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Topic: Angell Park track guard rail controversy??
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April 09, 2014 at
11:55:21 PM
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Reading in April Flat Out magazine a story about the Chili Bowl was this rumor that historic Angell Park Speedway in Wisconsin would be removing the inner guard rails and that some midget drivers (and internet chat rooms) complained that it would ruin racing at the track--others said they'd wait and see. The track owner/president, Bob Koltes, landed in Tulsa for the Bowl and declared that if Winter ever ends in Wisconsin that the guard rail would be removed. He stated that much of the reasoning was due to the desire of bringing Sprint Cars to the track, most notable the IRA sprints. He said the move is a must, that midget racing in in trouble and to quote him: "would you rather have us change the track or not have race cars"? "Or no track at all"? End of story/paragraph.
Could someone let me and maybe many others know why rmoving the guard rail is needed or why it would ruin midget racing? It didn't delve into the reasoning so I have no clue to what they are talking about. How could removing the guard rail hurt and why does it need to be removed for sprint cars? Thanks.
signed - confused
Lawlessness + liberalism = HELL - NYC, Detroit, Chicago,
Seattle, LA Who the H runs those cities.
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April 10, 2014 at
08:43:25 AM
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With the inner guardrail the track is just too narrow for sprint cars. Last time USAC sprints were there it was a follow the leader parade and the last time the MSA 360's ran there it was a crashfest due to the narrow track. Plus I know the IRA quit going there when the inner guarails were put in place for what they called a safety concern as there was no easy way for guys to pull off the track if they had an issue. With midget racing struggling in WI making changes to the track to make it more versatile for other types of cars so they can try to breathe new life into the facility.
So in addition to taking out the guardrail they are going to make the track wider and change up the banking in the corners to make the track more conducive to two groove racing.
Guess time will tell if it works.
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April 10, 2014 at
09:54:52 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: WIsprinter on April 10 2014 at 08:43:25 AM
With the inner guardrail the track is just too narrow for sprint cars. Last time USAC sprints were there it was a follow the leader parade and the last time the MSA 360's ran there it was a crashfest due to the narrow track. Plus I know the IRA quit going there when the inner guarails were put in place for what they called a safety concern as there was no easy way for guys to pull off the track if they had an issue. With midget racing struggling in WI making changes to the track to make it more versatile for other types of cars so they can try to breathe new life into the facility.
So in addition to taking out the guardrail they are going to make the track wider and change up the banking in the corners to make the track more conducive to two groove racing.
Guess time will tell if it works.
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Great explanation. I have wondered the reason. I have never been there, but I kept reading snippets on this subject on the IRA site. It reeally never was explained. This might make me have to make my first trip to Angell Park.....
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April 10, 2014 at
03:54:36 PM
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This message was edited on
April 10, 2014 at
03:55:51 PM by Stealth87
Reply to:
Posted By: maddog53 on April 10 2014 at 09:54:52 AM
Great explanation. I have wondered the reason. I have never been there, but I kept reading snippets on this subject on the IRA site. It reeally never was explained. This might make me have to make my first trip to Angell Park.....
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Make the trip. Midget track record is around 14.1... The sprints are really gonna haul the mail around there! Rumor has it the guardrail is completely gone already
Real race cars don't have fenders...
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April 10, 2014 at
04:13:24 PM
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I am super excited about this. Angell Park is one of few WI dirt tracks I haven't been to. Now I will definitely be going. hopefully pairing the 2 forms of open wheel racing on the same night will be mutually beneficial. and it's barely an hour drive from my house!
Follow me on the social medias! ; twitter -
larryitis Facebook - Michael Collins
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April 10, 2014 at
06:35:45 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: dirtraceorbust on April 09 2014 at 11:55:21 PM
Reading in April Flat Out magazine a story about the Chili Bowl was this rumor that historic Angell Park Speedway in Wisconsin would be removing the inner guard rails and that some midget drivers (and internet chat rooms) complained that it would ruin racing at the track--others said they'd wait and see. The track owner/president, Bob Koltes, landed in Tulsa for the Bowl and declared that if Winter ever ends in Wisconsin that the guard rail would be removed. He stated that much of the reasoning was due to the desire of bringing Sprint Cars to the track, most notable the IRA sprints. He said the move is a must, that midget racing in in trouble and to quote him: "would you rather have us change the track or not have race cars"? "Or no track at all"? End of story/paragraph.
