Why I hate Capitol Raceway
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 4
From: Severna Park MD
Why I hate Capitol Raceway
Hate may be too strong a word but there's a lot not to like.
Sunday at the Tony's Corvette/CCA drag meet and show I got my clutch hydraulics too heat soaked when I was staged for over a minute with the starter giving no sign she was holding us. The next run I blew the 1-2 shift but didn't do any harm from that
I flushed the fluid to no good effect and have a clutch slave coming overnight. This stinks, I just have to vent.
We missed an hour to start when the wiring to the tree was cut, then the temps got up to 98 degrees. I didn't stay up at the lanes with my camera but I think Ranger got his elimination run hosed after the previous car blew the engine at half track. Is it too much to ask that track management run things professionally when they rent to a group?
The starter just kept staring down the track and she never signalled anything to us.
Here's my video from the disaster on youtube :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cNcCnG-lXY
Sunday at the Tony's Corvette/CCA drag meet and show I got my clutch hydraulics too heat soaked when I was staged for over a minute with the starter giving no sign she was holding us. The next run I blew the 1-2 shift but didn't do any harm from that
I flushed the fluid to no good effect and have a clutch slave coming overnight. This stinks, I just have to vent.
We missed an hour to start when the wiring to the tree was cut, then the temps got up to 98 degrees. I didn't stay up at the lanes with my camera but I think Ranger got his elimination run hosed after the previous car blew the engine at half track. Is it too much to ask that track management run things professionally when they rent to a group?
The starter just kept staring down the track and she never signalled anything to us.
Here's my video from the disaster on youtube :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cNcCnG-lXY
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
From: Conway SC
Well from first hand, it was a bad day for the track, yes they should have checked the lights before hand. I agree, they seem to lack a bit but it's the same way Friday night as well but to a bigger degree..
I did notice that some cars were going all the way to the end of the track, which will slow things dow.. I don't understand why they do that when they will run 13 seconds.
As far a s Rangers hosed run, I would think your talking about the first round of eleminations, if so that was me, and I didn't blow a motor nor did the other car,, the cluch decided to exit my car on that run, and it also caught on fire.. So you think you had a bad day..
Ernie
I did notice that some cars were going all the way to the end of the track, which will slow things dow.. I don't understand why they do that when they will run 13 seconds.
As far a s Rangers hosed run, I would think your talking about the first round of eleminations, if so that was me, and I didn't blow a motor nor did the other car,, the cluch decided to exit my car on that run, and it also caught on fire.. So you think you had a bad day..
Ernie
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 4
From: Severna Park MD
Originally Posted by sixspdvet
Well from first hand, it was a bad day for the track, yes they should have checked the lights before hand. I agree, they seem to lack a bit but it's the same way Friday night as well but to a bigger degree..
I did notice that some cars were going all the way to the end of the track, which will slow things dow.. I don't understand why they do that when they will run 13 seconds.
As far a s Rangers hosed run, I would think your talking about the first round of eleminations, if so that was me, and I didn't blow a motor nor did the other car,, the cluch decided to exit my car on that run, and it also caught on fire.. So you think you had a bad day..
Ernie
I did notice that some cars were going all the way to the end of the track, which will slow things dow.. I don't understand why they do that when they will run 13 seconds.
As far a s Rangers hosed run, I would think your talking about the first round of eleminations, if so that was me, and I didn't blow a motor nor did the other car,, the cluch decided to exit my car on that run, and it also caught on fire.. So you think you had a bad day..
Ernie
I tend to go to the second turn off to let the car cool down better before the next run. I didn't realize this makes the starter hold longer for the next pair. They should add this info to the driver's meeting at the beginning, a lot of people would change. I can't see the far end from the starting line, and I'll bet the starter can't see it either.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 4
From: Severna Park MD
Originally Posted by testpros
I'm pretty sure that was me in the lane beside you. I remember sitting there for what seemed like forever (sweating my ars off) with no idea what the heck was going on.
Hmmm, heads/cam/4.10 gears? No wonder you drove around me like that.
Last edited by FELNGR8; Sep 21, 2006 at 09:55 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 8,629
Likes: 16
From: York PA
Not to menention the Time & MPH lights weren't working either. they said a car hit them a week earlier and they didn't have enough time to fix them yet.????? Isn't the tree and the time board 2 of the 3 biggest things at a drag strip ??????
