Du Quoin
 

There will be a Lightning Mini Sprints Showdown at the center at Du Quoin on February 14th, 15th, and 16th. for more information go to www.stevenaceracing.com All Mini Sprints please help by supporting this event.

Re: Du Quoin
 

Little Spike

We are sure going to try to make DuQuion if the weather, job, and health hold out. For those racers that have not had the chance to race on the "Mini Magic Mile" you are missing a real experience. Just a little smaller than Tulsa, this indoor track is made with some top notch clay, I think they say it is the same clay that is used on the big track. This track is perfect for Mini Sprints, small enough that they are racing at maximum potential and wide enough so that they can do some serious 2 and 3 wide racing when the opportunity allows. The people that take care of the track have always done an excellent job in the past, keeping it smooth and racey.

Having raced with the "Illinois Lightning Sprint Series" before I know that the race will be run both fair and without hitches. They have some good sponsors helping to support this race and a purse that is SUPER.

With the support of the "Mini-Lightning Sprint" racers out there this IDEA has the possibility of becoming the Chili Bowl for the 1000cc cars. This could be the make or break chance for us to get the show on the road.

I spent my summers as a kid growing up with my Grand parents in McLeansboro Illinois, just up the road from DuQuion. My Grand Pa ran what we kids called an "Oil Well Farm" up in the Knobs out side of Walpole Illinois. He managed a dozen oil wells for some oil company and we thought it was neat getting to play around all those big old pumps. Back in the 50's Southern Illinois was King in Oil production before the United States decided to start buying from the middle east and capping most of the wells in Illinois. Sounds kinda of familiar doesn't it kinda of like Tulsa.

May be we need to look into the "Golden Oil Well" award for an Illinois race.

For you guys building new cars for this year, I am sure they will let you run "a la naturale". Try it we did and love it, heck you might like it also. You never know until you try it.:8::6::6:




Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Re: Du Quoin
 

Went there one time a few years back. Are they still pitting outside like back then? I know a few got to get inside but 80% were outside in the spitting snow and 35 degrees after the sun went down. Rumor has it there is an enclosed structure outside they can put a few cars in???? Anyone have any knowledge of the pit situation?

Re: Du Quoin
 

On the pre-entry form there's a line for reserving a pit stall at 30 bucks and a comment *limited availability*. maybe the best bet is to call the promoter:
Steve Nace Racing Promotions
PO Box 9111, Paducah, KY 42002
(270)442-7532

Re: Du Quoin
 

You're correct Phil, just outside the door they have a pretty long quonset hut that can pit a lot of cars inside of it.

Re: Du Quoin
 

How about this guys?


Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Re: Du Quoin
 

I like the rules, or lack thereof. Nice and simple.
Dad, you cut the payout off too soon, 17th (and 18th) pay $100, not a ten-spot; that would be a pretty severe dropoff from 16th...:D

Re: Du Quoin
 

JIM

Are you going to try to make it to the DuQuoin race? We probably are going to make it but may be a little short in the crew department. All help appreciated. I fell down the other day and tour my rotatoe cuff, make typing a real challenge. That was't so bad when they checked me out for the operation they decided that my lifetime guaranteed heart had a dead miss in it. Went and did the Dyno work on the tred mill thing today and they decided that since one arm wouldn't work to hold me on the tread mill they would have to give me a chemically induced dyno test, after doing that thing twice then they wanted to do an ultrasound to see if it was a boy or a girl, I kinda of feel for the ladies now that stuff is cold. So it is kinda of up in the air I will be a show or not.

Sure seems funny to me that the biggest race in min sprint history is getting ready to be run and nobody is talking about it. They seemto be more concerned about who sells the best used already been tested motors and swearing they found the best deal.

From what I can tell there will be indoor pits although heated with salamanders. I know that when we went a couple of years ago Jerry "T" got us a deal at the I think Holiday Inn across the street from the arena, but haven't heard anything about that either.

Does anybody know anything?

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Re: Du Quoin
 

Dad
Sorry to hear about your misfortune; I feel for ya 'cause I sprained my shoulder last fall wrestling my new bladder into the tail tank.
I'm probably not going to make it to DuQuoin this year. The car's still not quite ready and my uninsulated, detached garage isn't much warmer than the -3 reading on my outside thermometer right now. I've decided to focus my energy on Montpelier this year, with an eye to branching out a little later in the season or next year (IMRA, possibly DuQuoin next year, the Shootout if some unknown rich relative leaves me a small fortune).
Besides, I kinda shot my early-season budget going to the Chili Bowl; I may try to get out there to spectate, but it won't be for all 3 days. Gotta work Friday.

