Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports...grade/4390679/




"Curry attended last month's Performance Racing Industry trade show at the Indiana Convention Center to gain tips on a variety of track operation issues. He said he has also talked to Stewart, whom he worked with at Team Menard in winning IndyCar's 1997 championship. Stewart, the owner of Eldora Speedway, has made numerous changes to that historic track in western Ohio.

"The goal is very simple," Curry said. "We want to clean the place up so people will want to see good short-track racing.

"It's a big challenge, but I'm intrigued by it."

Curry said it's his goal to bring midget racing back to the Speedrome. Curry's youngest son, Dane, raced there in USAC's regional midget series in the late 1990s."

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

This is awesome news! Let's get the old VWs back out that have been sitting! This is a chance for people that only run Ft. Wayne in the Winter to race all season long!

It's an interesting situation brewing, for sure.

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

Awesome! We ran the regional series there back in the late 90's and also run tq's there. Hopefully this will bring some of the old cars back out of hiding.

If any one knows the new owners or Mr Curry, please let me know some contact info. Id be happy to donate some of my time to get that place back the way I remember it

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

I'm excited to hear they are finally going to repave it! It has been the same pavement since I was a kid, other than when they did some grinding on it in the early 2000s, I believe. When was the last new pavement laid down on the 1/5 mile oval? Anyone know?

When the Stiles clan took over we repaved in '77 &'78 and then again about '88.

Cohens took over in '97 knowing it needed re-ground and re-paved.... It's got some nasty chuckholes now and only patches tossed around. In very bad shape.

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

Wonder if they will repave the track,infield, pit area, and outside parking lots too?

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

I would assume they would pave the infield as figure 8 racing is now a big part of the speedrome.

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

Repave. As a kid I remember when it was dirt. Am I showing my age?

If this really happens, it will be awesome! Pavement Midget racing needs to come back to life!

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

Following the indoor rules or trying to draw the older cars out of retirement would be great! Hard tires on that small track would make for some good racing.

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

tires were thge big exspense when we ran the regional series there. You really needed at least 6 new tires per night. Maybe a spec tire rule thats hard would help with that, although I don't know alot about the spec rules today.

It was a dirt track for part of one season in the '50's. It was a dusty, dirty track but always a paved track until Stiles finished paving the infield in'78.

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

The TQ's always put on a good show there.Along with the legend cars and midgets.It would be great to run there every other week with the midgets and tq's.I wonder how many would run there if given the chance.

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

Back to a Wed. or Thur. night deal. Around 15-18 shows for the season. Maybe bring back the Indy Midget 500?

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

(317) 353-8206
speedromeracing@comcast.net

A Wednesday or Thursday night deal isn't feasible for most midget teams nowadays.... it would be better to try and run on a Friday Saturday or Sunday night.

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

They have their Stock Car races on the weekends, so I doubt that will happen. Wed. or Thur. is still the best option. They will get cars!

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

I would love to see midget racing back at speedrome! I grew up going there for the Wednesday and Thursday night shows. I know we got a VW I would like to see back out!

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

I think that would be great, And we can run the VW!! Look forward to hearing more details as things unfold.:8::8:

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

Sunday afternoon. Pit gates open at 11am. Practice at 1230pm. Racing at 130. Guys from our of town could be home in time to not miss any work. Plus fans could catch Kokomo that night!

I think if there were at least 6 or 7 dates for the tqs plenty would show I know they've struggled on pavement the last few years but mostly due to the club fiasco and not being enough pavement races to make buying tires worth it. I personally would have my tq there at all the races, I like running some pavement as a change of pace. Plus my driver loves pavement

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

We've had great racing with low tire costs in the Illini Racing Series. The American Racer DOT legal dwarf car tires we run are good for many nights of pavement racing at less than $100 a tire. They are a set-up challenge because of the limited stagger options but it is the same problem for everyone.
I'll now sit back and take the abuse for promoting "skinny little tires" from people who can't afford to race their cars on pavement.
Watch some of our features on U-tube to see what racing looks like when the tires don't have to be babied.

