Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - moselli

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 11
1
Racing Discussion / Re: Nascar Cup Final 4
« on: November 11, 2019, 03:12:17 PM »
Harvick

2
Racing Discussion / Logging Laps....
« on: October 21, 2019, 10:28:14 PM »
I was watching the post race interviews from the Cup race at Kansas.  After talking with the winner, it was time for the “Agony of Defeat,” interviews, not to be confused with the “Agony of De’ Feet,” that many of us old timers suffer from.

The interview that caught my interest was with one of the supposed up and coming young drivers who was eliminated from the chase, due somewhat in part from his failure to lift his right foot from the accelerator, causing him to run into another competitor and causing the dreaded aero damage to the front of his racecar.

Taking time to mention his sponsors, wearing the obligatory designer sunglasses which probably cost close to a factory worker’s weekly wages before taxes, taking a refreshing sip of his favorite beverage, he finally spoke about the race.  He said after incurring the damage to his car, his day was essentially over he was just out there logging laps waiting for the race to end.  Poor guy looked like he just got the news that his girlfriend ran off with his best friend.  And took his dog, too.

I thought about his words and how bad his day was.  I imagined him telling this to some guy who pumps septic tanks for a living.  (No offense intended to anyone who does this!)

Septic Tank Guy:  “Let me get this right?   You get paid a truck load of money to drive a racecar, hang out with half naked chicks and you had a bad day?  Dude, let me tell you about my day.”

Flashback to a Friday night in July 1971, Spencer Speedway.  We are there in pits with our modified.  Dude pull in, parks next to us with what could best be described as the remnants of a Late Model. He is alone.  He starts to unbind his car from the trailer.  We ask him if he needs a hand with anything until the rest of his pit crew arrives?  He says, “Pit crew?  They’re here.  It’s me.”

We end up helping the guy get his car ready.  He runs his heat race, gets some minor fender damage to the right front.  I use my finely honed skills with a hammer to pound out the fender with a 3 pounder so he doesn’t damage one of his top quality used racing tires in the feature.

Guy runs the feature, and finishes close to last in what were then 24 car features.  He pulls in behind his trailer, unbuckles, crawls out smiling, raises his arms in the air like he just won the race and lets out several loud “Woo’s!”  High-fives hadn’t been invented yet so he came over and grabbed our hands and shook them, thanking us for helping him have a great run, how it was a blast out there racing and how he can’t wait to get back next week and……. wait for it…… “turn some more laps!”

Yeah.  I understand that the pressure to win at the top levels of racing can be intense. I know about aero push.  I know that sponsors demand a lot for their money.  I can understand that it may be difficult to give an interview when you have a bad race.  I can imagine that pumping septic tanks might not be a great job.

But, I also understand that some people enjoy driving racecars and logging laps.

3
Racing Discussion / Re: Why there aren't more race cars on the track.
« on: September 25, 2019, 12:06:38 PM »
Leadfoot's question is one that has been asked many times but not an easy question to answer.  I don't know that answer, but I will offer this.

The economic model for a racing is rather basic and involves three things:  1)  A race facility (Track) ; 2) competitors (Racecars); 3) Customers (Fans). 

All three are dependent on each other for success.  Remove one and the other two fail.  All three have to be in balance economically.

                                                   Track
                                                /           \
                                    Racecars _____  Fans

But..... each have their own economic requirements.

1)  A race track must be profitable.  Investing money in a track and breaking even is losing money.

2)  A competitor must be able to afford to put a car on the track.   This economic model is variable, some may be able to afford to race regardless of the cost, some may be able to race and be successful by breaking even.  The last of this group may not be able to afford to race without winning.

3)  The fan is tied to a larger economic model, the first being their personal discretionary income - how much money do they have remaining in the family budget after necessities, for entertainment?  The second being the entertainment value - If the track charges a high admission and the field of cars is small, the fan may opt for spending money on other things.  The value equation is out of balance.

I would suggest that at the present time (and I believe this was true in the past) that the spiral effect is in place.  The tracks are having a difficult time making a profit because the fans are not showing up, because of the slim fields of cars, because the cost of racing for a competitor is high and that the track cannot pay higher purses to the competitors because the fan won't pay the higher price for an admission ticket..

Why aren't there more racecars on the track.  Pick a number.....

