JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU ALL THINK ABOUT THIS.....NOT TRYING TO START TROUBLE......JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO ELSE FEELS THE SAME WAY.


WHEN THE LED SLEDS CAME OUT, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE FOR NEW DRIVERS LEARNING TO RACE.


NOW WE HAVE A 4CYL. CLASS....I SEE DRIVERS THAT I BELIEVE SHOULD BE IN LED SLEDS.


I FEEL THAT THE 4 CYLS. SHOULD BE FOR THE KIDS WHO "DO NOT" HAVE A DRIVERS LICENSE....LET THE LITTLE ONES LEARN, LIKE DALTON, LOREN, JAKE, AND THE OTHERS OF THAT AGE GROUP.


IF YOU HAVE A LICENSE, GET IN A LED SLED.


I ALSO BELIEVE THAT ONCE A DRIVER MOVES UP FROM A LED SLED TO FACTORY OR A HIGHER CLASS, THEY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE BACK INTO A LED SLED.


I NEVER REALLY WATCHED THE 4 CYL. CLASS UNTIL THIS YEAR AND A FEW RACES LAST YEAR AND SOME OF THOSE KIDS PUT ON A GOOD SHOW.....

yes! yes! yes! on all questions!


give the kid's a chance.......I have a son who is going to start in the 4 cyl. soon and he is 11 yrs. old, it's fun to see what moves the kids are going to make on the track.


16 yrs. and up belong in a led sled.

In an economy the way it is today, I don't see an age limit working out, unless it's like what AC already has adopted for their Hornet division. As much as we want it to be, we dont have 100's of cars in the pit area, where this could work out. If you implement a "age" limit you are really eliminating those who really haven't ever raced before, and those from other tracks that would also like to compete on off nights.

I started in this class when I was 13 years old at Mt. Pleasant Speedway then transfered over to the tar in 2004 at Tri-City, then ran 2005/2006 at Owosso my 15th and 16th year old years. I guess my car would have been no good to come over when I wanted to drive the AC invites they had on the few Sunday shows back in 2006 because I was 16 and had a valid drivers license/permit? I just dont think thats right.

Kids have had chances since they are five years old in a race kart or a quarter midget, to race with those of their age, and experience. if they are just starting in a full sized stock car, welcome to the world, in racing don't we all want a legal competitive advantage? I didn't get to race against people my age when I started in this class, and didnt want too. You might think I'm crazy but IMO the only way to get better, was to race/learn from better. I welcome competition no matter the case, wether I stand a chance or not, because quite frankly, I'm out to have a good time, and learn as much as I can.

As far as Money1's statement toward moving up to a PLM/FS from a Lead Sled and still competing in the division is just kinda goofy to me, for the reasons I stated above, and well, like I said the economy is terrible, racing in ANY division anymore is outrageous and I personally commend all that are racing right now, something I miss very very much and cannot afford to do at this time! It seems that most the people hate on Chris Stearns for this, but for the reasons I stated above, I completely understand WHY they have their PLM up for sale and are racing the Lead Sled. I salute them for staying IN the sport completely and continuing to support OUR local short tracks, remember they could not be at ANY track, AT ALL.

I hate to say it, but I think the tracks need every car they can get at this time, regardless of age... just my opinion.

I liked the way Dixie used to run the 4 cyl class, you never knew what way you were going to turn till you got on the track, i think it leveled the playing field for those of us who could not afford the fancy setup, and scaleing the car and all that. these cars were suposed to be stock, that is all i could afford. Than we moved to a led sled that was a lot more expencive, it just got to be to mutch for me, so i sold it, i sure do miss driveing, would love to build a car again, i just think they need to do a little more to insure EVERYONE is legal and on the same playing field.

hmmm i know one of them guys

Makes perfect sense to me Kyle, by the way its still for sale.

I agree with u Kyle, but dont let guys step back down from a higher class to race.

You can afford to race what you can afford to race. Thats called age discrimination. I kinda agree with moving up and down, but if you cant stay in a class due to money then you move down to race what you can afford, so I guess some people have a very good reason to move down.

In Legends the ages range from from 14 to dead. Younger than 14 can compete if they prove experience. The young kids do just fine against the adults once they learn not to use the bumpers. Some are very good and faster. If enough show up, like in Charlotte, age/experience classes are used. In Michigan all run together.

I think the younger drivers need the older ones to learn how to drive. An old guy or experienced driver can't mash the pedal any harder than a younger one, just with more finesse. If you can't win in 4 cyls, move down a class and gain experience and confidence until you can move back up. You won't get better unless you need to and if your driving against the best, you don't need to.

As far as not allowing experienced drivers change classes, that worked when cars were plentiful and cheap, and purses were high. Today you'd just be asking to eliminate a class.

WHAT A CROCK! Jay Woolworth use to drive Supers, should we stop him from racing because he stepped down? If Page gets to drive a bigger car next year and after the season decides that she doesn't belong there, what will you do if she can't go back to Hornets? If they get enough cars in the Hornet class, they can run ABC mains. Just my opinion!


Greg

greg,

re-read my post

what I said was not to let drivers who moved up to move back to a led sled....the led sleds and the 4 cyl. were supposed to be for drivers who never raced before.

as for the cost, the led sleds do cost more to run but that is because the tech guys are letting it get out of hand and not following the original rules.


