Archive of Do It in the Mud newsletters
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This File contains a number of 1998 Do It in the Mud newsletters, beginning with the most recent.
Soon we will add older newsletters.
Following is the June 11 Silver Springs Announcement:
Silver Springs Race
It's 12:30 PM Thursday and I just got back from working with Jim Peck, the owner of Silver Springs Racing in Rock Glen. We laid out the whole track today.
You guys are going to like this place! It's too bad that it's scheduled against one of the Smoke Run races, where I know a few of you like to go. Because no one should miss this event. I think Silver Springs is going to become one of the biggest and best events on our circuit. And Jim is determined to make it a success and a regular stop for North American Mud Racing. When we talked today he said, "I think this first one is going to go over very well around here, but even if it doesn't, I hope you guys come back again. I'm not the kind of person that gives up if something doesn't catch on right away. I plan to make this work here."
Let me tell you why it's going to work.
1) The facility is incredible. It's one of the most popular moto-X tracks in New York for good reason. Running water and hoses at different places on the grounds. Nice bathrooms with flush toilets. SHOWERS for the drivers!! Heated bathrooms and showers! Good food concession, good food, a big covered pavillion by the food stand with tables and benches, and I could go on and on.
2) Jim has his own dozer, water truck, pumps, tractors, and all kinds of equipment. He also has money to do things right. I take my hat off to some of the guys that put on races for us on a shoestring budget and work their butts off to try to do things the best they can. But it's a real pleasure to do business with someone who asks, "What would be the best way to set this up?", and then says, "OK, that's what I'll do for you."
3) We'll have side by side drags (timed separately but run together) on smooth twin tracks with plenty of shut down room.
4) The obstacle course is laid out to run two trucks at a time, with a loop that one truck takes at the start and the other truck at the finish of the course. Same idea as Smoke Run, but one loop used by both trucks.
5) The track is on a wide hillside with big changes in elevation. There are several incredible table top style jumps where you will be able to get some big air with good landings! And if something doesn't work out right the first time, with his own dozer on the grounds, Jim says he'll do whatever it takes to make it right the next time. Here's a man who says, "I want the racers to say they can't wait to get back here.", and a man who can afford to do things that way.
6) There's no predicting the crowd the first time at a new place, but this one is being advertised heavily in the five county area around Warsaw and Rock Glen. Jim says the phone is already ringing late into the evening every night. The location is close enough to Rochester that we can easily draw out of that city when this track gets established. I see it becoming our "Thunder Mountain - west" track and drawing the same kind of crowds we get at Thunder Mt. near Binghamton. Jim would like to do two a year at Silver Springs. If this goes as well as I think it is going to, we will switch our fall schedule around and find a good date for a second Silver Springs race in September.
See you there!
- Tom
Following is the June 9th Do It in the Mud
Bob Hill - Over Easy!
It was nice to see Bob Hill racing with us again, though he may not be so glad he came back after putting his nicely painted "Gold Digger" on it's side just before the finish line at Farmersville! Bob also generously lent the track owners his bulldozer for the weekend to groom the track and pull trucks out of the deep mud. Brad Benz is part of the family that owns the track and also happens to work for Bob. At least he did up until this weekend; we'll see if there are any repercussions over the way Brad groomed that final turn that caught hold of "Gold Digger" and put it over!
Tim Porter - Over HARD!!!
Tim Porter's "Mud Magnet" is toast after the Farmersville weekend. Tim somehow got his rear tires to bounce hard on the lip of the jump into the big front straight waterhole, and over he went, doing an end-o hard into that pond. When we started to pull "Mud Magnet" out of the water, it was obvious that EVERYTHING was bent or broke. This was going to be no simple matter of bending a fender back into place and going on with the racing. Tim's motor was ripped right out of the mounts and was lying in the water when they pulled the truck out.
Maybe Tim pulled this off just to give everyone else a chance to pull ahead on the points for a few weeks so that he could catch up again when he comes back. Tim has been one of the hardest runners on the circuit for the past month and a half. Last month he won the John LaFever Trophy for fastest time of the day four races in a row! Not at Farmersville, though.
There was a big cannibal party after the Saturday race at Bill Wirth's farm near the track. Everyone who broke on the first day of racing stole parts off Tim's destroyed racer to help get themselves going on Sunday. Bill Wirth's Ford Ranger was unofficially dubbed the "Mud~ness Magnet" for the day!
