A fresh start for Omaha's only local track

Paul Merolla · 12-14-2014, 01:42 PM

I attended a "Racer information meeting" last night put on by the new association of racers who are involved in operating the track formerly known as Rolling Thunder Dragstrip at MidAmerica Motorplex.
The association is a group of 5 guys who are busting their butts to make this a great place to race. They have a written agreement with the owners that spells out each party's responsibilities and, most importantly, keeps the track open for at least 2 more years (and negotiations are ongoing for even longer.) The long time track manager, who also busted his butt, has been relieved of his duties.
The first change, at the owner's request, is a name change / rebranding: the track is now called I-29 Dragway. Personally, I like it!
We also were invited to vote on improvements to be made; actually, to rank in order of importance the 5 things they have determined to be most pressing...restrooms, shutdown area repairs, right lane repairs, etc. What I took away from all this is that the folks who want the place to succeed are banding together to make it happen, without the "Roadblock" they used to run up against. One of the 5 is a regular on this board, my buddy Clark (cad), who is definitely interested in drawing some class racers to the track that have always frowned on the place for one reason or another. The one complaint I have heard for years is traction / track prep. To help put that one to bed, they are bringing in Bobby Meyer this spring to help formulate prep strategies for all the various conditions we run in. This alone should be incentive enough for guys to at least give the place another chance, in my opinion.
It is my hope to have a Midwest Class Racers combo race at I-29 Dragway this season, if the scheduling and sponsorships can be worked out.

Bunkster · 12-14-2014, 04:39 PM

“…Rolling Thunder Drag Strip at MAM is a 1/8-mile NHRA Drag Racing Facility… is a lot easier on vehicles than an "old school" ¼-mile facility.

Uhhhhh….nice try at making excuses why you’re not longer than an eighth-mile.

Better be careful of what you promote. Someone using this reasoning will be justifying why a sixteenth-mile drag strip is really “cool”.

SStockDart · 12-14-2014, 11:06 PM

I believe that this is good news.....A strip close to Omaha. Who cares if it 1/8 or 1/4.....It is still about the light and driving the finish line.

Paul Merolla · 12-14-2014, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunkster

“

Better be careful of what you promote. Someone using this reasoning will be justifying why a sixteenth-mile drag strip is really “cool”.

I don't need anyone to tell me what I should promote. We would all love a full-length track, but the money just isn't there. They are wide open to the idea of a quarter mile track...if someone ponys up the 3.25 mil!

bobbyd6 · 12-15-2014, 05:14 AM

Good to Hear Paul!!! Would love to have another great MCR race close to home!!

Alan Nyhus · 12-15-2014, 06:25 AM

Good news, Paul. Keep us posted, okay? -Al

Jim Parsons · 12-15-2014, 10:54 AM

Thanks Paul for the update and glad to hear they are moving forward with the track.

Jim

P.S. Love those reader boards "after the finish line"

Paul Merolla · 04-28-2015, 07:22 AM

I wanted to check back in with a report after my first outing of the year at I-29 Dragway. It was a tough test for the place, due to lots of rain Friday night and intermittent showers through Saturday.
The track is now super easy to get to - the new Hwy 34 is 4 lanes, and the road leading South to the track is beautiful new concrete.
The pits were in good shape considering all the rain. There is a lot of new concrete around the place, and the pit layout has been improved.
My first pass of the day produced my best 60' to date, 1.460. Mark Jenkins was there with his SS stick Cavalier, and he had to make a clutch adjustment after it dead hooked and bogged. I'm planning on attending this weekend's Stick Shift race, so that will also be a good test of the place. If you've avoided Rolling Thunder in the past, I would highly recommend giving I-29 Dragway a chance.

