Plymouth

snoopy · 6/17/12, 12:52 PM

Eric don't feel bad. All visiting series feel that way at Plymouth. Been that way through about 5 promoters. Many tracks that usually run stock cars do not understand the open wheel guys. It usually starts with the pit gate making guys pit the farthest from the track and the self starters just off the track.
Next time:
1. leave home way too early
2. Expect frustration
3. leave all common sense at the pit gate
4 plan a good breakfast on the way home
5. A lot like the pavement guys did when going to Mansfield
6. Keep your cool, and tell all the stupid stories on the way home

Eric Smith · 6/18/12, 6:01 AM

We got there and got right in and parked and I thought the way they had the pits arranged made good sense. It wasn't anyone's fault it rained. Like I said, I totally understand the reason for delaying the show and won't begrudge anyone for it. What could have been controlled was the communication between the track people and the SOD people. But there weren't any stupid stories to be told. Well maybe the stupid rain we drove home in. Can't wait for the August makeup date.

snoopy · 6/18/12, 8:41 AM

Eric, I know where you parked. We were there 2 hours earlier and told we were not allowed down there? Story, This was just after the the pit shack guy told us to go in and the pit guy yelled at us to stop twice each. But, as I said been going there for years (at any open wheel show) and seems it is always the same story. Yep I'll be there for the midgets and in August. Try to get down and talk, we'll probably have the time. Good luck racin.

sfracer55 · 6/18/12, 12:05 PM

alright Snoop. I was running the pits and had a couple guys helping get rigs in the small pit area. I'm the guy who had to guess how many BIG RIGS would be coming (which I thought impossible) as they couldn't fit along the western fence line. We had to put big rigs in the center pull through area or out of the periphery. Track Mgt thought it best to try to keeps sprints that need pushing closer to the track, but unfortunately (or rather fortunately) several 600 sprints came with big rigs and had to be put closer to the track, so it did screw up some sprinters in getting put on grass/dirt or near the back of the pits. That I do apologize for. We ended up having a few cement slabs left open near the front. I wish we could have gottne guys in those slabs but most were already unpacked out of the trailers by then.

I personally don't think it is the same ole Plymouth Speedway. (On Friday nite with the Top Speed Mods, we gave them preferable pit slabs and moved the regulars around to their chagrin. We value traveling series as should our regular racers.) SOD officials allowed me to have driver's meeting with you guys to explain the staging and push-off process, which my track workers were well prepared to handle. Unfortunately, while sprints were staging someone with SOD changed the process and things got miscommunicated there. Plus, throw in the first rain storm and then we knew there was another impending one, so we were in rush mode which creates more confusion.

I thought the drivers for both SOD and 600s did a great job getting into line. There was a delay for SOD on hot laps but that was because we couldn't predict how fast or slow the track would be to run in. On a side note, the track didn't turn out too badly. It was tacky and we will work on getting the berm closer to the top and get rid of that bump coming out of 4. I want you guys to have fun racing and have room to pass.

I can't wait for the rescheduled August 18th show and hope everyone comes back. The parking procedure will be similar. Thanks for racing with us!

openwheelKT · 6/18/12, 3:57 PM

With an unfortunate rainout, I hope modlady got that autograph.

Eric Smith · 6/18/12, 5:56 PM

I understand that was only the second dirt show. If that's true, you have to expect some challenges and setbacks, even in perfect conditions. Throw in the weather, and all you can do is your best. I drove a long ways, but it is for fun. It's sure not a life and death deal. That's what work is for. Racing is for fun. I'm glad for the opportunity, and will hopefully be back in August. I guarantee improvements will be made by then. I also guarantee more needed improvements will be identified then. That will go on forever until perfection can be reached. And good luck on becoming the first humans or facility to achieve perfection. Good thing I won't fit in one of those minis. The looked fun.

6/18/12, 3:57 PM	#5 Re: Plymouth
openwheelKT Senior Member Race Count Last Year: 73 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 742	With an unfortunate rainout, I hope modlady got that autograph. _________________________________________________ Last edited by openwheelKT; 6/18/12 at 3:59 PM.