Bill Wirth - Flying High!
If Bob Hill was "over easy" and Tim Porter "over HARD" this weekend, Bill Wirth is definitely "flying high"! The picture shows his "Mud~ness" racer high in the air literally at the Kane track on May 31st, where we had the best turn-out in five years. The Kane track was dryer than usual, so most of the guys got some real air over the table top jump. (especially Bill Morich, who we hope recovers soon from the injuries he sustained there)
But Bill Wirth is flying high in another way, flying up and up in the point standings. Bill is taking advantage of his arch rival, "High Voltage", while they are down. He piled up the points this weekend at Farmersville, winning the LaFever trophy both days, and picking up the prestigious "New York State Mud Racing Championship" along the way.
During just the past two weeks, "Mud~ness" has won $1350.00 racing with us. For those of you who have sometimes felt that North American doesn't pay enough prize money, well there's a trick to it - - - You've got to WIN!
Speaking of Money
The Point Fund is HOT this year! We took in $869.50 from the raffles, non-member fees, etc at Farmersville, so the point fund now totals $4417.50 . Not bad!
We will be paying over $1000.00 to the Driver of the Year, and good money to second through fifth places, at least. We will also be awarding cash for the Rookie of the Year Award, and a good "Second Season" Award for most points in the second half by a driver not in the top five at mid-season.
Mud Hotline 716-655-0853
The Mud Hotline has been in operation so long (over ten years now) 24 hours a day 365 days a year that we take it for granted. Do you know that it came to be as a driver suggestion? Eric Martin of the "Mud Nuts" in Henrietta, NY gave us the idea back in the 80's. Obviously now it's a fundamental part of our promotion for the racing series. Goes to show that it pays to tell us if you have a good idea - - - I really do listen, sometimes, at least!
If you haven't checkedi n with the hotline lately, we have a new format using multiple mail boxes for our schedule, directions to the next race, license and point fund info, and information about the next two races on the schedule.
www.longacres.com
If you're online, you can also check us out on the web. Our website has directions, point standings, and lots of archived information on point standings in previous weeks if you are a statistics junky. (Trivia: Bill Wirth has his own spread sheet that figures his percentage of wins at each track on the circuit, so he knows which are his "best tracks".)
Computer Scoring
We are now keeping track of all times and entries on a computer at the races. Don't worry, we're also doing it the old fashioned way on a paper chart, but the computer provides an instant update on the money in the prize pot, and a valuable double check on the race results. The first two weeks we had some mistakes putting data in the computer, but Meghan has it down pretty well now, and the last two races, we corrected the results we got on the charts with more accurate data from the computer. A nice fringe benefit is that all your times are already typed in and we now post those results on the website at www.longacres.com/mudrace/oldtimes.htm. You can go there and check any of your times in any class since we've been using the computer.
Hats Off to North American Entry Girls!
Some of you know that we've had some competition for racers from a couple of other mud racing tracks not affiliated with us this season. When you compare North American racing with those other tracks and promoters, I don't know how we stack up in all ways, but I do know that I'll match North American's staff of entry and scoring girls up against ANYONE's, and we'll come out on top!!!!!! Meghan, Janice, and Tari have done a fine job this season, and I can't imagine someone else's track having entry staff as friendly, appropriately attired, and helpful as our crew. Good work, girls!
Don't Miss the "Big Ones"!
The Ultimate Motor Challenge, August 22nd
Erie County Fair is one of the largest fairs in the United States with one million visitors during its twelve day run. Our dirt show is the feature event the final Saturday night of the fair on August 22nd, and it is a no holds barred spare no expense kind of show! Big Foot, Sampson, and more monster trucks will compete along with Sand Boggers in both Open Class and normally aspirated cut-tire only class for nearly $4500 in prize money. (75% to Open Class, 25% to limited class). There will be a $1000 grand prize for the Pro-Arena trucks in their competition and money for the All-out "Tough Truck" contest. Also Dirt bikes and ATV's! Tickets are selling faster than for any motor sport in the fair's experience, and we expect an early sell-out. Be sure to get your tickets at Fantastix outlets soon!
Thunder in the Agri-Center '98
The other big show of the year is our 3 day indoor show in the Erie County Agri-Center December 26, 27, and 28th. Mark your calendars, and don't miss the action in the Agri-Center's 350' long indoor coliseum!
