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

Wrong, Knoxville spent roughly 15 minutes knocking down a cushion that had gotten pretty tricky for an opening night event and was already close to the wall.  They did it to save race cars not to rework anything.

I'm pretty sure Strawser and his boy toy Wingedspeed are giggling together as they sit in their living room.  They are hootin' and laughing because they love each others comments.

Now, on to the real world. I was there, both nights, so I can actually comment with some first hand knowledge.  Yes, the track turned into a slip and slide both nights, as I expected.  But if you watch the race, in person, you see what Strawser and his man boy Wingedspeed dont see, that's tons of passing throughout the field.  Saturday night's race had tons of passing in all divisions and Sunday night's did as well.  Would I prefer a less dry, slick track....yes, of course.  But there were plenty of exciting moments the entire weekend. 

My biggest issue with Port, aside from certain voices (and maybe one will quote me on Twitter again,lol), is the fact that they give hot laps sessions so many laps that it feels like a feature each and every time.  So when you have a ton of cars, like this weekend, the track gets used up so quickly.  You had almost 100 total cars there Saturday and last night was close to 80 so you can see how tons of laps in warm ups can burn up the track. Wait, so many cars?? That's not possible, Strawser says the track sucks so they couldn't possibly get that many cars. Now I'm confused because he is the authority on track prep.

So, in conclusion.....Port is just fine, could be a bit better and Strawser's opinion really means nothing to anyone, but great for laughs.

I agree, too many laps for hotlaps. You sit there thinking each sesssion they are never going to stop. Watch the top drivers they run a lap in each groove then just cruise. It has been a while since he raced but week after week Todd Shaffer would run a lap in each groove slow down and pull in on the bakstretch. People would think something happened to his car. What he really did was save green flag laps on the engine. The new time trial method will also add laps. They had the best and fastest time trial method around before. They could run time trials for mid thirties cars in less than 15 minutes.

I am glad I didn't go.  I fugured the track surface would be shit.  After 40+ of not missing weekly races at the Port, I now call Lincoln my home and favorite track.  I will give Port Royal a 100% approval on the facility.  But they need to put some money in the track service or get someone who nows how to put enough water down and prep the track surface!

They have absolutely no grip in 3 and 4.  What a discrace that track prep is over at the slow palace.  If I were Freddie I would not be back!!

Last night at tri-state speedway they reworked the track after time trials & after heat races.

Tom Helfrich at Tri-State Speedway is one of the few true dirt track prep gurus that exist in the world.  He mixes wood chips into the dirt to help retain moisture and repel rubber.  He's a huge farmer and has the equipment to till up, water, and re-pack quickly whenever he chooses.  He has done that for years and years... probably will continue as long as he's in charge.  Like last night, it can sometimes be a little too wet and not blow off as quickly... making passing a little tough.  It seems like he gets it right more times than not though.

Why is that Knoxville can always complete their racing program without having to rework the track between races and other tracks can’t?

there is always the possibility that Freddie comes back while you stay home.

I'm pretty sure Strawser and his boy toy Wingedspeed are giggling together as they sit in their living room.  They are hootin' and laughing because they love each others comments.

Now, on to the real world. I was there, both nights, so I can actually comment with some first hand knowledge.  Yes, the track turned into a slip and slide both nights, as I expected.  But if you watch the race, in person, you see what Strawser and his man boy Wingedspeed dont see, that's tons of passing throughout the field.  Saturday night's race had tons of passing in all divisions and Sunday night's did as well.  Would I prefer a less dry, slick track....yes, of course.  But there were plenty of exciting moments the entire weekend. 

My biggest issue with Port, aside from certain voices (and maybe one will quote me on Twitter again,lol), is the fact that they give hot laps sessions so many laps that it feels like a feature each and every time.  So when you have a ton of cars, like this weekend, the track gets used up so quickly.  You had almost 100 total cars there Saturday and last night was close to 80 so you can see how tons of laps in warm ups can burn up the track. Wait, so many cars?? That's not possible, Strawser says the track sucks so they couldn't possibly get that many cars. Now I'm confused because he is the authority on track prep.

So, in conclusion.....Port is just fine, could be a bit better and Strawser's opinion really means nothing to anyone, but great for laughs.

Stawser and his alter ego spouting stupidity as usual. Makes me wonder if he is watching the actual racing or just watching the lap times. Otherwise I don't know how anyone can not enjoy watching racing when the cars are running inches from the outside or the inside rail and everywhere inbetween - slicing and dicing all thtrough the field on a smooth racy track. No other track I know of in PA is producing multi-grooved, side by side, back and forth racing on a consistent basis like Port. Front running cars literally banging it off the outside guard rail! Who gives a shit about lap times? What makes it all the more remarkable is that this is a big 1/2+ mile track. You want a tacky hammer down track like Selinsgrove was Friday night, you get a high speed strung out parade around a low cushion with very little passing. This isn't the 80's and 90's. Todays cars are locked down and more even. The track needs to slick off and the cushion needs to be all the way up to get good racing and Port has nailed it. That's why they are getting so many cars and fans. Lincoln used to be my favorite central PA track but whatever they are doing there just isn't working lately. Has there even been a challenge for the race lead at Lincoln in any 410 feature this year?

As for Knoxville, I frequently watch the highlights and I'm usually pretty impressed by the racing there, but the opening night feature(the 1 that Brown won) looked like a bottom feeder parade on a used up track. The 360 feature looked like some great racing. That is why IMHO tracks should run the the headline division first. The WOO features this past weekend looked pretty good.

I am glad I didn't go.  I fugured the track surface would be shit.  After 40+ of not missing weekly races at the Port, I now call Lincoln my home and favorite track.  I will give Port Royal a 100% approval on the facility.  But they need to put some money in the track service or get someone who nows how to put enough water down and prep the track surface!

I go to Port between 2 and 5 times a year for the last 35 years Would like to go more but travel time and work get in the way (Im in NJ).  I dont know about you but everytime Im there the racing is outstanding and the track has multiple grooves, with very fast competitive racing. 

When I started going there they were still running drag rubberon the RR and kissing the outside wall with the RR tire to straighten out for the Straight.

I dont know what your looking at but racing at the Port at least when Im there is fabulous and is second to none. It is one of the BEST TRACKS I have ever went to

Yes it used to be.

Here's a nice little stat for BStrawser26 and WingedSpeed: since racing started back up at Lincoln Speedway on Memorial Day, they've run 4 races for a total of 128 A-Main laps throughout that time and NOT one lead change!!  All 4 drivers started on the pole and won!!   

Here's a nice little stat for BStrawser26 and WingedSpeed: since racing started back up at Lincoln Speedway on Memorial Day, they've run 4 races for a total of 128 A-Main laps throughout that time and NOT one lead change!!  All 4 drivers started on the pole and won!!