Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

It will be interesting to see just how much, if any, the dirt late model race over in the America's Center will affect the size of the crowd at Du Quoin this weekend, and vice versa. Since nothing else is going on in the racing world these December days scheduling against each other might hurt one or the other, or both more than during the traditional racing season. The races are just just 1 1/2 hours apart.

We thought about going to St. Louis for Thursday and Friday night and heading over to Du Quoin Saturday but have decided against it. We'll just be going to Du Quoin.

I doubt it affects the crowd size at all. Two different crowds.

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

No effect. Im guessing Du Quoin seats about fhree to four thousand and I bet all but the bottom two rows are pretty full.

You could get ten or twenty thou in St. Louis and its still going to look empty.

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

Originally Posted by Morin98:
I doubt it affects the crowd size at all. Two different crowds.

Two different core groups, but they do share some of the same population of fans as well. So I think both will do well, but could have fit a few more butts in seats had they been a week apart or 2.

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

We know of a couple of groups from our general area that normally would be at Du Quoin but are opting for the late models mainly due to the fact that it's an inaugural event. Those folks would constitute a half dozen. How many others is anyone's guess.:27:

It's a safe bet that given the fact there will be around 75 cars and some high profile drivers at Du Quoin the stands will be full no matter what else is going on.

I just hope the Du Quoin show doesn't turn into another 8 hour marathon like it did last March.:22:

You could probably watch all the midget races and then go watch the features for late models.

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

Count 3 in the would be at DuQuoin if not for the late model race. Myself, my dad & my son have gone the last couple years and really enjoyed it. We are hitting the late model race this year. It might be a one off, but if it goes off right it could be huge.

Despite being from the STL (I'm four miles from the Dome as I type this), I will be at DuQuoin. I wish the Dome race all the best, but given the flatness of the track, coupled with the staggering car count (which will make track farming almost impossible, due to time constraints),I just fear it will be a horribly locked down, huggy pole parade.

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

With the Late Model and Mod race, they are cutting the amount of cars after Thursday, some of them wont be making it to the weekend events.

I wish they could leave the dirt down thats in the Dome, and run Midgets there the weekend after. Best of both worlds

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

Originally Posted by illiNOISE:
Despite being from the STL (I'm four miles from the Dome as I type this), I will be at DuQuoin. I wish the Dome race all the best, but given the flatness of the track, coupled with the staggering car count (which will make track farming almost impossible, due to time constraints),I just fear it will be a horribly locked down, huggy pole parade.

I too think it's going to be a bottom feeding choo choo where they will have to knock guys out of the way to do any passing. A lot of bigger heavier cars will be racing. If it's anything like when they put dirt over the pavement up at Rockford last summer the track will not only be worn out it'll be so rough it'll be unraceable.

Does anyone know where they got the dirt to build the track in the dome?

I watched a video interview with Kevin Gundaker earlier and he said this dirt was some of the same dirt they have used for monster jam and the supercross.

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

I've been watching vids of them building the track and it's like was said above. Gundaker building the track and it being 7000 Cubic Yards of the same they use for Supercross. It looks to be built right, layered, watered and packed at each stage. Should have a few practice vids up either tonight or tomorrow on Facebook.

It'll be a challenge to keep a LM on the bottom of that track as the inside is no bigger than Du Quoin's the outside looks racy If your going to run the bottom at St. Louis, They'll be backing them in.

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

Originally Posted by illiNOISE:
Despite being from the STL (I'm four miles from the Dome as I type this), I will be at DuQuoin. I wish the Dome race all the best, but given the flatness of the track, coupled with the staggering car count (which will make track farming almost impossible, due to time constraints),I just fear it will be a horribly locked down, huggy pole parade.

I'm 12 minutes from downtown and I too have similar thoughts and concerns about the Dome race, but hope it turns out to be a great show. I'm not a big late model or modified guy by any stretch but it would be good to have an awesome indoor race right in my backyard. Good for the city as well if it turned out to be great racing and an annual type deal (hotels, accommodations, restaurants, etc.).

Some are saying we need to give this race the benefit of the doubt and what not, which is fine I hope it works out, but I already gave these same promoters my money for the indoor race in Indiana. :15: In my eyes, they have some redeeming to do before they get any of my business again.

But i have hope for the Dome race because there is actually room in there to make a track. BLF didn't have enough width to make a track big enough to race on, and the race shouldn't have ever happened there. Do it right or don't do it all. It just hurts the sport to have abysmal failures like the Indy Indoors race was. I guess we'll have to wait and see. Hope it's not just a money grab from the promoters.

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

The 4 of us will be in St. Louis on Friday and if it sucks then 2 of us will be at DuQuoin on Saturday

We are going to both. Friday the Dome, Sat Deqoin

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

Count me in the party that is doing both. PPV from home on Thursday, leave Friday morning when I get off work to go to STL. Staying at Drury Inn at the Convention Center so we will do Friday night at the Dome. I have tickets for both days, but will be doing the Midget race at DuQuoin and attempting to make it back in time to catch the final feature at the Dome. May be a long shot, but its next door to our hotel anyway.

