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

Track comparison......Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio to US 36 Raceway, Cameron, Mo.

Trying to get a drivers perspective on the major differences between these two speedplants. Both tracks are wicked fast. Eldora is listed as a 1/2 mile while US 36 is a 3/8. I wonder how close they really are in size? Eldora has 24 degree banking in the corners while US 36 has 21. Straightaways are 8 degrees at Eldora compared to 10 degrees at US 36. I can't find any track records for US 36 so can't compare on just speed.

Has anyone here raced at both tracks? Would love to get a drivers perspective of the differences. This is just a comparison and not meant to be a pissing contest on which is better.

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

Download google earth and you can measure each track with the tools provided with the program.

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Found what appears to be an old WoO release/preview from June 2009 here: http://racingonline.com/article/240609/missouri-high-banked-nationals-us-36-raceway

Single digit track record!

9.846 set by Paul McMahan in 2006

MPH record: 135.36 also set in 2006

.375 mile

Track website: http://http://www.us36raceway.com/circle_track_home.htm

I measured US 36 on Google Earth a few months ago and I believe I got a .26-.28 of a mile through the middle and outside portions of the track so there is definitely some discrepancies in the track distance, but please if someone wishes too double check me on that, because it was a while ago and I'm just stating this from memory.

Also since we are comparing these types of tracks, can we throw in the Belleville High Banks? I seem to remember someone posting a Brooke Tatnell quote earlier this year about how he said it was bigger and faster than Eldora (or something like that).

Ask Frank

Yes, Belleville is much larger than eldora.

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I`ve spectated and raced at Eldora. I`ve only spectated at US 36. They are not even close. Eldora may not be a true 1/2 mile which inflates the mph #`s and Us 36 is probaly not a 3/8.

I've raced at US36 and can tell you that it is no where near 3/8 and is closer to a quarter mile or even a small quarter mile. The track is also practically round. The straights aren't really straight, the corners are actually very sweeping which obviously takes away from the straight away distance. It is one of the most demanding tracks I ever raced at. Every time I felt as if my arms, neck and left hip had taken a beating. And that was in 360 ASCS events. Now that I'm out of the driver seat, out of shape and...ugh, how depressing...anyway, the thought of strapping behind a 410 on this track doesn't sound fun to me anymore. Back in the day, maybe, but definitely not now.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this. I've never been to Eldora....although it is on my bucket list. But from seeing video it reminds me of a larger US 36. Maybe better said, US 36 reminds me of a smaller Eldora. Anyways, the point being.....both tracks seem to be pretty demanding on a driver. Total concentration and lightning fast.

I have never been to US-36, but I feel safe in calling BS on any "3/8" mile track with a supposed track record of 135 miles per hour. That is why so much of the "fastest" and "slowest" claims about many tracks on this board are just flat out nonsense because many tracks are nowhere no near the size they are billed as. I have to give props to BRR for actually measuring some of the tracks out there and giving the real track sizes. I am sure Google Earth works as well; I just never used that site before or tried to measure any tracks with that tool.

IMO, out of the 160 lifetime tracks I have visted, Eldora and Flemington (N.J.) always seemed like two of the worst tracks for being overstated size-wize to produce phony speed claims. In addition to the U.S. 36 speed claim seeming impossible to believe, Huset's always strikes me as another place that seems impossible to believe looking at the speed claims.

Here is a clip I found to give you an idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XH_eXd370A

Here ya go fellas.

Outside line: ~3/10

Inside line: ~2/10

The calculations I've done on Husets works out to be an 11/32 mile track mile track around the outside wall. The fast line is usually around the top, about 4' down from this line.

The action is fast and furious at Husets. The speeds themselves, are over-hyped.

Also on a side note, in that midget video you can actually see me in the stands (that track is absolutely perfect for midgets).

Ask Frank