Regards,

Moselli


4
Racing Discussion / Re: Spencer, Chemung, and Lancaster
« on: October 18, 2018, 05:38:25 PM »
Leadfoot accurately brought to light many factors that are working against asphalt (and other) racing today.

While I am also away from the sport as a participant, I try to follow the sport as a fan and keep up on the changes in technology.  To that point, I found the recent article in the October 2018 Speedway Illustrated, Page 74, about rebuilding shocks very interesting. 

Back in 1971, I was the Shock Specialist for the garage build asphalt modified we raced at Shangri La, Spencer, Fulton and occasionally Oswego.  The reason I was the shock guy was because I was then the proud owner of a 1963 Chrysler 300 coupe.  Sears sold heavy duty shocks for $6.99 when they were on sale.  Regular price was $7.99 each but a $4.00 savings at that time was 8 gallons of Sunoco 260 gas for the racecar.  I went to Sears with my race partner and purchased a pair of rear heavy shocks that fit my Chrysler.  My partner bought the same pair of rear shocks for his "'63 Chrysler."  Dude at the parts counter never even raised an eyebrow.  We took the shocks home and installed them on the modified - same shock on each corner.

Sears had a Lifetime Guarantee on their shocks.  In case you haven't guessed it, we never spent another dime on damaged or worn out shocks.  I don't know the cost of shocks today, but I hear drivers in the winners circle take time to single out and thank their shock specialists and I believe I saw an advertisement that you could lease shocks rather than purchase them.  None of them mention Sears?

Back to the article in Speedway Illustrated - It emphasized the importance of having a shock dyno if you want to be able to have the correct valving and be competitive.

Coincidently, on page 90, same issue, you can own a variable speed shock dyno which can be purchased for a mere $19,995.00.

Even with little or no cost for shocks back in 1971, by 1976 we had to throw in the towel as the cost of racing exceeded our money supply.

I'll be in the grandstands at Outlaw Speedway in Dundee on Friday night.  A $20.00 senior ticket is a great bargain.....

Moselli


5
Racing Discussion / Re: Shangrila-2 is holding a meeting
« on: March 10, 2018, 04:16:11 PM »
I attended the meeting.

The meeting room was full, all seats were taken and I stood with several other to listen.

The meeting was very well conducted.  George was very clear about his plans for the track, he allowed and fielded questions very well.  He also listened and asked for comments and suggestions.

All of the participants were very respectful and conducted themselves professionally.

Ron Hills was there to video the complete meeting.

Rather than trying to take something out of context and comment here, I think it would be better to wait for an official press release or an announcement on the track website regarding plans to race this year and next year. 

My only comment is that it was a very positive meeting and there was a sense among those that I spoke with after the meeting, that this great facility would have racing again.

Moselli


6
Racing Discussion / Re: Shangrila-2 is holding a meeting
« on: March 06, 2018, 03:57:46 PM »
For those car owners, drivers and fans that enjoy asphalt racing this sounds like an opportunity to possibly bring back into operation a great racing venue. 

Don't personally know George.  While everyone has an opinion of how a race track should be managed, at the end of the day it's a business and it needs to be financially viable. The opening of this track would have a positive impact on the local economy and trickle down to other small businesses, racing and non-racing.

I'm planning to attend this meeting and listen to what George has to say.

Moselli


7
Racing Discussion / Re: stop the bad news already!
« on: January 21, 2018, 10:59:35 AM »
Most of what I have to say is related to short track Asphalt racing but it likely also reflective of racing in general. As background, I became involved in racing back in the late 1960's with Modifieds at Shangri La in Owego, NewYork.  We had no sponsors.  We built our own cars and had "Fun." 

We raced for several seasons.  Our goal was not to beat Richie Evans, but to qualify for the feature through the Consi.  16 car Consi's were normal with 24 - 26 car feature races. In spite of being an also ran, at the end of the 1970 season, not putting a dollar value on our time, we came close to breaking even for cost of racing.  We had "Fun."

Then technology came into the picture.  We no longer could go to the junkyard and get "racing" parts.  Tires were expensive and only lasted a few races.  Everything became more expensive.  At the end of the next season, we were way below breaking even.  We weren't having as much "Fun."

The choice was made for us.  We could no longer afford to race.  We sold the car and all of the equipment, stopped going to races and found new hobbies. We had a fair size group of family and friends that followed us and attended the races every Saturday night at Shangri La.  I'll use the number of people as about 25. They stopped attending the races on a regular basis. The track had one less car and fewer paid fans.

