G2 Radios presents The Waterford Speedbowl Message Board

I grew up at Wall Stadium and they would have 3 heats. 6 would qualify from each, giving you 18 cars, add 4 more from a consi. yes this was in the late 70's and all of the 80's. of those 18, the guy who had won the most money over the 3 previous races started 18th. the lowest point money guy was on the pole. talk about beating and banging from the back to the front. I would love to see a similar handicapping used at Waterford. if you missed/skipped a week, you were credited with first place money. rookies had to earn the right to start on the pin and this was determined by the pit steward.

Amen Shadow! The tier handicap system sucks plain and simple. I get the whole deal it keeps the "off the pace" cars out of the front of the field, but as you said go back to the old system and if someone isn't "ready" to be starting up front place them to the rear of the starting order. Nothing against the #57 SK team, but they won 12 races this year and very rarely ever started the feature worse then 8th (If they qualified in a tier qualifying spot in their heat race) Or 9th if they missed the tier in the heat race.

I also agree with the other poster who said go back to the rule of not starting the feature better then 5th if you win a race. Case in point (Sorry to use them as an example again, I'm not trying to pick on the #57 SK team) but they won like 5 races, some of them in a row I believe hit a rough patch of three weeks and then had a poleshot the fourth week and went on to handily win the feature.

Just an opinion, but I think changing back to the old rules in both those situations would make for better racing for both the fans and competitors.

That sounds like a good idea guys. But why not do what VMRS does? If you win a race. Next week you start dead last?

I like it. doubt it will happen, but I still like it.

Personally, I like it the way it is. Maybe, just maybe, tweak it so a winner doesn't start top 5. Other than that, what might happen is a team looking at the big, end of season prize, may race to second every week. They would get a good starting position every week(hey, haven't won a race yet), and walk away with the big trophy.

If you want to see the field basically "inverted" every week based on previous week's performances(the better you finish, the worse you start) then go to the X-car, Super-x car races on Wed. nights. Been there, done that.... it's brutal. Fun, but tough and a little unfair to the people that take the time and spend the money, to constantly improve their cars and their ability.

but if you finish second every week, chances are good (using the old Wall Stadium handicapping) you would start 18th every week. most money won over last three weeks.

I agree go back to the old rules. The reason they changed to the tier system was because you had 20 or more cars and some of the guys didn't deserve to start on the pole. This was a way to get the fast cars to still have to work to get through the field and it gave the slow guys the chance to work on their cars and make them faster. Basically you earned your spot to play with the big dogs at the front. With the car counts down I think that the old school way of doing business would work best. Back then they also had a rule for rookies and where they could start for the first couple races and anyone who won a race that year couldn't start closer than 5th. Just my opinion.

All I know is that they better do something to get some butts in the stands and cars of the track. Anything. All ideas are on the table and nothing is too crazy.

These are rule changes for SK . Although I have for all divisions

1) Engine rules: Change intake rule to Edelbrock 7101. And change carb to a 500 cfm Race Demon. Since the carb and intake would run you $ 550, put a claim rule on it. If someone finishes last and wants to claim your carb and intake, so be it. If you’re not cheating than there’s nothing to worry about. Can’t see why you have to pay $800 for a VDL carb., When you can walk out with an intake and carb for less than that.

2) Drive Train: Clutch and flywheel, Go to the 7 ¼ clutch steel 2 disc assembly. Let everyone run the LW flywheel if they want. It will last you multiple years, not like these stock clutches that maybe last you the year and cost you over $400, not to mention the $500 flywheel. After every Saturday night feature, the top 10 cars get jacked up (if there’s that many left). An official goes underneath with a flashlight and magnet and checks the clutch and flywheel, no tools and time to take out. Its only 10 cars! You can’t cheat up a super clutch and make the flywheel any lighter.

3) Starts: Get rid of the fire first rule!! Paint a line 5 feet before the first line in 3 and 4. The leader can start anywhere he wants after that line, PERIOD. If the second place guy jumps and crosses the start finish line first, then throw the yellow. Stop bringing the yellow out for no reason.
4) Add more timing loops: Put timing loops at the entrences and exit of corners. After a wreck a wreck, freeze the field at the closest timing loop after the wreck. Stop going back to the last completed lap crap. Just because it’s easier to do, it does not mean it’s the right thing to do. Part of racing is your driving ability, if you get through the wreck, and your driving ability got you there, than that’s where you stay.

5) More Laps: Increase laps to 50 laps. The Sk’s are the premiere division, so treat them that way. You’ll see fewer guys pushing the issue because they have more time.

6) Spotter’s booth: Make every team spotter have a scanner. Put Gino in charge of lineups and restarts. No more miscommunications between officials and teams. If a lineup is wrong or someone’s not moving were there supposed to then send the second guy off the flag stand to sort it out. It will not take any longer than 5 minutes . Don’t penalize someone because you just don’t know what’s going on the other side of that radio! Teams support the track, work too hard, and take too much time away from their families to do this. Without the teams, you have no track!

7) Handicap: Just like Gino said. Bring it back to the way it use to be….

"The leader can start anywhere he wants after that line" The Leader starts. That IS the fire first rule.

"if you get through the wreck" The last thing we need are some hammerheads blasting through a wreck trying to pick up positions before the next timing trap area. The reverting back to the last completed lap is safer from that aspect. I would rather people woah up and be safe going through a wreck....knowing they can get their position back... instead of trying to drive through it for position.

I'll agree with the Edelbrock intake, but why force these teams to buy another carb? You don't HAVE to buy a VDL. A regular 4412 is just as cheap. The Demon carb you quote is around $400-$450 without spending the money on a Barry Grant tuned one. Add to that your intake proposal and the $550 claim doesn't cover the cost at all. Your rule change would also force a driver who moves up, to buy another carb, as well as any team that wants to run, that is from another track.(Thompson and Stafford both run the 4412 as well)