New Guys Coming On Strong!
Pat Wittmeyer and Brian Schueler are coming on strong as we get towards the middle of the season. Pat Wittmeyer's "My Stomper" is still getting some of the bugs out, but should be very competitive in the second half-season. Brian Schueler and his "Great Pumpkin" truck have teamed up with two time National CHamp Randy Rossow and United 4-Wheel Drive Parts. They've built a better motor, and Randy himself got behind the wheel in one of the classes at Farmersville and turned within 4 seconds of the best times of the day. Randy and Brian feel they'll be competing for the John LaFever trophy in no time! It's good to see new racers coming into the sport.
Do It in the Mud
June 3rd Update
Farmersville June 6th & 7th
The New York State Mud Racing Championships at Farmersville are coming this weekend. There will be two days of racing, with full separate shows on Saturday and Sunday. Separate entry fees and prize money both days this time. The only thing that will be combined is a special bonus "King of the Hill" class on Sunday open only to drivers who have competed on the course both days. Racing begins at 1Pm each day, with sign-ups from 10AM to Noon.
Farmersville has a great obstacle course, and an interesting "short course" with one turn and a hill that count towards our speed bog points for driver of the year. There is NOT a good straight drag strip or bog, so we do not encourage you to bring your "rails", though we may try to put something together at this race, at least for Sunday in the middle of the track.
"High Voltage" and "Mud~ness" Pulling Away!!
Bill Morich leads Bill Wirth by only 4 points going into the Farmersville weekend for the Driver of the Year title. The racing at Kane last week was HOT! HOT! HOT!
Steve Dodge and his "S & S Express" came away with the fastest time of the day and the John LaFever challenge trophy, but Bill Wirth was the big money winner, taking home $400.00 for his weekend efforts. Bill Morich broke "High Voltage" just before his outlaw run, and lost a few points in the standings. Before he broke he was putting on some of the most awesome airshows ever seen at the Kane track, especially on the big table top jump!
Kane Party Crowd!
We don't know whether it was just a good date, or the promised "party action" at the Adult oriented mud race show, but Kane had the biggest crowd in more than five years last weekend. We may run another Kane race on the 5th of July, the day after the 4th of July Mud Bog scheduled for Little Valley Fairgrounds Freedom Days festival. Check the Mud Hotline.
Point Standings:
Points as of June 3rd, 1998
Bill Morich 880
Bill Wirth 876
Tim Porter 668
Cheryl Smith 452
Steve Dodge 416
Bob Hill 386
Frank Morich 338
Steve Tyler 266
Brian Schueler 264
Ron Porter 244
Curtis Josey 140
Janice & Meghan at Work!
It was nice to have Janice back at Kane. She'll be with us at least one of the two days at Farmersville. She and Meghan made a good team, and the computer scoring came out perfectly for the day. You can now check out everyone's times for the races we run on computer on our Website (www.longacres.com). Both girls had fun all day at the scoring tables, especially Meghan and Bob!
Point Fund
We took in $136.00 from the points raffle and $54.00 non-member fees at Kane, so the point fund now totals $3548.00 . I expect we will go over $4000.00 this weekend, with half the season to go. We could easily top our all-time record of a $7000.00 point fund this year!
We will be awarding the Rookie of the Year Award, and a good "Second Season" Award for most points in the second half by a driver not in the top five at mid-season. Last week, I printed that you could "double dip". THere may be some limit on what you can win if you are up for two cash awards. That will be clarified in the next newsletter.
Mud Hotline - 716-655-0853
www.longacres.com
Office - 716-652-9495
Don't Miss - Muddy Acres, June 14th
Silver Springs, June 21st
Steve Tyler Sets New Record!
Wins Two in a Row!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Best Crashes, that is!)
Steve Tyler "Wins Two"!
You know the old saying, "Beware of the fine print"! Well, Steve Tyler, of Elmira, NY, set a new North American Mud Racing record at the Thunder Mountain Nationals last weekend by winning the "Best Crash of the Day Award" two days in a row!!
Ran Strong Saturday & Sunday!
Steve had been running very well all weekend, winning fourth fastest time of the day at Endless Mountain on Saturday, and already setting third fastest time of the day on Sunday at Thunder Mountain before disaster struck! Steve was making one of his final runs of the day, and he was really cooking coming down the long straight to the water. Steve says he still doesn't know quite what happened; everything seemed normal coming into the big pond, he hit with a solid splash, but before he knew what was happening, he was over on his side and all the thousand people on the hillside could see was the bottom of his truck!!
