what has happened to eldora tr
 

Once the fast half mile has become the half throttle race track . what has changed to the track? No water dry slick in hot laps horrible . I guess maybe good for those napcar trucks but sucks for sprint cars

Is that how it's been the last few times you run there? Haven't been for awhile.

Re: what has happened to eldora tr
 

fast track for that woo-usac double.

Re: what has happened to eldora tr
 

Faster than what? The tracks a second slower than it used to be and while I seen cars in the past make a low line work. I never seen catfishin dominating. The Bobby Allen line was about half track with bottom of two and four exits. Watched him win a Eldora Anniversary by running there and half way through the race started picking off two a lap.

Its not the same. It isn't terrible but it isn't the eldora I fell in love with. Dogging each other on the cushion with monster sliders. In some ways its better, In others its not. YOU CANT see cars running the bottom due to haulers.

Im not sure just how much. But they've taken several degrees of banking out of it by raising the bottom of the turns.

In my opinion the middle 80s to the middle 90s were amongst the best Eldora tracks. Seen several features were guys coming outta turn 4 would go across the concrete apron way down low....while others were on the wall. The CRA/USAC shows were always awesome. Even WoO & ASCoC shows were good back then there.
Back when Earl had the "frosty 40s" then later the "frosty 30s" in October....those were the good years. Of coarse everything changes a bunch including tire technologies, which I'm sure effects the track.
I'd always heard the John Bankston crash at the HBO really effected Earl a bunch...consequently not prepping the track to be so fast? Not sure if that's accurate or not? Even still Eldora is amongst one of my all time favorite tracks. Yes it has changed though....but a lot of things have. The positive of it is we still got a guy who wants to continue running it, and is trying.

The racing has been great for the late models when I've been. I agree they could use dirt that holds moisture a little better. But they have the banking where the bottom is competitive with the top

Re: what has happened to eldora tr
 

I was at the USAC WoO show on Friday. The track was OK, but I noticed the winged cars never got near the top. I think the cars are so locked down now that the bottom is faster. If 2 cars are both not lifting the one who takes the shortest way will be faster. I didn't think the track was that bad. Dusty,but least it didn't take rubber.

Re: what has happened to eldora tr
 

It use to be great in the early 80's. Watching Bobby Allen, Lee Osborn, Randy Ford battle each other on the bottom.

I remember Gary Lynch from Washington State ( or somewhere out west) Beat Jimmy Sills in the last Eldora Nationals in 1984. Gary hugged the bottom and Jimmy ran the high side. They swapped the lead to many times to count. Great racing then.

I think it would get better if they would put "home of the sprint" back on the front straight wall!

It has been really good for the Dream and World 100 the last few years. A lot of charges from the back in the features

Also, even if it's an average race, there is just a magical feeling at Eldora imo

After earl left the track it is a 50/50 chance of getting to see a great show and great racing but it is the house that he built and we will be all proudly say that I glad that I got to see a racing events at Eldora good bad our dirty. Go earl baltus and berneice for making many dreams for racing teams and racing family. Thanks

The track hadn't been awesome since they cut the backing down back in 07' or so & brought in field dirt (That was a disaster). Last year it was getting better after a few years of adding compost to it. I believe they added some more dirt this past fall. So hopefully as the year goes on or next year, Roger Shlack can get the track surface back racing on the wall for the sprint cars..

Re: what has happened to eldora tr
 

I swore off Eldora after the great dust out From what I hear and see I'm not missing much but a lot of dust :7:

The late model races from the last few years have been nothing short of amazing. Same with the mods at the ump nationals. Last years world 100 had Scott bloomquist go to the tail (around 30th) on lap 20 something for a rules infraction. He drove through the field and won by literally half a lap.
It sounds like they need to prep it different for the sprints, but what they are doing is working for everything else.

Re: what has happened to eldora tr
 

Wow I said the same thing about the Big E on this here board along with some other things & just got the snot beat out of me.

The only reason it was fast for the Saturday show for WOO/USAC is a late rain came through & it still got dustier than ever for the WOO feature.

Re: what has happened to eldora tr
 

It's the same at all tracks in this part of the country. The late model and mod crowd (as well as winged cars more and wore) spend a fortune on technology and building as light of car as possible and they crucify any promoter who puts out a track that doesn't give them maximum bang for the dollar they spend on that technology or has anything bigger than a sheepsfoot hole in it. Around here you are lucky if you can make it to hot laps before the track takes rubber. Half throttle in a non wing 360 will buzz the tires most nights

Re: what has happened to eldora tr
 

Eldora used to be a high speed parade where you got your thrills from how fast they were going. The actual racing there has improved dramatically on the whole the last few years.

I went to Eldora for the first time in 75 or 6. It was breathtaking. If the old cliche, "don't fix it if it ain't broke" doesn't apply to this to this track, then it applies to nothing. Imo, the late 70s and 80s were the best there. They should never have screwed with the banking. That said, I still love the place and always will.

Problem is no more Earl Baltes track prep. RIP

Dw and his cohorts said the banking was cut to accommodate the trucks...

Re: what has happened to eldora tr
 

I remember seeing a WOO show down there that saw Stevie Smith leading. & I know Swindell, Haud & someone else stuck their nose in there But Dave Blaney was the 1 that passed him for the lead & win because Stevie took the wrong line coming up on a lapped car. Probably top 3 race of all time in my book.

The last Eldora Nationals was at least 85' because I have the T-Shirt.

Re: what has happened to eldora tr
 

JT me too just wish it would still fit ;)

Re: what has happened to eldora tr
 

I have never seen winged sprints run so low on the track all nite, both nites. Some were one car width or less off of the bottom.

Mine won't fit, because I was a little kid, lol