3.03.2008

Good night, Springfield! See you again next year!

Rick Ramstrom was a noticeable absentee from the media seminar I was part of on Saturday morning at Speedway Expo. Of course, judging from the way he worked the room later that afternoon, I'm not sure the father of PASS North Series driver Derek Ramstrom needed a briefing on how to get the media to pay attention to his race team.

"You're a good-looking guy," Rick says to me.

Wowsers. Flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. Ramstrom. Positively everywhere.

* Funny, but I knew more people in Springfield than I did at the Northeast Motorsports Expo in Augusta in January. Weird, huh?

* A clarification here. Steve Perry doesn't own the Late Model that Darrin Ripley's going to drive at Wiscasset Raceway this year. Bill Stilphen owns that ride -- and he's the one leasing Richmond Karting Speedway.

Perry is helping Stilphen run RKS, and that's where the confusion sat regarding Ripley's ride.

* Unfortunately, money almost always finds a way to win in racing — even in places where the rules are so prohibitive as to try and curttail such things.

On the heels of hearing that the American-Canadian Tour had to turn to an official fuel supplier (Torco Race Fuels) to curb the use of doctored gasoline in its events, comes a report that a local parts outfitter has sold more than half a dozen traction control devices — to people directly involved with ACT teams.

All the jokes about a lack of horsepower in those cars kind of fly out the window with something as gravely serious as that, don't they?

* And Bobby MacArthur, the guy running All-Star Speedway in Epping, N.H., had the gall to insult the way I look in the comments section of one of my recent blog entries. Let's just say this: what do the terms "cut-off pink sweatshirt," "acid-washed jeans" and "jeans tucked into work boots" have in common?

Yeah, right. My male-pattern baldness is a bad fashion choice. Good point.

* Dave Dion = class act.

Plain and simple.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

What did Dave Dion do to garner such praise?

Anonymous said...

Did you introduce yourself to Bob?

TBarrett said...

Anonymous -- an hour with Dion teaches you one thing. He loves racing, loves telling stories and will give even a low-life, agenda-driven, pond water-sucking local reporter like myself way too much credit...

KFarrar -- actually, he was introduced to me and asked if we knew each other. I said that we did, that Bobby had told me he had a spot in the bathroom for me to cover the races from at his track. After that, stunningly, he clammed right up. Imagine that...

TB

Anonymous said...

travis kind of took me by surprize, i didnt think he was so tiny and vulnerable, if i raised my voice he looked like he was going to cry,i quess thats the difference between a man (my self) and a boy (travis). MR SHOWSTOPPA

Anonymous said...

Wow Travis, those are some bold statements against Mr. Curley's cars. Where's Andy B?

Andy B said...

I'm right here!!

Maybe some teams are trying to break the rules - it wouldn't be the first time that's happened in racing, in fact I just read where the last Cup winner was docked 100 points.

Not to question Travis's integrity, but I'm a little leery about "unnamed sources" claiming that "unnamed parts supplier" are selling traction control devices to "unnamed teams". For me, there are too many "unnamed" being thrown around to think the sky is about to fall. If the shop selling the traction control devices is reputable, why is it "unnamed"?

Then again, if these cars are so underpowered, and don’t require any talent to drive, why would a team need to invest in traction control devices.

If there are any teams with a Late Model thinking of running that type of part, you better think twice about who you are screwing around with.

Anonymous said...

Travis, I give you the open forum of either www.victorylaneforum.com or www.vlfracing.com to explain and "elborate" on your "unnamed sources" Actually I would easily let you do an article on www.vlfracing.com anytime you wish. We are very tight with several ACT and PASS teams.

Eric LaFleche
www.vlfracing.com
www.victorylaneforum.com

Anonymous said...

Remember when you used to try and update your blog every day, because it mattered ...?

TBarrett said...

Wow, Andy B must be angling for a job with Speed 51 -- questioning the way I do my job and all... lol

Actually, Eric, thanks for the offer, but I'm pretty sure my blog is an "open forum" and, oh, I don't know, that whole newspaper gig I've got going seems to be paying the bills OK...

I'm not insinuating that ACT is in more trouble than anyone or anywhere else when it comes to traction control. Actually, I think the fact that the series finds itself dealing with that issue only serves to point out that Late Models are harder to drive than most of their critics care to admit...

TB

Marco said...

I'll say this: Traction control is being sold, and traction control is being used in Northern New England. That's a fact, from several unnamed sources - and probably not the same unnamed sources (at least not all of them)as TB. Yes, it's being used even in crate-powered Late Models.

Of course, if either Travis or myself want to keep having unnamed sources to find out what is going on, they will remain unnamed sources.

Eric - The Maine PC Doc said...

And if the "local parts outfitter" wants to keep selling parts to the race teams I am sure he wants to remain nameless too....

Anonymous said...

wsbrebWHY would one buy it from a LOCAL parts person? Is it not something that you would want to be keep QUIET.

Marco said...

Andy, Eric, et al:

BSR Racing Products - recently touted as one of the PASS contingency sponsors even if they aren't local - openly ofers traction control on their web site.

I can show you a few other web sites, Behrent's comes to mind, where you'll find traction control available. I notice that All-Star's Bobby 'Showstoppa' MacArthur has visited here. He has a nice instructional video on traction control on his race team's web site.

Traction control exists. To what extent? I'm not sure. One thing that Andy mentioned above is certainly true: I wouldn't want to be the guy that ACT tech catches with TC.

Tenbomber said...

So what should be done?.... Simply allow this technology?
Make it legal once and for all?

Heck page 30 of the last issue of LMD features a 3"/5" add for a company offering "driver removable" traction control devices with a website and a toll free number for anyone to visit or call...

It's not like anyone is trying to hide the fact that this little ditty is readily available?....

Heck, another such add on a another page offers three differnt types of tire softners...

It's a tech man's nightmare for sure!.. but its all there if you have the bucks to buy it....

But just like steroids in baseball and other sports.... the availability of these products makes you wonder wether our heroes are on the level or not?

So what do we do to level the playing field here?...simply legalize them or servely punish those who get caught?

Anonymous said...

I can't remember when the last time someone locally has been caught with it. I believe someone did get nailed at Stafford in the Pro Stocks, but that was 8 or 9 years ago. It is a pretty tough thing to catch. Some people people say that it can be activated using a cell phone by a crew member after the car is already on the track. A number of years ago in the Oxford 250, it was rumored in the pits that one of the prerace favorites had it. Everyone also thought that a malfunction in the traction control led to mechanical problem that probably cost him the race.

_JMB

Anonymous said...

there is only one logical solution to softener and traction control.BRING YOUR CAR TO ALL-STAR we will fit you in no problem at all.how come we dont have these problems? MR. SHOWSTOPPA

Anonymous said...

are you saying that it is legal at all star.if so i don't think he will stay in bussiness to long



bingo

Anonymous said...

Travis, I was simply saying if you wanted to have your "voice" heard I had space for you. over 120,000+ hits monthly and growing. Sorry if I offended you. You should really contact me on that site as I have several stories I know you would run with.

Eric