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,835
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From: In front of C6s.
St: Jude Donor '10
I guess that's why I've heard people call it Crapitol 
I had the same problem at Mason-Dixon this year when I attended the NoVa Mustang Club's test n tune there. When we arrived the timing lights weren't working...turns out a lightning strike earlier that week (Wednesday) was the cause. The test n tune event was on a Saturday. You would think a track would check their equipment before opening up for paying customers.
Funny thing is I have gotten most of my best stats (see sig) at Crapitol
As far as the going down to the end of the road before turning off...I would use whatever pavement I needed to cool down the car. Sometimes I went further than other times, depended on how the car was acting.
Sorry to hear about the clutch woes, guys. That really sux. I think I'll keep my 6speed for the circuit and my auto for the drags.
I had the same problem at Mason-Dixon this year when I attended the NoVa Mustang Club's test n tune there. When we arrived the timing lights weren't working...turns out a lightning strike earlier that week (Wednesday) was the cause. The test n tune event was on a Saturday. You would think a track would check their equipment before opening up for paying customers.
Funny thing is I have gotten most of my best stats (see sig) at Crapitol
As far as the going down to the end of the road before turning off...I would use whatever pavement I needed to cool down the car. Sometimes I went further than other times, depended on how the car was acting.
Sorry to hear about the clutch woes, guys. That really sux. I think I'll keep my 6speed for the circuit and my auto for the drags.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,577
Likes: 3
From: Southern Maryland Maryland
I do hate capitol, we said we'd never go back unless it was for a corvette race. The only positive thing is that I did set a new personal bet in the 98 degree heat with my little 346".
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,299
Likes: 0
From: Beltsville Maryland
I did'nt have the best day either, but I did not break anything. The issues at Capitol on Sunday also burned me.
IMO, Tony needs to demand more for his $$$, so to speak. If you represent the event as a show/fun/take your street car down the track, then the staff also views and runs the event like the amateur show.
I have been held up at the starting line many times by an issue down track. I certainly do not want to make a pass, if the track is not clear. Although you or the starter can not see to the end of the track. the staff in the timing tower can. Notice that the starter was wearing a headset. I would have show the engine down sooner.
Do I have to remind everyone of the way the club was treated at 75&80? when the event was held at that track?
Some of the issues are caused by the amateau racers ( I was one once upon a time as well), ie running to the end on the track or example.
I have a race only car and rely on the local dragstrips as a means to race whenever I want. You tend to overlook and/or accept all the issues you see and encounter at the dragstrips.
The guys with the street cars have another means of hammering their cars....the street. I'm not implying that you race on the street.
My quote to someone about the event Sunday, "The best part of the event was the Coronas in the pits after I redlighted with a .496.
In closing...A lot of tracks around the country are closing due to urban sprawl. That is the reason why I can be pissed about Sundays event . yet still have a great time.
PS. The Coronas always help.
IMO, Tony needs to demand more for his $$$, so to speak. If you represent the event as a show/fun/take your street car down the track, then the staff also views and runs the event like the amateur show.
I have been held up at the starting line many times by an issue down track. I certainly do not want to make a pass, if the track is not clear. Although you or the starter can not see to the end of the track. the staff in the timing tower can. Notice that the starter was wearing a headset. I would have show the engine down sooner.
Do I have to remind everyone of the way the club was treated at 75&80? when the event was held at that track?
Some of the issues are caused by the amateau racers ( I was one once upon a time as well), ie running to the end on the track or example.
I have a race only car and rely on the local dragstrips as a means to race whenever I want. You tend to overlook and/or accept all the issues you see and encounter at the dragstrips.
The guys with the street cars have another means of hammering their cars....the street. I'm not implying that you race on the street.
My quote to someone about the event Sunday, "The best part of the event was the Coronas in the pits after I redlighted with a .496.
In closing...A lot of tracks around the country are closing due to urban sprawl. That is the reason why I can be pissed about Sundays event . yet still have a great time.
PS. The Coronas always help.
Last edited by wheelsup; Sep 23, 2006 at 07:41 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 4
From: Severna Park MD
Originally Posted by wheelsup
I have been held up at the starting line many times by an issue down track. I certainly do not want to make a pass, if the track is not clear. Although you or the starter can not see to the end of the track. the staff in the timing tower can. Notice that the starter was wearing a headset. I would have show the engine down sooner.
How do you know when it's going to be an excessive time? Do you just automatically back out if both cars are staged 10 seconds and the tree isn't started? Are they obligated to give you a good run if you back out just when they start the tree? You can see from the video I kept looking at the starter and she just stared down track. She gave no indication to me until after I shut off the engine.
A lot of tracks around the country are closing due to urban sprawl. That is the reason why I can be pissed about Sundays event . yet still have a great time.
Crofton is getting some really strong development pressure. The area west of route 3 up to Waugh Chapel Road is prime for commercial development. Western AA County is in for a development boom due to the BRAC moving so many high paying jobs to Ft. Meade. It's only a matter of tiime. Then it'll be MIR or Cecil County.
PS. The Coronas always help.
How do you know when it's going to be an excessive time? Do you just automatically back out if both cars are staged 10 seconds and the tree isn't started? Are they obligated to give you a good run if you back out just when they start the tree? You can see from the video I kept looking at the starter and she just stared down track. She gave no indication to me until after I shut off the engine.
A lot of tracks around the country are closing due to urban sprawl. That is the reason why I can be pissed about Sundays event . yet still have a great time.
Crofton is getting some really strong development pressure. The area west of route 3 up to Waugh Chapel Road is prime for commercial development. Western AA County is in for a development boom due to the BRAC moving so many high paying jobs to Ft. Meade. It's only a matter of tiime. Then it'll be MIR or Cecil County.
PS. The Coronas always help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,506
Likes: 0
From: Hillsborough NJ
Originally Posted by sixspdvet
Well from first hand, it was a bad day for the track, yes they should have checked the lights before hand. I agree, they seem to lack a bit but it's the same way Friday night as well but to a bigger degree..
I did notice that some cars were going all the way to the end of the track, which will slow things dow.. I don't understand why they do that when they will run 13 seconds.
As far a s Rangers hosed run, I would think your talking about the first round of eleminations, if so that was me, and I didn't blow a motor nor did the other car,, the cluch decided to exit my car on that run, and it also caught on fire.. So you think you had a bad day..
Ernie
I did notice that some cars were going all the way to the end of the track, which will slow things dow.. I don't understand why they do that when they will run 13 seconds.
As far a s Rangers hosed run, I would think your talking about the first round of eleminations, if so that was me, and I didn't blow a motor nor did the other car,, the cluch decided to exit my car on that run, and it also caught on fire.. So you think you had a bad day..
Ernie
Glad to hear that you came out unscathed.
A catastrophic clutch failure is not anything I ever want to be up close and personal with. I can remember being at Atco back in 1968 with my friend and his father, who raced 1966 SS Impala coupe with a 427. He launced and 3/4 down the track we saw a huge cloud of smoke and sparks. His clutch went, taking with it a portion of his block.
Fortunately for him, the explosion went "out" and away from the cabin and by some good fortune he had no fire. Still, a scary thing to witness as a 14 year old.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,299
Likes: 0
From: Beltsville Maryland
Felngr8, in your particular case I don't think the starter helped you out. I would have shut my car down sooner, because she was not telling you anything. Keep in mind that my car runs without an alternator and is running off the battery. You want to avoid running the battery down. A shut down and restart is also taxing on the battery.
Under normal Saturday bracket racing at Capitol, the starter would have signalled to both drivers to shut down after ~30-60sec. of delay. When there are longer delays the word will get back to the drivers in the staging that there is a stoppage in the racing.
If the starter holds you up that long, then you have the option to shut the engine down and allowed do another burnout.
Don't get me wrong , you had every reason to be p*ssed. If it ever happens again, first; back out of the lights and second ; shut it down.
Under normal Saturday bracket racing at Capitol, the starter would have signalled to both drivers to shut down after ~30-60sec. of delay. When there are longer delays the word will get back to the drivers in the staging that there is a stoppage in the racing.
If the starter holds you up that long, then you have the option to shut the engine down and allowed do another burnout.
Don't get me wrong , you had every reason to be p*ssed. If it ever happens again, first; back out of the lights and second ; shut it down.
Last edited by wheelsup; Sep 24, 2006 at 04:16 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 4
From: Severna Park MD
It's fixed
The problem caused by a too long stage was blown seals in my clutch master cylinder.
