Any updates on terre haute?
 

Does anyone have any updates

Ktj wins

Re: Any updates on terre haute?
 

Kevin Thomas Jr. wins a thrilling race to close out the season at the Terre Haute Action Track! Prior to the final restart, he was catching leader Chase Stockon and when he threw a slider to take the lead, he drifted too high into turn 4. Not only was he countered by Stockon, he also lost second to Dave Darland. On the restart, Thomas would start third, right behind Stockon and Darland. After the green flew again, KT went back on the hunt, passed Darland for second and quickly reeled in the leader. This time, the slider for the lead would stick and he drove off for the victory. Darland would fall prey to the surging Chris Windom and race Hard Charger Brady Bacon. In the last third of the race, Thomas made some very bold moves to take positions. The kind when they're done at this track, make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

Jerry

Did they announce a 2 day WoO/Usac doubleheader next year?

Any dates announced?

Re: Any updates on terre haute?
 

October 12-13

Thanks Jerry!

Update was that I thoroughly enjoyed it. Enjoyed seeing gyatk and am sad the Midwest season is over. But great race.

Re: Any updates on terre haute?
 

Great race. Track was in great shape. If you didn't like that one, this might not be your sport.

Good to talk and enjoy the racing with you as well. That was some fantastic racing to close out the year, and I got the normal goosebumps from watching them hot lap and qualify from the infield, so it was a good night to end my season.

Couldn't have said it any better.

Re: Any updates on terre haute?
 

It was also nice to see a big crowd last night, after the bad luck they have had with the weather. Glad I didn't miss it

Sounds like you guys had a good show from what I read, wish I could have made it. A friend of mine on twitter described the track as perfect, while my former engine builder called it dusty and slick. Would like to hear some other opinions

Re: Any updates on terre haute?
 

Was able to make Eldora but sounds like I should have made the extra 150 miles where my heart was.

Re: Any updates on terre haute?
 

Ditto. Although seeing Chris Phillips, who I've never seen before rim ride like he's done it for years and Michael Fischesser coming form about 12th to second was excellent.

All three races were blow outs.

It was dusty...slick though? Maybe, but there was grip to be found. The bottom had potential but seemed easy to miss. Saw some huge runs off the bottom of 2 but most everyone moved up top. The moisture held up top and they kept widening it out all night. Huge sliders all night that guys were making stick. I thought it was a good track. They had it juiced up early. Qualifying in the 19s like it should be. Seemed to hold up pretty well throughout the night. I've never driven anything so I'm no expert. All I know is the racing was excellent to watch.

Don't need a perfect track for great racing, and it doesn't happen much anymore, but when you get both, what a treat!

Did they announce next years schedule? I thought I heard something about it but I didn’t catch all of it.

Something about the 12th and 13th of October. One night for WoO and I lost the second part of the announcement. Hard to hear where I was standing.

I thought the track was good except the front stretch was extremely dusty. I could hardly see the cars until about half way point. There's an obvious problem with the dirt that I'm sure Track Enterprises is aware of. They put in extra work in that area but to no avail. It will take an excavation job to fix it but we can hope they will by next year. For those that were not around from 1994-98 when Bill Hopton first put in lights, you missed the Action Track at its finest...NO DUST!! That being said, it's not TE's fault that Gerry Olsen brought in the powder dirt in '99 but maybe they'll be the ones to get rid of it. If I were them I'd be pretty frustrated with it by now and would want something better to work with. Oh well, a great crowd, good car count and a great race made for a happy night and I'm looking forward to my next race there!

Re: Any updates on terre haute?
 

Weren't the lights installed in 1992?

Re: Any updates on terre haute?
 

I have only been going to Terre Haute since 1981. Front stretch has always been the place with the most dust, unless water was standing on the inside and it was really narrow. I had no complaints with last night. Thought it was real good.

Re: Any updates on terre haute?
 

I noticed they were spreading calcium chloride on the track throughout the night to try and keep moisture in it. Do any other tracks do that?

Re: Any updates on terre haute?
 

That used to be commonplace, especially on the miles, but I thought it was outlawed.

All i know is it took me 5 attempts to finally see green flag racing and it was every bit as good as advertised. Absolutely loved it.

Re: Any updates on terre haute?
 

That's what it looked like to me but that was just my guess. Little white balls but I guess it could've been something else. I overheard Schrader talking to one of the track prep guys giving him props on a good surface. The guy replied, "Well they told me they wanted it wet so that's what i'll give em'". Almost sounded like maybe he personally thought it was going to be too wet but I think it turned out well. Maybe not as juiced as it was to start out the night at the sprint week rainout but it was good. Hopefully this is what we can expect going forward at THAT!

I might be mistaken but I believe applications of CaCl2 is outlawed over here in The Land O' Lincoln and crooked politicians. However the State of Illinois can dump it on the roads in copious amounts without any restrictions at all. The deleterious effects can be seen on roads and bridges all over the state, not to mention vehicles falling apart from rust way before their time.

I have never seen a fertilizer spreader spreading a wetting agent on a racetrack. If it wasn't CaCl2 I hope whatever it was is used again at THAT. The track Saturday night was just about as good as can be expected from THAT.

Re: Any updates on terre haute?
 

I thought it was illegal here too. We were guessing that it might have been soap powder

Re: Any updates on terre haute?
 

A guy that was sitting where Kenny (ISF) and I were said one of the track people told him it was lime they were spreading. Per wiki:

"The broadly used term lime connotes calcium-containing inorganic materials, in which carbonates, oxides and hydroxides of calcium, silicon, magnesium, aluminium, and iron predominate."

Whether that's what it actually was or whether it had any effect, either positive or negative on the great racing we saw on this night, I haven't a clue.

Jerry

Calcium chloride is hygroscopic which means it has the ability to draw moisture from the air. So, if it were used I suppose it could aid somewhat in keeping the track surface moist. I have no idea if it is illegal to apply to race tracks or why it would be since it is applied to roads and sold routinely in bags to melt ice on sidewalks (as it mixes with water an endothermic reaction occurs which means heat is generated and that also helps melt the ice).

The most intelligent reply I've seen yet,Thanks.

Re: Any updates on terre haute?
 

There is one video on youtube. Think it might have been the CRA/USAC showdown in the 90s? That shows them dumping bags of powder onto the track in a daytime race at Terre Haute. Not sure what it was but they were dumping it straight from the bags.

Staab always swore Mel Johnson at the Burg would dump detergent in the water truck and it would keep the track tacky but greasy back in the 80s. Said it was never the same twice. But you could go out after a whole night of racing and it would still suck your shoe off and you could see where the clay just kept rolling every time a car leaned into it. Usually with a 2ft curb at the top.
Of course the track sat in 4ft of water all winter and the water table was only a couple ft below the track at most times of the year.

I just wish the guy was not standing on the tongue of the spreader. That had a fatal accident written all over it.


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According to Track Enterprises the material put on the track was "Just a positive mixture of a few things to attempt to keep a little more moisture in the track."

Re: Any updates on terre haute?
 

I like it! Mum's the word :D:D:D

Was a great race. It was my first time to Terre Haute, absolutely loved the track, now just have to get to kokomo next year and I'll have all the dirt tracks in Indiana visited. As for the last race, got one left this Sat night at tri state, should be a great show.

Very little dust, multiple lanes, throwing sliders one after another, was a great race.

You just may have left the best for last!

After talking to my friend, he said he may have gotten spoiled from great racing and a great track at FALS the week prior. Also said his shoes still haven't dried out from walking through the pits there. Sounds like a great race, how the action track should be. When it's right, it's among the best and certainly one of the most historic.