Hi Tom

I certainly agree with you about the good that Bob Memmer of UMP did for the
sport.? Also, don't forget Keith Knaak of IMCA.? Standardizing the rules and
lowering the costs have been huge positives for short track racing.? Even the
groups like 600 Racing with the Legends and Tobias with the Slingshots in the
northeast have done a lot of good by inventing new race cars with standardized
rules and allowing cars to go from track to track and be legal.

I'm not sure that the more standardized rules are the only reason that dirt
tracks tend to draw more cars than paved tracks.? It seems to me that the weekly
costs of running on dirt are generally lower, especially tires.? Of course there
are many more dirt tracks to choose from, since it's cheaper to build one in the
first place.

Paved tracks seem to be struggling more than dirt tracks everywhere, not just
Indiana.? Our recent trip to Kentucky Raceway only found six and four cars in
the top two classes.? Which Indiana paved tracks were you talking about as
struggling?

I wonder if the overall percentage of short tracks in the US that are paved is
dropping?? I'm sure Allan would know that.

I always enjoy your column when it is in Mid American.? Keep up the good work
there.? It's important that people like myself in AARN, Gordy in RPM, you in Mid
American, Ron Rodda in Hawkeye, etc. keep up the great tradition of the racing
tabloids, and not abandon them.? I've been somewhat disappointed in the new MARC
Times.? They don't seem to keep to their weekly publishing schedule at all, and
my delivery has been totally unpredictable.? I hope they get that straightened
out.

I hope others weigh in on this topic as well.

Gotta run.

Guy Smith




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