The issue involves the concern that crate engines can destroy oval track racing by removing a key element of the competition for race fans, in addition to potentially harming the excitement of the show. Also, race engine builders in oval track racing are reporting that crate engines are harming their businesses.

RACE (Racers Alliance Concerning Engines) organized the meeting on Friday morning, December 15. It was led by race engine builders Bill Schlieper, of Pro Power Racing, in Sullivan, Wisconsin, and Keith Dorton, of Automotive Specialists, in Concord North Carolina, along with Richard Iskenderian of Isky Racing Cams, Gardena, California.

"Through RACE, we have an innovative and competitive voice," explained Schlieper. "We are proud to be racers, and are racers first before we are manufacturers, businesses, builders or individuals. We believe in racing as a pure form of innovation, dedication and competition through teamwork.

"At RACE, we want to allow people to reach their goals, live their dreams and make it happen through their own efforts and decisions," he continued. "We want racers to be able to choose quality products they believe to be the best and use them to better their teams and the people around them."

This meeting was not just a sounding board of concerns, as several industry members offered their suggestions to promote the use of "open" engine rules, and ways to improve the racing industry as a whole.

Schlieper is campaigning to "get the drivers on the engine builders side and establish a points fund for drivers." He wants engine builders to share their ideas with each other, and be willing and able to work on and freshen engines from other engine builders.

Dorton suggested that sanctioning bodies limit bore stroke rules. Richard Maskin, of Dart Machinery, Troy, Michigan, will introduce an idea for a brand new aftermarket engine within the next 18 months. Tom Forgione, of FA Products in Ontario, New York, suggested creating a tech committee to work with sanctioning organizations. Steve Lewis, producer of PRI Trade Show, also offered some suggestions. He said that PRI will work with RACE to keep racing fun, competitive, and healthy. He also suggested that track operators should look at more effective ways to promote the entertainment value of racing and sell more tickets, rather than altering the heart of what racing has always been about. He offered that race promoters should work more closely with sponsors who can pay the purse, which is often suppliers of race specific engine parts that would be outlawed in crate-engine race series.

Schlieper explained, "Working together through RACE, we can unify racers, promoters and businesses. RACE will be inclusive rather than exclusive and help keep racers on the track in a competitive and common sense environment."

Some suggestions from Schlieper include direct-connect point funds, training tech people, becoming involved with rules meetings, and sanctioning major events. "RACE can guarantee a future by growing our customer base by bringing money back into the racers hands so they can have the freedom of choice to choose quality innovative aftermarket parts."

The organization is building its 2007 advisory committee to allocate funds, review rules, and market products to the public. Race track promoters, wholesale distributors, race parts manufacturers, engine builders, racers, media, and sponsors will all be represented. For more information about RACE, contact Bill or John Schliper at 262/593-5801, or e-mail them at propower@centurytel.net.