Time to Swim!
Flipping in a deep pond is one of the greatest fears we all have in the sport of mud racing. All the other drivers and pit crew ran to help Steve, but before they got there, he was climbing out through the driver's window unscratched. (He should have quit there!) The only real damage was that his MSD ignition box was underwater and said "Good night."
Steve went home and did some quick repairs and was back at the track to make some good runs on Monday. He qualified as one of the top five drivers of the weekend to run in the final "King of the Hill" class for the $500.00 bonus money. And run he did. We all knew that Steve would be careful Monday after crashing so spectacularly on Sunday (Right, Steve????); so we were impressed to see the time he put down over the first third of the course. He was
running dead even with the best times of the day as he threw up rooster tails going up the steep hill to round the tire and head back down onto the lower part of the course.
"Everything looked good . . . "
Here are Steve's words for what happened next. "Everything looked good when I made the corner at the bottom of the hill. I thought I was in good shape as I got back on the power, and then it just started to go over." And over Steve went, doing a full 270 degree roll ending up sideways on the driver side in the grass.
I asked Steve later if he thought about the fact that he was rolling twice in two days while it happened. Steve paused for a minute and answer that about half way through the roll, all he could think was, "You gotta be f - - - in' kidding!"
Steve's safety equipment saved him from any injury during the wreck, but afterwards while everyone was trying to get him out quickly, the bar holding the bottom of his safety net popped loose and slapped out giving him a good gouge and a few scratches on his face. He says he feels fine now and is ready for action at Farmersville!
"Sudden Rush" in the Points!
Steve Tyler started racing in 1996 with a stock 1979 Ford full size pickup. At the beginning of last season he bought Frank Morich's old racer, renamed it "Sudden Rush", popped his own 460 cu. in. Ford motor in and went racing. Steve finished the 1997 season 11th in North American's Driver of the Year standings, which was a good place to end up. It makes him eligable for the 1998 Rookie of the Year award, which will go to the highest scoring driver who was not in last year's top ten. Cheryl Smith is probably his biggest competition for that award right now.
Steve moved up two places in our point standings aver the weekend, and is currently holding the eighth spot in our standings. Steve is in a good position to make runs at both the Rookie of the Year title and the "Second Season" title for best score in the second half of the season; he could win over $1000.00 of our point fund without even breaking into the top three or four positions!!!!!!
Steve has good reason to thank his sponsors, C & D Machine and Wenzel Contracting - - - also Frank Morich, who built the very strong roll cage Steve put to such good use this past weekend!!!!
The Mud Hotline
716-655-0853
North American Mud Racing
1529 Mill Road
East Aurora, NY 14052
716-652-9495
www.longacres.com
We are laying out the course at the new Silver Springs track. There is lots of room & all the machinery necessary to do what we want. How do you guys feel about running the kind of two at a time track that we helped Jay Lewis set up and that he still runs today in Smoke Run??? E-mail me or phone me and let me know.
During this period of shake-up in the sport, I'm trying not to take anything for granted. Trying not to do things a particular way just because that's the way we have usually done them. I have about ten days to decide before we start bulldozing, so talk to me at Kane and Farmersville also.
- Tom
Have You Bought
Your License Yet?
As a courtesy, we have been carrying the points forward for several drivers who ran with us early in the year and earned points, but who have not actually paid for their licenses yet. Farmersville will be the deadline for us to extend this courtesy; if you have not bought your license by that time, you will lose any previously earned points. Call me or check with Meghan at the races if you are not sure.
Do It in the Mud
May 28th Update
Mud Wars, '98!
(Lots of Other Tracks!)
All of a sudden there are a ton of mud races for drivers to choose from, and we've been missing some of the trucks that have always raced with us in the past. Johnson's track at Hector has been pulling small spectator crowds, but they've been getting a million trucks. Jay Lewis down in Smoke Run, PA had a big turn-out over Memorial Day weekend. And after a slow start at some of the smaller tracks on our own circuit this spring, we finally had a huge crowd at Thunder Mountain Sunday. I'm sure it is nice for you drivers to have all these races to choose from when you make your plans!
