"Live From" Norwalk, OH

Ken Miele · 06-30-2015, 08:10 PM

Hello all,

I'm not at Norwalk yet, I stopped off at Dan Fletcher's home for a visit before heading on to Norwalk. Dan is about 300 miles from Norwalk, a little less than a 5 hour drive to the track. I will be leaving in the morning and will probably get to the track by the mid afternoon.

I do not have any first hand knowledge about the conditions, but I know it has been raining there for many days. If anyone is there now, and or has some first hand info please post.

The schedule is up now for anyone who is interested.
http://www.nhra.net/2015/images/NHRA...Schd2015NO.pdf

As you can see by the photos, rain has been an issue here also. Dan tells me its rained here for the last week with only yesterday being rain free.

If I get any info on how the pits are, I will post asap, until then I will be back tomorrow with live reports.

Gary Merrick · 06-30-2015, 09:54 PM

Hi All,

Norwalk is looking good at this point. I rolled in a little after 3:00 PM, and they put #100 on my windshield. It rained for probably the last hour of my ride and another hour once I arrived. They took us through the paved part of the pits, (next to Rt 601, Pro's Parking Area), up through the staging lanes on the East side. I probably was not parked in those staging lanes but 15 minutes, drove past the water boxes through the west side staging lanes and then was taken to my pit spot. As much rain as has been falling in this part of Ohio, it is amazing what good condition the grass is as far as being firm. They quit pit parking probably about 4:30 PM due to the continuing rain and we heard a few racers did have a problem, so they decided to wait til the morning to start the process once again, so the grounds did not get torn up.

As usual, all the staff is upbeat, courteous and just down right nice and they appreciate the racers being here. I talked to Bill Bader Jr. for a short while and as usual, again, he was at the head of staging lanes with a radio in one hand and giving directions and making things happen. For you folks that have never been here, you need to put it on your list of things to do and places to race, because this is one "SPECIAL RACE TRACK". The weather forecast continues to improve (if you can trust the weather people) and if the weather goes as predicted (at this point), this should be a Great Race.

Gary Merrick
3522

Gary Merrick · 07-01-2015, 11:18 AM

Update 11:15 AM Wednesday - Shortly after I posted about how well things went yesterday, we had an amazing light show (Not the famous Norwalk Fireworks), but Mother Nature opened the skies once again and we had a significant down pour.

Currently, it is cloudy, no rain expected (so the forecast says), but they have not parked anyone because there is standing water in a lot of the grassy areas. So as far as parking goes, things are ON HOLD until further notice. The pavement on the East side of the facility is loaded with Sportsman rigs waiting to get into their pit spots, but as I noted, nothing is moving currently.

Gary Merrick
3522

Ken Miele · 07-01-2015, 02:45 PM

For any new arrivals, enter on the pro side. There are no signs directing us, just pull in with the pros. We are 4 deep and at the end of the track on the pro side waiting to get in. Rumor is they are teching cars as we wait to get parked.

Ken Miele · 07-01-2015, 08:32 PM

Well we are finally parked, actually we got parked about 6. I just now finished tech, credentials and setting up my pit area.

Although it was a long wait to get parked, I think Bader and crew did great job to get everyone in and parked. Tech was also very accommodating, stopping by every trailer they could until the 7pm cut off time. All in all with as much rain as they got, everyone pulled together and got it done, hats off to all

The pits are in pretty good shape with only a few rigs getting stuck. Redman and crew did a great job.

Tomorrows schedule has been updated. Tech will be open an hour early, and the start time has been pushed to 10am. Everything else stays the same as far as I know.

I only had time for a few photos, most cars were away for the night.

Ken Miele · 07-02-2015, 09:30 AM

Good morning all. Although the weather looks threating, the local weather calls for a partly sunny day in the mid 70's. The schedule for today is the same as the updated one from yesterday, Stock will be out at ten.

The internet access starts to go down hill as the day goes on so reports might come in a little slow.

These are the current weather numbers.

Temp 65
Humid 68%
Bar 29.02
DA 2250
Wind none

I did find some early birds out this morning and was able to get a few photos.
Well, that's it for now, be back later.

