What's the coldest you've ever been at a race track?

[oldyeller]

With no racing this weekend -- except for Grand Am testing at Daytona, I guess -- thought it might be worth asking. For me, it had to be the New Year's race at Sandusky Speedway at Ohio, and it looks like this year's race was about like the one I remember -- it was the only time we've even had to move snow to find a place to sit in the grandstands. It was fun until the hot chocolate and chemical "Hot Hands" ran out...

http://www.sanduskyspeedway.com/

[BJ Cavin]

I don't know if this was the coldest that I've ever been at a track, but it certainly FELT the coldest! It was a few years ago at Ocala Speedway, and if my memory serves me right, it was opening weekend. We rained out on the first night and came back the following night, and it was COLD! The actual temperature was probably in the mid 30's, but the wind was howling and it felt much colder. And I remember that it was so uncomfortable out there that most people simply could not take it anymore and left, so the program was cut short. Mike Peters might remember better because I think it was the first year that he and Angie owned the track.

[Cara]

One night during Speedweeks at NSS when I was a kid. 28 degrees!!! Someone had spilled there cup with soda in it on the grandstands before they left and the drink froze.

[ocalasp76]

I don't know if this was the coldest that I've ever been at a track, but it certainly FELT the coldest! It was a few years ago at Ocala Speedway, and if my memory serves me right, it was opening weekend. We rained out on the first night and came back the following night, and it was COLD! The actual temperature was probably in the mid 30's, but the wind was howling and it felt much colder. And I remember that it was so uncomfortable out there that most people simply could not take it anymore and left, so the program was cut short. Mike Peters might remember better because I think it was the first year that he and Angie owned the track.

You are real close there BJ. It was opening night 2007 we rained out.
I was at practice the night before and left the car and RV at the track. When I came back to get the rig in the rain Friday, the inside of the RV was flooded due to a hole in the roof. We traded it in that weekend and came back the following week to the cold and ran the heat. Ocala went to dirt the next year in 2008. We bought this RV from Robbie Coopers dad Tom.
-GEM-

[Mark Keeler]

For me it was either 91 or 92 at the Icebreaker at Thompson (CT)... In APRIL, we got snowed out on day one! I remember the shirts that the track printed that year had a picture of a Modified with snow covered tires... I thought it was quite fitting...

I know snow in New England is nothing new... but it was APRIL!

[ams311]

cold burrrrrrr

THE COLDEST FOR ME WAS OCTOBER 1999 A HOOTERS PRO CUP RACE A LAKELAND IT HAD TO BE 29 OR 30 DAME IT WAS COLD.

[Boneman]

This sounds stupid, but its true. The coldest I've ever been was at Hialeah in Miami. How? I didn't dress for it. I was spectating, but only had a light jacket and the night was in the low 40's. I grew up down there, so I didn't have much cold tolerance anyway. As I recall, the heat didn't work in my street car either.

The coldest ever was during a ski trip. I was skiing from early morning until late night. The lift ride to the top was about 20 minutes, so the last trip up was in the dark, with the wind in my face, after 10+ hours in the snow. Unforgetable!

[ronabneysr]

cold bangor maine 2 am 29 below zero 1980

was picking up a tank to take back to fort hood the kind with the big gun on top weighs over 100 ooo lbs and had extra engine on rear of trailer

the roads were closed so decided to spend night on base all compfy back in sleeper tshirt on and pair boxer shorts .

had to go to bath room so i put my house shoes on and was going to stand out on steps of the conventional peter built and write my name in snow no one was around as i turned to get back in truck my feet slipped out frm under me i grabed top of door missed hit door it slamed shut

i was out side locked out till i turned purple about two hours later guard came by i don't even remember much after that .

after first hour it don't matter

[Andy S]

Back in the UK my regular motorbike speedway track was in the middle of the Fens out on the outskirts of a town called King's Lynn. Absolutely flat fields all around it with barely any trees, and just a few miles off the North Sea coast. Added to that the spectators in the corners stood on a dirt bank that was up all around the track as a noise reduction measure, so you were perched up there above the line of the stadium fences, with the cold north wind whistling around you. Plenty of early and late season races there saw the weather down in the 30s with the wind-chill taking it well below freezing. I can still feel that freezing wind whipping up across the Fens now...

Coldest I've ever been at a sporting event was the Giants vs Titans game at the Meadowlands in December 2003. About 20 degrees, covered in snow and a freezing wind dropping the temperature down even further, but my now-wife had paid a fortune to get good tickets to see an NFL game so nothing was stopping us. I remember having to wear two hats and two pairs of gloves, and I think we bought about 5 coffees during the game - not to drink but to hold and absorb heat from before they went cold!

[Old Sunshine Fan]

For me it was WAY back in time at Sunshine... about 30 degrees and only a dozen or so fans in the stands (I think most of them were under one blanket)...it was cold as hell.
Second time was at Citrus, made coffee and hot choclate for everyone (until we ran out) - remember that Jane/Alex (boy could that kid put away the hot choclate). Not sure about the exact temp - but it was COOOOooold!

[Camaro guy]

It's a toss-up. A few years ago, we were at the Volusia Sunday afternoon races in late January. The wind was blowing right into my face in the main grandstands. I put the hood of my jacket up and every time the pack went by, I could hear the little bits of clay hitting the hood like BB's. The other time was a Thanksgiving weekend race to end the Hooters Procup season in Lakeland. I forget what year, but we had our usual seats at the very top of the stands. Between the cold and the wind, we were about frozen stiff by the time we left. I think we were almost to Ocala before I could feel my toes again.

[carolwicks]

Nss

a few years back Linda and I drove over to NSS for a big race... sat in the first row in the pits. a tall gorgeous guy sat down next to me and asked if he could share my blanket. now what was i supposed to do? he actually kept me as warm as i kept him... when the race was over he smiled and said thank you so much and left.... not sure what kept linda warm...lol it was so darned cold... but i sure enjoyed it... ;-)
carol aka OZ

[flvideo]

For me it was probably 1995 or so at Desoto. It was in late nov probably the last race of the year. It got down to 30 or so that night and the wind was blowing. I remember I had worn layers of clothes and my long johns. My hands got so cold, i can't shoot with gloves, they were numb, I had to lay my camera down at times and put my hands in my jacket pocket to restore the circulation. I was praying for the night to end. Well about 10:15 or so the lights went out. Did we end the program? NO! we waited till the power CO. got there and we finished the program. It was about 2AM before we got done. Brrrrrrrrr! Bob...

[ancrdave]

Late '70s at Volusia... Had gone to the daytime Sunday Sprint Car finale at East Bay... a beautiful sunny day there and a great race with temps around 60... Left there and went to a night Sprint Car show at Volusia... By feature time the temp was around 25... You could not sit in the stands or you would freeze solid so we stood by the fence in turn one next to a big metal trash can that folks were burning stuff in to stay warm... Eventually they ran out of trash to burn so a couple of guys went into the turn one restroom and tore the stall walls down and burned them!!! The last thing they tossed in was the toilet seat!! All I remember from that night is that Rick Ferkel won...

[andre]

[I]During the Super Dirt week, 1982, at Oswego Speedway on Saturday night, big Mod and Super Mod show, my hands were shaking so bad, could not keep my coffee in the cup. And, on top of that, I had to sit on steel bleacher.

And, when we go to ice racing, then often it's -20 or -30, but you're dress for it.

I]