I'm hearing a few comments lately about how we promoters shouldn't be stepping on each others dates, or about how disloyal such and such a driver is to go race with the "other guys". Hey, this is America! This is competition, and competition is usually good for business. Look what happened last year. North American had gotten a bit complacent about organizing new races, since we had no competition in this part of the country to speak of. There was a flurry of action at the beginning of last season from other promoters, and that pushed me to organize the biggest, most successful race season we have had in fifteen years. The competition was good for all of us, you drivers, included.
It Happens Every Few Years
Read the Mud Wars chapter in my book "Do It in the Mud". When the economy is strong and after we have a particularly successful season as we did in 1997, it is not unusual for us to have other promoters try to put on more independent races in our territory. Remember the story of the Bowmans and Jim Beachy back in the late '80's??? A lot of our racers went to their events that year. The next year they were out of business, but North American was still here.
We're still here now, we'll be here next year, and we'll be here for the year 2000 season! But not just by hoping so, or because we have been successful in the past. We'll only continue to be
Point Standings:
Points as of May 27, 1998
Bill Morich 798
Bill Wirth 784
Tim Porter 668
Cheryl Smith 452
Bob Hill 386
Frank Morich 338
Steve Dodge 322
Steve Tyler 266
Brian Schueler 264
Ron Porter 244
Curtis Josey 140
the dominant Off Road Racing circuit in the region if we do a better job than anyone else for our racers and our track owners. I plan to make sure that happens. You'll be seeing a lot of action coming out of East Aurora in the next few weeks, not just a lot of talk. I hope you like most of what you see. Personalities being what they are, I know I can't make everyone happy, and I wouldn't want to. But I aim to give you racers and track owners the best service, background support, and points racing circuit of any of the promoters in the business this year. I promise you that effort!
Newsletters & Other Changes
Racers enjoy competing on nice tracks, winning some decent money, and seeing good friends at race events. But what adds most to your enjoyment in my experience is recognition of your efforts and success. I've been slack lately about pushing to get our regulars that recognition.
First change we're making this week is going back to the printing presses and mail room and begin sending out more printed newsletters with stories about our regular competitors, instead of just hand-outs each week or e-mail notes. We've not taken the time at recent races to do the popular driver autograph sessions; we will from now on - the fans like it and most of you do also!
Janice Returning
Meghan and Tari have done a fine job so far this season, and will continue. Janice was busy last month, but will be at Kane, Farmersville, and many of the rest of our races. She has missed you guys and looks forward to being back. Janice is popular and makes the races fun.
Aggressive Point Fund
We've been pushing harder than ever before to have a great point fund this year, and we are doing well. I'm also making sure that how we raise the money and what we're going to do with it is being well publicized. If another promoter is promising you a point fund, make sure you know how they're doing it and where the money is going. We've got $3358.00 in ours not half way into the season.
Computer Listing of
Points & Times
From now on, all times in all classes will be posted on our Website or e-mailed to interested drivers. I know that many of you keep track of times yourselves and enjoy checking them. This is another step in our effort to give the racers who choose to run with us good value and service.
Programs for the
Summer Races & Fairs
We'll soon be printing a nice spectator's program to have available at the summer races & county fairs. It will have stories and photo's on the drivers who are regularly running with us, especially the next three weeks.
North American Mud Racing
1529 Mill Road
East Aurora, NY 14052
716-655-0853
www.longacres.com
Trading Cards
The driver trading cards we did last year were very popular. We are ready to print more if any of you want to order them. We will pay a part of the cost for drivers who are running with us regularly. Call me if you are interested. The cards will cost you a maximum of $140 for a set of 750; less if more than four of you order, and less if you are running with us all the time.
Best Part of the
Season Coming Up
I repeat - I believe that competition is good; it's the capitalist way. The pressure of competing racing series this year will force us to work harder at North American to survive. We will.
Racing is more fun when all the best are competing together. We hope that in the coming weeks we can make our series so appealing that you'll all be back with us making it harder for High Voltage, Mud~ness, and Mud Magnet to win all the time! We're coming into the strong part of our season, with Farmersville, and soon all the county fairs. The fairs give us a guaranteed big crowd and most of you enjoy being there for those shows. We hope to see many of you strangers then, even if you don't come to the rest of our events.
Sincerely,
Mr. Mud
Do It in the Mud - May 17th Update
Bill Wirth Still Leads Points Race!
