Shreveport Pro-Am called off

Clint Miller · 05-14-2011, 02:22 PM

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.

Jim Cimarolli · 05-14-2011, 08:03 PM

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.

Jim Wahl · 05-14-2011, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Cimarolli

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.

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

.

Kegracing · 05-14-2011, 10:25 PM

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

Richard Grant · 05-14-2011, 11:41 PM

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.

Pat Joffrion · 05-15-2011, 12:01 PM

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.

Alan Warman · 05-15-2011, 03:31 PM

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.

Hagen Gary · 05-15-2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Warman

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.

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

Adger Smith · 05-15-2011, 08:11 PM

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.!!!!

K Stubbs · 05-15-2011, 09:18 PM

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.

05-14-2011, 02:22 PM	#1
Clint Miller Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: North Louisiana Posts: 21 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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.

05-14-2011, 08:03 PM	#2
Jim Cimarolli Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sulphur Springs Texas Posts: 742 Likes: 144 Liked 166 Times in 46 Posts	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.

05-14-2011, 10:25 PM	#4
Kegracing Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Red Oak, TX Posts: 441 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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

05-14-2011, 11:41 PM	#5
Richard Grant Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West Monroe, La. Posts: 301 Likes: 9 Liked 13 Times in 7 Posts	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. __________________ Richard Grant 4988 STK

05-15-2011, 12:01 PM	#6
Pat Joffrion Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bayou Country, Louisiana Posts: 163 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 2 Posts	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.

05-15-2011, 03:31 PM	#7
Alan Warman Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: San Angelo Tx Posts: 231 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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. __________________ Alan Warman STK 4107

05-15-2011, 08:11 PM	#9
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	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.!!!! __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)

05-15-2011, 09:18 PM	#10
K Stubbs Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Benton, Arkansas Posts: 402 Likes: 0 Liked 20 Times in 3 Posts	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.