Fast tracks
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,506
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From: Hillsborough NJ
Fast tracks
Seems like we are always hearing that the fastest tracks are here in the northeast, that the air is somehow better, track prep is better, DA is better, ad nauseum...
Why is it then that the fastest time/speed recorded for Funny Car happened at Route 66 Raceway just outside of Chicago? It is argued by many to be one of the top tracks in the country, yet I never hear of racers out that way taking advantage of it...or is it that they do, but just don't post on these boards?
Any comments out there?
Why is it then that the fastest time/speed recorded for Funny Car happened at Route 66 Raceway just outside of Chicago? It is argued by many to be one of the top tracks in the country, yet I never hear of racers out that way taking advantage of it...or is it that they do, but just don't post on these boards?
Any comments out there?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,172
Likes: 86
From: State of Confusion
Joliet/Chicago has the quickest/fatsest Funny Car runs ever, but I believe they were recorded when the races were held in the Spring or Fall, before or after the heat of summer (Sept/Oct '04 was when Force ran the first .60's, correct? ):
an excellent track-surface, Northern location in cool climes, and a season of experience (by the time of the 2nd race, teams have their tune-ups almost perfected ) all result in killer ET/MPH, but with the single event in mid-June, it'll be tough to duplicate those feats (the ignition retard-devices won't help, either ).
an excellent track-surface, Northern location in cool climes, and a season of experience (by the time of the 2nd race, teams have their tune-ups almost perfected ) all result in killer ET/MPH, but with the single event in mid-June, it'll be tough to duplicate those feats (the ignition retard-devices won't help, either ).
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: State of Confusion
Originally Posted by REDGAR
That is becasue Chitown is all about street racing and drivers don't want there ET's be known......I guess
even-though the track is more than 150 miles from Chicago, I was told many 'heavy-hitters' from that area come for semi-private 'test-sessions', where the score-boards are turned-off, and the P.A. system NEVER announces anyone's ET or MPH.....
Cars make 'single' runs (no side-by-side runs ), a single time-slip is printed-out (no-copies are made ), and handed DIRECTLY to the drivers of the cars themselves.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Melbourne Florida
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Good track prep is good track prep regardless of location...the DA, however, is a huge factor in ET's, everything else being equal...I have a personal example...my car never went better than 13.41...last February I raced in the Super Chevy Show at Bradenton (same track I had my 13.41 at)...the weather was cold and windy (for Florida)...temp in the high 50's low 60's...the DA was about +600...I went 13.18 with a computer problem locking the converter at 90 mph...same everything as when I went 13.41 but for one thing...DA...we rarely see anything below +3000 down here...
Everyone had personal bests that day for one reason only...DA...I dream about a negative DA down here now that my computer is reprogrammed so I can crack the 12's...it will never happen but I can dream...
Everyone had personal bests that day for one reason only...DA...I dream about a negative DA down here now that my computer is reprogrammed so I can crack the 12's...it will never happen but I can dream...
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Doylestown PA
Originally Posted by Fuzzy Dice
Everyone had personal bests that day for one reason only...DA...I dream about a negative DA down here now that my computer is reprogrammed so I can crack the 12's...it will never happen but I can dream...
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,231
Likes: 117
From: Short Hills, NJ
Houston (HRP) is also an historically fast track depending on the time of year.
No Problem Raceway in Louisiana is supposed be fast as well.
Contrary to popular belief (by those who don't race in the Northeast) Atco, Cecil and MIR aren't the only fast ones.
No Problem Raceway in Louisiana is supposed be fast as well.
Contrary to popular belief (by those who don't race in the Northeast) Atco, Cecil and MIR aren't the only fast ones.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Melbourne Florida
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Originally Posted by Doug 87L98
Come up to Englishtown in November And you will get your 12.
Doug...don't tempt me...
...I recall at Atco last November guys were puttin' up great times...all these years in Florida have made me a puzzy though...if the temp gets below 65 or so I'm freezin' my butt off...I felt like a popsicle that Friday night in South Carolina...:o
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: I have no tolerence for liberals and fools, but sometimes i repeat myself
CI 3-5-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08
Montgomery Motorsports Park is fast too in the winter, I remember a national open with a -1600 DA. OF course we were all doing tech in the staging lanes and it was 18 degrees outside too
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: State of Confusion
Originally Posted by Fuzzy Dice
...all these years in Florida have made me a puzzy though...if the temp gets below 65 or so I'm freezin' my butt off...
it is only 64*F at 5:00 PM today, June 10th, in S.W. Pa......
Race Director
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From: State of Confusion
Originally Posted by Red96Coupe
I'm betting there will be some GREAT #'s at Maple Grove at the Keystone Nationals.... there are times when the Corr. alt is - 000 But it has to be a very cool day...
Many of the crew-chiefs that I have spoken-to over the years at MGR credit the track-prep, as-well-as the many trees surrounding the track, which produce oxygen, for the killer-times that are regularly turned in Amish-country.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: In your head
Originally Posted by Geneus
Seems like we are always hearing that the fastest tracks are here in the northeast, that the air is somehow better, track prep is better, DA is better, ad nauseum...
Why is it then that the fastest time/speed recorded for Funny Car happened at Route 66 Raceway just outside of Chicago? It is argued by many to be one of the top tracks in the country, yet I never hear of racers out that way taking advantage of it...or is it that they do, but just don't post on these boards?
Any comments out there?
Why is it then that the fastest time/speed recorded for Funny Car happened at Route 66 Raceway just outside of Chicago? It is argued by many to be one of the top tracks in the country, yet I never hear of racers out that way taking advantage of it...or is it that they do, but just don't post on these boards?
Any comments out there?
Seriously, I'm VERY partial to Atco. All of my best times have come from Atco. I raced at Cecil for the first time at the last NSCA event and was less than thrilled with the track prep. I consider E-town my "home" track but the prep this season has been less than stellar.
Advanced
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I used to run at Rte 66. It is a great track to run on but the are very strict with rules. Last time out went 11.1 and got kicked out because of no cage. $40 for 1 run not worth it. Most of us in Chicago go to Byron, Great Lakes in WI or US 41 in Indiana which are not as nice of tracks but at least can make multiple passes and not be hassled.
Greg
Greg
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Joined: Aug 2003
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Originally Posted by Geneus
Seems like we are always hearing that the fastest tracks are here in the northeast, that the air is somehow better, track prep is better, DA is better, ad nauseum...
Why is it then that the fastest time/speed recorded for Funny Car happened at Route 66 Raceway just outside of Chicago? It is argued by many to be one of the top tracks in the country, yet I never hear of racers out that way taking advantage of it...or is it that they do, but just don't post on these boards?
Any comments out there?
Why is it then that the fastest time/speed recorded for Funny Car happened at Route 66 Raceway just outside of Chicago? It is argued by many to be one of the top tracks in the country, yet I never hear of racers out that way taking advantage of it...or is it that they do, but just don't post on these boards?
Any comments out there?