Sprint cars

[wdfifteen]

I've seen them on TV, but I've only seen two sprint car races in person. I went to a winged 410 race at William's Grove last Friday and I have to say those drivers are crazy. The TV and Youtube don't do them justice. They are way crazier than it appears on the small screen.
I got a good look at the cars in the pits and they are very sophisticated in some aspects (mainly the engine), but donkey carts otherwise. No clutch, no transmission, no starter, brakes on three wheels only, straight axles front and rear, 850 hp and 1400 pounds with the driver. Engine torque pulls the right front wheel off the ground all the way down the straights, the brake on the left front kicks the car sideways into the turns. I don't know how these guys get their balls into that tiny little car.

[Jeff Higgins]

One of my favorite kinds of racing to attend in person. We have Skagit Speedway just an hour or so north of me, so I get up there several times per year. Yes, this is sheer insanity. Yes, the cars are pretty rude and crude. But my God do they ever race. A lot like AMA flat track. They have more lead changes in one lap than F1 can muster in a whole season.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

One of my favorite kinds of racing to attend in person. We have Skagit Speedway just an hour or so north of me, so I get up there several times per year. Yes, this is sheer insanity. Yes, the cars are pretty rude and crude. But my God do they ever race. A lot like AMA flat track. They have more lead changes in one lap than F1 can muster in a whole season.

Amen to that. And much of the crude technology has a definite purpose. No starter because starters add weight. The aero is actually very effective and adjustable. Different sized tires side to side to help them rotate. We frequently go to a local dirt track that has regional sprint and late model races, and every year go to Dodge City to see the World of Outlaws sprint cars. The WoO cars are exponentially faster than anything you see at a local track, they are really incredible to watch. They are the MLB compared to the local minor league, and are hugely impressive. Many NASCAR stars got their start in dirt track racing, and some own WoO teams.

[Jim Bremner]

I told my Dad that I wanted to race them. His response wasn't to positive. something about knowing a few guy that did and he thought that
I was smart enough not to climb into one. I still think about tacking a few classes out at Perris

[Oh Haha]

We have a 1/4 mile circle track just a couple of miles from here. Auto City Speedway

I went for the first time a few weeks ago for a school event and it was a blast. Not at the same level of WoO but still cool to see regular guys racing hard. The figure 8 school bus race was even more fun to watch.

Cheap fun on a Saturday night.

[Instrument 41]

The sights, sounds, smells that they provide are awesome. Used to watch them all the time at a local dirt track. But..if the track is to small you lose who's is winning because of lapped traffic. If you notice the driver is sitting on the drive shaft tunnel.

[herr_oberst]

Eldora should probably be a bucket list item, just like Indy and Le Mans and F1 at Spa.

[VaSteve]

I've been and I can't get into them. I can't really get into dirt racing. I find it hard to follow who's leading with the drifting. Didn't care for all the heat racing to build up to the final feature. I watched a "feature" at Williams Grove. It's like 40 laps and over in 10 minutes. There was a caution and they had to refuel the cars on track. I'd rather see a little more beating and banging from the "stock" cars.

They do RACE though. Insanely fast.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Eldora should probably be a bucket list item,

Eldora is only 2 hours from me and I've never been.

[asphaltgambler]

If I have to watch roundy-round - it's the only race worth seeing. I have seen them in person and you cannot believe how exciting they are. As said above 800+ HP on alcohol, direct drive, 24" of tire stagger and flyweight to boot. They are constantly spinning the tires until occasionally, it hooks coming out of a turn and wheel-stand-city!

I tried to explain this vs NASCAR to my ex-director and he completely tossed it aside.

I told him that anytime he wanted to see real round track racing we'd go to Hagerstown Md to the dirt ................that he would never forget it.......he said 'no thanks'.........

[flipper35]

When they pull both front wheels up exiting a corner, on dirt. That's some power and traction even though they were spinning moments before.

They are simple yet technologically advanced at the same time.