...I blame people having no mechanical skills anymore and just pay people to do things. People paying others to do setups and stuff like that.
That is what the big funded people do which are trying to get heir kids to NASCAR. That is what USLCI has made this series into, just look at the USLCI website and you can see the "Legends to NASCAR" weekly updates. I wonder what they are trying to sell...
You can't build an engine anymore, you can't repair a steel spindle or straighten a bent shock. You just get to buy new...hmm, why do you need mechanical ability to bolt on parts...
The majority of the Legend racers outside of the hub of Charlotte are a family man, or a father trying to pass along the enjoyment of Saturday night racing and enjoying the Legend car for what it is an affordable class/car. I have been around since 1994 and the consistent goal of the parent company of USLCI is to please their stock holders. How do they do that...
Make everything a proprietary item that you can only buy from them and then they can have any price they want, they make money.
When I built my first engine back in 1995 I bought a set of Wiseco pistons direct for Wiseco for under $300.00. The last set I bought a year or so ago seemed like they were almost $600.00. You cannot buy them from Wiseco you must get them for USLCI.
Where does it stop...wheels, shocks, engines, ring & pinions, tires, ignition systems, suspension components, spindles, body parts, chassis, fuel cell, rack & pinion...
It doesn't stop, because they hold the cards and tell us what we are going to do in their series.
So, how do you make sure your young son is the next (insert name here) NASCAR superstar?
You pay someone who has the advanced technical skill, ability and means to get him to the front no matter the cost. They can cut up the chassis and make it better, they can get behind the shocks & tune them, they can get behind the engine seals and build them, they change out the guts of the red box for the guts of the adjustable Dyna ignition components. They do all of this because they cannot function within the rulebook and they buy the best of everything, spending the unlimited funds to get their next superstar to the next level.
Do you think USLCI is not getting into the brake game to save you money, are you kidding?
They are getting into the brake game because they have no other way to get their portion of the money being spent on the current system by others who have found a system that works better than anything they have to offer . Do you have to have the BM components to be a winner in this division, hell no. But since that is what the winners are using right now that is what everyone must "run" to win.
So, now the INEX(Wilwood) brake system will come along and out perform what is already out there because they are offering better components to work with. Do you think the BM will have a better brake pad than USLCI...I guarantee it.
Do you think I will have one too, damn right. Why should I let USLCI have all of the money?
So, now you have to buy the new brake system and USLCI gets their money and they are happy. You then have to buy the better performing RPM, Wilwood or BM pads because that is what the fast guys are using so the cost is going up; USLCI doesn't care they already got your money.
Now, lets add radios, as an option just like the better brake pads...Before you were able to run in the top five behind the fast guys...Without spending the money on all of the "options" you are going to fall behind. But since you bought the new brake system and radios you should be able to stop on a dime when the "spotter" tells you to stop for that wreck ahead...but the poor guy just out for the enjoyment of the sport is going to plow right through the back of your car because he doesn't have all of the "options".
Bring them on, I change with the times because this is the series I choose to participate in. I will adapt and continue to use my skill & ability to take my program to the next level. This will also benefit all of my current and future customers, whether they drop their car off or a guy needing guidance, they will all benefit from the new "options" after I get them dialed in.
The biggest issue I have is the fact USLCI is now going to require me and everyone to spend more money to buy the proprietary components to continue to be competitive. Thank god I am in California and a long way from the "hub" and there are not too many dads out here that think their young sons will be sitting is a cup car in less than 10 years.
Randy - RPM