"The concern obviously is shut-down area. Most tracks were built at a time when speeds were no where near what they are today. And due to real estate constraints, most can’t be made any longer."

https://dragracingedge.com/the-blog/shut-down-areas/

Regarding length of tracks: We have a local track that has always run 1/4 mile. Great facility for it. Nice long shut down and catch area on top of that.
They have decided that most racing there next season be 1/8 mile. Like most tracks, they have struggled somewhat with car count. Lot of pressure from some to switch to 1/8 mile to match what is done in bracket finals, and money races, and for fuel and parts savings. Not my words just what I read on F-Book.
My concern is that those who attend this track by choice because it is 1/4 mile, will no longer. They will hit the other 1/4 mile tracks. And I don't know how many additional racers will attend this track because of the switch to 1/8 mile. But I suspect very few.

Any other tracks go through this kind of transition and care to share what the reaction was car count wise?

I would imagine there is some savings to tracks in insurance cost going from 1/4 to 1/8. Maybe not much, but in business, everything helps.

quote:

Originally posted by fivecentcharlie:
I would imagine there is some savings to tracks in insurance cost going from 1/4 to 1/8. Maybe not much, but in business, everything helps.

That's a thought others had as well. But according to track officials, that played no role in the decision.

What track Bucky? Byron or Cordova. I think 66 is DONE.. Heard nothing... I just looked at 66's FB page. Some pizz'd off people there. Yikes....

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TD3550,

We have one of the longest shutdowns at Tulsa with 2710' of shutdown and 200' of sand trap. We made the change over to 1/8 mile in 2013 for super pro and footbrake. Sportsman is still 1/4. We did lose some racers and didn't realize the talked about gain of cars from other tracks. I heard lots of complaining from people about it. Some of those that did only test and tune now. The other tracks around us race the same as we do.

Part attrition was probably lowered and fuel uses is obviously lower but they don't run any quicker to me. I really liked racing 1/4 but also like 1/8. We still race 1/4 at our Nostalgia race which is a really large race but I have stopped running it though because we get a large amount of guys who don't run all that often in that race and I just don't feel like it is fair to them to have face us guys that bracket race constantly. It is an actual Heritage Series race now.

Test and tunes are packed almost every time they have them.

Curtis that shutdown at Tulsa saved me 5 or 6 years ago. I hit the brakes on the top end and the pedal went to the floor. I didn't think to pull the chute because I never use it. It was too late after the fact so I pumped and pumped then probably took the turn off about 25mph. Duh

quote:

Originally posted by TheBlueTruck:
Curtis that shutdown at Tulsa saved me 5 or 6 years ago. I hit the brakes on the top end and the pedal went to the floor. I didn't think to pull the chute because I never use it. It was too late after the fact so I pumped and pumped then probably took the turn off about 25mph. Duh

Being uphill doesn’t hurt either. Glad you didn’t have any worse happen.

I prefer running 1/4 mile but here in Texas most all racing is now 1/8 mile except National events. I have raced on a few 1/8 mile tracks that had terrible shut down even with the speeds we run there. So be prepared for the worst. Have a plan.

As for Brakes and shut down we have talked about this before but I will mention it again.

Have a plan and know it in the dark with oil on your shield and even if you are on fire know what to do. I recommend dual brakes on open wheel cars with a separate master cylinder for the second set of brakes.

If throttle is stuck or brakes fail. One hit Brakes, If you have a secondary brake system now would be perfect time to utilize that. if they do not work hit parachute, hit ignition switch. If it does not kill motor hit fuel and if that does not work throw it into Neutral and let the motor ride the rev limiter or even blow up but do not crash the car. Another thing I would not drive a car that does not have a good diaper or pan. Diapers are too cheap and cars and your life is worth so much more.

But have a plan before hand and know how to do it in worst of circumstances with out hesitation.

quote:

Originally posted by TheBlueTruck:
Curtis that shutdown at Tulsa saved me 5 or 6 years ago. I hit the brakes on the top end and the pedal went to the floor. I didn't think to pull the chute because I never use it. It was too late after the fact so I pumped and pumped then probably took the turn off about 25mph. Duh

I pulled the chutes at 208mph in a door car there right past the finish line and had to crank back up to get to the turn off. never touched the brakes. that was a weird feeling after having both out right at the finish line at Lufkin and all over the brakes.

Steve you should have seen me at Evadale in 2019. I almost went off the end the first pass. And it was a T-Stop pass. It's worse than Hallsville I think.

Anyone here ever race at Mason-Dixon? Last time I was there the end of the short shut down was a guard rail and a ditch!

We have 1/8th mile tracks with short shutdown areas! Or we could go to 330' or 300' like Ft. Gay and Isom. Only 1 1/4mi. track around but they run 1/8mi. for regular bracket classes except Sportsman which is 1/4mi. footbrake.

quote:

Originally posted by ferndaleflyer:
Anyone here ever race at Mason-Dixon? Last time I was there the end of the short shut down was a guard rail and a ditch!

There is one outlaw 1/8 track close to me that has a large dirt pile at the end to keep you from crossing the county road a little further. LOL

I raced there early in my driving career. Time trials weren't a big deal. 1st round I roll up to my guy and make an attempt at racing the stripe. I am still looking at him as I go by. By the time I turn around I am quite a bit further down track still not on the brakes like time trials. I might have peed a little getting stopped. hahaha It really wasn't that big of a deal but being a new driver it seemed like it was.

Fern, ever since the closing of 75-80 I have mostly run at Mason Dixon. Elmer has made a lot of upgrades over the years and I enjoy it there. Ive been 7.82 173 in a door, and stopping is not an issue, no chute required. But mostly 1/8 mile there.