Re: USAC and Track Conditions
 

As a refence point, when the USAC Sprints visited Hagerstown in June*, start of qualifying was delayed 45 min as they continued watering & running in the track until the sun dropped below the treeline. It made for a great track. The later finish, even on a weeknight, was well worth it (imho). :usacfan

With late sunsets in summer, somethin's gotta give - early finish or tacky track.

* edit: I think the delay was on the USAC night, but could have been for PA Sprintweek later in June. Either way, great track, both nights.

Re: USAC and Track Conditions
 

Maybe USAC wants to turn Sprint Car racing into Drifting...LOL Kevin Miller has not impressed me at all. Yea I know I am a nobody but it is my "our" money that makes it all happen. I know nobody is perfect but I think USAC needs to work on a lot of things... I know if you don't like the show don't go... Well I love Sprint Cars and will go to any show i Can... I just hate to see them screw it up.

Re: USAC and Track Conditions
 

I think one big factor in all the recent discussion about Indiana dirt track preparation that has been overlooked for the most part is this: Daylight Savings Time.
When I was growing up and going to the races, more often than not (depending on what track it was) a real dust-fest was the exception to the rule. Obviously things are different now. That extra hour of summer sun and wind really takes a toll on the track. And no one is starting an hour later to compensate for it, either. It wouldn't be from me, but I can hear the ******** now of they decided to do that...
Also, another factor is that nearly everybody screams the motor now. Back in the day, you could look at the tach in the pits when the car pulled in and see a number in the high 7000s. Now they turn them into the 9000s! That wheelspin with the wide tires is a factor in losing moisture as well.

Re: USAC and Track Conditions
 

I'm sorry but I will not be back until Terre Haute gets straightened out. I'm really surprised the racing went on, luckily no one got seriously injured in the dust storm.
As a fan I don't like being held hostage, to wait for the racing action, sun or no sun(poor excuse).
While the so called pre-race festivities go on the frontstretch as the water evaporates from the track. I would hope Usac was not happy with this either. Plus this NOT being a weekend night letting it go on & on. I would say 85 % of the fans were from out of town & had to work the next day. I myself had a 90 mile drive. It would have been nice to be home early.
I'm making alternate Hut 100 plans now.
It's very unfortunate as this is the closest track to me & has such a rich tradition.
I was really excited about the new promoters re-opening & bringing it back. Oh well, I guarantee I wasn't the only one saying they wouldn't be back. What a shame!

Re: USAC and Track Conditions
 

Originally Posted by :
As a fan I don't like being held hostage, to wait for the racing action, sun or no sun(poor excuse).

Unless you were driving you really dont know if this was a "poor excuse" or not. At the MSCS show earlier this year they had a big crash at the end of the backstretch because they couldnt see because of the sun. If you dont want to come back thats your business but dont compromise the safety of the drivers because YOU dont want to wait. Furthermore why dont you go over the week before the next race and help get the track in shape. if you think that throwing a little water on the track the day of the race or worse yet during the program is all you need to have a "dust free" track then it shows how much you dont know about dirt tracks.

Re: USAC and Track Conditions
 

Consider it is a big half mile track, takes a bit more effort to prepare one of those than your usual 1/4 mile track. Youre going to have dust. We tried, and trust me no one was happy about the dust. It was being talked about between the promoters

Re: USAC and Track Conditions
 

As one who attended all the ISW races and was generally there pretty early in the day, I will say that ALL the promoters were out watering the track and working on it on race day. Before hotlaps each night I venture onto the track with a screwdriver and probe the track to see how tightly it is packed and how deep it is watered.

I can state that some of the ISW tracks were well watered but so tightly packed that they blew off the top layer of moisture and became hard, smooth and, yes, dusty pretty quickly. Other tracks which were not compacted quite as tightly were less smooth but remained relatively dust free. If the track surface is too tightly packed it does not matter how much water you put on it or how often you rework it the cars will blow off the top layer and it will be just as dusty in a number of laps.

Throw in the type of clay/dirt characteristics that make up the track surface and the promoter will never be able to prepare a smooth, dust minimizing track on which to race.

As a competitor I absolutely hate when the promoter reworks the track during the event. I make a SWAG for the feature setup based upon what the track conditions were in the last event I raced. I then watch all the intervening events to see how and at what rate the track is changing. When a track is reworked most of that goes right out the window and the mechanic is left to guess about the feature setup.

Perhaps it was the direction the wind was blowing but I thought that Bloomington, Kokomo and Lawrenceburg had some of more dust free surfaces. I know they reworked the track right before the feature at Haubstadt but it was very dusty in the pit stands and visibility was not good. Kamp and Gas City both had their problems.

Personally I would like to see a race on a slightly rough, relatively dust free track than a bone smooth dust bowl. Mot importantly I would like to put on a good race so the paying customer has an enjoyable evening and gets their money’s worth!!

JMO

Rob Hoffman

Re: USAC and Track Conditions
 

Originally Posted by Racerrob:
As one who attended all the ISW races and was generally there pretty early in the day, I will say that ALL the promoters were out watering the track and working on it on race day. Before hotlaps each night I venture onto the track with a screwdriver and probe the track to see how tightly it is packed and how deep it is watered.

I can state that some of the ISW tracks were well watered but so tightly packed that they blew off the top layer of moisture and became hard, smooth and, yes, dusty pretty quickly. Other tracks which were not compacted quite as tightly were less smooth but remained relatively dust free. If the track surface is too tightly packed it does not matter how much water you put on it or how often you rework it the cars will blow off the top layer and it will be just as dusty in a number of laps.

Throw in the type of clay/dirt characteristics that make up the track surface and the promoter will never be able to prepare a smooth, dust minimizing track on which to race.

As a competitor I absolutely hate when the promoter reworks the track during the event. I make a SWAG for the feature setup based upon what the track conditions were in the last event I raced. I then watch all the intervening events to see how and at what rate the track is changing. When a track is reworked most of that goes right out the window and the mechanic is left to guess about the feature setup.

Perhaps it was the direction the wind was blowing but I thought that Bloomington, Kokomo and Lawrenceburg had some of more dust free surfaces. I know they reworked the track right before the feature at Haubstadt but it was very dusty in the pit stands and visibility was not good. Kamp and Gas City both had their problems.

Personally I would like to see a race on a slightly rough, relatively dust free track than a bone smooth dust bowl. Mot importantly I would like to put on a good race so the paying customer has an enjoyable evening and gets their money’s worth!!

JMO

Rob Hoffman

Nice post from someone in the know.

I can tell you that I appreciate all the people on that side of the catch fence making an effort to put on a good event for the people on this side of the catch fence. It doesn't always work out as planned, but that gives everybody someting to shoot for the next time.

Re: USAC and Track Conditions
 

Yea, what Rob Hoffman said, and now you know the rest of the story.:respect:

Re: USAC and Track Conditions
 

Maybe go back to the old days of digging up the track, Water the ***** out of it and let the sprint cars pack it and not the big wheeler tracks have now. Pack it too tight and water just stays on top until it turns to dust.
The less tightly packed the deeper the water can go.

Just a thought.
:dologob: