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Post by Admin on Mar 5, 2015 16:27:25 GMT
Just in Per John Prentice >
You need have a membership of a Hunt Series supporting track OR have Hunt membership
Antioch membership need have Hunt membership
Petaluma membership NO Hunt Membership needed
Not sure where pitting at Calistoga it's based on total number cars and if there is room. My goal is pit inside track
There is a $20 race entry fee at all hunt excluding Chico this week I want to give every one the info so no surprises
Calistoga to race $40 plus $20 entry fee $60 total
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Post by ryon on Mar 6, 2015 0:46:27 GMT
Where do we have to sing up for a Joe hunt member ship? Cuz I was planning on going to the Chico show. And would hate to drive 3 hours to have them say I can't race.
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Post by Admin on Mar 6, 2015 15:53:03 GMT
I would think you can sign up at the gate.
Keith
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Post by zkavert on Mar 10, 2015 16:22:17 GMT
Hey y'all we are planning on running the Calistoga race coming up, what gear would you suggest work for this track? Thank for the possible help.
Zach
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Post by spec racer on Mar 16, 2015 19:03:50 GMT
So let me get this straight. It was announced in person and in print that when PMG took over, the payouts were going to be the same. Now that the season starts, the payouts are not the same. And this is a good thing for who? Lets face facts here. I have talked with the 4 of the top 5 finishers from Chico, and a couple that did not finish, and it was stated that they will not support the pay decrease. Spreading it out will not bring more cars, but in this instance , there might be less cars. Guys that do there shop work, and have talented people behind them, deserve and expect to be paid for top finishes. I always looked at The Joe Hunt Series as the "elite "traveling series for the spec class.The more you pay to win, the better talent of cars and drivers will show up. To me that what a traveling series is. I'm not so sure, that some teams will continue to travel further distances, and to tracks that will be harder on equipment to earn less money. Everybody has there own agenda, but we would prefer to race against the best, so we can get better, and put on a better show.
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Post by Admin on Mar 16, 2015 21:09:19 GMT
I was at the Petaluma race when John Prentice made his speech about taking over the Hunt Series and did hot hear anything about the payout. I haven't seen anything in print about it either. You talked with 4 of the top finishers from Chico. Maybe you should have talked to the rest. You want facts here is facts. When you look at any series that pays top heavy by mid season car count drops. Why, because they run out of money. Then what do you have, no real competition. If there are any less cars because of the purse it will only be one or two at the very most, and I would be willing to bet every driver you talked with will still show up. The one thing you have to remember is that this a low dollar class of sprint car. It's hard to put on a better show when the car count drops.
The only track that I know of that might be harder on equipment would be Calistoga. Maybe you should stay home for that one!
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Post by spec sprint on Mar 16, 2015 21:38:27 GMT
It is on PMG website, if you want to do some research. As I stated, I talked with 4, plus 2 that did not finish. I am only going by what each said.And I do not see Petaluma car counts dropping, they pay well and the cars are there.I will be at Calistoga because it is 30 minutes from my house, and before I found out about the payout, we purchased 36 tickets for friends and family, plus pit passes.Not sure about the next Stoga race if it is going to stay this way. Not that we don't want 5 or 6 cars that usually run in the back there, but I want to make sure we don't lose any fast cars either. It would be silly for us to not concentrate on just Petaluma, and feel like were being taken care of.
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Post by spec sprint on Mar 16, 2015 21:54:01 GMT
I was mistaken, it was on a Petersen Media article, that John had quotes in, so I would think he knew about it.
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Post by Admin on Mar 16, 2015 22:49:40 GMT
I think John knows what he is doing with the spec sprints. As the promoter of the Hunt Series he can do what he thinks it best. I agree with him on the payout. We will see what happens next year.
