Div 3 National Opens

[TS310C]

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.

[rzeprace]

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

[TS310C]

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.

[CBS]

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....

[Iceman Cometh]

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.

[Michael Pliska]

Originally Posted by CBS

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

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.

[chebby2]

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.

[JMatt]

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.

[slow dragster]

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

[TS310C]

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.