Jim Craig · 07-02-2015, 11:06 AM

"The internet access starts to go down hill as the day goes on so reports might come in a little slow" -- quote from Ken above......been hearing this and experiencing this for years out there, wouldn't you think that with the clout the Bader's have (or any other "reception-challenged" track) with just about everybody that they couldn't "convince" a major cellular player to put up a portable tower boost the signal to and from the facility.....or maybe something like that just isn't available...."can you hear me now" just never seemed to work out there.

....and to all the "Live from" reporters -- thanks for all your hard work, you all do a wonderful job.

Chris1529 · 07-02-2015, 11:13 AM

probably would cost a lot to set up a portable tower for only a couple weekends per year.

C and W Racing · 07-02-2015, 01:17 PM

At the Gators they had set up a portable tower. So it can be done. No idea what the cost would have been
Chuck

Ken Miele · 07-02-2015, 03:07 PM

It would be nice if they would setup a tower for the week. Anyway the service is still okay. Stock and Super Stock are done, the super classes will get one more shot today. Top classes are running now followed by Comp.

Today's racing went well, and the sun is out with blue sky's and a nice breeze unless your going down the track. There is a good head wind today, 6-8mph. There was one causality today in Super Stock. John DiBartolomeo's SS/BS 86 Camaro had a motor let go through the traps. Lots of smoke and a little down time, John slowed the car down with no issues.

As far as the weather goes, its a very nice day, but not fast compared to the east coast, but I will take. I Should have some in car videos up later tonight. Here some random shots of the day.

06-30-2015, 09:54 PM	#2
Gary Merrick Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 206 Likes: 387 Liked 196 Times in 27 Posts	Re: "Live From" Norwalk, OH Hi All, Norwalk is looking good at this point. I rolled in a little after 3:00 PM, and they put #100 on my windshield. It rained for probably the last hour of my ride and another hour once I arrived. They took us through the paved part of the pits, (next to Rt 601, Pro's Parking Area), up through the staging lanes on the East side. I probably was not parked in those staging lanes but 15 minutes, drove past the water boxes through the west side staging lanes and then was taken to my pit spot. As much rain as has been falling in this part of Ohio, it is amazing what good condition the grass is as far as being firm. They quit pit parking probably about 4:30 PM due to the continuing rain and we heard a few racers did have a problem, so they decided to wait til the morning to start the process once again, so the grounds did not get torn up. As usual, all the staff is upbeat, courteous and just down right nice and they appreciate the racers being here. I talked to Bill Bader Jr. for a short while and as usual, again, he was at the head of staging lanes with a radio in one hand and giving directions and making things happen. For you folks that have never been here, you need to put it on your list of things to do and places to race, because this is one "SPECIAL RACE TRACK". The weather forecast continues to improve (if you can trust the weather people) and if the weather goes as predicted (at this point), this should be a Great Race. Gary Merrick 3522

07-01-2015, 11:18 AM	#3
Gary Merrick Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 206 Likes: 387 Liked 196 Times in 27 Posts	Re: "Live From" Norwalk, OH Update 11:15 AM Wednesday - Shortly after I posted about how well things went yesterday, we had an amazing light show (Not the famous Norwalk Fireworks), but Mother Nature opened the skies once again and we had a significant down pour. Currently, it is cloudy, no rain expected (so the forecast says), but they have not parked anyone because there is standing water in a lot of the grassy areas. So as far as parking goes, things are ON HOLD until further notice. The pavement on the East side of the facility is loaded with Sportsman rigs waiting to get into their pit spots, but as I noted, nothing is moving currently. Gary Merrick 3522

07-01-2015, 02:45 PM	#4
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,555 Likes: 345 Liked 13,006 Times in 1,223 Posts	Re: "Live From" Norwalk, OH For any new arrivals, enter on the pro side. There are no signs directing us, just pull in with the pros. We are 4 deep and at the end of the track on the pro side waiting to get in. Rumor is they are teching cars as we wait to get parked. Attached Thumbnails

