Forum: Minnesota Dirt Track Racing Forum (go)
Moderators: StanM

I've only been to the IRA and World of Outlaw Sprint shows. I also saw the 305's in Oskaloosa a few years ago.

What is the difference in horsepower between a 360 and a 410? Do the 360's put on a good show at Cedar Lake?

Thanks,

TDA

the 410's can have about 800/850 Hp   the 360's have anywhere from 600 to 715 Hp

The 360 sprints put on a very good show, just as good as any 410 shows out there. 

Thanks for the information. From what I've heard, the lower horsepower of the 360 tends to put the car into the drivers hands more. Would you agree?

360s put on a very good show at Cedar Lake.

In the 360 division the cars/equipment tend to be more evenly matched (not even but less spread than in 410s). As far as more or less driver, the classes require a driver to do different things. The higher HP in a 410 means a talented driver can make the car react differently for different circumstances. The rest of us just have a harder time getting the HP to the ground. The lower HP of 360s should make it easier to hook up, but with tire rules it is actually harder to get a 360 to bite hard, slick surfaces. That means its up to the driver to feel the car and find a sweet spot on the track. Of course a good mechanic and setup can make a huge difference. I think the mechanic's setup plays more of a role in 360 racing than it does in 410s.

I like a lot of wheel to wheel action. That happens more on 3/8 tracks (and smaller). But when you put 410s on small tracks (especially the Outlaws) the leaders get into lapped traffic so early and so thick that it gets hard to follow. Some traffic is good for the show, but I prefer the leader and last place to be at most 1 lap apart. I also like the bulk of the cars to be on the lead lap. (Unless I'm the one leading

I like all Sprint Cars regardless of what size engine they have. The 410's, especially the Outlaws, tend to check out in the Heat races and after the initial start there isn't much side-by-side. I'll concur with what Jimmy said about the 410 Features on a smaller track, the fast guys get into lapped traffic after a few laps and I have a heck of a time figuring out what's going on. Thank goodness for the electronic scoreboards so at least we can keep track of who the leaders are. Of course if you follow enough of these races you know who's fast so you can keep an eye on them.

The IRA offers a little closer racing than the Outlaws because it's a blue collar club and their equipment (at least to me) seems more evenly matched. To me when a touring group comes around I want to see local guys like Travis Whitney or Jimmy Kouba do well. We see more of that with the IRA than the Outlaws and even more with the 360's. The only question mark is how many cars will show, I'll just take a wild guess mid 20's since Knoxville will be running next weekend. The early race generally has done pretty well but every year it's a question mark because a couple of guys will get out of it but a couple new guys will get into it. You really can't lose if you follow them to Kopellah and Cedar next weekend, it's close to home and the ticket prices are going to be half what you'd pay for the Outlaws and $5 less than a typical IRA special. The support classes at Cedar include Late Models but I think both tracks are giving their A Mods the night off. It's a good show.

Stan Meissner

On bullrings like Cedar Lake, I prefer the 410s over 360s because of traffic/speed/faster reflex issues...I prefer 410s about 7 nights out of 10 at Knoxville too...I guess most others do too, if you compare attendance for the 360 Nationals vs. any 410 night at Knoxville...

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There ya' go braggin' about where ya' live again Bill Up where I'm at you're more likely to see 360's and that's what most of the local guys run. Actually, we've got so many other classes up here we're just happy to see any kind of Sprint Car once in a while.

Stan Meissner

Judging the WoO/IRA crowds vs. 360 at Cedar Lake, I would say most prefer the 410 in your area too, Stan. I still say a good Friday night track that opens its maximum ci to a 410, paying $2000 to win, $200 to start would bring the fans in droves up there. Compliment its season with a pair of IRA dates and possibly a WoO stop. It may take a while to build up, but I believe it could be done. Compliment the sprints and build them with a 305 class that pays $500 to win tops and we're really rolling...

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The Late Model and Modified people have a stranglehold on this area. I don't see it ever happening.

Stan Meissner

It would take a promoter who wants to see Sprints succeed & enough balls to go for it.

It's not impossible but I don't see any promoters taking the chance. Cedar Lake leads the way for Sprint specials with Owatonna, North Central and Superior all having more than one special. Arlington has the weekly IMCA racing and now their first ever IRA show. Rice Lake, Menomonie, Eagle Valley and Deer Creek all have one IRA race as well. We don't have weekly 410 racing but there's enough specials to keep it interesting.

Are you going to be out at Cedar this Saturday? Vince and GRP are going to Knoxville so I'm not sure if it's worth it to pull the camper out.

Stan Meissner

I plan to be at both Kopellah & CLS.

Thanks guys. I appreciate the information. I'm hoping to make it to Cedar this Saturday.