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

I thought the Grove only had bad track prep when the WoO/ Schatz were in town??

As you know the Outlaws just missed a date at the Grove, and that could be similar to missing a period........so once things settle down it will probably be fine again. (humor btw)

Didn' some guy in South Dakota give bad comments on social media as one reason he closed his track?

You obviously either weren't around or fail to forget that back many moons ago the "Speed Palace" was one of the biggest shitholes in the country (track surface-wise).  The track surface destroyed or played a part in destroying who knows how many dollars worth of equipment.  It got to the point where some drivers refused to even race on it.  Then you had Bedford, which was not-so-affectionately referred to as "Bedrock" by many of the late model guys.  I'll never forget being in the pits there one night and after warm-up laps, a guy asked one of the late model guys how the track was as he was climbing out of his race car.  I'll never forget the driver's reply, which was: "Jesus Christ, I've drove through plowed fields that weren't that fucking rough!".

My point isn't to bash tracks or deflect any blame from Grove's current seemingly consistant shitty surface; rather it is to remember that tracks are just like drivers.  They go through spells where they're hot as hell and can do no wrong, followed by periods where everything turns to total shit.  It ebbs and flows just like the tides of the ocean. 

Attempting to be a voice of reason in a world full of
irrationality. 

I don't run good tonight.  My crew chief missed the set up, my driving was so bad I could not pass gas.  However the track prep was not done good, causing me to drive bad.  But, I will let my owner cash the check and give my pay. 

Was it bad track prep at Port the next night when he ran it in to hard into one and spun out by himself and caused another car to flip?  Eveyone makes mistakes especially in these 410 monsters but when you run your mouth and the next nght you are the one making the bone headed move that cost other people money, that doesn't have a good look to it.

     Actually,no. He seemed to blame the fans for not supporting him. After he closed the track he started lashing out at those who said things he didn't like on social media.

Instead of destroying the sport that we "say" we all love on social media, how about Mr Dietrich puts some real effort in and sit down with WG management and express his concerns, maybe offer some ideas, maybe even lend a hand!!!! Too easy to run your mouth through a keyboard these days. Dont just take knee and think your solving something, get out and DO SOMETHING that can make a differance. P.S. Shut off the internet OK by me. 

I'm fairly certain DD actually DID have a sit down with WG either last year or the year before.  I know he mentioned it at the time on social media and I do know he had a conversation (or several) with track management, again either last year or the year before. 

Brent Marks tried to talk to the Grove years ago... Then he stopped running locally

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

Pretty typical.....try to assist or make suggestions to some race track management today, and it's like you're insulting their intelligence or making them look bad. Which in the end when nothing is accomplished, you should have just done to begin with. So the next best thing is to expose them as not so intelligent. (anything mispelled here has nothing to do with my intelligence or lack there of) We're lucky to have the track management we have at Knoxville and Jackson. Wasn't always the case at Jackson until the last few years.

I have been attending the Grove since 1964...of you want to witness "nothing accomplished" just swing by and watch...the improvements are indistinguishable from apathy. 

I have reserved seats...you are welcome to sit in our area if you can't spot the apathy from your normal seats. 

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

Track conditions, rude security guards, stupid signs greeting you as you enter the track, incredibly backwards approach to selling reserved seat tickets,  mediocre food options, all but the track are very easily fixable. And the track with some good equipment and some TLC could probably be fixed pretty quickly as well. 

New sub place behind the front stretch is awesome. The rest is spot on.

With the way todays cars are so equal and locked down, I can't even imagine how hard it must be to consistently prep a track like Williams Grove to produce good racing. The track is a huge 1/2 mile+ paper clip with fairly tight, fairly flat turns both of which are different from each other. That configuration isn't the best for passing and side by side racing to begin with. The tracks has to be near perfect. The best improvement would be cutting down the length of those straights, and widening and adding more banking in the turns. Kill 2 birds with one stone - better racing and save the racers on engine costs. But yeah you still gotta have good track prep no matter what. JMO

A

dsc1600, I agree with all. But just like watching tv or listening to the radio, dont ban the station, shut it off. There has been quite a few people that have made a living from WG over a long period of time, if he thinks it sucks GO AWAY. Let everybody else form there own opinion. If fans a teams stop coming, WG will get the hint to do something. P.S. There not exactly packing the place if youve noticed.

Hello everyone. Some how I was able to get into my old account. 

For those of you thinking I don't talk to management, I do. I have what I think is a good relationship with them. I talk with Justin a good bit and did this week. I hope things change and they do understand where I come from, so I think they will. It's not just me. I know more people in racing then any of you, I believe, and all I hear is how bad the track at Williams Grove is. 3 of the last 4 races have rubbered up and even when my team has run well, the track has still been bad. I will still bitch. 

Some of you on this board should really think back to the weekend, see if you were even at the track before you post an opinion. 

I will not argue on this board, I simply ask you to come see me at my trailer this season if you want to talk something out. I will be in New York next weekend, Ohio the following week, then Missouri & Iowa in August. Lets have a beer a bullshit about racing.

All I want is people to leave the races saying they paid to see a great race. When that doesn't happen, its disappointing. I don't care where or what track it is.  

Have a great day everyone!

That by far defines everything the social media takes out of text when you tweet. I for 1 do not feel Twitter lets you speak with out misinterpratation. Any way it is nice to clear up the fact that you may be the only 1 of the drivers and or owners who will  question the management. They better soon wake up because declining attendance & car counts have been the norm & getting worse in the past 5 years. 17 sprint cars at the Grove is unheard of, but it is the by product of both the track configuration, preparation (lack of).  I have been going there since 65 so I know what it was & know what has been done over the years. 

DD, so glad that you speak your mind even after mistakes on the track. If it wasn't for spins & crashes (Port) some people wouldn't even go. LOL  

It has to be so frustrating to have a good hot rod and not be able to let it eat!!!

Good Luck DD

Your last  sentence is why I don't go to Port Royal anymore!

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

There you go folks, from the mouth of a REAL racer, telling the REAL story, how simple is that, end of story or stories....

I hope the Posse faithful don't turn on him, he simply wants to race, it's what he does and he does it very well.  I am also quite sure he's picked up a whole lot of new fans by speaking his mind.  If you are one of those in places unkown stop by and buy a shirt from this guy, help him stay out on the road, he'll always give you a show and you'll see why you'll want to cheer for him. 

All the best, headin' down the highway....