6/17/12, 12:52 PM	#1 Plymouth
snoopy Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 173	Eric don't feel bad. All visiting series feel that way at Plymouth. Been that way through about 5 promoters. Many tracks that usually run stock cars do not understand the open wheel guys. It usually starts with the pit gate making guys pit the farthest from the track and the self starters just off the track. Next time: 1. leave home way too early 2. Expect frustration 3. leave all common sense at the pit gate 4 plan a good breakfast on the way home 5. A lot like the pavement guys did when going to Mansfield 6. Keep your cool, and tell all the stupid stories on the way home

6/18/12, 6:01 AM	#2 Re: Plymouth
Eric Smith Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 253	We got there and got right in and parked and I thought the way they had the pits arranged made good sense. It wasn't anyone's fault it rained. Like I said, I totally understand the reason for delaying the show and won't begrudge anyone for it. What could have been controlled was the communication between the track people and the SOD people. But there weren't any stupid stories to be told. Well maybe the stupid rain we drove home in. Can't wait for the August makeup date.

6/18/12, 8:41 AM	#3 Re: Plymouth
snoopy Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 173	Eric, I know where you parked. We were there 2 hours earlier and told we were not allowed down there? Story, This was just after the the pit shack guy told us to go in and the pit guy yelled at us to stop twice each. But, as I said been going there for years (at any open wheel show) and seems it is always the same story. Yep I'll be there for the midgets and in August. Try to get down and talk, we'll probably have the time. Good luck racin.

6/18/12, 12:05 PM	#4 Re: Plymouth
sfracer55 $sfracer55 is offline$ Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 166	alright Snoop. I was running the pits and had a couple guys helping get rigs in the small pit area. I'm the guy who had to guess how many BIG RIGS would be coming (which I thought impossible) as they couldn't fit along the western fence line. We had to put big rigs in the center pull through area or out of the periphery. Track Mgt thought it best to try to keeps sprints that need pushing closer to the track, but unfortunately (or rather fortunately) several 600 sprints came with big rigs and had to be put closer to the track, so it did screw up some sprinters in getting put on grass/dirt or near the back of the pits. That I do apologize for. We ended up having a few cement slabs left open near the front. I wish we could have gottne guys in those slabs but most were already unpacked out of the trailers by then. I personally don't think it is the same ole Plymouth Speedway. (On Friday nite with the Top Speed Mods, we gave them preferable pit slabs and moved the regulars around to their chagrin. We value traveling series as should our regular racers.) SOD officials allowed me to have driver's meeting with you guys to explain the staging and push-off process, which my track workers were well prepared to handle. Unfortunately, while sprints were staging someone with SOD changed the process and things got miscommunicated there. Plus, throw in the first rain storm and then we knew there was another impending one, so we were in rush mode which creates more confusion. I thought the drivers for both SOD and 600s did a great job getting into line. There was a delay for SOD on hot laps but that was because we couldn't predict how fast or slow the track would be to run in. On a side note, the track didn't turn out too badly. It was tacky and we will work on getting the berm closer to the top and get rid of that bump coming out of 4. I want you guys to have fun racing and have room to pass. I can't wait for the rescheduled August 18th show and hope everyone comes back. The parking procedure will be similar. Thanks for racing with us!

6/18/12, 5:56 PM	#6 Re: Plymouth
Eric Smith Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 253	I understand that was only the second dirt show. If that's true, you have to expect some challenges and setbacks, even in perfect conditions. Throw in the weather, and all you can do is your best. I drove a long ways, but it is for fun. It's sure not a life and death deal. That's what work is for. Racing is for fun. I'm glad for the opportunity, and will hopefully be back in August. I guarantee improvements will be made by then. I also guarantee more needed improvements will be identified then. That will go on forever until perfection can be reached. And good luck on becoming the first humans or facility to achieve perfection. Good thing I won't fit in one of those minis. The looked fun.