Jan
28

2011 A season of change?

2 Comments

A lot of rumors have been swirling about the 2011 USAR Pro Cup Season, and make no mistake about it,  to say that the last few years have been rocky for the pro cup season would be an understatement. But with that being said I thought that the new owners of the pro cup season had done a great job leading up to this point in getting the series pointed in the right direction. I wasn’t concerned that they didn’t have a sponsor, and I wasn’t concerned about the car count, because the product that was on the race track was still great racing. In my opinion it was still one of the most competitive series’ in the country, and the sponsors and the car count would return when the economy improved.

However, with that being said I do think that there is one area that owners missed it big time this year. And it’s nothing against Arrington Engines, they did what the owners asked them to do. They had an engine that created a lot of power (probably too much but that’s debatable) and created a way for teams to run it. I have no problem with that. But, the program that is designed to save teams money, I believe hurts teams in the long run, and ultimately hurts the series. $30,000 to rent a motor for a full season seems reasonable, but at the end of the year your left with absolutely nothing. Don’t forget putting an engine in your backup car for $15,000 (with stipulations). And again don’t misunderstand me I’m not bashing Arrington, but if the concerns of the owners of the series is to genuinely keep the series alive then you need to look at other options also for the racer. Take for instance PASS. They have a variety of engine packages and put on one hell of a show at each race. My crew chief who runs PASS won’t let me live it down that he has an engine that will put out 600 HP, will run over 5,000 laps, and only cost $17,000.

I was so extremely disappointed this season with the owners’ decision to not allow Automotive Specialists’ new spec engine. $25,000 to purchase it new and it will run all season long without major maintenance, and then $7,000 to have it rebuilt for the next season. And better yet, you own it and can race it in other series. The other thing that baffles me was the majority of teams still have the 2010 pro cup motor. This motor was able to be converted to the new spec engine for $14,000. So you’re faced with an option here that is more cost effective for teams, and horsepower wise, it was as close as any engine was going to come to the Arrington engine without getting another “cup” motor.

I would ask any one of the owners of the series this; how many of them rent their homes? I don’t know for a fact, but I can almost guarantee you that none of them do. Why? Because renting makes no sense over the long run.  That wasted money that’s going towards your rent, could be spent towards owning your own home. Sure it’s a great option short term, which that’s what the Arrington motor could be for a lot of people, a great option for teams who only want to spend 1 year or so in Pro Cup and use it as a stepping stone. But give the teams who have equipment and have been dedicated to the series and love the series an option to continue to own their equipment. I understand that the current motors can be used in 2011, but in 2012 teams will be forced to the Arrington engine.

It all boils down to this in my opinion (and that’s all this really is) this “pay to play” mentality will leave you with exactly that: 10-15 teams that can afford to do it. Now understand I honestly believe that the owners have got a lot right with the series over the past two years. They saved the series from extinction and have brought some young faces and big names into the series. There’s a reason why Bill Elliott chooses to put his son into this series. But I’m afraid that with the recent moves that have been made, the owners have left fans and teams searching for a answer to this question.. “Why should I continue to invest in this series?”.. Which is sad, because it really is an amazing series.

Posted in USAR Pro Cup
2 Comments Posted by John

2 Responses to "2011 A season of change?"

  • Bill Harkins says:
    January 30, 2011 at 4:04 am
    Reply

    As a former player in the series I have to say that without a doubt I agree with everything you have said here. Very well put John. I read the Press Release from Mr. Lofton and there are things that I can agree with even though his press release comes off as very snobbish and very bold.

    Anytime you post that your going to run something as a dictatorship it’s not good for anybody. The only statement Mr.Lofton made that I agree 100% with is that “NO” Engine builder. Be it Performance Tech, Hutter or Automotive Specialists or any other engine builder for that part seem to really back up there equipment in the long run.

    Engine Builders are allowed to get away with the attitude of Warranty! Yes until it leaves the shop. When you spend the big bucks for a motor you know that going into it. Dosen’t mean it feels good and when one breaks it hurts like a mother with a hot wheel track for a strap. But it is a part of racing that we all have to deal with.

    I can feel for Mr.Loftons statement that he blew a motor up and had nothing to stand for it and had to invest another $35,000. Thats not to say that at times the Dortons in paticular were not fair in there way of dealing with a broken motor they were always fair to us when we had our share of engine problems our last year in the series we lost 6 motors. People tried to blame our oil lines and our install. However it happened in 2 different cars. Automotive was fed up with us we were fed up with them we were all frustrated but thru the entire process the Dortons were fair! and I have nothing but great things to say about Jeff and Keith and the entire Automitive Specialists Family.

    John hits the nail squarley on the head, bottom line is when you rent a motor in the end you have nothing and have to be at the mercy of one builder and thats never proven to be a success to date in any series.

    How many people can remember when ASA National touring series went to sealed Motors. Funny thing was people were getting better motors out of the shop than others because they became close with a person within the organization and they gained inside info on motors, There was even illegal laser work being done on these motors to gain horse power.

    Thats not to say this will happen with the new engine package but history isn’t on their side. Humans are humans and can be bought. And when your talking about somebody using this as a stepping stone for people there is nothing to stop somebody to try to gain an advantage to help his interest and its a risk most are willing to take when you looking at getting to the top rung of racing.

    Yes Arrington is going to provide Dyno Sheets. Thats great except anyone who knows how to run a dyno knows those numbers can be manipulayed to what you want to see. One of the commom statements from one of our previous engine builders when I asked for a Dyno Sheet was, Fine tell em what you want to see and I will make that number happen for you. ( I’m Not referring to Automotive Specialist Either.) Rather a motor is sealed, shared or whatever bottom line is it is still a money talks world and people can and will be bought. Be it Arrington,Or Briggs and Stratton. People will find the inside connection it is always there.

    Let’s face it bottom line is it’s Mr.Loftons series to run and it’s going to be his way. oops I mean ruled by the three of them which would be a very odd way of running a dictator ship.

    I loved being in this series and I miss every single one of the great friends I have made while being involved with the series.

    Speaking from somebody who is trying to sell the equipment that we ran in this series right now there is NO Value to the equipment that people have run in the series. I can’t sell a car that dosent have a single used componet on it and now they open the door to 2 other types of cars. Just not smart thinking in my opinion.

    I didnt even get into the way the press release seems to blame Jimmy Wilson and Larry Camp for the though issues to date. Thats another story maybe for Jimmy or Larry to shed some light on.

    The entire Gibson Family is a class act and I wish nothing but success to them in the future. Thank you Mitigator for supporting such a class act.

    Go get em John!

  • Don Garver says:
    January 30, 2011 at 8:05 am
    Reply

    I agree with you, the end of something I love dearly has come (t least the demise has started), and I struggle to understand. It makes NO sense after the efforts put into the last two years to keep it alive.

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