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

It was good to see 35 winged sprint cars in the infeild for a local 410 winged sprint car event. Because of the race in Quincy a few of the competitors ran Silver Dollar the night before the first race at Quincy. And with a strong feild of wingless sprints, it should have been a great program.

The thing that didnt make this a great program is the track preperation, or there lack of it. Now Chico has always been a tacky place. But as a recent years, this place can get slick, dusty, and hard on the eyes to watch. Last night it almost got to dusty to race. At times it looked like they were racing in the desert. What do we need car owners that work construction to work the track. These guys are spending way to much money to be running single file, fight for the bottom racing. And then this talk about getting new dirt. How long did that last? After qualifying last night, since the track never gets worked, we are already seeing the weeks previous track as early as qualifying. The begining part of the turns well they are always HARD. And again why no interviews at the Silver Dollar? What they had someone that isnt afraid to speak his mind and I wished they had talked to BK and even though he won, he still would have said what a terrible track. HOPEFULLY. Hopefully things change soon. For this looks to be a fan killer!

Are you there every day to see what is worked? They did put new dirt on during the winter, again were you there? The very same people that have been there working the track is still there. However, the weather, air conditons,sun/ overcast, temps and etc, always have a bearing on the track.

I can only speak of the surface prior to 1998 when I left CA. It was always one of finest track preparations I've seen. John works very hard at that place and not just the day of the race as allot of tracks I've gone to recently. I only saw one dusty race there and that was due to a week straight of 100+ degree temps. Not much you can do about that. I can remember a ton of WoO races where that place was so tacky that it would pull your shoes off after the feature walking across the track. I am long over due for Gold Cup visit!

As I headed down the stairs to interview Brent and the other drivers, the light on the infield microphone did not come on, I had tested in the afternoon and it worked fine. What I realized after the races is that when I turned it on to test it, in the afternoon, I didn't turn it off and the battery wore out. I did not bring a back up battery. No ones fault but mine, I apologize for not getting to talk to the winners. Next time I will do better...

Troy Hennig

Chico is still one of the best places to race. Can't judge one night out of the whole year. It's dirt track racing, things change, that why we like dirt. If you want the same old same, go to an asphalt track. I think the greatness of dirt is the changing surface from week to week. Just my thoughts and the race, was pretty awesome. Brent wins, Greg DeCaires 20th to 3rd. Not sure what else you wanted....

If fans would like a lesson on how to prepare a track and all of the things promoters and track prep people have to deal with in putting on a quality program, listen to this week's (June 19th) archive of The Full Throttle Racing Show and the interview with Tri-State's Tom Helfrich. It's getting harder every year to get the track right for sprint cars. I don't know if listening to Tom will change any opinions from fans but it sure will make everyone think about what challenges are faced by tracks every week around the country.

Chico is one of the best programs simply because it has 410 winged sprint cars. These are the main attraction. I have been going to races for my entire life. Both sides of my family raced and owned cars. One ran both dirt and pavement and won championships in both. So telling me about changing surface from week to week is bull. This year and last year, we are seeing the weeks previous track as soon as qualifying is over. You look in the begining of the turns, and the track is already hard, and heat races are single file. I love sprint car racing, but who would want to run on that kind of track. But as for the last year and a half, the track is not close to racey. Im a huge BK fan, so any win of his is worth seeing. And specially on a track like last night, when it sucks and hardly any passes happen. It shows his skills, winning on all types of surfaces. It was hard to even see the action cause of the dust. I can tell you it hasnt been tore up in a while, there is always the same bump in turn one and two in the bottom, and you cant run the top cause it has no cusion, and the track is almost black hard on the straightaways just before the turns. This doesnt make for GREAT racing. Just would like to see something done. Heck I would even pay more at the gates if I seen this is where my money is being spent!

Have heard this all before about Parramatta but 1 thing the comments seem to be sensible here .Compared to the angst they have put Parramatta through .Like every one has said We are in the lap of the gods .No one can ever control the weather and maybe some day the fans will learn this

I have attended Chico's Silver Dollar Speedway for over 35 years. Averaging ten to fifteen dates a year for a total of around 400 races as a driver, car owner, and a fan. Less than twice a year I have seen conditions like sidewayz describes. Usually its the second night of a two day show. As ca.nana explained many factors go into the track preperation. The west coast has had many days near or over 100 degrees this past week. Usually only Gold Cup races have the dust factor and that was usually due to the WoO requesting their conditions. Underground water also plays a big factor on California tracks which also controls dry slick or being heavy all night long and still tacky you can have your shoes pulled off walking the track after the main.