Talladega

[cantflip]

Go if you must but in my opinion once you have heard one fuel car run the rest are the same.
Actually I take that back. Go to Gatornationals and watch John Force make a pass or two. That's as good as fuel cars will ever get.
The race you are supposed to go to with Doug on 28th sounds great, simple structure, no Honda civics, no diesel pick ups.

We go to Bithlo in November sometimes for their "night of fire" event with the jet cars/trucks/buses... The bracket racing they use as filler material bugs me so bad I planned to enter my old RV, until a wheel cylinder went out. I figured my attempts would at least be somewhat funny to watch as opposed to a country squire making the finals on egg timer passes.

I've been down on a couple "test and tune" nights too... kind of fun when they turn off the clock and go heads up. I can't say I ever felt the overwhelming desire to drive though. I think I would have a lot more fun playing with the SCCA folks, but after my car accidents, not going to happen for this guy.

I would like to get to the GN race one time just because... for years they ran the same weekend as Sebring's 12 hour and that was a no contest for me. Bithlo isn't a great track, and I know it... but it is an easy to get to day out when I have someone who wants to go.

I sometimes go to New Smyrna with my neighbor. He did a lot of local racing in the late 60's and 70's and into the 80's and has a fondness for that place. Some of his old race buddies join him and those fella's have been kind enough to include me. Years ago I used to go to Charlotte County down by @67Monaco and even picked up a rule book once to see what it would take to play in the cheap classes. I'm too much a spectator, I prefer to drink a beer and watch someone else spend the money or duct tape the parts back on that fell off.

I never did make it to one of the dirt tracks here... I imagine dirt to be a lot of fun to drive... IDK how much I want to watch it though. The TV version is never the same... With the right company, I'm up for almost anything auto related. I even went to the monster trucks a few times when work sponsored them and I could get cheap tickets. When flying solo, I tend to stick with the stuff I really like, and I also tend to get too busy to give myself time off to go do that stuff... something I have been trying to change these last couple of years.

The Imperials are great therapy, and I don't ever seem to give myself enough time for them.

 

[1978 NYB]

Enjoy those Imps Jeff!

 

[67Monaco]

We go to Bithlo in November sometimes for their "night of fire" event with the jet cars/trucks/buses... The bracket racing they use as filler material bugs me so bad I planned to enter my old RV, until a wheel cylinder went out. I figured my attempts would at least be somewhat funny to watch as opposed to a country squire making the finals on egg timer passes.

I've been down on a couple "test and tune" nights too... kind of fun when they turn off the clock and go heads up. I can't say I ever felt the overwhelming desire to drive though. I think I would have a lot more fun playing with the SCCA folks, but after my car accidents, not going to happen for this guy.

I would like to get to the GN race one time just because... for years they ran the same weekend as Sebring's 12 hour and that was a no contest for me. Bithlo isn't a great track, and I know it... but it is an easy to get to day out when I have someone who wants to go.

I sometimes go to New Smyrna with my neighbor. He did a lot of local racing in the late 60's and 70's and into the 80's and has a fondness for that place. Some of his old race buddies join him and those fella's have been kind enough to include me. Years ago I used to go to Charlotte County down by @67Monaco and even picked up a rule book once to see what it would take to play in the cheap classes. I'm too much a spectator, I prefer to drink a beer and watch someone else spend the money or duct tape the parts back on that fell off.

I never did make it to one of the dirt tracks here... I imagine dirt to be a lot of fun to drive... IDK how much I want to watch it though. The TV version is never the same... With the right company, I'm up for almost anything auto related. I even went to the monster trucks a few times when work sponsored them and I could get cheap tickets. When flying solo, I tend to stick with the stuff I really like, and I also tend to get too busy to give myself time off to go do that stuff... something I have been trying to change these last couple of years.

The Imperials are great therapy, and I don't ever seem to give myself enough time for them.

I sit out in the lanai on Saturday nights and listen to 'em race 'til 11. I just wish the track was bigger, this way some of the better races would come down this way. Best we get is eastern modifieds. 4-17 Southern Speedway and Events

 

[BIGBARNEYCARS]

[QUOTE="BIGBARNEYCARS,
Next time we tip ah long neck Pal I'll tell you a little story 'bout the 1st 'Daga race that all the Hot Shoes of the day boycotted 'cept Bobby Isaac because of the uneven asphalt surface waz doing to the driverz innardz at flat out speed.

