Dear ROAR,

I have been making a few observations concerning the upcoming Paved Nationals. These are just my thoughts.

1 – There were 101 entries at the Regional race this year and 136 at last year’s Nationals when the entry fees were at a reasonable rate. There are 43 so far for the Nat’s with the $80 entry. Guess who is losing on that deal?

2 – I didn’t count the multi entries for the Regional’s or last year’s National’s but there are only 4 for the Nat’s so far. Could it be that there are no discounts for second and third entries?

3 – Gas prices, food and lodging have all gone up. People cannot travel like they would like to anymore. Now was NOT THE TIME to go up this much on entry fees. Just because a WEEK in a hotel in Florida in January can command that type of money doesn’t mean that ROAR can for three days in the South Carolina sun.

4 - I could frankly care less what it cost to have the RMT there, that’s not my concern. If it's that much then do away with it, we can't afford it. I DO care that I am paying for something that I don’t think I’m getting. If the scoring, and teching are being done by people that would do it anyway, without the RMT, what is different from last year and why do I have to pay more for it? ESPECIALLY THE NITRO CLASSES! Both of them are PROVISIONAL classes and will not involve the RMT WHAT SO EVER.

ROAR open your eyes, this is looking like a considerably weaker Nationals than last year EVEN THOUGH IT’S AT THE SAME TRACK run by the same great people.

If you want a turn out:

DROP THE CUT OFF DATE….PERIOD. NO MORE EXTENTIONS….JUST DROP IT.

REDUCE THE ENTRY FEE TO $60 (APPLY WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID TOWARDS THEIR TIRES) OR APPLY THE DIFFERENCE TO A SECOND CLASS.

DISCOUNT THE MUTL ENTRIES TO $40………AND LET’S GET SOME RACERS SIGNED UP!

Lin Vaughan “McLin”
RC-Oval.com

good post Lin don't know if it will go anywhere but well thought out and some very good points



let me also add that a carpet oval race here in Florida at minnreg averages 70 enteries with 98% of that from FL. This years Carpet nats 66 entries. why? from what people told me it was 2 things entry fee was to high and race schedule was to drawn out causing them to have to take more time off work and pay for a room

I go to a Dirt track in PA and they Average 60 to 75 on any given Saturday night.

great post but dont hold your breath!i know of several big name racers that are not going to attend due to the cost!

good post! start to finish!

ROAR NATIONAL CHAMPION

That's something you have to decide the value of yourself.


Guys want the 'NATIONAL' event at their local track
Guys want to race for the RECOGNIZED National Championship
Racers spend $100.00's to $1000.00's of dollars a year to race
Guys want "OFFICIALS" at these type of events


That is just a short list of things people look to ROAR for.

YOU don't want ROAR to make any $$$ off the race, have your OWN National Event w/o using ROAR, ROAR's RULES, ROAR's RMT, or ROAR's name in any other way.

This is something that works for a HANDFUL of races nationwide...but MOST others fail.

Just involving ROAR adds expenses to the event.

TROPHIES, T-SHIRTS, EXTRA PEOPLE (Staffing the event), Paid OFFICIALS...HAND OUT PRODUCTS... All of these things drive the costs UP.

Add to that - if you DON'T have the PEOPLE in place - todays racers quickly try to discredit ANY results with rumors of CHEATING and Favoritism, and/or many other things that hurt or tarnish the events results.

People are on the fence - and complaining about the $$$ to enter, yet MOST of these people will be in Florida the first of the year - and will be spending HOW MUCH???

...anybody look at the ENTRY cost for the IIC (Indoor Carpet Race) in Las Vegas this year?

You may register for a maximum of three classes at the event. The first class will cost $165 if it is a brushless motor handout class, or $135 for Modified or 10.5 classes. Second or third handout classes will be $90, while a second or third Mod/10.5 class is $70.


Yet, I bet this race SELLS OUT.

I don't think you can compare ROAR nats to Snowbirds or IIC. Both of those races are vacations and once a year events. Believe me, Easely, SC mid-August is not a vacation spot. Along with that racers can go race there any other week of the year for $20, or whatever their weekly entry is.

Also, keep in mind that attendance was somewhat down at the Birds last year. As for IIC I believe I read that last year they sold out in hours. This year still not sold out with only like 5 weeks before the race.

ROAR nats simply do not carry the clout to command ~$300 to show up and run two classes. There are quite a few races during the year that more impressive wins. On top of that having to take 3 days off work is just way too much.

I don't think you can compare ROAR nats to Snowbirds or IIC. Both of those races are vacations and once a year events. Believe me, Easely, SC mid-August is not a vacation spot. Along with that racers can go race there any other week of the year for $20, or whatever their weekly entry is.

Also, keep in mind that attendance was somewhat down at the Birds last year. As for IIC I believe I read that last year they sold out in hours. This year still not sold out with only like 5 weeks before the race.

ROAR nats simply do not carry the clout to command ~$300 to show up and run two classes. There are quite a few races during the year that more impressive wins. On top of that having to take 3 days off work is just way too much.


