makes me think we have something here.

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Nitrous cars are like old men on Viagra. Once the bottle is empty they are useless.
FJD

I agree that no matter what the plan, points should be based at least partially on the number of cars.
Yes, for the divisional plan. This seems to be the growth plan which is already in effect.

I don't agree it's right for team events. It stands to reason that Mopar events will attract the most cars, but small, slant six events seem to be considerably cheaper to attend.(up north at least it's almost $70 to get into a mopar show) Small non-show team events would lack prize money. I would race at local team events without any promise of prize money from that event. (within a few hours of my home, maybe columbus, and pittsburgh for sure)

For Team rules it would reason to allow as many events as possible in areas where enough cars and interest exist. The current rules seem to try and limit the possible number of races? I can see the reasoning, but It doesn't grow well. Allowing team events which arn't in full conjunction with the regular racing schedule, but are still considered 'slant six racing' would be pretty cool. It might also start some races which could eventually become annual events in the regular points series.

If we started some small, slant six only, team only events, we could concievably have the track all day and run double elimination or special team brackets. I want to have some fun more than I care about winning a championship (as if I have any chance) or a bunch of prize money. (money is nice, but I don't really expect to win any.) I know I could just go to my local test and tune, but I mostly just get funny looks. (are you gonna drop a 440 in that thing? ) It's bad enough I've got to explain at the regular events.

And lastly, it opens the doors for other kinds of races, Last I heard, owning a slant six doesn't restrict you to going in a straight line 1/4 mile at a time (even when you want to on some tracks) I thought for sure I'd get Lou on board with the road racing idea.

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1980 Aspen 225 super six

The funny looks stopped when I got mine in the 15's. They are completely non-existent now.

Keep the ideas coming.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

You guys are right: Going rounds should count for something. A racer could get one or two or five ( the number is flexable right now ) points per round, and the idea of the top four points guys (or gals) regardless of division advance and then the remaining top four from each division would reward winning or going deep into eliminations. I'm sure glad we're having this round table............RICK

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If you can't be good, at least be colorful

I wasn't proposing that any single Slant 6 racer could just show up to a local track, race, and send results in for points. It would have to be an organized race that has been negotiated and added to the schedule before the season started, just like we discussed in previous threads.

I think stritcly limiting it to "Mopar only" shows would be a little too restrictive though. I was in the process of getting a Slant 6 race added to the "Slant 6 Series" in conjunction with the Moparts Nationals in Reynolds, Georgia when the promoter had to pull out of sponsoring that annual event. That theoretically would leave that small group of local racers without an event to participate in. There are still many parts of the country that don't have any "Mopar only" events, but they do have a couple large "All Comers" events that a group could get together for and hold a race as part of the Divisional/Regional/Team program.

Also, going with Paul's suggestion of adding road racing into the program... There aren't too many "Mopar only" road course events that I am aware of, but there are SCCA chapters all over the country with scheduled events throughout the year.

Having our "Slant 6" group get organized and show up at their local "All comers" events throughout the country might just win a few new people over from other marques as well. When I started GodsRods several of the kids were into Chevies, Fords and Hondas, etc. They didn't even have a clue what a Mopar was and certainly had no clue what a Slant 6 was. They all do now! And they've been telling their friends at school too.

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

Anybody else have comments on these ideas for teams or the divisional program. In another day or so, I'm gonna print it all out and send it to Seymour again so he can evaluate and make any suggestions in the newsletter.

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1980 Aspen 225 super six