terrible race at fontana

Mike Gray · 10-07-2008, 06:34 PM

Having been going there since it opened I have expirenced the problems that are being talked about.
What it boils down to is it appears to be operating on a shoe string budget.
The track is stuck in the back corner of the NASCAR facility parking lot with very little in the way of buildings (a portable unit) and equipment. The loud speakers can only be heard in the stands but it is broadcast over the AM radio for those in the pits. The staff is small and only a few seem to have any experience.
The outside security company may be the only ones available due to California Speedway rules.
(The drag strip may have no choice in using them.)
If they don't have a long term lease I can see the reluctance to invest much money in the facility.
It's the closest race track (besides Pomona) to a lot of us and It beats the heck out of LACR.

castle5 · 10-07-2008, 07:43 PM

sounds like joliet illinois too.

Woodro Josey · 10-07-2008, 08:19 PM

Yea Jim, we know how safe ours are don't we, not sure about theirs!

Rod Greene · 10-08-2008, 01:10 PM

This race and facillity are a joke and a disgrace. Track prep is nonexistant. There are no racer amenities the pa system is non hearable. It is a 4th class race track. Div 7 and Mike Rice should be embarassed.

7820 · 10-08-2008, 01:45 PM

Never had a problem with traction at Fontana...could it be your tires or suspension system? PA system....bring a radio...lots of tracks have poor PA systems.l

Ed Wright · 10-08-2008, 02:55 PM

We were in contact with a couple of friends who were there racing. They pretty much told us what was said here. Poor track prep, workers, organization, etc. They thought it was a joke also. Very dissapointed.

RacerJJ · 10-09-2008, 10:39 AM

What exactly is "good" track prep? I have made probably close to 2000 laps on the Fontana track and I have been to several other tracks. Fontana uses the same equipment that every other track I have visited uses. Fontana uses VHT, they have a drag tractor, they scrape before and after every event, and the track crew is made up of racers who know what a good track is. I raced at the D7 Finals recently in Fallon. The track was mediocre at best. The only plus was the dirty permanent restroom. Other than that, the track had a lousy PA system, the pits were mostly dirt, and the track had some cracks in it the size of the San Andreas fault. Yet, everyone raves about how great that track is because their car hooks. Did it ever occur to anyone that their car hooks there because the high altitude limits the power cars make? I guess I just don't understand why Fontana gets beat up so much. What do you want them to do? I can't speak for the contracted Security or the ticketing personnel, but the on-track crew is top notch and they are some of the most skilled in what they do. Above their skill, the track crew their simply cares and I know for a fact that the head starter will NOT let a race continue with a bad track. If you had issues with the track, check your set-up. I am willing to bet the farm that it wasn't the tracks fault. Come to any PSCA race their and see cars go deep in the 6's at over 230 mph on a small tire in the heat and in the cold.

Ed Wright · 10-09-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7820

Never had a problem with traction at Fontana...could it be your tires or suspension system? PA system....bring a radio...lots of tracks have poor PA systems.l

What class do you run?

7820 · 10-09-2008, 01:17 PM

Super Gas/Super Pro

Opps..my bad Tony!

Bryan Broaddus · 10-09-2008, 02:30 PM

I thought all of the track and NHRA guys and gals were very professional. Treat them with respect and they will do the same to you. Treat them like crap and they will return the favor, human nature!

Track was good for our Super Stock cars and I even made all my runs in the dreaded left lane, no problems.

If you want to effect change at Fontana maybe you should send emails to Tom McKernan (sp) at AAA since they are the track sponsor. He is the Big Boss at AAA and he was there with John Force and Robert Height this weekend watching his (Mr. McKernan's) daughter race (in Super Comp I believe).

