Lightning Sprints on Asphalt
 

Who would be interested in trying Lightning Sprints on asphalt?
Used tires could be obtained very reasonable.
Maybe 1-2 races a year, non points..

And go....

Re: Lightning Sprints on Asphalt
 

If you do something to keep people from building pavement specials (no 2-wheel front brakes, for example)....

Re: Lightning Sprints on Asphalt
 

The only thing we should be able have change is the rf hub and shocks and springs. No RF brakes. Two words: Anderson Speedway.

Sounds good. It would be fun for sure.

Alum RF direct mount hubs would be fine. Sander. Magnesium hubs should be carefully inspected though.

Scott would our wheels work with the pavement tires?

Typically a midget runs 8 wide fronts 8 wide lr and 10 rr. I believe Kenyon cars run 8 inch fronts and 10 inch left and rr. Wheels shouldn't be too big of a deal

I strongly suggest 2 front brakes and rotors and no alum rotors

Re: Lightning Sprints on Asphalt
 

Until 3 years ago the RMMSA raced them in Colorado on asphalt at Colorado National Speedway (3/8)and I25 speedway in Pueblo , CO (1/4 mile). These were upright 600cc non wing cars (many of which now are 1000cc winged and non winged cars). The racing was fantastic. You will need front brake on both sides and yes your wheels will work on asphalt.

Re: Lightning Sprints on Asphalt
 

The Speedrome and Sportsdrome would be a nice size track to give this a try at. Speedrome used to have lots of Kenyon cars racing with the midgets there.

Re: Lightning Sprints on Asphalt
 

Wing Lightning Sprints at Anderson Speedway would be fast.

This would be great to put together jut need tracks to help promote. Anderson would be great track and would be fast. What about shady bowl?

There were talks of around Shadybowl about having lightning sprints put on an exhibition race, but never heard anything else about. I want to say it was supposed to be September 6th last year

Baer field is making a comeback I heard maybe that's another venue that could be looked at? If shady bowl wants a exhibition then I hope they advertise it alittle more to reach the guys that are strongly interested in run on pavement.

Re: Lightning Sprints on Asphalt
 

I understand 2 front brakes work better on asphalt and that's a good point about aluminum; I was just thinking from a cost standpoint for something that would be used maybe twice a year, possibly even once or twice, and then shelved.

Re: Lightning Sprints on Asphalt
 

Now granted this is coming from go karting, but I figure the same principles apply. In going from dirt to pavement, a brake upgrade is not really an option, it's a requirement. The brake setup you run on dirt will be no where near sufficient to stop you effectively on pavement. I tried to take a brake set up perfectly sufficient for a dirt race (the MPD mini lite rotor and caliper setup) and run it in a street race. Needless to say, I was not able to keep up with the rest of the field in any way shape or form, they could drive far deeper into the corner before braking. Then when I tried to follow suit, I ended up plowing into the barriers because my brakes just couldn't stop me. When racing on dirt, you tend to skimp a little on brake performance because you're limited on traction at the rear and LF tires, so a lighter brake setup isn't an issue because it will be able to slide the tires on dirt, however pavement has a lot higher friction co-efficient and the same brakes that were able to lock up the tires on dirt will be just sliding near uselessly at a pavement race. Then it not only becomes a performance issue, but a safety one as well.

Rules and enforcement.they tried the 600 sidewinders a few years ago. A couple special built cars can kill the series

Not interested in running on pavement. Just my opinion...but you asked. :)

Wing or non wing?

If something comes of this, I sure hope it's non wing.

Re: Lightning Sprints on Asphalt
 

If a group was serious about racing on pavement, and had close to 100% feed back from it's regular competitors they could depend on 30% of them showing up to race if they were lucky. Remember the "Rumble" we had more members in the stands watching us than we had on the race track. We sure tanked the chance of ever going back to Fort Wayne?

The group should not depend for the turn out of one race to make their argument for them. It would be prudent to contact the guys in Illinois who have been racing on both surfaces for 30+ years with similar cars about tires and regulations to keep racing competitive. This would make a more racer friendly tire deal for the racers both in cost and endurance. Their next step would be to contact the guys up at the Speedrome in Indianapolis and try to work out a 3 or 4 race series. Indy is pretty central to most racers and would help reduce travel expenses.

Pavement racing is a bit more expensive but it would also be a big change of pace. Driving a car on pavement is an entirely difference experience from racing on dirt although many dirt drivers do try to race pavement the same way they race dirt.:)

I think finding sufficient number of good used pavement tires less than 2 years old to outfit an entire field of racers could be pretty difficult;).

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

One thing I miss in the tqs is running both, it's fun to change it up every once in awhile

We race a ton of indoor races in winter .. they are purpose built 600 and races on hard surfaces such as pavement or concrete is wayyyy different then dirt. You can't take a dirt car and safely throw it on pavement and go at it. You better have someone coaching and setting the car up cuz it's wayyyyy different! Indoor racing on concrete is a little different also but I'll challenge anyone to set down in a 600 sidewinDer at ft wayne and tell me it's easy ! It's by far way harder than anything you will ever do . It's also way faster than it looks... if you touch anything other than bumper to bumper your going for a ride and it wont be soft.. but that all being said it is super super fun and challenging.. just saying if it happens everyone better be on there game and have all the rite tools!

I agree it's way different but I'm pretty sure you can very easily make a dirt car run on pavement. The USAC ignite guys do it all the time.

Didn't mean u couldn't but if you take ur car stright from the dirt track and throw it on pavement. Your in trouble! What I meant was your going to have to change some stuff as far as big adjustments! Same chassis yes. Great idea Andy I like it a lot

Re: Lightning Sprints on Asphalt
 

probably one of the biggest problems we faced at Fort Wayne was tires. They assumed because the sidewinders could run on dirt tires that the Midget chassis cars could also. There is a big difference between these two types of cars and tire design. Our center of gravity is much higher than a sidewinder and combine that with very tall, very wide and very soft dirt tires we just got way too much side bite.

Dirt cars work fine on pavement, however the racer that spends the most on converting his car to pavement has the best advantage. Back before the purpose built pavement cars John Godfrey actually sold a pavement conversion for his dirt Midgets. However the special pavement chassis combined with a pavement built motor was just to fast for a combi car. They also became way too expensive for most racers and thus the death of USAC pavement racing.

Their are good ideas out there to make both pavement and dirt racing just a little more affordable and competitive. Check out the guys over in Illinois.

As far as wings on pavement>>> Midgets before you make a judgment go watch the Winged pavement Sprints race at Salem, these guys do fantastic things on that old race track. They have taken a single groove freight train type race track and turned it into a three wide balls to the wall race track.

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Whats a lightning sprint?

We used dirt tires at ft wayne and the old rca dome on the tqs but they were very tight. At tracks such as mt lawn speedrome Anderson we used pavement tires just fine. They lasted decent a rr new was good but not totally necessary not unlike dirt. When we ran a full midget at the speedrome new right sides were pretty mandatory each time to be fast.

Re: Lightning Sprints on Asphalt
 

t

Lightning Sprint is an attempt by some racers to place a name on a Midget Chassis race car powered by a late model (usually 1000cc-1200cc) motorcycle motor that incorporates a motor cycle chain as it's drive system. It may race either with or with/out a wing.

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Re: Lightning Sprints on Asphalt
 

at ft wayne we lowered the car and ran left rear tires on both sides on the rear to lower the car even more sometimes we will even run a front tire on the left rear to get the stagger there useally plenty of grip so your real wide tires are not always nessacary:22:

Re: Lightning Sprints on Asphalt
 

by the way I was talking about the 600 class