Anyone race in MI?

I'm looking to do some more drag racing in MI this summer. I've raced at Ubly, Milan, Martin & Lapeer, planning to return to Ubly. Looking to race the other tracks I have not been to: Onondaga, Northern Michigan Dragway & Mid Michigan Motorplex.

Mid Michigan has been on the bucket list for a long time for the 50k race. I'm a little unsure about being able to race there, they are supposed to be WDRA & don't know if they will honor NHRA credentials. Plus, for the 50K race they're only allowing 35 racers to enter bottom bulb class. I guess I need to start inquiring about the requirements.

Any information about the tracks I haven't run at would be appreciated.

2BKING

131, Mid, Lapeer and ubly are supposedly all WDRA. You will be fine. Yes the no box side of the 50 is a small car count and it fills quickly. Northern is fun, can be sandy depending on where you park, no sanction to my knowledge. Personally I wouldn't waste my time and dollars on ubly, but that is up to you.

If you go to Milan you HAVE to go to the little store just south of the track on Plank RD, they have the best polish sausages I have ever had, in the winter I make the 200 mile rd trip and get about 10 packages of them for the off-season.

Thanks guys!

#1 goal is to have fun & Northern looked like a cool place. I looked at the satellite view & was slightly confused about pits/staging lanes on both sides of the track.

When we raced in the past, Ubly was one of the most kicked back & relaxing times we had while racing in MI. Lapeer was a shyt hole, when we were there; but has new owner(s) & improvements, that I here.

I'm going to contact Mid about the 50k race & get more info about the no box class.

Besides Mid, this 2-month summer trip is about having fun while racing. My sister, brother-in-law & friends like to tag along or race. I got some wins in the past & that was icing on the cake!

2BKING

When you raced at Ubly it was operated by Tom and Sharon Ledford & family, those days are long gone, they do own and operate Northern.

I haven't been to Northern since 2015, I have heard they have added more pit space.

I have only raced Lapeer once since Bill took over and resurfaced the track. The track worked well and he is continually working to improve the place. His bracket program is limited but well attended from what I understand.

Thanks Wildman! Maybe we'll give Lapeer a try again instead of Ubly.

I'm going to contact Northern & Mid, plus I'm looking into tracks in Northern IN & OH. My dad's place is south central MI & looking for places somewhat close.

2BKING

quote:

Originally posted by B KING:
#1 goal is to have fun & Northern looked like a cool place. I looked at the satellite view & was slightly confused about pits/staging lanes on both sides of the track.

I ran up there once a few years ago and had an absolute blast. Here are a couple posts from the trip:

Northern Michigan #1

Northern Michigan #2

We run at 131 with the NMCA in July, it is a bit hectic as its also an NMRA race so place gets really full but very nice track. You will be in the grass at a big race there for sure.

You might want to throw an Ohio track or two to that list. Some really nice places to race in that part of the world if you are willing to travel a few hours which is not even an option here.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Beard:

quote:

Originally posted by B KING:
#1 goal is to have fun & Northern looked like a cool place. I looked at the satellite view & was slightly confused about pits/staging lanes on both sides of the track.

I ran up there once a few years ago and had an absolute blast. Here are a couple posts from the trip:

Northern Michigan #1

Northern Michigan #2

Thanks M Beard, The Bowtie Challenge is the race race I'm looking at running. Your post clarified how the system works & I think the race is scheduled for the end of June.

2BKING Thanks again Michael!

quote:

Originally posted by Al Alguire:
We run at 131 with the NMCA in July, it is a bit hectic as its also an NMRA race so place gets really full but very nice track. You will be in the grass at a big race there for sure.

You might want to throw an Ohio track or two to that list. Some really nice places to race in that part of the world if you are willing to travel a few hours which is not even an option here.

Thanks Al, 131 is a nice facility & I raced there in 2013 or 14. My dad & step-mom took us there as kids. That's where the seed was planted in my mind to someday drag race.