07-01-2015, 08:32 PM	#5
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,555 Likes: 345 Liked 13,006 Times in 1,223 Posts	Re: "Live From" Norwalk, OH Well we are finally parked, actually we got parked about 6. I just now finished tech, credentials and setting up my pit area. Although it was a long wait to get parked, I think Bader and crew did great job to get everyone in and parked. Tech was also very accommodating, stopping by every trailer they could until the 7pm cut off time. All in all with as much rain as they got, everyone pulled together and got it done, hats off to all The pits are in pretty good shape with only a few rigs getting stuck. Redman and crew did a great job. Tomorrows schedule has been updated. Tech will be open an hour early, and the start time has been pushed to 10am. Everything else stays the same as far as I know. I only had time for a few photos, most cars were away for the night. Attached Thumbnails

07-02-2015, 09:30 AM	#6
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,555 Likes: 345 Liked 13,006 Times in 1,223 Posts	Re: "Live From" Norwalk, OH Good morning all. Although the weather looks threating, the local weather calls for a partly sunny day in the mid 70's. The schedule for today is the same as the updated one from yesterday, Stock will be out at ten. The internet access starts to go down hill as the day goes on so reports might come in a little slow. These are the current weather numbers. Temp 65 Humid 68% Bar 29.02 DA 2250 Wind none I did find some early birds out this morning and was able to get a few photos. Well, that's it for now, be back later. Attached Thumbnails

06-30-2015, 08:10 PM	#1
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,555 Likes: 345 Liked 13,006 Times in 1,223 Posts	"Live From" Norwalk, OH Hello all, I'm not at Norwalk yet, I stopped off at Dan Fletcher's home for a visit before heading on to Norwalk. Dan is about 300 miles from Norwalk, a little less than a 5 hour drive to the track. I will be leaving in the morning and will probably get to the track by the mid afternoon. I do not have any first hand knowledge about the conditions, but I know it has been raining there for many days. If anyone is there now, and or has some first hand info please post. The schedule is up now for anyone who is interested. http://www.nhra.net/2015/images/NHRA...Schd2015NO.pdf As you can see by the photos, rain has been an issue here also. Dan tells me its rained here for the last week with only yesterday being rain free. If I get any info on how the pits are, I will post asap, until then I will be back tomorrow with live reports. Attached Thumbnails

07-02-2015, 11:06 AM	#7
Jim Craig Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Clinton, OH Posts: 106 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: "Live From" Norwalk, OH "The internet access starts to go down hill as the day goes on so reports might come in a little slow" -- quote from Ken above......been hearing this and experiencing this for years out there, wouldn't you think that with the clout the Bader's have (or any other "reception-challenged" track) with just about everybody that they couldn't "convince" a major cellular player to put up a portable tower boost the signal to and from the facility.....or maybe something like that just isn't available...."can you hear me now" just never seemed to work out there. ....and to all the "Live from" reporters -- thanks for all your hard work, you all do a wonderful job.

07-02-2015, 11:13 AM	#8
Chris1529 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,367 Likes: 6 Liked 57 Times in 27 Posts	Re: "Live From" Norwalk, OH probably would cost a lot to set up a portable tower for only a couple weekends per year. __________________ Chris Bowman The Mountain State Mustang 1984 Mustang GT350

07-02-2015, 01:17 PM	#9
C and W Racing Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 554 Likes: 5 Liked 10 Times in 1 Post	Re: "Live From" Norwalk, OH At the Gators they had set up a portable tower. So it can be done. No idea what the cost would have been Chuck

07-02-2015, 03:07 PM	#10
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,555 Likes: 345 Liked 13,006 Times in 1,223 Posts	Re: "Live From" Norwalk, OH It would be nice if they would setup a tower for the week. Anyway the service is still okay. Stock and Super Stock are done, the super classes will get one more shot today. Top classes are running now followed by Comp. Today's racing went well, and the sun is out with blue sky's and a nice breeze unless your going down the track. There is a good head wind today, 6-8mph. There was one causality today in Super Stock. John DiBartolomeo's SS/BS 86 Camaro had a motor let go through the traps. Lots of smoke and a little down time, John slowed the car down with no issues. As far as the weather goes, its a very nice day, but not fast compared to the east coast, but I will take. I Should have some in car videos up later tonight. Here some random shots of the day. Attached Thumbnails