Re: Du Quoin
 

jim

Nah:: the Chli Bowl was money well spent. It's a shame gasoline is so expensive, sure does make all of us think about conserving an inflating dollar bill. When a nickel candy bar cost a Buck Quarter make me thnk we are in trouble.

Did I say I put out 1/5 FFHP (Flat Foot Horsepower Power) on the dyno. Of course that was estimated as I didn't have to actually turn them rotors. They said I was knda of down on my SPM's Steps per minute. Going to have to work on that. I jumped on the doctor , I wanted to know why they never caught anybdy with a 25% blockage looked to me like they always waited for 75% to 90% before they noticed anything. These results should be interesting.

Guess I got to go out and find some heart problem website and chime in also.

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Re: Du Quoin
 

Oh, I didn't say it was a waste; I loved every second of it. this year it was just more of a choice between spending it getting to witness the CB for the first time or going to DuQuoin. I decided that I'd rather experience my sorting-out issues at Montpelier first, then possibly next year giving DQ a try, with a little more confidence in both my equipment and myself...

Re: Du Quoin
 

sure would have been nice to know this race was going to happen 3 or 4 months ago.

Re: Du Quoin
 

Spike
We are going to try calling on the hour every hour today and if nothing else mess up their answering machine. All of the info is on their web site. Cost of entry and pit rental and pay out on another page. But no verbal on anything maybe need to call Roger and see what is going on on his side.

The year we went we were inside the arena, they had no heat what so-ever. In fact they kept both big doors open to vent the place. Cold Cold Cold. Outside they had portable tents set up with salamanders them guys stayed pretty warm.

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Re: Du Quoin
 

If asked what I am doing. Like the little boy in a TV commercial 50 years ago said.

"I'm Advertising Gwendoline":)

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Re: Du Quoin
 

I just got off the phone with Steve Nace. He said the DuQuoin Mini Sprint race is a sure thing. He is promoting it by himself with the help of several groups. He said he was down in Florida getting ready for Bike Week.

If we support this thing it has the chance of being a great thing for the Min- Sprint Racers. To my knowledge this will be the largest purse ever run for by the Mini Sprints.

He also said he was thinking about having a dirt race on up in Indy if he sees the potential is there. I guess we need to show him we have potential.

I also found out why he did not return my phone calls. Since he is on the road he keeps his phone set to private, and apparently "NOT ME" had set my business phone so that it would reject private numbers. I fired "NOT ME" a long time ago.

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Re: Du Quoin
 

We are hoping for a real good turn out, and may get more indoor racing. We have to support this race, it has a real good pay out to win. So come and join us for the DuQuoin race in Il. on Feb 14th, 15th. and 16th. go to www.stevenaceracing.com for more information.

Re: Du Quoin
 

We just about got the car back together, got our entry fee sent in and hotel reserved. It's a little over a 200 mile drive for us to Du Quoin, a lot closer than a lot of racers out there. I was wondering if any of the Ohio racers would be interested in sharing a trailer for the last part of their trip. We live about a mile off of I-64 and it would be easy to switch over for the last half of your trip. It would be a saving of 400 miles from your trip.

I was also wondering if any of the Missouri racers were going? It sounds like a good run for Quantrill's Raiders to ride over and take some of that northern money back home with them. Since talking with Steve the other day about the race I am positive it should be one heck of a deal for the Mini-Lightning Sprint racers. Du Quoin is much more central to the majority of racers out there than Tulsa. It's rules are such that any one should be able to race with them. As the winner of the Shootout proved on small indoor tracks Meg Horsepower isn't going to help much, but mega driving and set up will. It sounds like a great time to meet people we have only met on IOW and never in person. With a three day show there should be plenty of time for bull Sessions ect.

This could develop into our own Little Chili Bowl. People have been talking about a race like this for years, and what it would take to get all of us together in one place.>>>>> This is a good time to start gang.>>>>> I plan to bring one of my cut away Kawasaki motors that has been set up for an easy inspection after the race. It has inspection plugs and a cam checking device for those of you interested. You can also see inside the combustion chamber and see just why I keep on saying there just ain't too much room left in there for improvement in the power department.

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Re: Du Quoin
 

Attention just 5 days left till the indoor race at Du Quoin IL. fairgrounds. All Lightning Mini Sprints less support this race that Steve Nace is putting on. If we have a good turn out he may get some more in door racing. Hope all can make it and looking forward to seeing you all there.

