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

This topic came up under another post and got me to wondering how fast they're going.  I'm guessing 70ish on the straights.  The Chili Bowl track looks fast indoors due to it's small size but I think it's deceiving and looks faster than they're actually going.  They're quick on the indoor track but I don't think they're "outdoor fast".  They're geared such that they're up to speed quickly and carry that speed pretty well by leaning on the cushion. 

Does anyone have any numbers on that?

Stan Meissner

70ish seems a little high to me, because it's such a small and flat track. Is it even 1/4 mile?

Bell ran something like 10.7xx in hot laps Thursday, so let's assume in the feature he was turning 11.5 when not in traffic.  The track is supposed to be a 1/4 mile, so the math says 11.5s is a 78.26mph average.  So the fast guys are for sure topping 80mph on the straights.

(Just for good measure, I have heard the Chili Bowl track referred to as a 1/5 mile.  That would make the average speed 62.61mph and brings the 70ish estimate into play.)

Signature here.

Not doing 70 mph. I would say 50-55 top speed at end of straight

It looks faster than it is because of the small indoor configuration so it could be less than 70 mph.  It's not so much the top speed as how quick and busy it is.  They battle the lack of space and treacherous cushion as much as they do other drivers. 

Stan Meissner

I saw Tony Stewart turn a 9.97 lap in hot laps in the Wilke-PAK car.

Member of this message board since 1997

I find it hard to believe it is 1/4 mile in length, on the inside or outside. of the track.

 Lawlessness and liberalism equals Hell.  NY City, 
Detroit, Seattle, Chicago, Minnepolis, etc. We saw it. 
Burning hundreds of buildings, a thousand assaults and 
dozens of murders. Getting worser and worser.

If someone could get a count and length on the K rails used around the track and estimate the gaps in one and three you could at least put a fairly accurate max limit on the size.

The track is around 1/5 mile

I thought I heard one of the announcers on Flo refer to it as 1/6  mile.   I've been there one time and no way it's 1/4 mile even around the outside.   If it's even a 1/5 mile that's probably around the outside.   Not sure why the average speed matters to anyone.  What's the average speed of a heat race when you figure in 6 or 7  caution flags?

I've seen one thing this year. Tony's not there doing track prep and it shows. I'm sure the guy has a lot on his plate, but since the outbreak you don't see Tony out there much. Hopefully he comes back next year. Seems like this year when they rework the track the top just never comes back until late in the race. There's not enough laps left to do anything by then. 

Why would the average speed matter to anyone?  It's called curiosity, a desire to learn about and better understand the sport.  What's wrong with that?

Stan Meissner

Almost think midgets are too big for this small track. Anytime there are 10 or more cars on track its a wreckfest. Better track for the micros at the Shootout.

Absolutely nothing, it's just not one of the things I think about on a track that size...

The reason I posted that question is that theyre quick due to the tight quarters but not really outdoor fast.  OK, I'll be honest, they're slow as a Pure Stock but I didn't want to come right out and say the S word.  The darned things are so light and tippy that they practically go over by themselves.  I never watched all week and almost of the day Saturday so this is kind of an eye opener after a couple decades of hearing the stories about how awesome it is.  Tonight should be better than the week it required to whittle it down to the best.  I hope the track is up to the occasion.

Stan Meissner

For sure those guys are really moving given the size of the track.   I remember an interview in Open Wheel with Steve Kinser where he said that he felt like he was going much faster on quarter mile tracks.  

lol

Bring back Santa Fe, and LaSalle .

They Saturday night B Main just finished and it was a dandy.  It was a long week but worth the wait.

Stan Meissner

They said on MavTv tonight the track is 1/4 on the outside, 1/6 on the inside and 1/5 in the middle.

Based on an 11 second lap time that would be

1/4 = 82 mph

1/5 = 65 mph

1/6 = 55 mph

A 10.7 brings it to 84

Thank you.