Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
Moderators: StuDeedooo

Has anyone been to Diamond Mountain Speedway, the high banks of Lassen County? Why no sprint car races there? Their website says it's a high banked, 1/4 mile dirt track. This would be perfect for the GSC or Civil War series.

http://diamondmountainspeedway.bravehost.com/index.htm

Susanville is a pretty long haul, that's probably the biggest obstacle.. but i'm all for it

last time i was there is was a pretty run down facilty and had no banking. id say it was similiar to the condition of merced. there is no way the track could support a civil war or gsc event at least how it was in the past, and yea it is a long ass tow.

Quincy is a long haul also as is Fernly.. They do hold races there mostly street stocks and modifieds, they draw about 500 spectators each show.. I don't know if getting GSC or Civil War would draw enough of a crowd to pay the bills just depends how many GSC or CW fans will travel that far.. The Susanville area though is much larger than Quincy only problem is half the population may need a 1 day furlough to attend the races..

I have been providing the annual July 4th fireworks display for the Lassen County Fair there in Susanville for over 20 years now, and the track itself would appear from looking at it like it would be a decent track for sprint cars, but they have issues in Susanville that would make it very difficult for a good show. The track surface does not appear to be a good clay, more of a just dirt type of surface, and the fact that Susanville is in a high desert setting. It is very dry up there. Spend a day there and your skin will just start flaking off from the dryness of the air. And there is the daily winds. Every day, and I mean EVERY DAY the winds will come howling through the area in the late afternoon and it would be almost impossible to hope for maintaining any amount or moisture there to keep the powerful sprint cars from not making a huge dust bowl of the place.

I have often thought how neat it would be to see sprint cars up there, but I really do not think it would be a good venue because of the conditions above. The facilities are not bad, typical older fairgrounds facilities, and it is one hell of a long drive to get there.

That is what I can tell you about the place. Others may have thoughts too.

rickrwp, Is it any different than the Fernley track which is sandy and somewhat abrasive? I have been to the GSC races in Fernley and it also gets windy and dusty, the last time i was there they had to water the track a few times between races.. I have never attended a race at Susanville but i have friends who attend all the races there and they told me the crowds are not that large.. Since you provide the fireworks on July 4th is that only a fireworks show or is it held in conjunction with races.. The difference mileage wise from Reno to Susanville compared to Fernley would be about 50 miles more each way. . Comparing population between Susanville and Quincy, the Susanville area has more than double the population of the Quincy area but Quincy seems to draw more people for there local racing shows than Susanville..

reartire....

they will be having a stock car show, usually a few different classes, on the 4th and then the fireworks go off after the racing is over and they get the pits cleared out. They have not had a good run lately with the track operator, as I seriously doubt it is much of a money maker, they generally don't get very many people to attend just the racing. Even on the 4th of July, they have a fair crowd, but you would never be able to pay a sprint car purse from it.

The people in Susanville are some of the nicest folks you would ever want to meet, but you must also consider that since they lost their lumber mill up there a few years back, it is basically a service town that has grown in recent years because it is a PRISON town. I believe they have 2 prisons there, the state facility and a fed facility. That is what drives the economy they have up there, but like I say, I have always felt the town folk are wonderful people.

Yes, the track surface would probably be abrasive. It seems a little sticky when it is wet, but it just does not hold the water at all. As for that wind, like I say, I bet it is nothing for the afternoon wind that will come up around 3:00pm and last till dusk, will blow from 25-40mph without even batting an eye. Straight from the west to east usually, and damn it is dry.