I'm looking at OH, but it seems like I'm pre-booking too many races in MI.

My main purpose for going back to MI is putting up wood for my dad. Hauling the car back & racing is a side gig, time permitting.

2BKING is grateful for all the information!

quote:

Thanks M Beard, The Bowtie Challenge is the race race I'm looking at running. Your post clarified how the system works & I think the race is scheduled for the end of June.

There are 4 staging lanes on each side of the track. Odd numbers are Left, even numbers are Right. They call the (Chevys in the Bowtie Battle example) to lanes 2 & 3, and everyone else to 1 & 2, then pair cars side by side (1&2, 3&4), so you always have a Chevy vs something else. It's a late crowd, and they DO get a crowd. I don't think there's much to do up there besides huntin', fishin', and racin'. Saturday morning of the event, I slept in and still have a few hours to kill before they even started time runs. Headed west until I ran into the lake and did what I call drive-by sightseeing, and just followed the lake north. Found a little diner, had a GREAT burger, then turned the GPS on to get back to the track. Fun adventure.

Here's that original post:
Northern Michigan sightseeing

armco guardrails perfect place for the clueless to race their shytboxes. Better make sure they have a place for the life flight chopper to land.

That's the risk I'll take if I decide to race there, same as M. Beard; I'm not scared. I've made a trip in the flight for life chopper in 2009, 2-year recovery; I'm not scared.

Clueless is you in the driver's seat with your brain bucket on, trying to compete; with not a clue on how to get out of the 1st round (Big Duck)! You have chosen to ride on your son's coattails & not be clueless in the compete seat. You & your son will find out soon enough, how clueless you're in the compete seat!

Now, where are your adamant stupid street outlaw keyboard call outs at? I'm coming East of the Mississippi & trying to get in "The Original $50 Grander" as they state.

2BKING is not scared!

you are skeered!

Northern's Mopar against the world is another great race they put on. I think it's at the end of July this year. Reasonable entry fee, with a great pay out.

BRACKET I (box class)
$2000 to Win Friday/$6000 to Win Saturday
$175 weekend entry or $100 Friday/$125 Saturday
$40 re-entry Friday/$50 re-entry Saturday

RACKET II (no box class)
$2000 to Win Friday/$10,000 to Win Saturday
$175 weekend entry or $100 Friday/$125 Saturday
$40 re-entry Friday/$50 re-entry Saturday

quote:

Originally posted by Thurston:
Northern's Mopar against the world is another great race they put on. I think it's at the end of July this year. Reasonable entry fee, with a great pay out.

BRACKET I (box class)
$2000 to Win Friday/$6000 to Win Saturday
$175 weekend entry or $100 Friday/$125 Saturday
$40 re-entry Friday/$50 re-entry Saturday

RACKET II (no box class)
$2000 to Win Friday/$10,000 to Win Saturday
$175 weekend entry or $100 Friday/$125 Saturday
$40 re-entry Friday/$50 re-entry Saturday

Thanks Thurston!

I run no box & I see the payout is $2,500 higher than the Bowtie race. I wonder if it's a typo in their schedule or it's not as popular race.

ED, if it makes you feel better about yourself, I'm scared! Now, I'm calling you out on your callouts; you must be skeered!

The Mopar race has been going on for years. I believe they started the Bowtie race some years back, because of the success of the Mopar raced. And they also have a similar race the the FOMOCO bunch.

Keep in mind the truck is pretty much in the middle of nowhere, in the Northern part of the lower peninsula. Gotta go about a half mile down a dirt road to get to the gate. But always had a great time.

Thanks again!

I'll probably run the Bowtie event in June. The Mopar race date is too close to the Mid Michigan 50k race, that I hope to get into the 32 car no box class.

2BKING

The Mid Mich Motorplex has a cool nobox program for the $50K. We usually race the $50, but this year we are planning on racing PDRA at 131 that weekend. You can't go wrong with Northern Mi Dragway either.