I have been reading the comments and have a few thoughts that agree with others and disagree with some but only one I want to actually comments on is Mike in Roseville and the comment about always cars with sponsors and none plain. Thats not true, actually every Cup race has at least one plain Jane car and many times several with nothing more than a number, or like in one drivers case, Cory Lajoie, his wrap was nothing but his face on his car... Sorry brother just giving you a hard time there,
Anyways recently I did have an interesting discussion with a small team that does unsanctioned and events like that and it is at least something to think about, not saying i agree or disagree but at least is an interesting topic.
His issue with KCBS was indeed the haves and have nots and cost, but he brought up something different than meat. He was saying he can show up to a contest and see all the fancy trailers and set ups with all the sponsor banners and signage and as a new team with little to no experience, it immediately makes him think he has little to no chance so why would he want to sink a weeks paycheck to do the contest.
As someone that had and cooked out of a trailer, I tried to explain that most those started out on a basic cooker and canopy, however the argument brought up was in weather, rain, wind, heat etc who would be at an advantage? And i guess that is a valid point. But again I tried to debate that everyone started as that small simple team and again he brought up an interesting thought. So why would he as a small beginning team want to sign up for a contest early, sink a weeks paycheck to do the contest and have to deal with potential weather? He would be more inclined to wait until a day or 2 before to sign up so he has a pretty good idea what weather would be like.
HE said if everyone was cooking out of canopies and no trailers He would find it much more interesting and that is why he cooks the types of contests he cooks and everyone is pretty much at same level playing field and it is all about the art of cooking and the contest, not who has the best trailer. And then it was also brought u if everyone was cooking like that then the ability for the public to see things and be entertained was a bit more likely as would the opportunity for the newbies to meet the more established teams.
I cooked out of a trailer but his views were interesting and at least worth a discussion over a cigar and glass of whiskey even though I knew nothing I said would mean anything, his mind was made up but I gotta admit some valid points were made. I completely avoided the entire premium meat discussion because I didnt think i had enough booze to step into that mess.