The Greatest Race of all Time

The pure excitement of a photo finish. Nothing quite gets your blood bubbling like that of a race that comes down to the wire.

Quite honestly, after attending the NHRA drag nationals in Houston, TX this past weekend, a few thoughts flew out, around, up, under, and ultimately in to my head. But first, let me just say that if you enjoy racing, you HAVE to go to at least one drag race national in your lifetime. I mean the one where the fastest top fuel cars in the world come to play, where a car literally changes the beat of your heart into the rhythm of a V8 pounding at 8000 rpm, where vendors line the pits, where pit passes are included in the ticket price, where the fumes expended from Top Fuel engines burn your lungs and make even the manliest of men cry tears.

Of Joy.

Last but not least, where millions of dollars are spent for four tiny seconds and 1400 and 60 feet. Four seconds of the most primal thing you will ever experience, pure adrenaline. And I'm just a fan! Imagine the driver's feeling.

There is a fundamental problem in expanding motocross. With the current T.V. coverage, combined with the huge disparity in rider speed, even across the top 20 riders in the country, the racing isn't very exciting. Every once in a while you see a good battle, but when was the last time you saw a photo finish where 5 riders are all within a tenth? NEVER.

That is why motocross will never achieve Nascar like status, and why random people perusing their Television Tube will change the channel after 10 seconds. This just won't cut it.

I have a proposition. It may be crazy, some might say unfair, and many will call it stupid, but I can guarantee you it would be exciting!
Here is the scoop. The race would initially have to be a one off event, much like McGrath's event, or Vegas U.S. Open etc...

It would require a large purse, but for this particular race, a large appearance payout (required to race) would be instrumental in its success.

Also extremely important would be a huge qualifying bonus. The pole qualifier would get a 100,000 dollar bonus with a purse much like a regular race for each position after that. It would be like the fast lap at Vegas, each rider getting a chance to turn one fast lap for 100 g's.

Now, for the real twist. Why are all those elements crucial? It is a reverse pole start. First qualifier starts with last gate pick, second with second to last gate pick and so on... But it gets even better. It would be a timed stagger, calculated by the difference in qualifying times, with a little give for time required to pass. If the highest qualifier was 4 seconds a lap faster than the worst, with a short sprint like 8 lap main (indoor track), he would start 32 seconds back (although more realistically 25 to allow for passing time). Just imagine all the big names having to battle their way through to the front from dead last!

Another important note: with this format, the start would be clean, with less chance of screw up, allowing for a less congested first lap, a problem that allows the person with the hole shot to pull a large gap while others fart around the first lap.

I think the racing would be unreal! With the use of the calculated start stagger, TECHNICALLY (emphasis on "in theory") every rider would reach the finish at the same time if they turned consistent laps.

The main event would be a 10 lap sprint, on a track built for racing. Extremely wide straights and corners, multiple options, and multiple fast lines. Each section would allow for at least 5 wide comfortably, and who knows how many uncomfortably! The track would be less technical, and more aimed at the basics; cornering and braking! I would make it a lot like the McGrath track, with huge ramps, and crazy jumps.

Do yourself a favor, head over to racerxill.com and watch the Josh Grant and Wil Hahn videos at GL's track. Those are the type of jumps I'm talking about.

But the race is not over. The payout would be less than the "super-pole" qualifying would be, maybe in the range of 75k. After the first moto, a second moto would be held (with another 75k payout). This time, with the top finisher starting last and the last finisher starting first! (ed note: some revision of format needed here to account for wrecks and what not)

I want to watch this race! Just think, every fan favorite mired back in the pack, trying their hardest to come to the front. Who wouldn't like to see that! Just as important, it would allow the little guy a chance at some serious bank if he rides consistent.

Sand-bagging could be an issue in qualifying, but think about it. If you intentionally did poorly in the qualifier, you wouldn't make great money. Then you win the first moto because you held out, and make 75 g's. But now, you have to start last in the the second moto. You practically limit yourself to 75 g's. But instead, if you try hard, qualify decent, make 40 grand, then race hard, do well in the first moto, get 3rd, make 40 grand, and then pull it all together and win the last one, and make 75, you just made 155, a lot better than 75.

I own this idea, and am willing to sell for 2% revenue!

thanks for reading