3/21/2014
UMSS Spring Email to Drivers and Teams Regarding Upcoming Season
UMSS Drivers And Teams,
The 2014 racing season is just around the corner. Officials of the UMSS have decided to communicate with you this Spring through an email rather than having a meeting. By doing our communication this way, we will be able to get this important information to almost all of you instead of just the ones that attend a meeting. Under the Technical Info section below, note the March 29 deadline for expressing interest in a pre-season tech session.
Schedule
The schedules are very similar to 2013 with a few changes. Please check the respective websites or Facebook for the schedules. UMSS officials contacted more than 25 tracks while preparing for the 2014 season. Certainly not all tracks were interested in booking dates. As the UMSS grows in popularity, we expect interest to increase from the tracks that have yet to book a show with us.
License Fees
License fees for all UMSS participants will be the same amount in 2014 and covers all three divisions. With $100,000 of excess participant accident coverage, the license fee will be $125. Without the insurance it will be $40. This fee covers the whole year. No one will be allowed to participate without paying this fee.
Electronic Scoring
UMSS officials are close to completing the purchase of a Raceceiver RACE management electronic scoring system. The UMSS will start using electronic scoring at all tracks that are set up for it starting sometime in June. This system is compatible with the AMB scoring ONLY if the track has the AMB system and the UMSS can plug into it. St. Croix Valley Raceway will only have the Raceceiver system so it will be mandatory that all UMSS participants buy a Raceceiver transponder. The cost of a Raceceiver transponder will be under $200. More information will be released soon about how you will be able to order your transponder.
Rules
All UMSS participants in the wing and traditional sprint car series are encouraged to go through your respective rules as there have been some changes. Remember, YOU are responsible for knowing and following all UMSS rules. There have been no rule changes to the micro sprints.
Payoff and Points
The payoffs for the traditional sprint cars and micro sprints will be the same in 2014. The wing sprint car purse will increase from 9th on back in 2014. Check the Rules/Forms section under the Series Info heading on the website for 2014 purse information. Click on the applicable PDF file in each category to view the purse info.
Current Point Leader Recognition
In 2014, the UMSS will recognize its current point leader at the track. We have some simple ideas on how to do this. We are doing this so that the fans will come to expect this and will know who the point leaders are which will enhance their experience at the track. We will also do the same to recognize our lady drivers.
Technical Info
From Joe Kouba, the UMSS Technical Director:
The Technical advisors have ok’d Neal Matuska to R & D the Chevy LS 6.1 liter sealed engine. Through many hours of discussion with Doug Rippe and Tim Swanke, in 2014 the UMSS will allow the use of only one of these engines in a competition environment to explore its competiveness and durability. It is in the best interest of the UMSS to explore all the engine options that are affordable, but within reason of being close to the same horsepower as a conventional ASCS type restricted engine. As the UMSS has never called itself a 360 wing series, we will review all aspects of this decision at the end of the 2014 season to determine its use in the future.
All UMSS cars, Wing and Traditional, will be tubed to check for CID before they are allowed to race. Once tubed, UMSS teams can have our tech personnel install a seal and be done with it for the year or continue to be tubed every night BEFORE the night starts. NO EXCEPTIONS. The UMSS has hired additional help at the beginning of the year to make sure every car gets tubed and sealed. The UMSS will have at least 2 and as many as 4 tech personnel and possibly 2 tubers at the beginning of the year to accomplish this. The allowable CID for Chevy and Fords is 363.6, Chrysler is 370.46. The 5.3 liter Traditional is 330.05. Anyone refusing teching or giving UMSS tech officials a hard time will be penalized.
1 7/8” restrictor rule will be strictly enforced on all non spec engines. Restrictor must be 1 7/8" for a minimum of 3” into injector. The LS 6.1 is not included at this time.
The Hoosier Medium 104 x 16 x 15 right rear will be mandatory after a 4 race runoff for the winged and traditional sprint cars. The other three corners will remain the same.
The UMSS has purchased a Whistler Compression Ratio Tester to measure the compression ratio in the traditional sprint car engines. This test will become a regular part of teching for the series.
UMSS technical Officials will be checking all Traditional cars at the discretion of the officials. Carbs, heads, rods, ignition and crank plus the CID and compression ratio are the targeted inspections.
If there is enough interest, the UMSS will have a preseason tech day to tube, seal and look over your car. If interested, call Joe Kouba at 612-751-4646 on or before March 29. We will set a date and inform you if there is enough interest.
Any technical question regarding the wing or traditional sprint cars should be directed to Joe at 612-751-4646. Any technical questions regarding the micro sprints should be directed to John Morris at 763-923-1031.
Please share this information with any team/drivers that are new or may not get this. This will also be posted on the UMSS website and Facebook page.
All of us at the UMSS are looking forward to the 2014 season. We will see all of you in late April/early May. Thank you for participating with the UMSS.
Ron Bernhagen
UMSS President/CDO
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