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Post by C.W. on Mar 17, 2015 1:23:17 GMT
Hmm... Should I... Yes, I think I should... When Don O'Keefe Jr. approached me about starting Spec Sprints for John Soares Jr. at Antioch, there were two things that mattered to me. Well, three if you count the fact that I wanted safety to be a priority. First, I wanted this class to be as affordable as possible. I wanted new racers and stock car guys to move up. Secondly, the "to start" money needed to be as good as possible. Don and I saw eye to eye on that, and our purse from the very start had a minimum of $75 to start. Within a year, we were $100 to start, and we were running B Mains in our second season. We never had less than 12 cars our first year, which is unheard of for most new divisions. One of the things that has happened to Spec Sprint racing over the years is the same thing that happens in every division. Money enters the picture, the class gets more expensive and car count drop. You have racers pushing the envelope on things and promoters letting it happen. We have other issues challenging this division as it is, such as the winged class they added in recent years in Chico and Marysville. I'm not in favor of that. They tried it at Merced and it never really got going. Chico has had over 70 Spec Sprints for big shows there, so they know the value. Somebody is trying to force something at the expense of the established Spec Sprints, in my opinion. Now, John Soares Jr. turned around and changed the rules on Spec Sprints. I still consider these Spec Sprnts and am considering a personal ban on the word Encono Anyway, I did not like his timing. I felt this could have been announced last September, when guys had more time to get ready. However, I talked to John, and I don't disagree with why he made this move. It means Antioch guys probably won't be competitive in the Hunt deal and Hunt guys will be illegal, which I don't like, but if this thing is going to be saved, that's the kind of move that needed to happen. Having watched on Saturday, the races seem closer, and more guys have a shot to win at Antioch. I like that. Now, as for the Hunt Series, didn't I read where John Prentice was paying $200 to start, or am I missing something? I know guys want more to win, but there is only one winner. After you get a few places down, the pay is the same. So, if you have, say 12 guys getting $150 or $200, I think the $50 more is more appealing to most racers. Some guys go, even to Hunt Series races, knowing they won't win, but maybe they can get a good finish. That $200 will go a long way towards making sure they come back again. And, if they do come back and more cars join up, then extra money could eventually be added to the top, while making sure everybody collects a decent starting pay. If there is something that disappointed me about John Prentice, it is his decision to drop the Ocean Spec Sprints from the schedule. It wasn't a huge field at 10-16 cars most races, but it served a purpose. The Hunt Series was based on the Civil War Series idea. That is, your core tracks have a home division. So, if you go to Chico or Petaluma, there is a local base to draw from. The travelers come in and car count should be good. Watsonville will no longer have that, and I have my doubts as to whether the Watsonville based guys who weren't hard core Hunt Series racers will be there for the races that are scheduled there. So, John hurt himself there, in my opinion. Yeah, I know Stoga and Stockton don't have divisions either, but this is Stoga were talking about. Some will go just for the opportunity to race on that historic track. While I don't agree with John's Watsonville decision, I do like the fact that he is paying better to start. We need to understand that this division, now in its 17th season, is experiencing challenging times. Car count has dropped a bit, and that winged deal at Chico and Marysville only serves to divide the base, in my opinion. There are still those who do not like Spec Sprints and are looking at ways to "make it better" or destroy it altogether, Prentice believes in it enough that he took over the Hunt Series and increased the start money. Soares is trying to do something to fix the rules at Antioch. I don't know what else to say other than at least some people are trying to do something. It's up to the drivers now, but if they start parking, they may need to buy wings and go full on 360 racing if the want to use their race cars. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are those of an old racing reporter, column writer, announcer and co-founder of Wingless Spec Sprints and are not meant to offend. Unfortunately, these opinions sometimes do just that. Sorry about that. You know what they say about opinions
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Post by spec racer on Mar 17, 2015 15:35:02 GMT
I might be mistaken, but when was the last time, the Hunt Series drew less than 18 to 20 cars? Now before Antioch and Watsonville just did what they did, how many more cars does someone think they are going to get or lose from taking away $300 at a chance to win, or an extra $50 to start? The hunt Series was run the same way for years, rules and payouts, why change it? Maybe the problem is the constant change in our sport, as far as rules or lack of, payouts or changes there. Wish I had the answers.
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Post by Admin on Mar 17, 2015 15:54:40 GMT
Last Aug. had less then 18. I know if I looked back some there would even be lower car counts. I think this year car count for the Hunt Series will be about 22 per race because of the payout. I hope you looked at CW's post above and realize what's happening with the cars. I wish we all had the answers, but we don't. We just have our opinions.
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Post by spec sprint on Mar 17, 2015 16:44:16 GMT
Kinda just made my point. Chico was advertised at 1000 to win and had 21 (this is still on Chico's website for Silver Cup). So now going to reduce winnings to get 22? One car is going to make a difference?I guess we will see. Congrats on your win in Antioch.
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Post by Admin on Mar 17, 2015 16:50:01 GMT
I didn't win at Antioch, I wasn't even there. That was Roy Fisher that won.
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Post by spec sprint on Mar 17, 2015 17:19:31 GMT
oops, sorry for the confusion
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