Build A Raceway

[AB195]

Speaking of Florida Raceways (by Jane), what components of any Raceway from Florida, past or present, have made an enormous impact on your memory, and if you could extract certain components from any given Florida Raceway to build a fine entertaining show to witness. Not at all shiny and new whatsoever, but the old oddities of old oddball components that are in your mind. For example, my ideal Raceway would haveplus or minus)-

-the frontstretch of Golden Gate
-the high banks of Bronson
-the negative #2 turn of Hialeah
-the backstretch curve of St. Augustine
-the #3 and #4 turns of Desoto
-the parking lot of New Smyrna
-the entrance of Volusia County
-the concourse of Orlando Speedworld
-the P/A system of Ocala
-the photographer of Bobby 5/5 Day
-the lighting of Lakeland, or the Sunshine of Fort Pierce
-the old pressbox of New Smyrna
-the grandstands of Sunshine
-the pits of CCMP
-the pit staff of Jane, the teck crew of East Bay
-the infield of Desoto
-the announcer of CCMP
-the bathrooms of Orlando Speedworld
-the food of Putnam County
-the admission of old Jax
-the fans of Five Flags
-the car counts of Citrus County
-the flagman at Ocala
-the track cleanup crew of Palm Beach

So on and so forthe, you get the drill. This is merely an example of things that have really stuck into my mind. I am sure you have others, however, no slights are given to anyone at all on this very short list of my opinions, so nobody can shed a tear as to thier omissions, it's merely a drill.

[flvideo]

Ab195, What do you like about turn 3 and 4 at Desoto? The last time I went around them it was rougher than a cobb. You needed a kidney belt. I do like the banking. Is that what you like? Bob...

[OLD STYLE RACER 2]

You also said "Flag man" at Ocala......Which one????

[M_Seay10]

My track would have the water truck from Orange County.

[Edm]

The rib sandwiches from Bronson,
The mini do-nuts from Lakeland,
The atmosphere from Volusia during speedweeks and Lakeland anytime,
The hooters girls from Lakeland,

[TINYTIMDSS]

my track would have to be dirt and would combine 2 tracks I grew up going to in wester Pa Don Martins Lernerville Speedway in Sarver PA and Pittsburgh pa motor speedway in Noblestown PA. would take the size of PPMS with there grand stand up a hill I believe if I am right Benny the mulle know what I am talking about and for the surface the sticky clay red clay of Lernervill and the pits on the out side of 3 and 4. that was always fun at Lernerville the one set of restrooms was right next to the pits and staging so you could see the next class in staging and back in the late 80s early 90s seeing drivers going in to the bathroom and change from the business suit in to his fire suite.

[Boneman]

The pavement should leak water like Orlando.

If the track has less than 100 cars, make that track refund $0.10 for every car that they are short. Example, 75 cars show up, so the track refunds $2.50 for every ticket.

Make sure it has a toxic shock ambulance like Orange County had.

Speakers from WW1 like the ones hanging toward the first turn at New Smyrna.

How about a roach motel pressbox like a certain track in my area?

Sagging, swaying grandstands like Anderson Speedway in Indiana.

Hopefully the drain field will back up and form puddles that block the front ticket booth. (I've seen it recently, but I believe this has been fixed)

Position the pits between the stands and the track. This way, the fans can see the Auburndale quality pit brawls better.

Leave the blunt end of a pit wall exposed so cars can impale and launch themselves off of it like Volusia.

Include a figure 8 track so the drivers can talk smack all week, then show up with 4 cars.

I'm just poking fun. I only meant a couple of these.

[Todd McCreary]

Position the pits between the pits and the track.

that will be a neat trick. is it anything like this?



for the track surface, i'd duplicate Slinger. and the promotion staff too.

[ALASKA54]

I went to a track, several years ago, in Chatsworth, Ga., N. Ga. Speedway and between the track and the stands was a area for the children to play. Parents could watch the race and know where their children were at.
Going to check out the Lucas Oil Races at Sylvania and Swainsboro this weekend, heard a lot of good things about them but never been. Hopeful for clear weather up there.