Bill Wirth and "Mud~ness" are holding onto the points lead they have held all season long, though 1997 Champ, Bill Morich, is closing the gap. The next couple of races shoul be exciting. After the Memorial Day Weekend shoot-out next week, anyone could be in the lead.
Following are the Point Standings prior to the Muddy Acres race:
1 Bill Wirth 07 474 -
2 Bill Morich 08 442 -
3 Bob Hill 29 386 -
4 Tim Porter 02 344 +2
5 Steve Dodge 13 322 -3
6 Doug Terray 48 232 -2
7 Ron Porter 04 204 +1
8 Cheryl Smith 24 176 -1
9 Roger Cardot 06 130 -
10 - tie Hub Farr 03 102 -
10 - tie Steve Tyler 30 102 +9
Point Fund
We added $671 to the point fund over the last two weeks so that it now totals $1971.00 which is about five hundred dollars ahead of this time last season. We fully expect to make the $5000 mark again this year!
Royal Mountain Cancelled; Possible New Track Near Warsaw
Few of you will be disappointed to hear that the Royal Mountain race is cancelled. It was the farthest drive for most of us. I will know soon, possibly by race time today, whether we will be running another event on June 21st near Warsaw, NY. That's a good, central location for many of us. Check the Mud Hotline.
24 Hour Mud Hotline - 716-655-0853
Schedule, Directions to races, and much other information is on the Hotline or on our Website at www.longacres.com
Memorial Day Weekend
Full details of the 3-day Memorial Day Weekend event beginning at Endless Mountain next Saturday afternoon will be on the Web, the Hotline, and in a newsletter this week. There will be a King of the Hill Cash prize. You must run at both tracks all three days to qualify. You will not have to run as many times Saturday as usual to save the trucks. There will be a shorter course Sunday at Thunder to save the trucks. There will be separate prize money and trophies at Endless and Thunder Mountains.
Do It in the Mud
Hot Line - 716-655-0853 or www.longacres.com
Congratulations to the 1997 Driver's of the Year:
Point Standings Last Year
1) Bill Morich "High Voltage" Season Champion!
2) Bill Wirth "Mud-ness"
3) Steve Dodge "S & S Express"
4) Bob Hill "Gold Digger"
5) Tim Porter "Mud Magnet"
6) Jeff Boyd "Mud Demon"
7) Chris Burghardt "Full Blown"
8) Ron Porter "Almost Divorced"
9) Jim Moore
10) Hub Farr
Ready for 1998???
The currently planned 1998 schedule is attached to this newsletter. Always be sure to call the Mud Hotline (716-655-0853) before attending in case of last minute changes!
What's Inside:
This newsletter includes:
1997 Point Standings
Current 1998 Point Standings
Coming Events & Schedule
Racing Job Openings
Rules Summary
Point Fund Guidelines
How to Get a License
Who Needs One?
Internet Info
Corporate Money
Toy Trucks
Kane, April 26th
Season opener is only two weeks away at Kane, PA. If you need driving directions, call the Mud Hotline. We're hoping for a nice spring day for the season opener, but you never know what April will bring you in an "El Nineo" year! Advertising starts this week for most of the early season races. There's a lot of interest, so I expect more trucks on the circuit than last year.
Snowmobiles
We'll be running a snowmobile water skipping event at Kane, Snow Shoe, and Thunder Mountain this spring, so bring your sled to Kane on the first Sunday if you want to have some fun. Tell your friends.
"High Voltage" or "Mud-ness" ???? - Pick a Winner!
Two years in a row, Bill Morich and his "High Voltage" Chevy have edged out Bill Wirth and his big block (usually) Ford Ranger, "Mud-ness" for the season championship. Wirth thinks things will be different this year, and who is to argue with the great start he got at our first 1998 points races at the Agri-Center in December.
Bill Wirth leads the 1998 Driver of the Year race going into our first spring event with 264 points. Bill Morich doesn't even show up on the following point standings chart until 6th spot at this point in the 1998 season, with ONLY 158 points. Don't expect that situation to hold for long though. There are all sorts of rumors coming out of "Hickshead" about new secret weapons for the outdoor season! It should be a real shoot-out this year between our top two racers from the 1996 and 1997 seasons!
The Rest of the Pack!