I was not specifically pointing a finger at Tater, but I really enjoyed watching him more in a factory stock than the late model or the led sled.


ok guys

It is all about about rules and class naming.

In todays economy the most cars are generally in the more affordable classes. Should the class have age restrictions? I don't know why?

At Springport in the 4 cylinders we have drivers that range from 14 - 85 years old. Last year a 22 year old led the point race until he opted to quit racing. A 14 year old girl then assumed the point lead and would have gone on to be the champ had problems in her life outside of the race track not kept her from racing 2 events.
This year we have about 9 rookies ranging in age from 14 - 51.
If we had age limits we would not have 19 cars competing in the class.
We don't view it as a beginners class we see it as an affordable class were some of the more experienced drivers mentor the new drivers.

Or, you simply lose sponsorship due to this very weak economy, loss of a job, many different things are being factored into our racing now then ever, we used to be able to make it OK if we spent a few extra dollars here and there on our rides, but not now... I can't believe I'm going to say this but sometimes there are just more important things to take care of, for me right now its school and a education, I may have to sit a year out from behind the wheel, but that school I am going to now, will eventually take care of my racing habit for the most part

I'm of the mind set that, age and gender kind of go away when we all strap into a race car. You can't drive a competitor any different be it a female, male, an 85 year old or an 11 year old.
Like Dennis pointed out, you have 51 year old rookies, and you have 11 year old rookies. That's the way we learn.
Thanks,Dan55

Dan.. read your private messages..

I agree 100% on an age limit for the 4 cylinder class. I also agree on the moving up but not once you go to factory stocks. Once you get in a factory stock you should not be able to move back down. I know racing is very costly but once you get into a class thats it not a pure stock class (yaeh like leadsled/bombers are stock) you should be able to move back.
Dave Camp
acleadsled3

That is a very good point but I disagree. If you move up from led sled to say sportsman or something and something changes to where you cant afford to run the more expensive class you should still be able to sell your car and move back down into something that is less expensive so you can still be out there racing.

Kids can learn to race in quarter midgets or go-carts or mini-cup cars.

Full size cars are race cars.. 4 cylinder FWD racing is not kid racing.. its not beginner racing.. its ECONOMICAL racing.

Not everyone has the budget to race 8 cylinder, RWD cars. FWD racing is much more affordable.. from the equipment needed to operate, to the equipment needed to get the car to the track, to the amount of fuel used at the track AND everything else in-between.

Because it is much more affordable to participate in this class, you do see many more novice drivers.. but that doesn't mean the class should be restricted to kids or beginners.

I agree with Patrick totally on this issue.
My gosh that was a hard statement to make

I am a 47 year old rookie at Springport in the 4 cylinder fwd pony class.

I can not afford to race any other class of cars. I would love to have the tallent and monies to race a mod, but I have neither one.

Should I be forced to set out because I do not have plenty of money to fund a sportsman or mod car??

If I could not race in our pony class at my age, I would not be racing.

As we all know the short tracks all across the Midwest need all the drivers that they can get, regardless of class or age.

I hope to be able to move up in a season or two, but for now I am having a blast for the least amount of money that I can.
Right now the fwd 4 cylinder class is my only affordable means of racing.

YOGI
Todd Metz Sr.

I could afford to build anouther fwd 4 cyl and bring it out but i cant due to autocitys rules. That was the most fun i have ever had in a race car. I sure do miss it

RICK 531

Im with you on the 4 banger class to a point some people just dont have the cash to go up but if you happen to win that class two years or finsh well a couple of years in a row then move up. about the led sleds moving on and then back same deal sometimes you just dont have the cash if you move up to FS or the Sportsmen now you have to run the tires and more than likely your running $7 gas that adds up quick so how can you tell someone that wants to race what they can afford even if they have been in a higher class but just cant afford it. If you have won that class (led sled) then moved up and then have to move back for what ever reason then add weight like the rule book says (in lue of compition track may add weight to indivuduals car) for me its just being out thier turnning laps. dont get me wrong I like winning but just being able to go out thier when thier are so many in our sport that cant. Racing is a luxurie we all should be happy that we are doing well enough to do what we love. Times are tough I havent been able to make it out all that much I have been having engine troubles the last few weeks I had to find a tired old 305 just to make it so I could get out thier All I have to say is just keep it competitive and fun for everyone dirvers and fans alike


Mike

Why should there be an age limit? this should be an affordable class of racing and to be real with the Sport Compact craze the four cylinder division IS the best way to rebuild racing from the bottom up. I came back from Duty in Japan went to Potomac and they had this class down in Maryland and there were Kids to 60 year olds so I found a car and built it. there are "kids" at my track that get out of a a 4 into a Strictly stock then jump in Dad's spare late model. why because they are 15 years old and I am not should they be able to race and a guy like me has to run a higher class?

Don't make this into more of a rich kids playground than it already is. I know some of you and I know you aren't rich but when we were kids if you wanted to race you had to go to Playland and run the go karts so I think that these kids should feel fortunate to even be allowed to race. Not complain because all are allowed.