I fully agree...that's one of the things I've felt for a long time that could/should be changed w/ the NATIONALS.

Right now ROAR puts it up for BID, and unless things have majorly changed in the last few years...ONE,TWO or THREE tracks is about all that bids on the event.

FIND a REALLY COOL Location - PLACE the event there for a long term (Say even 5 years) contract. Make sure this event IS in a Vacation Spot...so maybe it could be more of a 'FAMILY' oriented event.

Before TC's when On-Road had pretty much DIED - NORRCA did that w/ their On-Road Nat's at the old Western R/C track in Vegas. It had the potential to be really cool - but...(As they say, things happen)

lol weeeeeeeee i'm a roar oval national champion...i beat 4 other guys who could afford to go! lol


BTW it would be way unfair to lower the nats fees now...alot of racers paid those prices at other nats in 2008...unless you send out refund checks...

Just wondering, did the Carpet Nats have handout tires also?

Great post it's a mess all the way around the subject! A ton of room for improvement this year! see ya on the 26th and the real nats on the 16th,lol!

lol weeeeeeeee i'm a roar oval national champion...i beat 4 other guys who could afford to go! lol


BTW it would be way unfair to lower the nats fees now...alot of racers paid those prices at other nats in 2008...unless you send out refund checks...

Weren't there some classes like that at the Carpet Nats as well?

Hey KF -- instead of bashing all the time, how about taking some of that energy and directing toward helping Oval Racing grow? Just a thought.

Best post yet on this subject, nicely done!
Thanks Lin!

Weren't there some classes like that at the Carpet Nats as well?

Hey KF -- instead of bashing all the time, how about taking some of that energy and directing toward helping Oval Racing grow? Just a thought.



i've read you giving people crap to help promote and help ROAR including myself. WHY? You signed up for this mess so you step up and do the right thing....FIX IT!!!!
we as american have the right to our opinions and the people are speaking is all,and you don't like what your reading. You have still done NOTHING to persude the oval racers to want to be any part of roar and probely pissed more off then you have brought back! just my opinion.

Yok- can't make 'em all happy all the time. All I ask from the "bashers" is instead of tearing it down why not help? Just a thought.

It is obvious we do not agree, oh well that is life.

I have "stepped up" and am working to "FIX IT" but I am not alone and we are working together to try to make the best decisions possible.

Your being American statement goes both ways, I get to voice my opinion as well.

I want to hear opinions on what would be the best course for ROAR to take. But get real, the "we hate ROAR" rhetoric is not doing any good and that is not telling the committee what racers want as far as classes and rules.

If you have actual suggestions as to what you think should be done I would love to hear them, but if it just more of the ROAR bashing, I already get that.

Good luck to you.

Scott, I’m sorry bud, I like you a lot and enjoy the racing we do together but I have heard the “let’s try to fix it” deal for way too long and way too many times by way too many people. We had a thread a while back on here that had a lot of good ideas in it and we heard “keep it up guys, ROAR is listening…..” and what did we get? The RMT shoved down our throat and an $80 entry fee with no discounts for additional classes in their VERY NEXT RACE! (Which by the way, I had FOUR more people say to me yesterday that they have decided NOT to go.) No, I’m afraid that after 20 years of this stuff, you guys are going to have to show me first then I’ll support it.

I wish you and Donnie and all the rest of the new Oval Committee all the best, but you might want to buy a BIG bottle of Bayer.

I have heard the “let’s try to fix it” deal for way too long and way too many times by way too many people. We had a thread a while back on here that had a lot of good ideas in it and we heard “keep it up guys, ROAR is listening…..” and what did we get? The RMT shoved down our throat and an $80 entry fee with no discounts for additional classes in their VERY NEXT RACE!

Some of the reasons you have hears 'Let's Try To Fix It' from so many people is because people always have that gleem in their eye when they are on the outside...but when they get to the INSIDE and see ALL that is involved...and what kind of OPPOSITION they meet from SO many people...after a fairly short time - MOST feel beaten in to the ground and walk away....

I feel for ANYONE who takes up a position with ROAR, that includes the current Pres. all the way down to any of the committee members.

You get pressure from the RACERS to do what each individual wants...plus you get pressure from SPONSORED RACERS to do what their SPONSORS want.. Then you get the MFG's with ever changing products that want their stuff LEGALIZED even though it doesn't fit within the rules...and if it's a popular enough company....ALL of their drivers put extra pressure on.

Add to that the constant BASHING 24/7 from those that at some time in their life had a bad dealing w/ the organization.... back in 1982 I never got my membership card...and I'll never join **** Again... or some such thing.

It's kind of like this LIPO battery deal...

Everybody is sitting around waiting for ROAR to make a rule - (That 35-40 % are probably just going to bash anyway) and MOST will never run the ROAR events...but because it's now a ROAR rule - it will be like it's in the Bible.

With R/C Oval Racing being such a small part of the R/C World... maybe it's time that ROAR says to heck w/ OVAL RACERS and erases ALL of their OVAL RULES from the rule book and quit recognizing it completely.

Let the VULTURES fend for themselves.

SCOTTH - you know you will never make many happy, but what group deserves the focus of attention?