I just got through installing a new master, filled it, purged the air, and I have a firm pedal. For the first time since run # 1 at Capitol. Not as costly as a clutch that goes out of the car, but a real bitch to repair for an old guy like me.
I will be really careful of heat at the track, and be sure not to stage too long. If they get unhappy with my tactics I'll leave and they'll never get any more of my money.
I just got through installing a new master, filled it, purged the air, and I have a firm pedal. For the first time since run # 1 at Capitol. Not as costly as a clutch that goes out of the car, but a real bitch to repair for an old guy like me.
I will be really careful of heat at the track, and be sure not to stage too long. If they get unhappy with my tactics I'll leave and they'll never get any more of my money.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,835
Likes: 0
From: In front of C6s.
St: Jude Donor '10
Originally Posted by FELNGR8
The problem caused by a too long stage was blown seals in my clutch master cylinder.
I just got through installing a new master, filled it, purged the air, and I have a firm pedal. For the first time since run # 1 at Capitol. Not as costly as a clutch that goes out of the car, but a real bitch to repair for an old guy like me.
I will be really careful of heat at the track, and be sure not to stage too long. If they get unhappy with my tactics I'll leave and they'll never get any more of my money.
I just got through installing a new master, filled it, purged the air, and I have a firm pedal. For the first time since run # 1 at Capitol. Not as costly as a clutch that goes out of the car, but a real bitch to repair for an old guy like me.
I will be really careful of heat at the track, and be sure not to stage too long. If they get unhappy with my tactics I'll leave and they'll never get any more of my money.
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: LaPlata, MD.
Originally Posted by 4DRUSH
Not to menention the Time & MPH lights weren't working either. they said a car hit them a week earlier and they didn't have enough time to fix them yet.????? Isn't the tree and the time board 2 of the 3 biggest things at a drag strip ??????
. Remember this is the same track that cheated the winner of an OPS race out of their money. Apparently the track management didn't think they had enough customers, so they reduced the winners purse from $2000.00 to $300.00, from what I was told. The staging lane management is the worst I have ever seen. If there is a track oil down, you're going to be waiting fro a long time. 
They need to put some money in the track. The owners of Capital need to go to MIR to learn how to run a track. Bruce
Uber Waxer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 8,651
Likes: 5
From: Hanover MD
Cruise-In 8-9-10-11 Veteran
CI 9, 10 & 11 Car Show Winner
St. Jude Donor '08-'10
Originally Posted by Hardtop01
The tower side tree hasn't worked for a long time, so the comment about just happening is . Remember this is the same track that cheated the winner of an OPS race out of their money. Apparently the track management didn't think they had enough customers, so they reduced the winners purse from $2000.00 to $300.00, from what I was told. The staging lane management is the worst I have ever seen. If there is a track oil down, you're going to be waiting fro a long time. They need to put some money in the track. The owners of Capital need to go to MIR to learn how to run a track.
Bruce
. Remember this is the same track that cheated the winner of an OPS race out of their money. Apparently the track management didn't think they had enough customers, so they reduced the winners purse from $2000.00 to $300.00, from what I was told. The staging lane management is the worst I have ever seen. If there is a track oil down, you're going to be waiting fro a long time. They need to put some money in the track. The owners of Capital need to go to MIR to learn how to run a track. Bruce
cunningham is a greedy old fukk that just wants to use the population to pad his pockets and cares nothing for the actual sport of drag racing.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: New Freedom PA
NHRA Tracks including Capitol Raceway
Hey Guys,
I'm new to this site , but I just wanted to say as a loyal C4 corvette owner and a life long Super Comp Drag racer. every track I go to in Maryland (capitol,cecil,MIR,Hagerstown,the old 75-80) and PA. (Maple Grove,Beaver Springs,South Mountain) all reduce their payout when not enough cars show up, It really is SOP.
I am not trying to start any conflicts here , just thought you may want some old fart drag racer's imput.
I'm new to this site , but I just wanted to say as a loyal C4 corvette owner and a life long Super Comp Drag racer. every track I go to in Maryland (capitol,cecil,MIR,Hagerstown,the old 75-80) and PA. (Maple Grove,Beaver Springs,South Mountain) all reduce their payout when not enough cars show up, It really is SOP.
I am not trying to start any conflicts here , just thought you may want some old fart drag racer's imput.