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Let me start off by saying that if I was still a resident up there I would gladly take on the challenge of bringing together a new Mod association and heading it myself. From everything I have seen, it's needed. I know nothing about Mod's, never have, and never will. I don't know the intricate workings of the chassis or your current rules package. But I wouldnt need to know a damn thing about Mod's to put an association together. You don't need an ego the size of Texas to bring together intelligent people. It's actually better to let those who do know do the thinking anyways.
If you look back at some of the divisions, you will find that promoters have taken some great ideas and turned them into abortions. Let's first face the facts here, I don't know of one damn promoter who has enough knowledge about race cars to even begin to develop a new Mod for the 21st century. That's where racers come in. Call me dumb, call me trusting but I have always believed that with guidance and a few restrictions, racers can develop the very best racecars and rules packages for short track's. This does not mean that Buck Harsen, or Windpushers or Bice or any other mnaufacturer comes in and calls the shots, it means the end user, the racers themselvesdevelop their cars.
Look at the ASALMS and SUPERPRO cars. Do you think some promoter designed that race car ? Do you think Harley or Chas did ? I sure hope you dont think Ron and I did because none of these people had a major hand in developing this car. It was the racers who developed, designed, tested and put to use this race car. All Ron and I did was give the racer an open forum in which to bring forth their ideas. Our meeting wasnt a bitch session, it wasnt us pounding ideas down the racers throats, it was the racers laying all kinds of ideas on the table and then as a group discussing them. All I did was moderate the meeting and all Ron did was make sure we stayed on the same page. The racers did all the hard work.
The same thing needs to happen with the Mod division. It's fractured, its splintered and the promoters have gained control of the division and in time will turn the Mod's into an aborotion like they have other classes of car's, all coming up with their own little twist of the rules to benefit them and their track.
I suggest someone find a moderator, one who has a great deal of experience leading groups of people in brainstorming sessions and who can keep the peace and not throw their own idea's onto the table to lead a Modified discussion. I would also recommend that the promoters and manufacturers not be invited to the meeting so their influence isnt peddled there. Then have any and all modified drivers attend this meeting behind closed doors and allow the moderator to facilitate the meeting. Throw your ideas on the table. Act like gentleman and discuss them without pissing, moaning and yelling. Use your calculator and calculate what changes your proposing will cost. Look at new ideas, think outside the box and do not throw any suggestions out without first hashing them over.
In as far as the MMA, I believe the association is too far behind the times to ever catch up. They are slow in diseminating information. They have not taken advantage of the Internet. They are slow to respond to driver concerns, their wants and the racers need for change. And no one can serve two completely different factions of racing, Dirt and Asphalt. You do one or the other, but never both.
This isn't a slam against the Creeds as I personally do not know them. I have never met them, never talked to them and therefore will not comment on their own personal trait's. I am simply discussing the MMA association here. The MMA was a great idea but never kept pace wih the ever changing times. They are now so far behind and so fractured that it's better to wipe the slate clean and start over.
I know you all can do this. I know that if you all work together you can preserve and grow a great division of race cars and racers. But the time to act is NOW, not next year or the year after. It will do you no good to wait for the promoters to make changes. It's time that the racers themselves make them, together as a group.
In closing let me say, that if your serious you do want change, are committed to exploring new ideas and want to look at ways to preserve Mod racing, then I will make myself available and fly up to Michigan in December and facilitate a meeting for you guys. You give me the location and time. Just remember, when I get back on the plane to come home, my involvement ends...........lol
Let me know if you want to do this thing. Just remember it would have to be done sometime in December because in January my old retired ass will be in Palm Springs for the duration of the winter.
Good luck,
Chris
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