No series of any kind would be worth anything without great Officials.

This is just an informal survey to see who would serve best in Official Capacities within the proposed traveling series for Limited Late Models and Modifieds that has been talked about over the last few days.

Here are jobs that would need to be filled.

Director of Competition / Race Director:

Director of Marketing:

Head Tech Director:

Director of Communications - Media / Public Relations:

Announcer:

Flagman:

Photographer:

Scorer(s):

Tech Officials (4-5 at the most):

Safety Services Team:

Registration / Administrative:


I'm sure there's more, but this would be a good start....

I would have several people in mind for all of the above positions, but i'm really interested to hear the thoughts of the Michigan Short Track Racing Club.

Judging by the response received so far on these proposed traveling series', we may be on to something here....

No series of any kind would be worth anything without great Officials.

This is just an informal survey to see who would serve best in Official Capacities within the proposed traveling series for Limited Late Models and Modifieds that has been talked about over the last few days.

Here are jobs that would need to be filled.

Director of Competition / Race Director: Jeff Parish, by far the best minded person at a racetrack.

Director of Marketing: Gotta go with you Wood

Head Tech Director: ???????Don't know alot of Tech guys...... for the mods-any "retired" drivers would be a good start

Director of Communications - Media / Public Relations:

Announcer: Wood....Saturday night was awesome with your oringinal wave lap making an apperance at the O

Flagman:

Photographer:

Scorer(s): Me....of course, most places could use their current scorers we all have our little things that help to score large amouts of cars at our track

Tech Officials (4-5 at the most): Mark Dawson should make this list, also the guys that are helping at Owosso right now in Marks absence

Safety Services Team: Speedway Safety

Registration / Administrative:

I'm sure there's more, but this would be a good start....

I would have several people in mind for all of the above positions, but i'm really interested to hear the thoughts of the Michigan Short Track Racing Club.

Judging by the response received so far on these proposed traveling series', we may be on to something here....

Have Speedway Safety involved for sure. And I think we all know who should be there on the announcing and PR end of it. Bob Taylor from Owosso does a lot of really cool things with his camera that would be an asset to anyone. I've always liked Doug Allen for a flagman, but if I spoke of anything else, I may end up just picking out people from Owosso because they're the only ones I know of in those positions.

Oh, and that Zach guy from Owosso. I heard he could use the money

Marketing - Wood? Zach have you bumped your head......maybe media & communications!!

See even my Wife knows i'm not a Marketing guy...

Communications, Media and Public Relations, sure no problem.

I would have someone in mind though for a Director of Marketing. Michigan Racing Scene's JBJ Twin.

Director of Competition / Race Director: Jeff Parish have to agree, I don't know him but him and his wife remind me of Dave and Ellen from what I hear about them.

Director of Marketing: tough question but somebody can point you in the right direction somebody like Dick Beebe of Jack Doering, not me.

Head Tech Director: Hmmm...... I been gone too long to help there

Director of Communications - Media / Public Relations: Matt Prieur

Announcer: Matt Prieur

Flagman: Clint Marlin

Photographer:

Scorer(s):

Tech Officials (4-5 at the most): Don "Ironman" Riethmeier experience in both divisions and retired from racing even though he says he ain't. Don't tell him I volunteered him but you could get him for your staff for a small gig like this.

Safety Services Team: run what the track has keep it basic and save yourself the pay for the teams

Registration / Administrative: gonna have to be you again Matt

Head Tech Director: Dan Baily

In a perfect world, i'd do whatever it took to have Dan Bailey and Maurice Randell for sure as two of my Tech Officials!

A VERY Good Tech back in the early 2000s before he went racing, was Mike Luckhurst!

There's plenty more very good and honorable techs all over the state, but there's 3 right off the top of my head that I would want!


One of the best Flagmen I ever worked with was Kenny Pachla who did the ICEMAN Super Car Series and Toledo Speedway back in the mid-90s and was at Owosso Speedway for a couple of seasons in the early 2000s.

One scorer I would want is Erik Pavka and of course my step-son Zach Kelley. But at some point, they would have to learn how to monitor Transponders.

Dan Bailey
Maurice Randell
Mike Luckhurst
Neil Decker
Ted Carpenter
Russ Lauderdale

This list is who I would want as my Tech Staff.

Who else is out there that would be a fair and honorable Tech Official and Professional enough to be a part of a Traveling Series?

Once the current season is over in these parts, when does everyone feel a good time would be for an informational meeting regarding the Short Track Auto Racing Series (STARS) Late Models and Modifieds?

I'm asking because I know there are a lot of outdoor enthusists on here and wouldn't want to interfere with Bambi Hunting Season.

Also what would everyone say to a neutral site in between the three tracks?

My First thoughts were Late October / Early November on a Saturday in a neutral location (Midland perhaps?)

Saginaw maybe? What would be considered a neutral location, and big enough, that would be pretty close for all three tracks and where to have this? Teamtech?

Just bringing this back to the top.

As we ponder about a possible Location for a "Summitt Meeting"

Rookie eligibility is an issue i've been thinking about....

What would be some good and fair rules for a driver to be considered for the 2009 Rookie of the Year titles in both divisions?

Here are a few i've come up with:
1. No more than 5-7 races in terms of experience in a Late Model or a Modified at ANY weekly track.

2. No "Traveling Series" experience???? (With the exception of series' like Short Track Trucks, Michigan Legends, MCR Dwarfs, etc.) Anything else like USA Modifieds, ASA Late Models, Super Pro, etc. then obviously you wouldn't be a "rookie" in any of the S.T.A.R.S. series'.

3. No Track Championships in a Late Model or Modified?


Just throwing ideas out there on how this can be fair.....

Definitely open to suggestions....