That wasen't the issue Jer. The real issue was tires, or lack of adequate tires for the high speeds. That's what the Professional drivers assc. was established for, (with Richard Petty as president and spokesman), and why most of the regular drives loaded up and went home. Goodyear knew the problem and pulled out before the event.
The full field was established with a last hour effort with local talent, mostly from BIR, (Birmingham international raceway). Who were paid to show up and start the race.
Richard Brickhouse won in a Daytona.
Top ten......

1. Richard Brickhouse (No. 99)
2. Jim Vandiver (No. 3)
3. Ramo Stott (No. 14)
4. Bobby Isaac (No. 71), 1 lap behind
5. Dick Brooks (No. 32), 8 laps behind
6. Earl Brooks (No. 26), 24 laps behind
7. Jimmy Vaughn (No. 7), 29 laps behind
8. Billy Hagan (No. 52), 33 laps behind
9. Tiny Lund (No. 53), 36 laps behind
10. Coo Coo Marlin (No. 07), 38 laps behind

[/QUOTE]
O.K Pal but I think were both half right on the track surface and the inadequate tirez thing. I'm pretty certain that track was completely ground off and re-surfaced(AGAIN) after that first race. I've been told that Larry Rathgeb spent more time in Akron at G/Y after that race then he did in Hamtramck for a good long. time.

 

[bluefury361]

[QUOTE="BIGBARNEYCARS,
[/QUOTE]
O.K Pal but I think were both half right on the track surface and the inadequate tirez thing. I'm pretty certain that track was completely ground off and re-surfaced.[/QUOTE]



First, My good friend, let me qualify myself.
My last job, where I actually collected a pay check, was working for NASCAR at Talladega Superspeedway. 2005 to 2008. I worked for the ticket office in marketing and track promotion, (like Talladega needed to be promoted). I primarily traveled throughout the South east with a special exhibit unit attending racing venues, large fairs, private events and sponsor obligations. It was a great job until the economy flopped and the program was eliminated.

Aside from the on road duty's I was a odd job handyman around the facility, worked in the museum, even was the back up tour bus driver. I was working there when the filming of "Talladega nights" took place. That was interesting, I'll tell you some stories about that sometime.
Anyways, what I'm saying is that I have a lot of knowledge about the Talladega Superspeedway, (Formally the "Alabama international speedway"). The track did experience some upgrades early on. Actually the surface was still incomplete when the first event was held.
The only time it has been repaved was in 2006. I watched the whole thing..... fascinating. I have over 200 digital pictures of the process on two discs giving to me by the project superintendent.
No disrespect Jer, your my buddy, but TIRES was the issue.

 

[cantflip]

Dag Will... I'm NEVER going to argue with you... you'll just dust off another chapter of that resume and crush me.

At least now I know who to call to figure out where the best seats are if I ever make it up there.

 

[cantflip]

I sit out in the lanai on Saturday nights and listen to 'em race 'til 11. I just wish the track was bigger, this way some of the better races would come down this way. Best we get is eastern modifieds. 4-17 Southern Speedway and Events

It's been about 20 years since I was there, but we always seemed to find the fire ants when sitting in the grass. Bought my first collapsible chairs because of that place.

You're right, it is a shame it's so small... but it always had a good atmosphere in my time there.

 

[BIGBARNEYCARS]

I can only repeat what waz told to me over lunch on a few occasions in Poletown at that time. The gentleman that ran the racing program from the engine development lab at that time and the two Larrys that worked under him then were the other 3 at the table. Please believe Will, Our Friendship iz in no jeopardy. It iz My honor to call you My Friend.That will never change. Those luncheons had me in pretty rare air in the late '60s. I just look at it from a different perspective, Jer

 

[bluefury361]

[QUOTE="cantflip,.
At least now I know who to call to figure out where the best seats are if I ever make it up there.[/QUOTE]



The name of the grandstands escapes me Jeff, but you want to be at the start/finish line, front stretch past the tri oval, as high up as you can.
The problem with being there in person is that it's a 2.66 mile track and it's tough to see it all. The other good viewing area is at the end of the 3000 ft long back stretch right at turn 3, but there are no grand stands there.
The experience of a pack of 20 plus cup cars blasting past at WOT together is unforgettable. Not only heard, but felt. Add the smell of racing fuel and rubber and it's why everyone stands up every time the pack passes.
I watched the first truck race there from the stands, as well as several ARCA, Busch & Cup races, but I prefer TV. Better to "see" the race.

 

[cantflip]

[QUOTE="cantflip,.
At least now I know who to call to figure out where the best seats are if I ever make it up there.

