Thank You Larry Dixon!

#16 04-28-2007, 12:12 PM

If I'm a limited resource owner, I probably need driver/partner economic support to compete. What's the problem. Sometimes it's a matter of the team being out there, or not.

If I'm a driver who can get enough loot to be supportive but not enough to fund a complete program, should I stay home or contribute to a team?

Jeff Arend and Brady Kalivoda should be commended for continued participation. Maybe they got seats previously occupied by others however, there are many others whose employment may have been saved by their and their sponsors contributions.

We'll see how Dixon handles his business when he's responsible for the livelihood of others.

#17 04-28-2007, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Carlon

I happen to agree 110% with Larry Dixon's article & I also agree he's a class act. And, I'm a huge Brady Kalivoda fan - who happens to be the latest person to "buy a ride." I respect him as much today as I did five years ago & I believe he's as talented a driver as anyone else out there, including Troy Buff. But the fact is, he didn't/doesn't have the resources to run/fund his own team so he, like many before him and probably many who follow him, is forced to seek funding to purchase seat time in someone else's car. Fair? Absolutely not, but he's playing within the rules established by the owners who seem to be more worried about money than talent. And I'm not suggesting there are drivers out there who don't possess talent - I'm saying there are talented drivers without rides who can't secure funding necessary to display their talent. Can anyone say Dean Skuza? Phil Burkhart? Troy Buff?

Personally, I don't think the drivers who are forced to buy a ride like it any more than us fans do. In fact, I'd be willing to bet they hate it more than we do. I've alluded to this before & I'll say it again - the OWNERS made the rules & the drivers who want to compete have to buy seats out from under other drivers if they want to race.

Like it or not (not, for me) it's here to stay. As long as we continue to want to compete with NASCAR for racing supremacy, money will be required - and a lot of it. Control the costs and make them reasonably affordable again and talent will become the priority again... bit that ain't gonna happen and we all know it.

I agree with your statement but how much money does a “driver” need to bring to a team to make up for blowing up everything in the trailer?

A real driver used his connections to get all of the right parts to save his team owner money……… A real driver lifts when it drops cylinders during qualifying to save the team owner money………… a real driver puts his heart and soul into helping the team owner build a team…… 4 lap$ at La$ Vega$ 3 blown up motors. So far in Atlanta 2 Lap$ and……………

Left Lane: Whit Bazemore No Time, Now #4
Best prior run: 4.524/327.19, Was #3
Right Lane: Brady Kalivoda Runs 4.519/309.63, Now #3
Best prior run: 4.564/323.97, Was #12
Kalivoda was on a good pass until 800 feet or so when one bank's exhaust turned an ugly color. Just before the finish line, the engine let go in a huge fireball that totally overpowered the camera lens in the replay. A massive heat ball billowed above the car as parts were heading in all directions. A small fire continued as Brady got the car shut down safely and was quickly extinguished by the Safari.

When is enough , enough?

#18 04-28-2007, 12:33 PM

According to an article I read in National Dragster a couple of weeks back, Dixon does own a business. It's called Dixon Properties. The company apparently "rents shop space in Brownsburg to numerous teams."

#19 04-28-2007, 02:51 PM

Ole' Keith ain't hitting for average today.

....he be a swinging for the fence.

#20 04-28-2007, 11:58 PM

Thanks for the welcome,

It has been a while since I have been on here. Mr Roberts, I am glad you liked our car, unfortunately it has gone down the road. I am sitting home this season keeping my eyes and ears open. I hope to race again in the future, until then I will stay informed on the internet and talk to all my old racing buddies and try to get back behind the wheel one of these days.

Thanks,

Tony

#21 04-29-2007, 01:05 AM

We miss you Tony!
Thanks for posting this. If readers consider who made the original statement and where he came from and ended up, I believe they'll appreciate the statement all the more.
Larry is, in fact, a class act and yes, he built a large commercial building in the Indy area to lease out. I'd say he's also very fiscally responsible as well?

#22 04-29-2007, 09:32 AM

While I very much agree that Larry is a class act, I'm a fan in fact, Real Estate ain't a Race Team. The cause and effect of the relative decisions are very different. I know first hand, I've played/play both games.

It's bothersome to me that there is this perception that Brady and Jeff aren't competent deserving racers.

#23 04-29-2007, 09:43 AM

I wonder why Larry left out all those Brazilian drivers that Took over the IRL/Cart series simply because they brought $$$ to the table? I doubt all of those drivers were given rides simply because of driving ability, If American drivers can't bring sponsors how else is a series suppose to survive? I'd like to know exactly who Larry's referring to when he suggests "NOT the Best drivers available"? Anyone???

#24 04-29-2007, 09:52 AM

Ok fella's, which is it? I came on here a while back and asked if people thought perhaps Andrew Cowin was a little harder on parts than other drivers & I was all but crucified by people I consider to be "in the know" for asking such a stupid question. Now we have someone basically accusing a different driver of the same thing and all of sudden it carries weight.

Make up my mind for me people - is it 85% nitro & rev limiters destroying motors or is it the driver?

#25 04-29-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne Dirks

Bob, please re-read what Larry was saying.

"It seems that you’d be better off hiring the best driver and finding other ways to get the money."
He isn't saying make the crew chief bring $$$; he's saying hire the best driver, best crew chief, best crew, and find ANOTHER WAY to get $$$.

*my opinion* ie: Force has at least one person dedicated to sponsor procurement; it's not the driver/crew chief/crews responsibility.

Wayne I agree with what Larry said and is one of my favorites in T/F my post was responding to part were he was talking about how $ was expected by drivers but no one else on the team.

#26 04-29-2007, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Carlon

Make up my mind for me people - is it 85% nitro & rev limiters destroying motors or is it the driver?

I'd guess depending on the circumstances, both...add the Chiefs to that equation for a tri-fecta.

#27 04-30-2007, 01:15 AM

It is a simple matter of supply and demand. There are many people who are willing and able to drive a racecar, so the "wages" tend to be low. It appears that the supply of drivers is so much greater than the demand that the wages have actually crossed over into the negative.

The bottom end guy doesn't have to bring money to the table because there is not a surplus of people looking for that job.
The crew chief doesn't have to bring money to the table because there are not a lot of people who have the ability to tune a fuel car and manage a crew.

Larry Dixon is a great guy and I was honored to get his autograph in Houston.

Thank You Larry Dixon!

Thank You Larry Dixon!

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