I'd say no more than a handful of races in either division before 2009 and no experience in a higher divison (Super Late Model, ASA Late Model Series/SuperPro Series, etc.)

Agreed. No more than say 5-7 total appearances in one of the two divisions and definitely no experience in a higher-up division to be eligible.

Anything else we're missing?

Well Matt I have been watching this thred for some time It all sounds good but when you start cutting drivers out becouse of experience . I belive you lose a draw .Remember you are going to put everyone on a tire are you not! Experience if advertise proper it could help the draw.

Paul
What you're referring too is meant for establishing rookie eligibility.

No driver wouldn't be allowed to race because of experience, that would be foolish.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

So Rookie of the Year Eligibility will read like this:

1. No more than Six ( 6 ) races in terms of experience in a Late Model or a Modified at ANY weekly track.

2. No "Traveling Series" experience, with the exception of such series' like Short Track Trucks, Michigan Legends, MCR Dwarfs, Wolverine Midgets, and any other similar traveling series.

Anything else like NASCAR, ARCA, ASA, Super Pro, CRA Super Series, USA Modifieds, Main Event Racing Series, Super Sprints, etc., or any experience in Super Late Models on any level, you are not eligible.

3. No Track Championships in a Late Model or Modified at ANY weekly track.

Otherwise, if you meet all of the above criteria, you are eligible for the 2009 Rookie of the Year titles in S.T.A.R.S. Late Models and S.T.A.R.S. Modifieds.


Agreed????

Sounds good to me

Tech-wise...

Ideally...this series would be a bridge to getting the three tracks to be IDENTICAL as far as rules go for those divisions.

So...why re-invent the wheel.

Draw from what's already there. You have three tracks...have the local and one guy from one of the other tracks do tech.

Track one...tech officials from tracks 1 & 3. Track 2...officials from 2 & 1. Track 3...officials from 3 & 2.

Sounds like a good idea, but one thing about your examples that cofused me:

Would it be: Whittemore/Owosso & Dixie Techs at Dixie
Owosso & Dixie Techs at Owosso
Whittemore & Dixie Techs at Whittemore.

Or were you thinking having the other two tracks go to the one they're not from?

I agree with what Bob said there. it's easier to find people that are already right there.

Another very good point!

Me personally, i'd like to have 1-2 S.T.A.R.S.-only techs that travel to all 10 shows and fill in the rest with the track that were visiting.

The S.T.A.R.S. Tech(s) would (In Theory) work hand in hand with the Head Tech and the remainder of that tracks Tech staff at each facility.

Everyone would already be on the same page since it would be the same rulebook that the Local Track Techs work with and enforce.

The S.T.A.R.S. Techs would be there in the Tech Line as well as assisting in making sure the Procedural end of the series is met.

Who are the Techs at each facility?

Dixie: I know Galen Beauch is there and he does a good job! I believe Jim Symons is also there, who else?
Owosso: Mark Dawson (As soon as he gets back), Neil Decker, Josh Spencer, and I saw Neil May there last week.
Whittemore: I honestly don't know. (Andy help me out on this one)

Also does S.T.A.R.S. bring in their own Flagman and Scorers or save some money and use the tracks that the series visit?

I'd rather have my own Flagman, he'd be the most familiar with the series procedures, and Scorers and especially my own Scorer should the series get Transponders.

What do we think????

With the cars being regulars from the tracks, I think you could get away with using their scorers, since they would be at least semi-familiar with them.

Scoring is not as easy as people may think. A traveling scorer with the STARS series would be a good idea I think. A traveling scorer would know all the cars that show up for the series after a few races. To throw a tracks scorer into the situation of trying to figure out how to set the line up with transfers and provisionals especially if the series brings 30+ cars in both divisions, plus having to score the support divisions that night also would be alot to ask for. Flagman could go either way. Of the many different tracks I have been to the flagmen have all been very good, they know where the "trouble" spots are at their own tracks. This position could go either way just depends on if the series would want to pay for another person.

Good Points both Chris and Zach.

I feel though that a scorer dedicated to the series would be beneficial. The would know the cars and would be a valuable asset to the series, especially if/when transponders come in.

Using the regular flagman at each track is a good idea too, he knows the trouble spots and financially for the series, it makes sense. Once the series became more established and stable, then the series could take a look at bringing on a Flagman, who could also serve as a Tech Official when the track isn't "Hot"

I also feel a good Photographer is a must, you could use the track photographer, but they wouldn't know, or probably wouldn't want too, take care of the obligations that the S.T.A.R.S. Promoter would want met at each race.

Not very many Track Photographers shoot action shots, which would be a staple of S.T.A.R.S. in addition to the high quality car and head shots and crew shots and anything else the teams and the series would want.


As for Announcers, they are a dime a dozen, a "Monkey" can do that job!
At least that's what i've heard from "some" people!

I thought for sure i'd get at least one "Comment" on this!

I'd say something, but all I have are nickels

Monkeys are now offended. You should have said cavemen.

-Maurice

Then the cavemen would be offended. They're already going through enough as it is with all the Geico commercials!

I feel some good progress was made in this thread.

Rookie Eligibility is 100% a done deal, plus potential S.T.A.R.S. Officials were discussed and perhaps even a possible meeting of the minds amongst tracks, teams, etc. (A 2009 S.T.A.R.S. Owners / Drivers Meeting) will be decided on once the season is complete.

If there are no more objections or any other comments, we can close this thread.

Let's leave it up for a day or so and if there is nothing else, we'll lock it up.

Once the Whittemore Fall Invite and Owosso Fall Nationals have been completed, we can bring back the topic of a potential 2009 S.T.A.R.S. Drivers / Owners Meeting with discussion ideas, location, date, etc., etc.

This One Is Closed....