Div 3 National Opens
 

Has anyone heard if they are going to replace the National Open that they always had at St Louis in the Spring or if Indy will now be the first race. I would like to see them try to find something. It was nice to get out and shake everything down before Indy (when the weather cooperated). I am not sure besides Bowling Green where the weather would be nice enough that early.

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

Hey Ryan come to Florida with me and Pat Fitzpatric in Feb or March

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

diaperman and fitzpatrick,, will see u in gainesville ,,, wish i could make pri but not going to happen.... get that man cave finished above shop ,,looking forward to 2011.... try to stay outta trouble at pri

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

Dennis, I would love to come down, but we are usually very busy at work at that time and it has not worked for me to leave the last few years. Unless they schedule a National Open before, Indy will probably be my first race.

Have fun down there!

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

We will save some Apple Pie for you guys Pat and I are hooking up next year we have about 25 races set

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

Mike and I attended the IMIS this week and we heard they are close to working out something for that race but I do not have any details or hints of locations.

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

Word I heard from IMIS was early April at Muncie!

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

How could anyone think it would be a good idea to schedule a race in Northern Indiana in early April? LOL It's already a toss up at Indy as far as weather is concerned.

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

Ryan . It's amazing how 100 mile will make a differance...... I've seen plenty of times where St Louis is 10 to 15 degrees warmer in the spring than here in Decatur, which is 125 miles to the north east of SL.

Rick

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

Heard the same rumor about Muncie. Why would it need to be the first of April? Although if you go to their website the winner photos for April 10th have blue skies and T-shirts!........at least this year......lol

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

It was one thing to drive the 2.5 hours to St Louis that early in the year when the weather was ify, but I don't think I will be making the 4.5 hour drive to Muncie unless the weather looks outstanding. Thats too far to drive for crappy weather. :)

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

April 9, 2010: Muncie's high was 53 degrees -- Low was 35

Average high for Muncie is 59 -- Average low 41

Record high 86 degrees (2001?) -- Record low 21

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

The weather will certainly be a toss up. I will be watching. If they are predicting good weather we will make the drive, if it is marginal we will stay home.

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

I think the car count will be higher in Muncie than St Louis....as the northern side of the division might go if the weather looks halfway decent....

Anybody know what the track looks like....pit conditions...etc....

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

I agree Rock, car count should be higher. It is early in year but may get lucky with weather.

Rock, you planning on going? I figured you would be down south testing and racing in March and early April.

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

I raced there once last year. The track is a little odd in that there is a gap between the lanes as you go downtrack (I heard they paved that gap this year at least to the finish line, it was grass when I was there). As part of that gap, one lane is a little higher than the other one at the stripe. Traction seemed to be decent. The pits are mostly gravel/grass, so those used to acres of asphalt might be disappointed. Overall it was a decent place to run, and it seemed to be a well-run track.

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

Was there years ago. They use to run S/G during us nats. Was weird going from indy to there. The track hooked alot harder than indy. Broke a driveshaft in final. They say it still has awsome bite.

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

I live in Indy and have raced and tested a number of times at Muncie in the past year. Staging lanes are new pavement. There is no grass strip between the lanes until the 1/8th mile now. Return road is narrow - but brand new pavement. The pit area closest to the starting line is grass parking, but asphalt lanes. Towards the top end of the track the pit parking is grass and the lanes are gravel. During a three day race over 4th of July this year they had water trucks to make sure the dust from the gravel portions was held in check. Plenty of shutdown area, but it kind of peaks at the top of a slight rise. If you come over the rise - you're out of room to stop. So don't get startled by running out of shutdown at the top of the rise.

They are very racer-friendly. The owner/operator has bent over backwards to help me test different times throughout the year. They ran the "Million" bracket race this year, and can easily host 300-400 cars with big rigs.

One question I have, is the track is listed at NHRA as an 1/8th mile track. In fact it's a 1/4 mile track, but with grass between the lanes after the 1/8th mile, I'm wondering is they plan to run all classes 1/4 mile, all 1/8th mile, or some of each. I trapped 170 there with no problem shutting down 2600 pounds and never remotely needed to use the chute. So length isn't an issue, but the grass after the 1/8th could be.

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

Rock you are probably right about the car count. I have raced there for 20 plus years. The current owner and crew have done some great things to that place. I think it is advertised as the second longest shut down for 1/4 mile. The grass is no big deal. The lanes for me are wide enough most should have no issues. The pits are well......... stone and grass dust can be an issue.


The gate entry is a hair pin and is tight for the big rigs. Some guys open the exit gate and pull in that way. My rig is 72' and can make the main gate. If the weather is good should be fun. Oh and there is a small town within 2-3 miles from the track.

Brian

Re: Div 3 National Opens
 

It can't be any worse than turning into the entrance at Cordova. That is also a hairpin and can be a bit tough for the larger rigs.