[AJ14]

I can't possibly top Bonemans' list , but as long as we're dreaming i'd like to see road courses built strictly for Saturday or Sunday stock car racing . I've always wondered how well a weekly show of stock cars ( all the classes we currently have ) turning right and left would do .

[Frasson118]

Infield mounted flagstand, like at Oswego Speedway. It overhangs the front straight while facing the fans.

Tiered "drive-in" parking like Crossville (TN) Raceway. From your lawn chair next to your car, you have an unobstructed view of the entire track. The track itself is built in a bowl between some foothills, so it's like looking down from above. Absolutely the best view of any track I've been to.

Moulton (AL) Speedway has an access lane built between the front stretch and the grandstands. The race winners are brought down that lane, where they do the Victory Lane stuff, and encourage fans to meet the driver and get a picture or two. Not only does this give fans an up-close-and-personal experience, it does NOT delay any action on the track... next event is already on the track surface.

The Dirt Track @ Lowes also has an access road, but it stretches from turn 4 all the way to turn 3. Each heat race is lined up in front of the grandstands (great for photos and a quick word with the drivers). They are then moved to the back straight where they enter the track surface in turn 3, already lined up to take the green after 1-1/4 laps. NO delays in line-ups, endless laps behind a pace car, and a chance to see every single car up close before they hit the track. The infield Jumbo-tron is also a great addition.

Nashville (TN) Raceway has a recessed infield, where you can see over the top of all the transporters in the infield pits. They also have a tunnel under the back straight so crews can come and go without dirtying up the track, or causing a delay at the crossover gate. I wish New Smyrna would do something... I haven't seen the back stretch in 15 years!

East Bay's full service restaurant is also a good idea. It stays open a few hours after the races, and during multi-day shows it opens early in the morning. I'm not a breakfast guy, but it's like a "who's - who" in there in the mornings. Not many tracks you can get a steak and egg breakfast if you'd like!

Although it's not something you could build, the view at Rome (GA) Speedway is awesome. Built on a mountain hillside, you overlook a valley and other foothills. I've seen clouds (possibly just fog) BELOW the altitude of the track.

Any track with late-night (and somewhat illegal) "entertainment" is always fun. Ask anyone who participated in the shopping cart races/demo derbies at Trenton, NJ ('borrowed' from the shopping plaza out by the main road) or the horse sulkies "borrowed" from the barns at Syracuse (NY). We all agree, it's something we'll never forget!!!

Not seen anywhere in Florida that I've seen, is covered grandstands. It can get loud (but I'm cool with that), but it carries a sound like you've never heard at a racetrack. Not to mention it's appreciated when the skies open up.

I can think of a lot of things that I like or dislike about the on-track action, but as a fan, these are some things that stick out in my mind that made for a pleasant experience at the track!

[AJ14]

I always liked the covered grandstands at Nashville Fairgrounds . Good idea when you think about it , but winds and storms in Florida would play havoc with the roof .
Any track , any where , should concentrate on moving the trucks , billboards , poles , buildings , and anything else that even remotely blocks the view of any part of the track from the stands . Ita like buying a ticket to a concert or ball game and being behind a pillar . Theres no excuse for blocking the view of the people you're trying to convince to come back every week .
And NASCAR is just as bad . Look at the new building they put up opposite the frontstretch grandstands at Daytona a few years ago that completely blocks the view of the backstretch .

[JackTripper]

Williams Grove - a tunnel under the track to an infield area for fans with General Admission tickets to go and hang out.

[Benny The Mule]

Tinytimdss your right about PA speedway, i was really impressed with the whole deal, the track, the racing, the staff and all the friendly fans who filled me in on who's-who in each division.

Build a track? PA speedway stands, williams grove configuration and the surface of Black Eagle Raceway in Lincoln Nebraska.

[Winger]

Jerry always has great posts. You da man.

Speaking of tiered racetracks, Middletown, NY has backstretch parking on tiers. Campers on top tier. I believe they also have a radio frequency they announce on also. You can listen to the PA over your car radio. If not, it's another track.

