"Live" from Atlanta double points race 2013

chevy620 · 05-25-2013, 09:55 AM

There is a lot of frustration about track prep all across the country.
I am interviewing track managers for an editorial in our magazine.
The general agreement by these guys is "they use whatever product" they have consistent results with and the choice has to be made early.

$1000.00 a drum!! is the going price for traction compound. Add that into event costs and you can see why track owners are trying "new methods" of track prep.
A normal LODRS prep probably eats up two drums of spray-on traction compound, five gallon pail of rosin, three or four sets of tires on the track-drag, $200 in fuel for track prep equipment, 30 to 40 hours of labor before the event and two extra guys on the start line during the event to put rosin down. Then do it again Friday night and then Saturday night again.....

We are lucky at our local track, the manager does a fantastic job" prepping and maintaining the start line. He uses about 1/2 a drum for a two-day bracket race but it is the "pre-race prep that provides the results.

It is a lot more than just spraying more. It is proper scraping, washing the oil residue off, dragging with the "proper tires" for that track and then finding the "combination" of all those factors to make it good enough for 600 H.P. 9" tire cars...see the issue?

It isn't that this track or that track don't care.... since us racers don't want to change our cars at all we just demand a perfect starting line. What if there was no track prep anymore and we had to figure out how to race without the wheels in the air every run?

More fun? Different winners? Maybe no more $125,000 Stock Elim. cars?

Who knows..but when traction compound hits $1500 a drum; I bet we find out.

1.30 60' on 9" tires (I have to admit) is fun... but the cost is HIGH!

Good luck this weekend.

Jok Nicholson
ETDragRacing.com magazine, editor

Larry Hill · 05-25-2013, 10:19 AM

Just made our first run and all cars seemed to hook a lot better today. Hopefully the track prep will stay good for everyone the rest of the weekend. The air went from 2800' yesterday with a 10 mph headwind to 1048' this morning and no wind. So people picked up a lot over yesterday. DRC should have results up soon.

astikhossw · 05-25-2013, 10:47 AM

chevy620 then if it cost so much maybe they should just go to 1/8 mile racing only.that should cut the price by half,then they can cut the entry by half.That works for me

J.R. Haddad · 05-25-2013, 11:21 AM

Boy oh boy, would I like to see the financial statement from the business
you run!!

Chris Hill · 05-25-2013, 11:24 AM

Please be on the look for a iphone5 with a Pink otterbox at the Atlanta race.

Someone has stolen Mom's phone.

Thank you,

Chris

Nitro Joe Jackson · 05-25-2013, 06:52 PM

secret squirrel in Atlanta sent me this picture of Michael Bryant into deep thought before eliminations, glad it wasn't in elimination's, Ralph & Rich is wearing him out with the new car, good job Michael going into Rd 3,btw don't be looking at the tree like this next rd, lol

Ralph Cardamone · 05-25-2013, 07:03 PM

Well it looks like he best not sleep seeing as he has a Bi into the next round . And yes he and Rich both have me worn out . But good to see the old car go that good . Good Luck Mike

Larry Hill · 05-25-2013, 09:21 PM

Well I am sick and tired of Atlanta! We ran .009 over our index and Mr. Reid went .007 over his index! And he had a better light, so we are packing up to go home.

I will have more to say later, but right now I would like to know if anyone knows how Mickey Whaley is. He had a medical emergency right before we ran first round and they took him to the hospital. Please let us know if you hear how he is. How about you, Karen? Have you heard from him?

442OLDS · 05-25-2013, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevy620

More fun? Different winners? Maybe no more $125,000 Stock Elim. cars?

If anything,I think it might lead to more $125,000 Stock Eliminator cars that incorporate some sort of traction control system.

Ralph Cardamone · 05-25-2013, 01:21 PM

Well we got Mike Bryant down the track , he is 1.025 under at 138mph lots more left in the car. He was heavy for the class, only if he would listen to Rich & me he can even go alot faster . Only his 4th pass in the car. Boy is he happy . He will be a car to recon with.

Rich broke a valve in the Yellow Bananna so we are done for the weekend.

