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

How much do the styrofoam walls cost?  Like at Fremont...

That just seems like an extremely cheap way to save lives and race cars.

Brandon McLain
United Sprint Car Series Driver
2014 Season
National Rookie of the Year!
National Points - 8th
Southern Points - 3rd
Asphalt Points - 3rd
18 Races, 3 Top 5's, 14 Top 10's

There are probably very few dirt tracks in the country that could afford to upgrade to styrofoam walls and remain profitable.  In fact, there may be none.  

Is there something put on those styrofoam walls to add some fire resistance? Touch a match to a sheet of polystyrene (Styrofoam is a brand name, like Kleenex) and you have a quick, big fire. What would happen if you caught a foam wall on fire?

Well, let's see.  How much was the initial cost to Fremont Speedway?  You know some of those fair board members could tell you. How many years have those walls been there?question  Probably the museum might have the answer.

Now that is a very good question. I also think once it starts on fire its hard to put out, but if we have any firefighters on here they should be able to answer that question.

Rod

I beleive the annoucer mentioned they were $800 a block.  That was 15 or 20 years ago, so who know what they cost now.

Jim Ford was Fremonts promoter and installed the soft walls, at his own expense, in 2001. All the credit goes to him. At the time, Fremont was one of the first, if not first, dirt tracks in the country to have them. It wasn't about money for him. He cared about saving the speedway and the looking out for the drivers. And that's exactly what he did. Fremont Speedway probably doesn't exist today if it wasn't for him. May he rest in peace. 

Anybody that's been to Fremont- do those things get torn up in a crash and need to be replaced?

The first track I remember using them was Oswego in NY an asphalt track in the late 80s I think. But Fremont was the first dirt track I ever seen them used. 

Yes, they do get torn up and have to be replaced. Not really sure how often, but before the 2024 season, they got a dozen or so new ones. Money well spent in most people's opinion. The soft walls have saved a lot of equipment and numerous drivers from serious injuries over the years

Ok, according to my research, they installed in 2002 or 2003.  Its been 23-24 years.  The cost now for a 1/2 mile track for example would be 1.3 million on the conservative end and 2.7 million dollars on the upper end according to multiple sources.  So, I stick with my original statement.  In an era where tracks are closing, attendance, for the most part, is down at most tracks outside of big events, very few, if any, tracks could remain profitable after installing the styrofoam barriers.  

Your research and sources aren't accurate. They were installed in 2001 and the cost to do it then, as well as now, is a fraction of what you're estimating. 

I counted 120 blocks.  It's hard to tell exactly from google, but that's close enough to rough out a cost.  We'll say 150 blocks (you'll need replacements) at $1200 a piece.  That comes to $180,000.  Not chump change by any means.  Honesty, it might be one of thee most important additions to the track.  Equipment still get damaged, but not close to what would happen if they aren't there.  People complain about the Jim Ford era due to the slow slick track he liked.  In my opinion the racing was good back then and the car count was strong.  I hope the Jim Ford Classic remains a bockbone event for the track for a very long time.

I thought guys like you were saying that sprint car racing is a big as ever today. Now you're saying this is an era where tracks are closing and attendance is down, guess what car counts are down too. I'm glad other posters researched the foam block prices, did you research them for Daytona or something? lol.. I think they are a great idea, everyone want to save the racers money and prevent injuries this could help.

What does sprint car racing being as big as ever have to do with it?  The national events pack the houses, and get great streaming.  The competition at these big events is fantastic.  Once those national touring events pull out of town, most of the country is struggling to pull people through the gates.  This topic has been discussed on here for years.  Where have you been?

Sprint car racing is very healthy.  The tracks they attend for their shows?  Many of them, not so healthy.  Beaver Dam WI would pack every single WoO show they had---PACKED!   Now?  Closed. Easy enough for you to understand?

This cost is installed?  Everything I've seen shows the most expensive part of the safer barrier is the installation cost.  

It's not a safer barrier, just styrofoam blocks.  No installation needed.

I'm completely unfamiliar.  This is what is at Fremont?  Stand-alone styrofoam blocks?

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fremont+Speedway/@41.3602837,-83.113535,40m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x883bc7ab05be600b:0x69bf379935d24e7c!8m2!3d41.3598438!4d-83.1146716!16s%2Fm%2F0b6p7jm?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDcxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Go to the speedway on GoogleMaps and zoom in.  It certainly looks like that is what is there.

I was confused by the comment on the cost of installation.  Just buy some recylced foam and place it around the track.

Not only could it save lives, save race cars, but I bet a shit ton of racers would take more chances knowing they were protected by the foam in theory putting on a better show for the fans.

I can't imagine the chances I would have taken knowing if I screwed up I would have eased into a puffy cloud instead of slamming into a massive concrete barrier.  

Brandon McLain
United Sprint Car Series Driver
2014 Season
National Rookie of the Year!
National Points - 8th
Southern Points - 3rd
Asphalt Points - 3rd
18 Races, 3 Top 5's, 14 Top 10's