Comments

1. Chuck, I still talk to alot of the guys that have left. There are many reasons for them leaving. Some of it is management, well that was a big complaint. Other because they got tired of the rules changing on a weekly basis. Some because they wanted to try other things. A lot of the guys dont like Jimmy at all. Some of them got tired of bring things up and the only answer was "if you dont like racing here then find somewhere else", instead of trying to fix the problem. When I first started racing there in 95 in the Trophy Stock division There was over 100 cars on the bill. Back then there were more Figure 8 cars int he pits then we have total cars now. THAT IS SAD!!!!!!!! All I hear is "oh I think its because of the economy". If you believe that totally then why are these guys hauling all the way out to Lorain to race. Lets think about this one too, why arent these guys showing up for the friday shows the last two years? Even this year as the Sportsman try to return, on that friday night where were Chuck, Buzz, Joey, Randy. Lets be serious there is a probally and until it is fixed the downward spiral will continue.

   Thumper on Sunday, 22 June 2008, 20:36 EDT # |

2. My turn...

   I got into racing because it was something i've always wanted to do ever since i was 10 years old.  In high school i became best friends with Adam and Tim Pierce and that was the start of my Painesville Speedway life helping them in the pits every Saturday night.  After getting kicked out in 2002 after a runin with Gums, we decided to take the car to Lake Erie.  Unfortunatly on June 18, 2004 we lost Tim Pierce from a massive heart attack.  After Tim's death Adam and I decided to get a Demo Derby car together to carry on the 66 number and shortly after that I purchase my Trophy Stock from Roger Tooley. 

   There are a couple reasons for me leaving and not coming back this year.  (1) $$$ (2) Fun.

   Let me elaborate, the first, money.  I think that's enough said, the costs to maintain a competitive Figure Eight or Trophy Stock is pretty high up there.  Living in Youngstown now, thats about $20-$30 driving to and from, fuel for the night $20, pit passes for me and a crew member $40, thats $90 dollars and i havent even seen the track yet. 

   The second is fun!!! When i started in 2005 it was a blast, we had 40 trophy stock cars and any given night i could win a heat, pursuit, or feature.  It was this way in 2006 for the most part, we had 2 distinct groups of cars, fast and middle of the road.  Any time one of us middle of the road cars made the Big Dogs, it was pretty awesome.  Drivers left toward the end of the year and the quality of racing diminished for me and with that the fun was going. 

   I decided to take the first part of 2007 off and came back late in the year and what a disappointment.  The trophy stock cars were next to none and they put us all in one big pack. I never had a chance along with a couple of us other guys.  I decided to run Figure Eight, i had fun, i'll admit that, but it wasnt the same kind of fun as racing with a lot of your buddies. 

   Nick Brown has my car this year and he may get it out, but its tough for all of us to go out there and race with 10 cars on a good day.

   Craig

    

   Asphalt Juke Motorsports on Monday, 23 June 2008, 12:44 EDT # |

3. Great blog Chuck. Im with ya. I hope to be  racing the 8 with you for many years to come. But it is scary how few cars there are in the pits every week. 

   RON KAHLER on Monday, 23 June 2008, 21:04 EDT # |