2009 Motorsports Expo
By Robin Ervin
Many of the attendees to the 24th annual Motorsports expo this past weekend took advantage of the many free seminars on Friday and Saturday. As in years before show attendees were treated to a menu of 13 enjoyable, helpful and informative seminars on a variety of topics, conducted by experts in their fields. There was something for everyone at the show and each seminar drew a sizable, attentive audience.
For the drivers and raceteams who wanted to learn more about chassis setup, troubleshooting handling problems and other technical issues several seminars were available.
On Friday and Saturday, show attendees were treated to the popular and renowned Area Auto Racing News technical writer Sleepy Gomez who offered them the benefit of his years of technical savvy on fixing racecar-handling problems. After describing some tips on building and maintaining a safe race car chassis, Gomez answered questions on handling issues from the audience. Gomez explained to the rapt audience in easy-to-understand terms, the technical concepts of sway bars and springs and how various adjustments on them affect the handling of street stock metric chassis. One tip he offered was to make a large drastic chassis change instead of small ones. This allows a person to see the full effect of the handling change, good or bad and they can see if they are moving in the right direction with the adjustments.
On Saturday asphalt modified aces Matt and Tony Hirschman offered advice on setting up Troyer chassis and overcoming handling problems to the asphalt modified racers in attendance. While next door, Jim Bernheisel of Bernheisel race components, passionately explained various concepts of dirt modified setup. Bernheisel has attended the Motorsports expo for many years and is always available at his booth to answer a racer may have. Bernheisel used a nearby chair to demonstrate how loading up a particular tire will affect the handling of a race car in the corners. He also stressed to the racers that copying another racers setup is an unwise thing because every driver has a different driving style and this affects a chassis handling and set up needs.
Racing legend and driver’s safety advocate, Randy LaJoie stressed importance of safety and cited specific examples of how a driver injuries could have been avoided if proper precautions were used. Driver containment is the key to driver safety. LaJoie also cited current unsafe practices he has seen where no one had been injured yet but should be corrected and the efforts he is taking to reform driver safety. Currently LaJoie is working with chassis manufacturing to allow for more room in the driver’s compartment to accommodate the thicker safety seats and to allow room for a driver to quickly escape from a car. He also encouraged those in attendance to practice two ways to exit from their cars so that in the even of an accident the process will be second nature.
Renowned technical expert, Warren Gilliand, who is known as the Brakeman, gave an in-depth, highly informative seminar on braking technology. He used a projection screen to show illustrations of cross sections of brake system components to explain the art and science of braking. Each attendee received a multipage, user-friendly handout on what was covered in the seminar to take home with them.
Tim Anderson of Racepak Data Acquisition Systems gave a seminar explaining the various ways a data acquisition system will help raceteams improve their performance.
Those who are interested in motorsports photography, media relation issues, legal issues in racing or those seeking sponsorship advice had several seminars of interest to them.
Friday, noted motorsports photographers Bob Yurko and Dave Dalesandro hosted a spirited discussion among professional photographers who traded photography techniques and discussed the virtues and drawbacks of digital photography vs. film
On Saturday, Bob Yurko hosted a seminar for amateur photographers that offered advice to those who aspire to becoming professional motorsports photographers. He assured them that being a professional motorsports photographer is an attainable goal and he gave advice on how to achieve that dream. Yurko stressed the importance of being safe while shooting and acting like a professional. Yurko used award-winning photographs to illustrate the elements that make up a great racing photo. One lucky attendee was chosen by picking names from out of a hat, to take photos alongside the professional media photographers at the Ms Motorsports contest.
Lincoln Pa Speedway press director Wayne Harper, acknowledged expert in media relations and track promotion, held a seminar aimed at helping local media to interact with racetracks and improving race track public relations.
Attorneys Meri Van Blarcom-Gupko and Jim McCreedy discussed in their seminar various legal issues and pitfalls that could arise in the business of racing and why it is important for raceteams to keep abreast of current laws.
Famed sponsorship guru Ernie Saxton gave an extensive list of practical, easy to implement ways to pursue and entice potential sponsors and what should be included in a sponsorship proposal.
2010 Motorsports Expo
By Robin Ervin
OAKS, PA-The 25th Motorsports Expo provided a variety of informative seminars on a wide range of racing-related topics.
For the mechanically inclined there was a variety of tech classes for them.
Roy Anderson of Anderson Race Cars explained the basics of setting up and maintaining a Street Stock/Factory Stock car.
Fred Turza of VP Fuels described the evolution of the fuel pump and how it has adapted to various types of fuels from pump gas to methanol to oxygenated fuels. He also contrasted the properties of methanol and oxygenated gasoline.
Renowned shock absorber guru Bob ‘Shadow’ Debois of Shadow racing products explained the mysterious art of shock absorbers and how even the smallest changes in a shock can make significant changes in the way a chassis handles.