Re: Du Quoin
 

Spike

You got over 3200 hits and only 17 responses? That's pretty good I would say. Every body reading and nobody responding.

Does any body out there got a starting gear for Du Quoin. We lost ours and can't remember what we run. Looks like we will be late because of work commitments and will have to take our practice laps during the heat race.

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Re: Du Quoin
 

Track has been changed since we were last there...turns are wider..new game for everyone

What kind of car count would you guess for the different class's?

Re: Du Quoin
 

These are approx. numbers. Lighting Sprints 18. Non Wing Micros 26. Winged Micros 18. Restricted 9. Jr. Sprints 12. Mod Lites 11. These are Pre entries ONLY. I would expect at least another 30 - 40 post entries.

Steve Nace

Re: Du Quoin
 

Run tqs next year. I bet you'd get 30.

Re: Du Quoin
 

Just as I suspected...the "Big Show" is going to be outnumbered by both classes of micro sprints...they should have been the "Big Show" this weekend, the racing will be much better in the 600s...JMO

Re: Du Quoin
 

Wish I had my car ready, just to help prove K-Dawg wrong.
People who run offset motors have unbalanced opinions...JMO:D

Re: Du Quoin
 

k

You never know till you try one. It seems to make a much better race when you don't spend all your time restarting the race because somebody spun out. Mini Sprints drive and work a lot more like a real race car instead of an overpowered go-kart.

The sidewinders have made a great improvement in the last couple of years as far as handling goes (longer wheel base), but if you ever get a chance try out one of the bigger cars, do it, who knows you might like it. There is a difference.

With the big improvement in weather 40+ degrees for this weekend the car count has a good chance to grow a little.

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Re: Du Quoin
 

I sure wish a show that could be ran in 1 or 2 days wasn't going to be stretched into 3... Regardless of that it looks like the outdoor races in the area are going to be cancelled this weekend, so I'm looking forward to atleast getting to see Saturday and possibly Friday. Ought to be a good show.

Re: Du Quoin
 

Tenn

They changed it to a Saturday Race (see Steve Nace post) down the page.

Honest Dad himself:6:

Re: Du Quoin
 

That's a given when there is around 100 micros and only maybe 2 lighting sprints within a 50 mile radius of Du Quoin. But I agree that the micros will put on great racing on that track, they fit on it better.

Re: Du Quoin
 

Ricky

I'll go along with that.

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Wow, guess I totally missed that post lol thanks for the heads up! Is it still $15 general admission now or will it be more?

Re: Du Quoin
 

Copperhead

You Going?

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Re: Du Quoin
 

Still $15 General admission

Re: Du Quoin
 

man i wish i had known about this earlier, my chassis is out getting powder coated and this is the first time i been on here in about 2 weeks, last i heard it was cancelled due to snow didnt know they were making it up!.... would have talked to our NY guys and got something together

Re: Du Quoin
 

I guess I'm one of the two within the 50 mile radius. Since I'm just now working on the ignition system for mine maybe I'll join the fun next year. At least I'll come Saturday an cheer on my fellow Lightning Sprint racers.

Re: Du Quoin
 

www.stevenaceracing.com for information.

Re: Du Quoin
 

Well, I looked forward to it all winter, until I found out what date it was. It just happens to be the only weekend out of the year that I have something booked. Soo, if it could be ANY other weekend besides Valentine's weekend next year, that would be awesome! Oh, and it's not because my gal won't let me go race on Valentine's either. We've been ticket holders to the championship tractor pull in Louisville since the dawn of time and it's the same weekend every year. So, ya'll don't have too much fun without me :6:

Re: Du Quoin
 

COPERHEAD

Don't forget your respirator. 25 or 30 years ago you left that place pitch black at the end of the night and we bet on how many ceiling tiles would get blown down.. I guess they have improved the ventilation quite a bit but the EPA guy would still have a ball at that place. Still sounds like a lame excuse to miss a race. You never herd of scalping. Bet old Bob B. would like them tickets.

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Re: Du Quoin
 

I'm 25, and I was there sucking in the smoke when I was about 2-3 years old! I think I missed one other year, but either way, I've been there about 22-23 of 25 years. They've made a lot of improvements to the smoke tube. It's killing me to miss DuQuoin, but it's a tradition. Steve, keep these events coming, and the #03 machine will be there.

Re: Du Quoin
 

We will have alcohol available at the races this weekend. However If you have it available bring it with you as we were only able to get a couple of drums.

Steve