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

Haven't been here for a while. Maybe this is buried somewhere else.

That good ol' paper reports direct from Kathy Hughes that a new bridge that looks like the old bridge will be built in the same spot - 1 foot wider, 5 feet taller, and 5 feet longer. Being built by the same company that built the bridges at Circuit of Americas and to be installed "in the summer" after material delays and manpower shortages.

Here we are about a year later and the bridge is still standing tall at the Grove..What happened to all of BS that was going to take place to move it? Maybe story tellers can make up create some more bologna about the bridge this off season.

Things happen, that the general public do not know about. The bridge is coming down, 2024 should see the new bridge. Footers should be poured soon, than need the weather to cooperate to finish the job. Patience, its coming.

I still say they should go with a retractable bridge. Fold that sucker back during the racing action. 

What happened to Dickhead?

Shortages in just about everything from materials to manpower since no one wants to work anymore. It's going to happen. Plans have been made. 

You mean no skilled labor wants to work for $15 an hour in Pennsyltucky anymore.

Old one is coming down as I type.

It's true, kind of sad to see the photos.

Why is it sad? It's a major safety hazard. Hopefully whatever they put in place of it is a safety improvement. 

The only bridge more historic is in Brooklyn

Wanna buy it?

No skilled laborer should or does work for $15 an hour in Pa. when you can make close to that while still in High School at unskilled entry level jobs.

Since you have never spent most of your life there on Friday nights you wouldn't understand. I do understand the safety aspect you are talking about, no one wants to wait till it's too late. I'll be glad to see it at the EMMR. Now continue on with your way you think sprint car racing should be.

I believe Steve Bubb, a reliable source, reported that the new bridge is going to be the same design as the old one but taller, a little wider, and a little longer.

Hope so. A new design would look silly in a place that, thankfully for me and beezr, hasn't changed a whole bunch in at least the 40 years I've been going there.  Midrail cars, wood -covered grandstands, pagodas, whitewash, and pits in the infield are - increasingly were -  fine by me.

I'm not weekly but have been going since 1987, and love the Grove despite its faults. It's a bridge, it's going to be replaced. Hopefully with something better and safer. 

No, what I mean is, the older generations are getting older and there's not much to replace them. 4 dozen people have been in and out of my shop in the past 3 years and the starting wage is 18.53 an hour with generous increases as you learn the job. 2 of them have worked out who were under the age of 30. The rest have been entitled, useless, soft, lazy, and flat out stupid. Too stupid too even realize how stupid they are and not at all ambitious enough to get smarter and at least try to learn from us guys who have been at it for awhile. They just want to work long enough to replenish their unemployment then go sit on their ass for another 6 months. One kid literally pissed on raw materials just to get fired because he worked long enough to get his unemployment. Another one told me how he was gonna make 6 figures being a Youtube "creator". 

How is a person able to get unemployment for getting fired or quitting?  When did the rules change in Pennsylvania? 

I assume you live in Central Pa just like I do.  This is from over tens years ago , so I know covid and  Brandon changed the world. But I worked for a delivery company driving truck, we were all hired at an hourly wage.  Then six months into the job they went to miles and stop pay.  I  lost $100 right out of my paycheck in the blink of an eye.  I  called Pa.Labor and Relations and asked if this was legal, because it seemed like bait and switch.  Hire a full workforce at decent pay and then get us all in there and settled and then cut the pay.

Labor and Relation asked are you still making above minimum wage,  I said yes.   They then said well all is legal. I  responded with so workers are just cattle and they pretty much said yes.  And now people can quit or be fired and get unemployment.   Just let the donkeys keep pulling the wagon, it's more fun to ride.  

 Amen to that! 

First impressions are lasting impressions.  I was introduced to sprint cars 40 years ago from Beer Hill. What you described makes it my favorite place. After touring all the spots you mentioned - front pits, back pits, hot laps in 1and 2 - you'll find me in the infield at the end of the backstretch. Same spot for 40 years - though not as often as I'd like as I'm 200 miles away. 
Heaven on earth !

Why can't they just raise the bridge and rebuild the stairs?