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

Time for the ultimate opinion peice:  What's your favorite track for having the best layout, retaining walls, inside/outside, entry ramps/lanes & exit lanes/ramps?

Knowing some tracks have their inclide towards the outer edge, then maybe a flat lane above this, allowing for mistakes to not be severe, some recovery allowed. Other tracks have their push lanes well away from the tack, allowing truck sto push start and turn off before having to drive aroudn the track, other tracks must start sprints on the track; then exist lanes, some cross-over thru the inside of the track to be able to turn for exit to the track gate opening, others pit inside the track and others simply drive off the back side exit. Which of these presents the safest scenario and why?

Loved Baylands.  

Not my ultimate opinion but your first sentence could use some work. The Grove, Lincoln, Port Royal, and Selinsgrove have decent layouts as far as safety concerns. My ultimate opinion is not free but possibly for sale.

The Grove?

Eagle, NE - easy push-off lane (downhill), good exit in turn 1

Husets - closed gate in back during racing, great infield push inside lane

Knoxville - enough said!

THe Grove might have more blunt objects, structures, rails, sheet metal, posts, abutments, wires, signage, elevation changes, trees, openings, tunnels, and general unknown terrain to hit with a race car than any other track in the country. lol 

Lernerville had all the right things in place back in the mid 70's. Don Martin was promotor of the year. The track was and is one of the safest there is.  

Lucas Oil Speedway in Missouri, second to none.  TWS in Texas, also a great facility 

Not sure how I forgot about Lucas Oil - you are correct - both are first class. Lima OH is also one of the nicer places in the country

In regard to Eagle, the exit at the end of the front stretch isn't the best.  Many a car has come off the track hot and nearly run over people in the pits.  Been waiting for someone wandering in the pits with their head in the clouds to get run over for a long time.  In fact, if I recall correctly, there was a serious accident a few years ago in the exit lane.

Jackson Motorplex is a better lay out then Knoxville or Husets   Glen Murra

While I do think Lernerville is safer than most with more than half of the track allowing for a mishap recovery (no wall around the outside). The front stretch wall coming out of turn 4 is a concern.  It is certainly safer with the water barrels, but it will not solve all of the issues.  When you think about turn 4, I guess this would be a concern with many tracks with no outside wall around the top of the turns.

Let's face facts, it is a dangerous sport no matter how safe you make a facility.  You will never eliminate all of the danger.  Some tracks are safer than others and there are definitely concerns at almost every track.  Hopefully track safety will be at or very near the top of the priority list for track owners and promoters.  Each track needs to consider EVERY person in attendance.  From the drivers and crews to the spectators, media and track workers.

Let's all hope for a safe racing season!!

One thing I don't care for about PA tracks is that they all have guard rails inside and out with few openings for slowing cars to safely pull off. Leads to more unnecessary cautions with cars stopping on the track. 

A

It seems like most of PA's big tracks have areas to get a car out of the groove and off the track but not at every spot on the track. I don't see where many tracks could improve. Without inside guard rails half mile tracks would turn in three eighth mile tracks. 

Now what about that nasty old damn bridge at the Grove, A wise person posted on here last year that the bridge was being relocated. No word on that yet. Long live the bridge over the back stretch, it seems that all competing drivers don't mind it, can't say as much for the girly fans.

You forgot Bridges! LOL..

Charlotte dirt track.  Also whoever said the Grove is either sarcastic or living a sheltered life lol.  Like other posters said there's so many dangerous things around that track it's like an obstacle course.