Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

I attempted to defend Eldora, when the Prelude to the Dream turned into a one lane, rubber down affair.

I was disappointed too, but felt like Tony's generous donation to charity was more important than the race event itself. I asked the "keyboard commandos" to give Tony a pass...

With that said, I can't figure out why Eldora consistently produces dry, dusty, rubber down race events. The Kings Royal has been plagued by rubber down conditions on more than one occasion.

While we scramble to assess Goodyear's credibility, I think Eldora deserves to be part of the debate.

While Moody's considers downgrading our country's credit rating, perhaps it's time for the sprint car community to downgrade Eldora's track rating!?!

What are your thoughts?

Couldn't agree with you more. 3 years in a row I've seen shitty track conditions for the KR. I decided this weekend that it's the last KR for me. Going to have to pick a new annual race to spend my vacation at. Maybe the Dirt Cup.

Well I don't really see how it's Tony's fault!

I'm pretty sure he would spend what ever it takes, if it could be fixed!

But the problem was there 25 years ago, when Kreitz won the Royal That was one of the worst races I've ever seen! No one could run the top, and Jac was running the middle, when Donny coasted underneath him! One things for sure, the more days strait they run, the worst it seems to get! And that goes for most any tracks in the Midwest with over 25 years of rubber put in them!

The solution is water, lots of it, beginning with tearing up the surface right after the previous nights program and then soaking it repeatedly prior to the next evenings show. The problem though is that alot of owners and drivers don't like a heavy race track. Really fast but also hard on the equipment. They could fix it if they wanted to, they would rather gamble on the surface holding out and not taking rubber than water it to make sure it lasts and tearing up a bunch of stuff. Really no excuse for a dry slick like it was last night. No rain in the forecast to have to worry about overwatering and the surface was gone before the C. All in all it was pretty sorry. Many will just remember the last lap deal though, think they saw a great race, and they'll be back next year. Too bad, and yes TS is responsible. He's the boss ain't he?

REMEMBER OUR TROOPS!!!

Funny though how those cars that a tick slower puts on a good race.

A tick is one thing, when they can't pass the lappers it's something else and last night it was something else.

REMEMBER OUR TROOPS!!!

They used to run the 360's after the Royal & they still put on a better show than the big boys. That's all I was sayin. Maybe what some are sayin about smaller tires,wings, horsepower, etc. would be a good thing.

And how much better would the 360 shows be on a tacky surface? Water the race track so they can all hook'em up and let the big dog eat. I know you're talking cost containment now but we started out on track surface. I don't care what class of car we're talking about or what it costs to field it, if the track surface goes to crap halfway through the program it makes for a lousy show.

REMEMBER OUR TROOPS!!!

It's nice to see the 360s there, but they contribute in wearing the track out for the big show. Frankly, due to length of the shows both nights, also, they don't need them.

Might want to think twice about dirt cup if you dont want shitty track conditions.

I don't aim to please.
I aim to hit the target.

Not gonna defend anyone here, but how can you try to place the blame somewhere? 90 degree heat....bright sunshine all day...that was for days before the show!...high banking...they tried the water thing all week leading up to the show......what ya gonna do? I do agree about tearing up the track,though. A LONG time ago we went down to get a coffee @4:30AM on Sat. morning & Earl had the track tore up like a plowed beanfield!!!!!! By showtime that evening the track was great!

Ever seen the Dunkins start working the track at Knoxville right after the race on a 2 day show? They grade up and turn over some SERIOUS dirt! Unless I just keep missing it, I have not ever seen Eldora work their race surface to that extent. Knoxville looks like a freshly plowed field after they get done grading it.

Those guys at Knoxville are simply the best.

Knoxville Natioanls attendee since '95
Favorite Tracks...River Cities, Knoxville, Cedar Lake
Favorite Drivers...S.Kinser, T.Kaeding, K.Madsen, S.Smith
Proud Canadian 

I happen to agree completely here. It's nice to bring in a support class for the Royal to give the fans something to watch and prolong the evening, but it's not needed. For the biggest 410 show that Eldora has, it doesn't need to run 2 classes. That by itself can help contribute to the track being better.

Friday was definitely the better race of the two nights at Eldora. Maybe digging it up deeper is what they need. I can tell you one thing, it wasnt for lack of effort on the part of the track crew. A couple guys in our group were still up at 4am on Saturday morning and heard noise inside the track. They walked in and said they were still grading and watering the track.

Some 70 or 80 degree days with a little rain sure would have helped too. Crazy to think how dry it has been after all the rain from earlier this spring.

Big mistake running the 360 feature first on Saturday night. That is the first and hopefully the last time I ever see that format for Saturday night!!

900 horsepower over 7 - 750 horsepower isn't doin anything to the track either I guess, That big RR that can't grab the clay/dirt isn't helping when all it's doing is spinning. The Track conditions along with all that other bullshit is why I have not been to Eldora since year before last. The kid behind the window is tellin me this is a big race, Although I'm only 48 I've been goin there since before Stewart was shittin yellow & for damn sure before he was ever thought of. Leave the 360's. Maybe they ran them 1st because they put on the better show. I thought it sucked when they didn't run them at a couple of Royal's.

Eldora's racing surface needs either an unmatched amount of prep work to get it in condition for racing or they need new clay...good clay. Watching dust roll off the tires during hot laps, watering and running in the track following hot laps and time trials, watering the track another time or two (Friday night) during the night is very disappointing.

The track crew often, maybe unfairly, gets the blame on this...I think the surface itself is the obvious deficiency.

This was my 11th Royal, travel their each year from western PA...camp with a group of 10-12 fellows from PA and OH who share my sentiment and are considering heading elsewhere next time around. The track needs to be better period. The event takes too long and is too dirty...have been to plenty of tracks as frame of reference.

Its 90 degrees today and tomorrow just east of Pittsburgh. Lernerville speedway will have a fantastic racing surface for the Silver Cup. (no water added once hot laps start) The last two years they've ran TWO 30 lap features and the track is in better shape after the features than Eldora is before the heat races (honestly)...its beautiful, super sticky red clay. Same cars, heat, etc...ill pay 2 dollars more for the ticket Tony, just get some real racing material to blanket the track with.

Faster speeds, multiple racing grooves, minus all the extra effort mid show...it could be fantastic.

A little OT of track prep. When I helped do the dirt at Winnipeg Speedway years ago we used to put soap in the water. It kept down the dust and held in the moisture. You did that about three or four times a year. Seemed to work.