Below are the rest of the top 8 in the standings. Nobody can ignore Steve Dodge and Bob Hill, who finished 3rd and 4th in last year's race, or any of the other drivers who are close behind. Doug Terray is in 2nd spot right now, and if he should decide to come out and challenge regularly on the circuit, he will be a formidable force. Doug doesn't race very often, but he almost never loses when he does! Out of Doug's last four points races, including Farmersville a year ago and three at the Agri-Center, he has two 1st over-all's, and two 2nd's. Pretty nice driving!!
Standing
Driver Name
Num
DOY Points
1
Bill Wirth
07
2
Doug Terray
48
232
3
Bob Hill
29
214
4
Steve Dodge
13
194
5
Cheryl Smith
24
176
6
Bill Morich
08
158
7
Tim Porter
02
136
8
Hub Farr
03
102
Get a Computer!
Get on the Web!
The above point standing chart was taken from Curtis Josey's great 4 by 4 Web Site. North American has it's own Web Site (www.longacres.com/mudrace) and Bill Wirth has an elaborite mud racing site at (http://www.buffnet.net/~mudness/index1.htm) If trying to type all that stuff into your web browser gets too complicated, just go to www.longacres.com, my own website, and follow the prompts to get links to Bill and Curtis's sites.
E-mail
Many of the top drivers trade e-mail messages with one another and more often now, with track owners. Get on line! Get with it!
T-Shirt Business??
We only had T-shirts for the last two races last year, but I want to push them hard this year, since we have such a long schedule. I'm looking for someone who plans to come to most all of the races this year to run the T-shirt and souvenir concession. I will split profits on the T-shirts 50-50 with you. You'll also have to help with selling raffle tickets for the point fund and some other stuff, but it would be quite good money over the course of the season for someone who is going to the races anyway. Call me if you're interested.
Track Crew
We have some of last year's crew and some new people interested in flagging, scoring, and pit marshall crew, but it is a long season and it will be hard for anyone I've talked to already to make all the races. Anyone out there interested in doing track crew work at some or all of the races, please CALL ME! (716-652-9495) Most people seem to enjoy working at five or six races before it starts to seem like a REAL JOB, so we'll need several sets of track workers to get through this long season. If any of you drivers know someone who would like to come to some of the races and get paid for it, tell them about this opportunity.
Competition Licenses
You do not have to have a North American license to compete at our events, but we won't keep track of your season Champion Points if you don't. You also pay cheaper entry fees and get in free at most races with a license. Anyone running three or more 1998 races will be smart to get a license.
An application is attached to this newsletter. Send in $60 if you apply by mail before the April 26th race, or they will cost you $75 after the season opens. All money from the sale of licenses goes into the Driver Point Fund, and is paid back to you guys.
Call me if You Plan to
Race A Lot
We are streamlining the sign-up process for regular racers by pre-printing your names and racer info on the standard score chart that will be used all season. We'll be printing that right after the opening race at Kane with the info from the first sign-up. IF YOU DO NOT PLAN to be at Kane, but WILL BE at most other races, phone me at the office so we can get your name printed on the score charts. Licensed drivers will then have a much shorter sign-in process.
1998 Point Fund
So far for 1998, we have $299 from Agri-Center raffles, and $300 from early license payments, plus $100 left from last year for a total of $699 in the point fund. We finished last season with over $5000 in the points fund, paying out $1000 to the Driver of the Year, then $700, $600, $500, $500, $400, and $300 to the next six places. We also paid a special $500 consolation prize. I expect a similar payout this season.
We guarantee a $1000 Driver of the Year prize, and we have a new "Rookie of the Year" award for 1998. This season a Rookie of the Year prize of at least $600 will be guaranteed to the highest scoring driver who WAS NOT in the top ten for the 1997 season. You don't have to be racing for the first time in 1998; just have to be the best point total not in last year's top ten.
Stock Awards and Special Rules
I'm looking at ways to reward stock class drivers who attend many of our races. We have not counted stock wins in the Driver of the Year point totals in recent years to make it less attractive to cheat in stock (WHO would do such a thing?!?). We won't this year, either. But we will keep track of points for drivers who run in stock, and will give some kind of season championship trophies for stock based both on winnings and on show up points.
Three Win Rule
Stock is intended as a class for local drivers coming out to just one or two races a year. If you race with us all the time you have a big advantage. Accordingly, we have a rule requiring you to bump up and run Modified or higher if you win more than three stock classes in a season.