05-25-2013, 09:55 AM	#1
chevy620 Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 188 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atlanta double points race 2013 There is a lot of frustration about track prep all across the country. I am interviewing track managers for an editorial in our magazine. The general agreement by these guys is "they use whatever product" they have consistent results with and the choice has to be made early. $1000.00 a drum!! is the going price for traction compound. Add that into event costs and you can see why track owners are trying "new methods" of track prep. A normal LODRS prep probably eats up two drums of spray-on traction compound, five gallon pail of rosin, three or four sets of tires on the track-drag, $200 in fuel for track prep equipment, 30 to 40 hours of labor before the event and two extra guys on the start line during the event to put rosin down. Then do it again Friday night and then Saturday night again..... We are lucky at our local track, the manager does a fantastic job" prepping and maintaining the start line. He uses about 1/2 a drum for a two-day bracket race but it is the "pre-race prep that provides the results. It is a lot more than just spraying more. It is proper scraping, washing the oil residue off, dragging with the "proper tires" for that track and then finding the "combination" of all those factors to make it good enough for 600 H.P. 9" tire cars...see the issue? It isn't that this track or that track don't care.... since us racers don't want to change our cars at all we just demand a perfect starting line. What if there was no track prep anymore and we had to figure out how to race without the wheels in the air every run? More fun? Different winners? Maybe no more $125,000 Stock Elim. cars? Who knows..but when traction compound hits $1500 a drum; I bet we find out. 1.30 60' on 9" tires (I have to admit) is fun... but the cost is HIGH! Good luck this weekend. Jok Nicholson ETDragRacing.com magazine, editor

05-25-2013, 10:19 AM	#2
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,647 Likes: 1,941 Liked 10,750 Times in 2,235 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atlanta double points race 2013 Just made our first run and all cars seemed to hook a lot better today. Hopefully the track prep will stay good for everyone the rest of the weekend. The air went from 2800' yesterday with a 10 mph headwind to 1048' this morning and no wind. So people picked up a lot over yesterday. DRC should have results up soon. __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

05-25-2013, 10:47 AM	#3
astikhossw Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: moreno valley Ca Posts: 266 Likes: 2 Liked 20 Times in 9 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atlanta double points race 2013 chevy620 then if it cost so much maybe they should just go to 1/8 mile racing only.that should cut the price by half,then they can cut the entry by half.That works for me

05-25-2013, 11:21 AM	#4
J.R. Haddad Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 785 Likes: 939 Liked 1,469 Times in 308 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atlanta double points race 2013 Boy oh boy, would I like to see the financial statement from the business you run!!

05-25-2013, 11:24 AM	#5
Chris Hill Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 655 Likes: 8 Liked 244 Times in 26 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atlanta double points race 2013 Please be on the look for a iphone5 with a Pink otterbox at the Atlanta race. Someone has stolen Mom's phone. Thank you, Chris __________________ Chris Hill https://ihmusedparts.com

05-25-2013, 06:52 PM	#6
Nitro Joe Jackson VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Loudonville, Ohio or where ever the Nitro Lounge is parked Posts: 2,293 Likes: 58 Liked 67 Times in 19 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atlanta double points race 2013 secret squirrel in Atlanta sent me this picture of Michael Bryant into deep thought before eliminations, glad it wasn't in elimination's, Ralph & Rich is wearing him out with the new car, good job Michael going into Rd 3,btw don't be looking at the tree like this next rd, lol __________________ Nitro Joe Jackson STK 3431 nitrojoe@neo.rr.com

05-25-2013, 07:03 PM	#7
Ralph Cardamone Junior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: COLUMBUS,OHIO Posts: 90 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atlanta double points race 2013 Well it looks like he best not sleep seeing as he has a Bi into the next round . And yes he and Rich both have me worn out . But good to see the old car go that good . Good Luck Mike

05-25-2013, 09:21 PM	#8
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,647 Likes: 1,941 Liked 10,750 Times in 2,235 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atlanta double points race 2013 Well I am sick and tired of Atlanta! We ran .009 over our index and Mr. Reid went .007 over his index! And he had a better light, so we are packing up to go home. I will have more to say later, but right now I would like to know if anyone knows how Mickey Whaley is. He had a medical emergency right before we ran first round and they took him to the hospital. Please let us know if you hear how he is. How about you, Karen? Have you heard from him? __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

05-25-2013, 01:21 PM	#10
Ralph Cardamone Junior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: COLUMBUS,OHIO Posts: 90 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: "Live" from Atlanta double points race 2013 Well we got Mike Bryant down the track , he is 1.025 under at 138mph lots more left in the car. He was heavy for the class, only if he would listen to Rich & me he can even go alot faster . Only his 4th pass in the car. Boy is he happy . He will be a car to recon with. Rich broke a valve in the Yellow Bananna so we are done for the weekend.