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

I don't see a problem with allowing dirt tires, we ran them at the Dome, and at the Ft Wayne races, worked great, and almost everyone has them, so that leaves out that added cost! Bob

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

Coke syrup is different than regular pavement. You would burn off dirt tires quick on the new pavement at the Speedrome, so my as well find some good pavement tires. JMO.

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

We may do some pre-season testing of our IRS car at the Speedrome. If we do maybe the management will have a chance to see the AR dwarf car tires in action. Very durable tires on pavement or dirt. No noticable advantage to sticker tires. Consistant somewhat limited traction fro new until used up. Probably 3 nights use on a small track.

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

Don't recall Ted Hines ever running 6 new tires a night in the process of blowing everybody away for years... And on the high side usually! Teddy was amazing to watch there.

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

1000cc midgets with wings would also be cool at the Speedrome. With wings I can envision two or three wide racing there, and not the freight train type of race that we normally see on pavement tracks. The winged sprints sure did a lot to make racing interesting at the Big Salem track.

If you had ever watched Ted in a 1/4 midget you would know why he owned Kitley. Kitley is just like an overgrown Big "Z" 1/4 midget track.

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

1. The Speedrome was last paved when Arnold and St John ran the outlaw Corvettes. It was promoted as the same pavement mix as IMS. It was mixed with a slag from the Gary steel mills suppose to be very durable. I believe it was 1981. Early 80's anyway. 2. TQ pavemant racecs might prove to be difficult. UMRA runs pavement but draws a dozen cars at best. Midwest TQ Racing League promotes it self as a dirt only series. King of TQ racing series is more of a southern Indiana series and I'm not sure they run much pavement. Hopfully this may help in reuniting TQ's in Indiana.

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

Umra is more or less defunct according to few people. And the club split really killed car counts. I would love to see some tq's on the pavement again for sure. The mini sprints are awful boring to watch everywhere Ive seen them, seems like theres one fast car and they are strung out not much racing, not biased just calling it like I've seen it. We ran the regional series at the drome in 2000, it took AT LEAST 6 tires a night to make a decent run. Some guys changed everytime they went on the track. usually 4 stickers for qual and run them in the heat then 2 stickers for the right side in the feature. Run those 4 for practice the next week, then 4 new ones for qual. $800 a night for tires to win 350 killed it real quick!

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

I ran there in 2000 too, but never qualified. You could run on 3 new tires a night.

Any new news on this?

Their schedule is out and it doesn't show any midget races. What gives?

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

All the first post said is it's Larry Curry's goal to bring midget racing back to the Speedrome. Next thing you know everybody's speculating about what days he should run them, what the tire rules should be, adding TQ's and Mini Sprints to the schedule. Maybe he meant next year. Or maybe that's the part of the schedule that's "subject to change"...

Jim, you may be onto something! That was the reason for my post about allowing the use of dirt tires on midgets, it might get them there without having to lay out $600.00 for tires just to try it. Bob

I know the dwarf car tires were great back in the day and they held up very well. Very cost effective and they didn't "fall off fast" either.

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

You might find out a little more of their plans tomorrow night. Larry Curry(along with Dave Argabright) is a guest Tuesday at 7PM on Don Kay's show at McGilvery's 30th and High School in Speedway or at http://www.autosportradio.com/

Re: Midget racing returning to the Speedrome?
 

We ran there with USAC regional and National and Namars and never bought six tires a night, 2 stickers usually and always had to run the A main on the RR you started the night with . We ran pretty good and won a couple on 1 set of tires for the entire night. 3 stickers and a half a season old LF. I know the TQS guys were not putting stickers on everytime they went out on the track nor was any of the full midgets we were competing against.

Could just make a street tire rule...... :)