10-07-2008, 06:34 PM	#1
Mike Gray Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 624 Likes: 316 Liked 699 Times in 202 Posts	Re: terrible race at fontana Having been going there since it opened I have expirenced the problems that are being talked about. What it boils down to is it appears to be operating on a shoe string budget. The track is stuck in the back corner of the NASCAR facility parking lot with very little in the way of buildings (a portable unit) and equipment. The loud speakers can only be heard in the stands but it is broadcast over the AM radio for those in the pits. The staff is small and only a few seem to have any experience. The outside security company may be the only ones available due to California Speedway rules. (The drag strip may have no choice in using them.) If they don't have a long term lease I can see the reluctance to invest much money in the facility. It's the closest race track (besides Pomona) to a lot of us and It beats the heck out of LACR.

10-07-2008, 07:43 PM	#2
castle5 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: indiana Posts: 39 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: terrible race at fontana sounds like joliet illinois too.

10-07-2008, 08:19 PM	#3
Woodro Josey Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 805 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: terrible race at fontana Yea Jim, we know how safe ours are don't we, not sure about theirs! __________________ Woodro Josey 2002 STK

10-08-2008, 01:10 PM	#4
Rod Greene Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: TN Posts: 530 Likes: 429 Liked 242 Times in 81 Posts	Re: terrible race at fontana This race and facillity are a joke and a disgrace. Track prep is nonexistant. There are no racer amenities the pa system is non hearable. It is a 4th class race track. Div 7 and Mike Rice should be embarassed. __________________ Rod Greene Real men shift for them selves. Slowly working on TA Challenger for D,E/S and a 72 Challenger for SS/K, L as if I don't have enough other projects.

10-08-2008, 01:45 PM	#5
7820 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 201 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: terrible race at fontana Never had a problem with traction at Fontana...could it be your tires or suspension system? PA system....bring a radio...lots of tracks have poor PA systems.l

10-08-2008, 02:55 PM	#6
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: terrible race at fontana We were in contact with a couple of friends who were there racing. They pretty much told us what was said here. Poor track prep, workers, organization, etc. They thought it was a joke also. Very dissapointed. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

10-09-2008, 10:39 AM	#7
RacerJJ Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: terrible race at fontana What exactly is "good" track prep? I have made probably close to 2000 laps on the Fontana track and I have been to several other tracks. Fontana uses the same equipment that every other track I have visited uses. Fontana uses VHT, they have a drag tractor, they scrape before and after every event, and the track crew is made up of racers who know what a good track is. I raced at the D7 Finals recently in Fallon. The track was mediocre at best. The only plus was the dirty permanent restroom. Other than that, the track had a lousy PA system, the pits were mostly dirt, and the track had some cracks in it the size of the San Andreas fault. Yet, everyone raves about how great that track is because their car hooks. Did it ever occur to anyone that their car hooks there because the high altitude limits the power cars make? I guess I just don't understand why Fontana gets beat up so much. What do you want them to do? I can't speak for the contracted Security or the ticketing personnel, but the on-track crew is top notch and they are some of the most skilled in what they do. Above their skill, the track crew their simply cares and I know for a fact that the head starter will NOT let a race continue with a bad track. If you had issues with the track, check your set-up. I am willing to bet the farm that it wasn't the tracks fault. Come to any PSCA race their and see cars go deep in the 6's at over 230 mph on a small tire in the heat and in the cold.

10-09-2008, 01:17 PM	#9
7820 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 201 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: terrible race at fontana Super Gas/Super Pro Opps..my bad Tony!

10-09-2008, 02:30 PM	#10
Bryan Broaddus Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 104 Likes: 2 Liked 18 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Fontana I thought all of the track and NHRA guys and gals were very professional. Treat them with respect and they will do the same to you. Treat them like crap and they will return the favor, human nature! Track was good for our Super Stock cars and I even made all my runs in the dreaded left lane, no problems. If you want to effect change at Fontana maybe you should send emails to Tom McKernan (sp) at AAA since they are the track sponsor. He is the Big Boss at AAA and he was there with John Force and Robert Height this weekend watching his (Mr. McKernan's) daughter race (in Super Comp I believe). __________________ Bryan Broaddus 7568 STK ,SS

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