Could someone let me and maybe many others know why rmoving the guard rail is needed or why it would ruin midget racing? It didn't delve into the reasoning so I have no clue to what they are talking about. How could removing the guard rail hurt and why does it need to be removed for sprint cars? Thanks.
signed - confused
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If you have Google Earth, search for Angell Park and zoom in. You will see it is very narrow....
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April 10, 2014 at
07:05:20 PM
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inner guard rail is somewhat dated and old schooli would think. can't think of one track on the west cost that I have been to that have them...just sayin! leave the infield open...
Ascot was the greatest of all time..
West Capital wasn't half bad either..
Life is good...
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April 11, 2014 at
12:05:42 AM
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Man if you guys live close and havent been there to see some midget racing you really been missing out.
the gaurdrail was installed back in the 90's . before it was up guys would cut the corners into the grass and sometimes get caught in the buried tires that served as a boundry tearing up equipment. It may have been put in for safety concerns. Racing was great before and after so hopefully wont affect midget racing going forward.
the track is perfect for midgets in my opinion as is. But is too narrow for sprints and as other posters have stated there has not really been a good sprint show there. Interested to see how much they have to widen the track to make it sprinter freindly.
I though last year with powri coming on board was a good step forward in saving midget racing at angell park. hope that trend will continue now with a few sprint shows mixed in can hurt.
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April 11, 2014 at
09:38:02 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Points on April 11 2014 at 12:05:42 AM
Man if you guys live close and havent been there to see some midget racing you really been missing out.
the gaurdrail was installed back in the 90's . before it was up guys would cut the corners into the grass and sometimes get caught in the buried tires that served as a boundry tearing up equipment. It may have been put in for safety concerns. Racing was great before and after so hopefully wont affect midget racing going forward.
the track is perfect for midgets in my opinion as is. But is too narrow for sprints and as other posters have stated there has not really been a good sprint show there. Interested to see how much they have to widen the track to make it sprinter freindly.
I though last year with powri coming on board was a good step forward in saving midget racing at angell park. hope that trend will continue now with a few sprint shows mixed in can hurt.
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I completely agree! If you can, make it to a POWRi, Badger, USAC night and I promise you will NOT be disappointed! If anyone plans on making the first time trip, shoot me a message. Would love to meet some people face to face, have a beer, talk racing etc. If IRA comes in and puts on a good show, the sky is the limit. It may even open up a future WoO date... Who knows. Cannot wait for racing at the Prairie this year!!!
Real race cars don't have fenders...
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April 11, 2014 at
12:10:47 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: maddog53 on April 10 2014 at 06:35:45 PM
If you have Google Earth, search for Angell Park and zoom in. You will see it is very narrow....
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I have never been there but see it is only about 1-1/2 hours from my house. Where do you live maddog?
By the way--got up Sunday morning--bought two tickets off of nhlticketexchange.com for $75 each, loaded up the car and hit the Blackhawks/Blues game. Great last minute decision. Left home at 7:30--got back at 5:15 at night. Great game. Cheap day.
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April 11, 2014 at
02:31:18 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: egras on April 11 2014 at 12:10:47 PM
I have never been there but see it is only about 1-1/2 hours from my house. Where do you live maddog?
By the way--got up Sunday morning--bought two tickets off of nhlticketexchange.com for $75 each, loaded up the car and hit the Blackhawks/Blues game. Great last minute decision. Left home at 7:30--got back at 5:15 at night. Great game. Cheap day.
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I'm in Mchenry, IL which is about an hour 45 minutes from Sun Prairie. Awesome deal on the Hawk game. My funding is limited so my one game this year was it. It was a good game to watch in my 'Cave' Where do you hail from? Maybe get you to the Outlaw show at Wilmot on May 9th?
