Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

Halfway to Shreveport, I heard from a buddy that the race had been called. He said that the track just would not work at all and even the jr dragsters were spinning. Don't know any more details that that right now.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

I was there, it was pretty sad. Beautiful weather, kind of windy, but nice and cool.
They just couldn't get a handle on the track no matter how hard they tried.
Rumor was that the track had previously been sandblasted to clean it.
I don't know what they did, but I can say that the surface of the track, at least the starting line area that I walked out and looked at was kind of like a sponge. Flat places about as big as a quarter, but just as much area that was below the surface. Maybe the sandblasting dug out all the "butter", and left the stones on the surface that had been ground previously.
Anyway, I want to commend Robert Kornegay and the employees of Thunder Road Raceway and the IHRA staff and for their efforts to make it right, and for the decision by the division director Frank Kohutek to call the event and refund everyones entry fees in full.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

Wow! Frank is a good guy and apparently a pretty smart guy also! Customer service and safety first! Jim


.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

This was a real shame... the track was bad, and Jim's description is dead on. Over all this could be a really nice track. It is smooth, but the concrete is junk. Plenty of paved parking, nice stands, etc. Friendly enought layout for racers and fans. But, the track just would not work.
Frank made a good call. He told everyone that he knew a lot of the cars well, that were having trouble, and he would not go down the track himself... Enough said.
Cost about $300 in fuel, but nothing broke!
We can play another day.

Ken

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

They made the right decision. My son made both runs in the right lane with no problem but many racers were blowing the tires off in the left lane. It's great that no one wrecked and the decision was made to call the race before someone did. I heard that only two Top Sportsman races made it down the track. I assume that included both lanes. It was handled very well. Full refunds to everyone. Also, the track staff had tried very hard to fix the problem created by grinding the track. It just wouldn't come around.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

From what I've just read, they need to diamond polish the concrete like I did at No Problem. Have the owners give me a call (985) 665-7145 and I'll be glad to inform them how to get it done without costing an arm and a leg.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

Wasn't this race a T.O.C qualifying race. If so will they try to rerun it ,or move it some were
else. Maybe like San Antonio in September.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

Considering the car counts at San Antonio, they would be dumb to move it there over Baton Rouge or Crandall.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

They are improving the track at Prescott,Ar. Might be a good location for a IHRA 1/8 mile race. At least it would have some hook and a track owner that cares about the racers. Yes, I'm ticked off because it has been 3 years since I have been able to race. I get everything set up so I could be away and have my Dad's medical issues taken care of while I'm 44 miles from home at the IHRA Race.
What happened?
It's hard to get excited about such a nice track, with no "Hook". It used to have hook. I've set several records there, NHRA and IHRA and been # 1 qualifier there, too. The hook went away when the "know it all" that owns the track sandblasted it. Then he doesn't listen to his manager and everyone else who told him that it needed grinding and polishing to bring the hook back.
The guy won't admit his "better idea" ruined the track. He wouldn't let the track manager or IHRA div director bring in a grinder. Just wouldn't spend $10,000. Well, thats a penny wise and dollar foolish decision. I'm at a complete loss as to how a guy can be smart enough to pay cash for an outstanding track then hire one of the best track managers around to run it and then make a series of such bad decisions. It is my opinion the decision the IHRA Div. 4 Director made to pull the plug was totally justified. Safety First! "Cimo" said it well in is post...I've never been on any other track where my SS/DS V-6 powered Camaro could spin the tires, in second gear.!!!!

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

I heard the owner of Prescott raceway is going to make a call tomorrow to see if he can get it there. This would be a good replacemant for Shreveport.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

stubbs your car was looking good, what was smoking?

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

Thanks Thomas, the right quarter was rubbing the top of the tire. I have to change the wheel offset.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

I am hearing that the race is being tentatively rescheduled for June 17-19 at Crandall. I think that was the original date of the Memphis race that was cancelled.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

Crandall sounds good to us, of course thats close to us lol.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

That sounds great to me also... close to home.

With that said, it is a super nice track that works!

Ken

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

What happened with the track at Lufkin? Is it closed already? Crandall is a little far for us.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

Richard I would think that going to Crandall would be a easier drive

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

Good drive but lot's gas. I think that I may be coaching All Stars anyway. We beat the First place team tonight.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

I sure hope they can line something out since Prescott now has IHRA sanctioning I believe. With the stock/super stock combo race being removed from Centereville Raceway, it would be nice to see some Super Stockers close to home. IHRA needs to add Comp Eliminator and then it would be complete.

PS: Track improvements should be done now and the upcoming outlaw race this weekend will tell us how good the track improvements are. I may be able to give a first hand account Saturday as we are supposed to be going testing with our car Friday. If we run our career best, I will let you know.

For pics of the work, visit these links:
http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/sh...rescott&page=8

http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/sh...escott&page=12


Update: As quoted from triplewjr on yellowbullet.com, "Jackie(Prescott Raceway owner) told me today, that he would be going to the track in the afternoons this week to continue dragging the track to lay down more rubber...that guy is working his butt off to make Prescott Raceway the best track around. He da man !!!! "

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

It sure is nice to see those old guard rails gone and the Concrete barriers up. Quite a few feet of those old rails came from my Whitehouse Tx track when we built the Prescott track. They were old in 1978 when we put them up. Those concrete barriers are a bunch safer. Jackie is doing it "Right"

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

I hear a lot of good things about Prescott Raceway. Kind of a more northern No Problem, it's good to hear someone is getting the message and attempting to do things the right way.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

The Prescot track is awfully short, or was. Seems like there was a church (?) at the end? Not much shut down room for a sub-130 MPH car (my C/SM '69 Camaro) back then. Probably a 1/8th mile now? Or has something at the end moved to make more room?

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

Adger,

Prescott is nice. Let's Ebay those rails by the foot, they are nostalgic!

MW Norris
BB/FIA 50161

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

Mark,
Short is an illusion there because of the tree line. When the track was built we laid 2800 ft of asphalt. It would have to be an 1/8 mile race with todays faster cars. Back in the day the low 9 second 1/4 mile car was a rare find.
not so today.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

These are pics of the new surface after track prep. The owner made some hits in his car and he said it hooks good and is very smooth. Even launched the car from mid track.

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off..."surfacing project"
 

This was posted on ThunderRoad website recently, MWNorris.

"Update!

Next Weekend, June 3rd, we will have another Regular Test and Tune Session. Saturday the track will be closed to prepare for the surfacing project.

The weekend of June 10th and 11th, the track will be closed as the surfacing project will be in full swing.

Thanks for your patience! "

Re: Shreveport Pro-Am called off
 

This sounds like really good news. We need the Shreveport track. I was concerned that due to the losses incurred they would close. Hopefully, the track can be repaired and secure another IHRA race for next year.