Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

After attending the recent Mansfield Speedway show that attracted over 140 sprint cars and threw the last checkered after 3 am, I've been wondering what others think. I was sitting there once it got past 1 or 2am half out out of it and just trying to keep my eyelids open - so I ask this question:

How late is too late to drive a sprint car safely for a driver? I'm sure adrenaline plays a factor, but it seems to me a safety factor comes in to play after midnight, 1 am, etc.

Thoughts? (drivers/former drivers: hint Brad Doty!/crew/fans)

Maybe not a total non issue but close. Other than weather I can't think of any real reason that a race should run past mid nite. 

The traveling guys seem to be all night owls. Most of the teams travel to the next race overnight anyway.

not sure about the local guys, but I'd assume driving a sprint car is such an adrenaline rush, it's probably never too late.

Eldora HBO - Checkers at Sunrise!

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

Good question.

Probably a bigger safety issue for the crowd driving home than the drivers.  When I am focused on doing something I enjoy, even if it gets late, I do not get tired.  I would assume the adrenaline (as one other poster said) keeps these guys/gals pretty sharp until the night (or morning) is over.

Were you in the pits at all?  I ask because when it was getting late did you see any of the drviers?  Wonder how many were taking a nap in their hauler/toter.  I've seen some do that with long rain delays at big races (King's Royal for example).  As others have said it's probably a concern, but once theyr'e strapped in the adrenaline and focus take over.  What about the saftey crew and track workers.  That might be a concern.  But again with the safety crew I'm sure adrenaline or maybe they called in backups

As someone else mentioned, spectators driving home.  That'd be a concern for sure. 

No, I just in the grandstands.

Good points on safety crew/track workers (and they had a busy night with all the reds), and driving home.

I certainly learned that you see some interesting things as far as other drivers on the roads at 4 in the morning.

Feel like 5 Hour Energy missed a potential sponsorship opportunity here...HaHa. 

I sometimes have to wake up in the middle of the night for work (film shoot, photography stuff, etc.) and there's something very serene about being up that early, but hot damn does your head have to be on a swivel when driving  

That's for sure. And my drive home was 99% interstate driving too!

Most guys, if a show is running really late,  will try to get away from people in general and try to think about something other than racing. Thinking about kids, wife and vacation helped me. Before toterhomes, my time, guys would climb in the backseat of the dually and not tell anyone. I've seen crews close the trailer doors too. Believe me, being on the road has a lot of things not in control of the teams. 

Interesting question.  When I started going to the races around 1960 Sprint Car drivers were some pretty tough characters and in fact many in that era had served in WWII.  They were quite capable of staying up however late it took to get the job done.  If you've ever read about Buzz Barton for example, I saw him race when I was a kid and he was as tough in person as he looks in those historic photos.  Winning the race in those days was half the battle, they often had to answer for their actions at the pay window.  Racing was not for the timid.When I saw this post I thought about some of these youngsters that are getting started at around 13 or 14 and my first thought was that they're up past their bed time and out past curfew.  Yeah, I know, I'll never wrap my head around the idea of kids driving Sprint Cars but I seriously question how anybody that young could handle those hours.  Some of my grandkids are around that age and they're out like a light by 10pm when they spend the night with us.

But seriously, I think the point that was made about the drivers being focused (including the younger ones) probably would keep them on their toes into the wee hours.  The biggest victim would be me, I'm out of there at midnight, the late night drives aren't much fun anymore.  Personally I think that tracks should have a set time where if there's a delay and they can't get the show in by a certain hour it's time to bite the bullet and postpone the event.  Older folks like myself and people with young kids just end up getting screwed out of our hard earned money when we have to leave before the Feature.  I'm sure I'll take some shit about my opinion from the 100 or so hard core rabid fans who are going to stay all night if necessary.  Chasing away families for those 100 hard core fanatics isn't a very good way to make new fans and retain the old ones.  I think that there has to be a tipping point where the promoters call these events and reschedule or they're going to lose more fans than they gain.

Stan Meissner

Wasn't that the one that Kevin won? I couldn't go, but some family members were there for it. I might be getting it mixed up with another race, though.

...

You are correct.

I remember around 6:30 AM right after Victory Lane ended, and the 360 Sprints were gettingready to start that reality came back to bite me. My favorite youngest daughter came to retrieve me  from outside the front gate to go back to the hotel in Piqua so we could check out in time (Noon) to drive back to Mass.

I left after the second Red in the 410 wing at 230 got home at 5am.  I was actually fine on the drive home for a change but was just kinda numb to it all while sitting in the stands that late.

I actually had the opposite happen.  On the drive up about 1 in the afternoon a Caddy CTS was drifting all over I-71.  I backed off knowing this guy was going to cause a wreck and then he took off like a bat out of hell.  Well about 35 miles up the road I come back up on him and he's drifting over to the rumble strip. straightens it out then starts drifiting the other way.  I back way off again.  The guy goes into the middle median and I have no idea how he saved it.  But he gets back up on the highway. By this time everyone is steering clear.  He goes over to the emergency lane then is driving about 20mph.   Scary.   Don't know if drunk or asleep but wow.   Didn't see much on the way home as far as iffy drivers.

Four crown got done at daylight a few years ago and many of the drivers complained it wasnt safe and if they had any idea that more rain was on the way the ones running only one or two classes could have climbed inthe hauler and got some sleep.   I've actually seen drivers sleeping in the push off lane before.

With the noise of the engine and the adrenaline, even if one was getting tired before the race they'll be up and ready by the drop of the green.

Not everyone works day shift.  Are night shift drivers not suppose to race because they didn't sleep on race day after a night of work?  They're adults, they suck it up and race.

You got that right. True story here. Just a few weeks back, I was driving home from work at 1am on a familiar stretch of road that I drive literally every single day. I'm just driving along minding my own business and on high alert for suicidal deer and next thing you know, I see a set of headlights driving right on the berm in my lane coming straight toward me. Not sure if the dude was confused Englishman, drunk, falling asleep, or just plain stupid but I called the cops and they said they'd check it out. Never heard another thing about it so evidently, he didn't crash or anything. I've seen some wild shit during my late night travels.