Driver of the Year Points
Drivers earn 20 show up points for attending and crossing the starting line at a race. This year we will not distinguish between starting and actually finishing a class as we did last year. (It only mattered once or twice all year.) Other class wins are awarded 20 points for a 1st, 16 for 2nd, 14 for 3rd, 12 for 4th, and 10 for 5th place. You also earn points for a "wild card" class for fastest time of the day, and certain other special events.
Standings
Your standing in the Driver of the Year competition is determined by adding your show-up points, your wild card points, and your best three classes together.
John LaFever Challenge Trophy
The prestigious, super-size John LaFever Challenge trophy is awarded to the driver with the fastest time of the day on the obstacle course at each race. That driver takes the trophy home with him for the week and is responsible for bringing it to the next race where he must defend his title. We engrave the names of all winners on plates on this trophy. A driver who wins the trophy three weeks in a row retires it to his own trophy case and we have to get a new one! That has happened about five times over the past four seasons. Permanent "Triple Crown" winners are Randy Krotz, Hub Farr, and Bill Morich several times!
1998 Competition Classes Summary
Stock - Must run stock appearing bodies (flat bed conversions on pickups will be allowed), or full bodies on stock 4-wheel drive chassis (passenger car body on blazer frame, etc.) Any DOT tire allowed. Must have internally stock motor. Open hedders are allowed. MINOR carb changes are allowed at the discretion of the tech inspector, but only on a stock type, low performance vehicle. Competitive vehicles with carb changes and all those with aluminum after market manifolds must bump up to modified or pro-Stock.
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Street Modified - Will be run at some races, and will not count towards Driver of the Year title. Must be licensed and driven on the street, and
any modifications are permitted, at the discretion of the race director. Stock trucks MAY bump up and run street modified, even if they are not street licensed.
Modified - Stock appearing bodies, with original engine block. Internal engine modifications are permitted. Must run normally aspirated on gasoline. Special Exemption: Jeeps or similar vehicles running basically stock transplanted V-8's will be permitted to run in Modified, rather than Super-Mod, as otherwise required. Race director's decision is final. If you've got an engine transplant and it's a "Hot One", you must run in Supermod, Pro-Stock, or Outlaw.
Pro-Stock - Any engine, no supercharged or alcohol. Must run DOT tires.
SuperModified - Any engine and any body style. No tire or weight restrictions. (Super Modified and Outlaw trucks may run DOT tires, cut DOT tires, or sand paddle tires or tractor type tires. They may NOT run Open Mud Bog type "Scooper" tires, for safety reasons, on the obstacle course, but MAY in bogs.) All light-weight special race vehicles or vehicles with transplanted engines (hi-perf Chevy in jeep, etc) must run in Super-Mod, Pro-Stock, or Outlaw.
Outlaw - same specs as SuperModified (at some races, Outlaw class trucks may run NOS - Nitrous Oxide. Check with registration.)
Toy Trucks?
We are looking into having souvenir toy trucks made matching the paint scheme and numbers of some of our top drivers. Call me if you are interested in having this done for your truck. There are three possibilities: 1) You pay something to have a batch of toys made of your truck, and you get them to sell or give away. 2) Second possibility is you license North American to make the toys, you get a couple free, and can buy more. Then we sell them. 3) Third possibility (a long shot, but possible) - North American licenses all trucks (if you sign up) to a toy company, and those of you in the program get free toys and a cash royalty (small! don't think too big). North American would also make money if this deal is put through.
Corporate Money! How Much to Rent Your Racer?
We talked with some of you last fall about the possibility of using your trucks in a Korean television special. That deal fell through, but I am in talks with several large corporate personnel departments about offering special "Executive Adventure Packages". Large corporations are willing to spend good money to offer executives exotic adventures as part of their bonus packages.
How much money would it take to make it worth your while to take a visiting executive under your wing at a race, show him how to run your truck, and then let him race it in one class? You might be able to get $300 or $400 for a one time deal, and maybe a little less per race if you would commit to doing it for four races in a row. If $300 isn't enough, how much would it take? Call me if you are interested. There is big money available for this kind of program these days.
The Mud Hotline
North American sponsors a 24 hour recording that gives our schedule and race information for the coming week's event. Call 716-655-0853 anytime, year round.
North American Mud Racing
1529 Mill Road
East Aurora, NY 14052
(716-652-9495)
www.longacres.com