Hartford WOO Friday
 

Been quite a while since I've been at Hartford as strictly a spectator, but am doing so Friday. Seems I remember folks sitting in lawn chairs on the cement terraces. On the website it doesn't say anything about lawn chairs. I'm sure Stevensville Mike or one of you other Hartford regulars could clue me in. Looking forward to seeing what the new configuration looks and races like. I always liked the big track when the big touring series came in, not so much for local shows. Still hate to lose another big track, especially without my dream of seeing the silver crown cars run there. That would have been a heck of a show.

Re: Hartford WOO Friday
 

When I have been there this year, lawn chairs are allowed up top but not anywhere else. If you sit in the grandstand, you sit on the concrete. Lots of people just stand at the top of the grandstand behind the lawn chairs.

No food is allowed to be brought in and for the WoO show, no beer. They will be selling it. On other nights, beer is welcome. I imagine one could bring in a cooler this Friday, but with pop/water only.

Hartford also allows all to enter the pits pre-race. They clear them out about a half hour before engine heat unless you have a wristband. I am assuming they are doing this for this Friday, too.

I think you will like the new layout. I, on the other hand, although liking it, will be working and unable to attend.

Weather looks good. :)

Unfortunately, they don't offer the free pits for the WoO race. Also, it's worth noting th top 5 rows are reserved seating for WoO.

As Mike said the weather looks great and should be a good night. The new configuration seems to be fast for a 3/8. Also, it is very wide so I think could be very competitive for the WoO if it is prepped right.

Re: Hartford WOO Friday
 

Have to agree in part.. the 3/8th is a very nice layout and very racy..It just to bad they had to kill the last big 1/2 mile in the state..Very sad.

Re: Hartford WOO Friday
 

Spot on.

I was there opening night this year. No sprints. Stocks, Mods, and Late Models. The preferred line was actually moving up all night long in the new Turns 3 & 4, which are a tad flatter than the east end of the circuit.

Then, by feature time, 3 & 4 was like MIS used to be - upstairs, downstairs, the middle..... it was cool.

Sorry that your work gets in the way, I was looking forward to saying hi. But I certainly can feel your pain. Thanks to all for the input, it's appreciated

Re: Hartford WOO Friday
 

Thanks for the "condolences". Despite being an avid fan, and a regular reader/contributor on IOW, I must attend to me "day job" when the requirement arises.

There will be more days, and more races. I'll catch up with you guys on the other side of the checkers down the road.

Happy racing Friday Night! :8:

Re: Hartford WOO Friday
 

Now that it is Saturday, and the race is over, how was the track? "Yay" or "Nay" on the new, shorter configuration?

That and the race itself?

The race was decent, what I could see of it. Still blowing dirt out of my nose. I know they were fighting sun and wind, but it was bad. For 37 bucks, I'll stay home next time. I am not blaming the track, the outlaws make the calls on prep I'm sure. As far as the track itself, I miss the old one

Re: Hartford WOO Friday
 

Gonna try and stay positive. Love seeing the Outlaws close to home. Huge crowd. The sprint car feature was pretty good (most of them are). It's hard to look at the shorter track and believe that this is Hartford after looking at the Big Wicked 1/2 mile for over 40 years (yeah I'm that old). Really love seeing old friends and watching the pro's race. The stock car division was ok, looks to me like there are more local guys racing there now that it's smaller. :22:

I really like going to races where there are less divisions and fewer cars (yeah). last night they had 27 sprints and about 20 stock cars. 47 cars in the pits and guess what, we weren't there all night. checkered flag at 10:59pm. Attn; promoters. I honestly think less cars pull more fans.

Rich M

Re: Hartford WOO Friday
 

From a photographer's standpoint, it seemed just like the old Hartford to me.

Re: Hartford WOO Friday
 

I disagree. If racers don't want to be there, why should the fans?

Re: Hartford WOO Friday
 

There IS some logic in those words.

Sounds like a decent show with a little more dust than required.

Got the day/night off from work tonight for they can "spare" me without having to shut the joint down. :D Headed for the Kokomo Klash I am!

Gotta love vacation days.

Re: Hartford WOO Friday
 

I believe he wasn't referring to the racers not wanting to be there but the tracks not having a bunch of filler divisions. I'd much rather go to a track with a few divisions then one with a bunch of vehicles I could care less about.

Re: Hartford WOO Friday
 

It's quality vs quantity. Kings Royal isn't a perfect example because it has a long history, but they quit running 360's and the crowd was HUGE this year. Only 53 cars in the pits and one heck of an event. The fewer cars lets the show take on different forms like, extra time for track prep, cars on the grid, driver introductions, fans in the pits before midnight. The last thing a good sprint car race needs is too many spinning modifieds.:32:

Rich M

Re: Hartford WOO Friday
 

I guess I'm greedy, but I like quality AND quantity. I was reading Guy Smith's column in Area Auto Racing about North Dakota modified week (yes there really is such a thing). Six tracks in six nights drew from a low of 66 to a high of 100 modifieds a night. However, under IMCA, they use a one and done caution rule. If you cause a caution in your heat, better luck in the consi. If you spin once then, we'll see you tomorrow. According to Guy, the racing was fast, competitive and clean and judging from the crowds and car counts, the rule works well.

Re: Hartford WOO Friday
 

A rule I wish many tracks would take in (i.e. Butler).

A few years ago Plymouth Speedway had a USAC National Midget race with wingless sprints as a support division. 20-ish midgets and 13-ish sprints. The racing was very good, i remember leaving there and thinking if they had these 2 divisions here every Friday night i would be there every time.

Rich M