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April 11, 2014 at
05:05:18 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: NWFAN on April 10 2014 at 07:05:20 PM
inner guard rail is somewhat dated and old schooli would think. can't think of one track on the west cost that I have been to that have them...just sayin! leave the infield open...
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It might have been old school and dated but it was a blast to belly up to with a camera. I didn't get out there very often but I'll miss the old configuration.
Stan Meissner
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April 11, 2014 at
05:12:30 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Points on April 11 2014 at 12:05:42 AM
Man if you guys live close and havent been there to see some midget racing you really been missing out.
the gaurdrail was installed back in the 90's . before it was up guys would cut the corners into the grass and sometimes get caught in the buried tires that served as a boundry tearing up equipment. It may have been put in for safety concerns. Racing was great before and after so hopefully wont affect midget racing going forward.
the track is perfect for midgets in my opinion as is. But is too narrow for sprints and as other posters have stated there has not really been a good sprint show there. Interested to see how much they have to widen the track to make it sprinter freindly.
I though last year with powri coming on board was a good step forward in saving midget racing at angell park. hope that trend will continue now with a few sprint shows mixed in can hurt.
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I didn't get there often but you've got it right that the place was perfect for Midgets with the guardrail. Sun Prairie has been a bit of an oddity as far as race tracks go. Maybe things have changed since the last time I was there but I liked that it was a well run one class program which is rare these days. If the widen out the track to run some Sprint shows I'm guessing it will only be a matter of time before they're running six classes of the various types of Stock Cars and Modifieds. That back gate revenue has got to be tempting when they look around at the other tracks in Wisconsin. Tradition generally gives way to profit. Running in the black is a good thing because it ensures they'll stay open but the trade off might be sitting through Pure Stocks, B Mods, Modifieds, Super Stocks and whatever else can turn a buck. That's the reality of weekly racing at most tracks nowadays.
Stan Meissner
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April 12, 2014 at
06:02:43 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Stealth87 on April 11 2014 at 09:38:02 AM
I completely agree! If you can, make it to a POWRi, Badger, USAC night and I promise you will NOT be disappointed! If anyone plans on making the first time trip, shoot me a message. Would love to meet some people face to face, have a beer, talk racing etc. If IRA comes in and puts on a good show, the sky is the limit. It may even open up a future WoO date... Who knows. Cannot wait for racing at the Prairie this year!!!
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I will definitely be at both IRA shows this summer. taking vacation days at work for both mondays. I would also like to meet some local hoseheads face to face.
Follow me on the social medias! ; twitter -
larryitis Facebook - Michael Collins
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April 12, 2014 at
07:30:59 PM
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I'm looking forward to the USAC sprint car show, the wing cars will be good, but I bet they will get the topless cars 3 wide at some point durng the show. The front stretch configuration will make the wing cars have to lift. Nonwingers will be able to keep the throttle pedal planted. The regular locals will not be to receptive to the wing cars, but I hope that over time that will change. They are staunch midget fans.(no wings). The change is in order. The place has to much history and is to nice of a facility to it put midly, would be a travisty to see the place close up.
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April 12, 2014 at
07:59:17 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: number45 on April 12 2014 at 07:30:59 PM
I'm looking forward to the USAC sprint car show, the wing cars will be good, but I bet they will get the topless cars 3 wide at some point durng the show. The front stretch configuration will make the wing cars have to lift. Nonwingers will be able to keep the throttle pedal planted. The regular locals will not be to receptive to the wing cars, but I hope that over time that will change. They are staunch midget fans.(no wings). The change is in order. The place has to much history and is to nice of a facility to it put midly, would be a travisty to see the place close up.
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It is hard ti believe that when you can get 275 cars at Chili Bowel and you can not get 20 midgets for a weekly show. You think of USAC being the heart of midget racing today and they can not get 21 cars to alot of races. We hope it is a cycle that things are going thru and things change to better. I remember going to Angel Park Pepsi Nationals with 70 or more cars. A big thrill is standing at turn one and watching cars come straight at you and then turn into corner. The track is great with really good dirt that will pull your shoes off. I think it is cool that you can go to pits before the race, then they tell you its time to leave and everyone does. Trouble is these old car owners retire and there is no one to take thier place.
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