Covered grandstands are great when the weather turns sour or the sun is beating down. The only one the noise really bothered me at was Oswego where it was made of, and lined with, steel panels. With today's building technology, I think they could be built easily in Florida to withstand anything but the worse of storms.

Always a pet peeve of mine was having unnecessary stuff in the infield that blocks the view. At some tracks that means haulers. At others that may mean the cars. Signs and buildings are terrible.

The access area between the track and grandstand is a great idea. The first time I saw it used was at a little dirt track in Afton, NY.

The "Jumbletron" is a great feature. I love it at Volusia during speedweeks. I wonder what one of those things cost?

A playground area for the kids to play. I've watched the one at Ocala being used and know it might have been easier on my mother if she'd had something like this available.

Ticket booths like Eastbay or Lebanon Valley where there are several windows available to buy tickets. I hate waiting in long lines.

AJ made a point about a road course. I always thought a track with "inverted dog legs" would be interesting. (basically a figure 8 track except you don't cross at the X. You have to turn right.) It would still be a type of oval racing but a couple right hand turns thrown in.

A camping area with showers for multi-day shows, which should be few and far between. Of course the "entertainment" at these is a must. Some of my most memorable racing memories occurred at the "Ghetto" at Syracuse.

Probably the most important feature would have to be the surface and track. Any track, asphalt or dirt, should be capable of providing side by side racing with multiple grooves. A dirt track should have a good smooth tacky surface. I don't like the way many dirt tracks have gone to the hard slick surface. A track should have the proper equipment for track maintenance. Something to spread speedy dry and decent blowers on asphalt, as well as working wreckers, etc for accidents. The dirt tracks need something like Volusia has for working the track if it get "rubbered up" like it did during the speedweek shows I attended. They spent a little time working the track with whatever that contraption is and it improved the racing 10 fold. Again, working water trucks, tow vehicles, and cleanup crews are crucial.

A well lit, clean, paved pit area for the competitors. It should include clean restrooms and good concessions. MY pit area would be closed to kids and adults that are not drivers or part of the pit crews. I think many pit areas are just lawsuits waiting to happen presently.

If I built a track it would not have walls in the turns but would have run off areas like Rolling Wheels in NY. Fewer wrecks, fewer cautions, fewer damaged cars and everyone wins. I would not have "equipment tires", or fences, on the inside of the corners or track. I think the tires cause wrecks. (Sorry Mike) On asphalt, nothing much is needed, maybe a rumble strip, because it's a disadvantage to cut the corners. On dirt a slightly raised berm is enough. A solid wall is ok but not necessary, IMO.

Great lighting like Ocala is a must, as well as a PA system. Even broadcasting the race on an AM and/or radio frequency is a good idea. I use to go to the NASCAR races with my scanner and would often listen to MRN during the race to try to keep up with things.

An open concession area with good food is a must. I don't like the tracks that have small concession areas where you are always bumping into people. Spread the booths out some. Eliminate the "dollar bill only" policies that many tracks have and make sure the booths have change on hand.

Obviously, or so it would seem, you need sufficient clean restrooms. That reminds me of a Florida track where the concessions are fairly close to the restrooms that you can smell a mile away. I don't get any food.

My track would also have a good version of the National Anthem to play. I've been to some tracks where I cringe when I hear it. It would also have a flag that is in a prominent position so you don't spend half the national anthem looking for it, if it's your first time there.

I've purposely left out the size and banking of the track. I like high banked tracks for the speed but the racing is usually better on a lesser banked track. However, variable banking is changing that on asphalt. I like tracks 1/2 mile and larger. Again the tracks that are approximately 1/3 mile seem to provide better racing. But a properly built larger track with the right banking and a wide racing surface that is properly prepared can provide great racing. Rolling Wheels in NY is a good example. It can have great racing and it can have some of the worse. So I guess my ideal track would be a 1/2+ mile oval track with a very wide racing surface and variable banking (but not extremely high banking), and "inverted doglegs". It would also have smaller flatter corners built on the inside, so you could actually have two tracks in one.