When I hear someone say they are no longer having "Fun" with racing, it immediately translates that they can no longer afford to race.  In my opinion, there is no amount of promotion by a track owner that is going to change the cost of racing today without changing the cost to field a racecar.  Lack of cars is directly proportional to lack of fans in the seats.

I don't know the circumstances with the cutbacks at Spencer, Holland and Chemung, but I suspect that it's related to the fundamental business model that there needs to be a profit on the investment in the track or you're better off putting that money in the bank and earn guaranteed interest returns. 

I'm not optimistic that there is a quick solution to the dilemma these local short tracks are faced with.  It's hard to put Pandora back in the box.

My last point.  If someone wanted to come up with something to help speed the demise of racing, Social Media is the perfect medium to do this and it appears to working to perfection.   I'll leave it there....

Moselli

 

8
The Tech Barn / Bearing Spacer for Wide Five Hubs?
« on: February 26, 2017, 04:10:10 PM »
Looking for opinions on whether "bearing spacers" are necessary for Wilwood and other Wide Five hubs used for Asphalt and/or Dirt Modifieds?

I can't seem to find any strong recommendations from the manufacturers that these are required but I'm interested to hear from those that have experience with or without using them.

Thanks,

Moselli


9
Racing Discussion / Re: Chemung 7/29
« on: July 30, 2016, 01:23:47 PM »
Disappointment is the only word that I can come up for my visit to Chemung last night. 

Perfect weather, great crowd, healthy field of cars, four hours to complete the program but the inability of track management to get the Modified Feature in before the curfew with about half of the laps completed does not encourage me to return.   

I enjoy and have respect for all of the classes that race, but the reason I come to Chemung for a race is to see the Mods.

Yes, I understand that stuff happens. 

But, I don't care to pay for a ticket and buy food at the concession stand to not see a Modified race...

Moselli

10
Racing Discussion / Re: Vintage Mod's in NY?
« on: December 27, 2015, 12:54:21 PM »
First, thank you to the people involved in keeping Vintage Racing active in our area.  Keep up the great work!

Where can we learn more about the rules and schedule for 2016?

Thanks,

Moselli

11
The Tech Barn / Re: 602 Crate Fan and Radiator
« on: September 02, 2015, 10:17:55 AM »
To the question regarding the use of the fan blade, others may know more about this; are all 602's configured for the same water pump rotation or is there a difference? 

I.E. Serpentine belt vs. standard V pulley setup?

Regards,

Moselli


12
Racing Discussion / Re: ROC 200 moves to Chemung from Oswego
« on: July 30, 2015, 01:41:07 PM »
After reading Andy's ROC Facebook explanation and all the facts and discussions involved in making the decision to move the event, I have only one comment....

If you're at the race in October, I'll see you there, if you're not, I won't.

Regards,

Moselli

13
Racing Discussion / Re: Shang II July 4th
« on: June 27, 2015, 10:21:22 PM »
Let me pose the following question: Is Shangri La II too big and too fast for the weekly racer?  I understand that some really like the track because of the high speeds.  But others know how costly repairs can be when they hit the concrete wall (with or without a little help from a competitor).  Is this one of the main reasons that car countst in each class remain pathetic?

I've been thinking about Phredo's post here and starting to think that his point may be a root cause for low car counts and spectator attendance.  It becomes a which comes first: chicken or the egg argument (cars or fans) but we can all agree that low car counts and no fans spell disaster for a track.

Having attended racing at the original Shangri-La, Owego from 1964 through closing, I am somewhat biased toward the rather flat configuration that Owego had.  Yes, it was a different time, different cars and technology but the track configuration provided completion and at the same time, forgiveness if a driver made a mistake.

It would be interesting to hear from current, former and other competitors on how they view the S-2 track based on the current configuration, racing risk/reward and the economics of racing there?


14
Racing Discussion / Re: Sometimes, it DOES make a difference...
« on: April 10, 2015, 12:31:50 PM »
"It's inconceivable that Tioga Speedway with its rich tradition and history will be dug up for a few measly dollars"

- Me, April 2004


15
Racing Discussion / Re: 2015 dirt rule cage upper bars
« on: February 05, 2015, 08:43:47 PM »
Interesting discussion.

Can anyone post a picture of a cage with this modification?

Thanks!

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 11