Jim Bernheisel of Bernheisel race Components/Lazer Chassis discussed the intricacies of Dirt Late Model chassis setup. Bernheisel described various ways a driver can find traction on slick tracks. He also explained that its important to fix the problems going into the corner, not out of the corner. Bernheisel said “Drivers often say to me that their car is too loose coming off the corner and they can’t seem to tighten it up. I tell them the problem is that the chassis is too tight going into the corner and that’s why they are loose coming off the corner. Once the tight condition is fixed, the car handles better.”
Clark Gayner of Full Tilt Racing’s Clark Gayner gave an informative introduction into the world of kart racing. He described all forms of karting; such as the superspeedway laydown karts, shifter, 4-cycle, 2-cycle and the characteristics of each. Gayner also explained to how to get started in karting and where some of the karting tracks are located in this area.
Sleepy Gomez returned to the Motorsports Expo to present his always informative seminar on how to fix dirt and pavement chassis problems. Gomez has a knack of explaining complicated technical concepts in ways that are easy to understand. This year, Gomez presented tips to help ‘low bucks’ racers who work on their own cars without the benefit of a garage full of expensive tools. He also explained how to use everyday items such as PVC pipes to check the roll center on a racecar and how to check a car’s caster with a carpenter square and two metal tape measures.
Randy Lajoie gave a reveling and informative seminar on driver safety at short track racing. Lajoie emphasized the importance of driver containment,” When the head, chest and pelvis stay in line during a crash the driver doesn’t get hurt but that’s only part of the equation. A driver has to be able to quickly escape from his vehicle as well.” Some modified chassis have roll bars that impede a driver’s quick escape in the event of an emergency. Lajoie also stressed the importance of properly bolting the seat to the chassis and properly securing the seat belts to the seat. The webbing should be mounted short because it decreases the movement of the belts during a crash. Also improperly mounted belts can tear on impact. LaJoie advices adding extra bars to the chassis to better secure the race seat. “The best race seat in the world won’t do a driver any good if its not securely fastened to the chassis.”
Business lawyer Meri Van Blarcom-Gupko, in her sixth year of giving a legal seminar at the expo, gave a fascinating and informative discussion on the important topic of legal issues in racing. She talked about the importance of waivers and releases for tracks as well as liability in the garages and participants (both adults and minors). “This is still an evolving field,” Blarcom-Gupko explains. “ Each state is different in its statutes”.
When a legal problem occurs across state lines, the legal difficulties become magnified. Blarcom-Gupko states “In the matter of Interstate injuries and business contract problems where the parties reside in different states. The matter of jurisdiction must be resolved before the content of the dispute can be even considered.”
Those who aspire to becoming professional racing photographers listened intensely to award winning motorsports photographer Bob Yurko as he gave an assortment of tips and advice on how they can achieve their dreams. Yurko stated “the key to standing out from the other photographers is educating yourself about all aspects of photography. Know your camera and how to use it.” He advived aspiring photographers to be creative and experiment when deciding how to capture what they see. Yurko also emphasized the importantance of respecting the drivers and the crew’s workspace and how to shoot dramatic, intense photos without interfering with a race team work. He advised those present to look for an image that tells a story, that has impact. “ I always strive for that ONE photo that stands out, Yurko stated. “Quality is more important that quantity.” Most of all Yurko stressed safety and always keeping an eye open for moving racecars to avoid being run over. “You always have to be aware of where the cars are at all times.” All those who attened the Yurko’s semeinar put their names into a hat and one lucky, joyous attendee was selected to work along side the professional photographers at the Ms Motorsports pageant. The winning name was drawn by last year’s Ms Motorsports.
Ernie Saxton by far had the biggest crowd of any seminar. The room was filled to capacity with racers who listened intently to his presentation on basic team sponsorship. Saxton stressed that potential sponsors are interested only in ‘return on investment’ and “what can you give me that I don’t have now.” He then described a long list of ways a team can promote their sponsors in order to keep their sponsors happy and attract new sponsors.
Two racing series promoter’s discussed their respective series.
Danny Wilson of Steel-block Bandits Late Model series introduced those present to his touring series, which is centered in a six-hour radius around Winchester Virginia. The series consists of 15-20 races. All cars are required to race Steel block engines. According to Wilson, 73% of the drivers use a 358 cubic inch steel motor and local driver wins 66% of the races in their series because a driver does not have to be a member to race in their events.
Joe Grandinetti, the Race Saver series regional director, outlined what his series offers to local racers who want to race a Sprint car but have a very limited budget. The Race Saver 305 Sprint car series will run at New Jersey’s Bridgeport and New Egypt speedway.
For the media, there was a media workshop on racetrack public relations and how the symbiotic relationship between the media and track promoters can be enhanced. Wayne Harper of Lincoln Speedway PA and Dale Pielow of Black Rock Speedway in NY hosted the discussion.