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

There's a video here with Wallace and a LM running a little on the St. Lous Track
https://www.facebook.com/GatewayDirt...c_ref=NEWSFEED

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

How good is the midget racing at Du Quoin for a PPV viewers ?

Who would think, a dirt track fan would have a choice of where to watch a race in person in the Midwest in December :) That's what you call a good problem, but i think for everyone involved the promoters could work together and not schedule against each other.

Wishing safe travels, great racing for all those attending races this weekend

cheers

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

The Kenny Wallace video that Nungester posted looks very promising. Being an open wheel guy, I'll be at DuQuoin. Hopefully the Dome racing goes well. I might just show up on a prelim night next year.

I need to apologize for defending Indy Indoors prior to the event. A lot of smart people told me it would be a joke, I argued it's better than nothing! I was wrong, nothing would have been better and my bank account was about 200.00 dollars less after the night. The only saving grace from the night being that I was semi buzzed from the carbon monoxide during the ride home. Never again will I be a sucker for an unproven indoor event. The so called test I saw showed 1 car on the track, hmmm? You are not going to race with 1 car on the track at a time. If you really wanted to be accurate you would put 8 cars are on the track at the same time. The 8 cars should consist of 2 really good cars/drivers, 4 weekend warriors, and 2 guys that have never been on a racetrack before. Pill draw for starting position and have at it. That would have been an accurate test.

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
There's a video here with Wallace and a LM running a little on the St. Lous Track
https://www.facebook.com/GatewayDirt...c_ref=NEWSFEED

The orange Late Model was Tri-City Speedway Promoter Kevin Gundaker's son Gordy. They only reason they ran the test is to figure out how they might do track prep and to see how track will hold up with the heavy cars on it.. Seeing that Kevin is doing the track prep. Looks like they will have one of the best in the business doing it.

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

Originally Posted by JDK222:
I need to apologize for defending Indy Indoors prior to the event. A lot of smart people told me it would be a joke, I argued it's better than nothing! I was wrong, nothing would have been better and my bank account was about 200.00 dollars less after the night. The only saving grace from the night being that I was semi buzzed from the carbon monoxide during the ride home. Never again will I be a sucker for an unproven indoor event. The so called test I saw showed 1 car on the track, hmmm? You are not going to race with 1 car on the track at a time. If you really wanted to be accurate you would put 8 cars are on the track at the same time. The 8 cars should consist of 2 really good cars/drivers, 4 weekend warriors, and 2 guys that have never been on a racetrack before. Pill draw for starting position and have at it. That would have been an accurate test.

So the only two (One being the track prep guys son and Wallace) Who are there two days early, isn't a fair test. I get that. Still looked better than I expected. On the gas!

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

I am headed to DuQuoin, hope all goes well in STL. But what is the track going to look like after 400 cars qualify. I guess I am like every one else need to be proven to me before I go and I had free tickets offered to me. LoL

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

Looks like they added some bank to the track, methinks they've been listening to feedback hmm...

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

Originally Posted by Simon_says17:
Looks like they added some bank to the track, methinks they've been listening to feedback hmm...

Place screams Midgets. Maybe even sprints but I'd have a better fence for sprints.
Video of second half of last nights feature if you have facebook
From the videos I've seen the LM's seem to work better than the mods. But track seemed like it just packed in last night before features. still even three-four were a bit choppy.
http://www.facebook.com/herb.engelha...12027917679796

Good late model feature last night. If this show is a hit maybe they could turn it into a 2 weekend program with late models/mods one weekend and midgets/mini-sprints the other weekend. They would need some safety upgrades to do sprints and probably even midgets, but I would imagine it could be done. For scheduling they could do the midget show first (last weekend) so it doesn't create a conflict with the Duquoin show. The track is already built so might as well use it twice and potentially double the money.

I love the ideas about two weekends! I just wonder what they would sock the promoter with as far as rent the extra full week... The promoter would have to rent the whole place for that long.... Might cost a small fortune. How does the attendance look for the show this week? I am traveling and haven't kept up.

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

From what I understand they have a great crowd for the saturday night portion. Also from what I understand, IT's already booked for next year.
Why not NW and Wing sprints? if they built the track just one day sooner They could take Tues and Weds'. There were cars that practiced on it tuesday anyway.

Kenny Wallace said the rent was cheap. its weekends the facility was never booked before because the Rams Played there. Full week of racing, Maybe switch it to New Years weekend if thats available as a lot of people are off that week anyway and conventions aren't the thing for a holiday.

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
Maybe switch it to New Years weekend if thats available as a lot of people are off that week anyway and conventions aren't the thing for a holiday.

Not a bad suggestion but I think you might as well take a piss in Tony Barhorst and Bob Koorsen's drink. That's usually the same time as the rumble in Ft. Wayne

Re: Du Quoin vs. Late Model Indoor Race
 

Originally Posted by hoosier race fan:
Not a bad suggestion but I think you might as well take a piss in Tony Barhorst and Bob Koorsen's drink. That's usually the same time as the rumble in Ft. Wayne

With the exceptions of a couple drivers and possibly cars, I doubt it would hurt FT. Wayne one bit.