The name of the grandstands escapes me Jeff, but you want to be at the start/finish line, front stretch past the tri oval, as high up as you can.
The problem with being there in person is that it's a 2.66 mile track and it's tough to see it all. The other good viewing area is at the end of the 3000 ft long back stretch right at turn 3, but there are no grand stands there.
The experience of a pack of 20 plus cup cars blasting past at WOT together is unforgettable. Not only heard, but felt. Add the smell of racing fuel and rubber and it's why everyone stands up every time the pack passes.
I watched the first truck race there from the stands, as well as several ARCA, Busch & Cup races, but I prefer TV. Better to "see" the race.[/QUOTE]

My seats at Daytona, when they existed... I would buy a block of seats somewhere in Lund rows 16-20... High enough to see, not enough stairs to kill anyone, far enough from the exit of turn 2 that the stuff that started in the turn often wrecked in front of us (not lying, I watched for the wrecks), and we had the big TV right across from us to see the parts of the field that we couldn't see well... if the cameras were in the right direction.

As a avid fan at the time, I liked being able to track the field and knew who was driving what. The TV coverage often wasn't (still isn't) where I wanted to look. Maybe I'm giving myself too much credit, but I often could spot problems sometime before they got coverage. I often told Viv which cars to watch as they were showing signs of a problem.

A driver who always annoyed me, but may have had more raw talent and less sense than the field around him was Kyle Busch. I can't count how many times I watched him drive the dog poop out of a car too early in a race and then have problems later because of a wreck or the tires he had beat up. It seemed silly to try to hang the rear out every lap of a 400 or 500 mile race... but I watched him do it a bunch while the TV was looking at the front of the field.

It was fun to watch the roll cage padding on the track get ignored until the pit stops were over when the officials got wise to the game. Or who had smoke coming from the car and where.
Who was having trouble in turns and such.

I found the start/finish line to be boring and I don't see the appeal of watching pit row... TV often catches the big screw ups and I can't track that many teams working at once.

We camped outside the track by turn 1 several times. That was the last affordable place on property to do so. I kept the spot for a couple years, before they rearranged it because I had a great neighbor "Buddy". Buddy had raced on the beach and in the early days of the track. I don't remember his last name, but it was pretty cool hearing his stories. I don't think he had many races left in him last time we were there, but I really disliked the "progress" at the track killing off all the things I liked... which BTW, were also the cheapest things they had to offer.

 

[bluefury361]

[QUOTE="cantflip,
It was fun to watch the roll cage padding on the track

I found the start/finish line to be boring and I don't see the appeal of watching pit row... TV often catches the big screw ups and I can't track that many teams working at once.QUOTE]



It was always a guess who tossed the roll bar padding out to instigate a "debris" caution.

Even though Daytona is is also a restrictor plate track, (and also a great race), it dosen't compare to Talladega. Dega is a little wider with higher banks. But the best part of Dega is where the start/finish line is. halfway between the tri oval and turn one. The lead on the last lap usual changes in that space with more then one driver going for it.... Even by todays "restricted" rules it always makes for an exciting finish with anyone's guess who'll get there first. Only track that really compares is Darlington.

 

[cantflip]

[QUOTE="cantflip,
It was fun to watch the roll cage padding on the track

I found the start/finish line to be boring and I don't see the appeal of watching pit row... TV often catches the big screw ups and I can't track that many teams working at once.QUOTE]



It was always a guess who tossed the roll bar padding out to instigate a "debris" caution.

Even though Daytona is is also a restrictor plate track, (and also a great race), it dosen't compare to Talladega. Dega is a little wider with higher banks. But the best part of Dega is where the start/finish line is. halfway between the tri oval and turn one. The lead on the last lap usual changes in that space with more then one driver going for it.... Even by todays "restricted" rules it always makes for an exciting finish with anyone's guess who'll get there first. Only track that really compares is Darlington.

Only the speeds compare, I do understand. Without first hand experience, I still would like to try it one day.

As slow as a steady TV camera can make it look, stuff happens really fast when pushing close to 200MPH. A right of passage was to lean against the fence when the cars came by at speed. Always impressive just how much force that wind generates. You had to time it well or the security got pissed.

I don't recall if that was possible on the front stretch. I also disliked when the last repave finally seemed to solve the dip over the tunnel (turn 1)... another track characteristic that added to the experience on the back stretch...

 

[bluefury361]

Probably the single most motivation to repave Talladega in 06 was turns 3-4. Also over a tunnel to the infield. The 36 degree bank had started to "slide" towards the infield. The first attempt to fix was to bore several large, (24"), holes in the track and fill with concrete to act as a plug or dowel. Didn't last long. The actual base of the entire turn was eroding away. It all got fixed in the repave.