As far as a NATIONAL EVENTS $80.00 entry fee, in this day and age I completely see where that kind of number comes from...I don't like it, I probably will never attend a race with it, but it is not IMHO out of line with what racers have created and demand of that type of race.

Do the math. A race with $80.00 entry w/ 100 entries is $8000.00 (Not including any potential sponsor money...)

Split up over 3 days, between ORGANIZATION and TRACK that's not really a lot of money....especially after AWARDS have been purchased.

Just like the BATTERY or MOTOR companies - this is BUSINESS.

Snafu!

Scott, keep diggin. Those people with negative comments for Roar are really pissed about the battery war in general. Since Roar is the the only Org left & has committee members willing to stick their necks out on forums, it only makes it right "in their eyes" to bitch about something that Roar nor they can control. When Roar pulls out then who will they attack... the forum itself? The most pathetic part about it is they will spend money on that "new battery" when it comes out. Go figure?????


Roar and Donnie has stepped up to host an Oval Nationals PERIOD! Anyone else holding a Oval National? So what, it cost more money to race this event. It's a National for Pete sake!! If your not going then stop crying about the cost. If you are going, come back and post how great of a time you had & how it was money well spent

Yeah, and some people too!!

JB
Some things change, but stay the same....

Roar should really be like Nascar. The reason I say this is simple. Nascar writes the rules, governs the rules, picks the tracks, governs the tracks and anyone that don't like it can leave. It works!

Give oval racers three classes with one provisional in a rules package. Sell the package to the tracks, not the racers. Most racers don't admit it, but they like to be told what to run.

boy tim you have it all figured out.maybe you and your great attitude should be on the commitie also.

No Sir, I don't have it figured out. But I do have enough sense to know that there is only one Org left. When it closes it doors to oval, then what?


boy tim you have it all figured out.maybe you and your great attitude should be on the commitie also.


Talk about attitude. Read your own post. You contradicted yourself by being here on the Roar forum posting. If you don't like Roar, don't come here because you certainly don't like what your reading.

i've read you giving people crap to help promote and help ROAR including myself. WHY? You signed up for this mess so you step up and do the right thing....FIX IT!!!!
we as american have the right to our opinions and the people are speaking is all,and you don't like what your reading. You have still done NOTHING to persude the oval racers to want to be any part of roar and probely pissed more off then you have brought back! just my opinion.

sorry TIM,look at the yellow around my name.means i can go anywere on this site i want wether i like it or not. Scott is TRYING to fix things just not the right way at times.and i was simply pointing that out.i will continue to follow what they do also.and as far as being the last org......get outta here.the BRL has set the standards and will continue to.they are kinda like the nascrap you speak of,no BS, rules are rules,but they are good ones and each race they hold they get 70 to 100 racers at.why is that?low entry fee,no membership charges,same tracks every year,same people running each race, you starting to catch on.

I myself can go anywhere on this site too. Just as anyone on this forum can. What are you... twelve?

You come to the Roar forum to tell a Roar committee member that if he don't like what he reads then don't read it at all? Reap what you Sow, son.

You also are in violation of TOS by having lude signs in your Location in your header. I guess that is ok too as long as you have yellow around your name.... I don't think so.

The BRL cannot be compared to Roar due to it being a "Brushless Racing League". Come on get with the program here. You don't have a legitamate gripe... period!

Roar and Donnie has stepped up to host an Oval Nationals PERIOD! Anyone else holding a Oval National?


Well Yes, Mike Boylan and Thunder racing, The 2008 Carpet Oval Nationals.

Just wondering, did the Carpet Nats have handout tires also?

Rubber TC 13.5 had a stated/spec tire

Yok -- If my bluntness is alittle abrubt for some, sorry. I have never been and will never be good at beating around the bush or being P.C.

I do have to ask why it is just fine for posters to tell me how bad ROAR is, how things will never change. But not OK for me to confront those posters and tell them to help change the way things are done if they do not like it.

FWIW -- I am FIGHTING for the RACERS, to bring them the classes that will fit the best.

Am I the only one bothered by the fact that ROAR just approved a superior 3200 lipo battery 2 weeks before the Paved oval nat's? I applaud SMC for their efforts to support oval racing and I wish them well but to add another hundred dollars to an already ridiculously overpriced event is dead wrong on ROAR's part and I am sure the numbers will show it! I know the guys on the "committee" are trying to fix oval racing but this has been a huge step in the perverbial poo-poo.

No, you are not the only one that is bothered by it but why say anything except "thank you sir, may I please have another". Everything we suggest, talk about or complain about falls on deaf ears so why even bother anymore.

I went to the Nats in Easley last year. I was going this year until I started adding up what just one class was going to run me. So I sat on the fence for a while thinking go or no go?? Then the Battery issue came up with SMC.

BIG CHECKMARK just put in the column of why I'm not going.
Approving that Battery right before the nats is just wrong, totally wrong.

You can tell me the reasons why it was approved "untill the cows come home" and I will still tell you it was WRONG.

mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove on over if yer runnin Orion cuz SMC is coming through!