12-14-2014, 01:42 PM	#1
Paul Merolla Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 606 Likes: 233 Liked 292 Times in 64 Posts	A fresh start for Omaha's only local track I attended a "Racer information meeting" last night put on by the new association of racers who are involved in operating the track formerly known as Rolling Thunder Dragstrip at MidAmerica Motorplex. The association is a group of 5 guys who are busting their butts to make this a great place to race. They have a written agreement with the owners that spells out each party's responsibilities and, most importantly, keeps the track open for at least 2 more years (and negotiations are ongoing for even longer.) The long time track manager, who also busted his butt, has been relieved of his duties. The first change, at the owner's request, is a name change / rebranding: the track is now called I-29 Dragway. Personally, I like it! We also were invited to vote on improvements to be made; actually, to rank in order of importance the 5 things they have determined to be most pressing...restrooms, shutdown area repairs, right lane repairs, etc. What I took away from all this is that the folks who want the place to succeed are banding together to make it happen, without the "Roadblock" they used to run up against. One of the 5 is a regular on this board, my buddy Clark (cad), who is definitely interested in drawing some class racers to the track that have always frowned on the place for one reason or another. The one complaint I have heard for years is traction / track prep. To help put that one to bed, they are bringing in Bobby Meyer this spring to help formulate prep strategies for all the various conditions we run in. This alone should be incentive enough for guys to at least give the place another chance, in my opinion. It is my hope to have a Midwest Class Racers combo race at I-29 Dragway this season, if the scheduling and sponsorships can be worked out.

12-14-2014, 04:39 PM	#2
Bunkster Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 307 Likes: 0 Liked 43 Times in 10 Posts	Re: A fresh start for Omaha's only local track “…Rolling Thunder Drag Strip at MAM is a 1/8-mile NHRA Drag Racing Facility… is a lot easier on vehicles than an "old school" ¼-mile facility. Uhhhhh….nice try at making excuses why you’re not longer than an eighth-mile. Better be careful of what you promote. Someone using this reasoning will be justifying why a sixteenth-mile drag strip is really “cool”.

12-14-2014, 11:06 PM	#3
SStockDart VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Arizona, Texan forever Posts: 1,175 Likes: 876 Liked 570 Times in 211 Posts	Re: A fresh start for Omaha's only local track I believe that this is good news.....A strip close to Omaha. Who cares if it 1/8 or 1/4.....It is still about the light and driving the finish line. __________________ Gary Hansen - SS/FA 4911, B/SA 4911

12-15-2014, 05:14 AM	#5
bobbyd6 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cozad, Nebraska Posts: 310 Likes: 334 Liked 92 Times in 34 Posts	Re: A fresh start for Omaha's only local track Good to Hear Paul!!! Would love to have another great MCR race close to home!! __________________ Bobby Devine

12-15-2014, 06:25 AM	#6
Alan Nyhus VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Lower Dakota territory Posts: 1,180 Likes: 1,074 Liked 799 Times in 236 Posts	Re: A fresh start for Omaha's only local track Good news, Paul. Keep us posted, okay? -Al __________________ "That'll never work....."

12-15-2014, 10:54 AM	#7
Jim Parsons Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Kearney Mo Posts: 196 Likes: 405 Liked 195 Times in 30 Posts	Re: A fresh start for Omaha's only local track Thanks Paul for the update and glad to hear they are moving forward with the track. Jim P.S. Love those reader boards "after the finish line"

04-28-2015, 07:22 AM	#8
Paul Merolla Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 606 Likes: 233 Liked 292 Times in 64 Posts	Re: A fresh start for Omaha's only local track I wanted to check back in with a report after my first outing of the year at I-29 Dragway. It was a tough test for the place, due to lots of rain Friday night and intermittent showers through Saturday. The track is now super easy to get to - the new Hwy 34 is 4 lanes, and the road leading South to the track is beautiful new concrete. The pits were in good shape considering all the rain. There is a lot of new concrete around the place, and the pit layout has been improved. My first pass of the day produced my best 60' to date, 1.460. Mark Jenkins was there with his SS stick Cavalier, and he had to make a clutch adjustment after it dead hooked and bogged. I'm planning on attending this weekend's Stick Shift race, so that will also be a good test of the place. If you've avoided Rolling Thunder in the past, I would highly recommend giving I-29 Dragway a chance.