Racenight at Ocala

FLORIDA STOCK CAR RACING KARNAC's FLORIDA STOCK CAR RACING
1

Drivers, try this crazy track out! I raced Ocala last night for the first time in 10+ years, so this was my first time on the dirt surface.

For those of you who may not know it, Ocala is very strongly “egg shaped”; one end of the track is much bigger than the other end, so it drives differently than any other track in Florida. Turns one and two are so much longer that it messes with our internal GPS. We are always used to turning 180 degrees on an oval, but here its there is an extra 60 degrees or so, and it seems like it is 2 or 3 corners strung together. Fun!

I ran in the Gladiator class last night. It is an entry level trophy class that seems to be working out ok. Although there is much conflict at other tracks with the Gladiators, (maybe they need to change the name to something more peaceful) we had 14 cars last night and I’m only aware of one driver who was upset, so that is a pretty good average.

The surface? Well, lets say it was one of those nights. I guess we were lucky to have raced at all because the track received flooding rains on Thursday. Last night, it never really dried out or took much rubber. This is not a problem except it also became very rough. But hey, everyone had to drive on the same surface, and its just one of the things that make dirt racing unpredictable.

Actually it felt a little like the Daytona Supercross. The front straight was the “rhythm section” where you had to time your speed to make it over the mounds, turns 3 and 4 were the “whoops” that rattled your fillings loose, and there were killer jumps in 1 and 2. I could even do a heal clicker on a few of them!

Thanks to the race director and tech inspector for being so friendly and welcoming. Gotta give 'em all credit, they ran 10 heats and 5 features in 3 hours. Way to keep the show moving.

I have one suggestion that I hope you find constructive. This track has excellent pit speakers. They are LOUD and seem to be all over the place, however I had a hard time understanding the guy who was calling out classes. He needs to slow down and e?nun?ci?ate.

Final note: I pulled into a pit space that happened to be well lit, and to my amazement, it also had a water hose and electricity!

Thanks to Duane, Mike & Mike, Edm and Travis for all the pitside entertainment!

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ocala

i dont race but ive always heard that coming into 4 is a real trip… mike and his crew have really worked hard to make ocala a special track and they sure did that. wish it wasnt so far. they treat you so good up there. was fun when it was asphalt and fun as dirt… glad you had fun boney…
carol aka oz

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Ocala has always been first rate. Was there 7-8 yrs ago with a team for a truck race. Food was good, the pit stand seats were as good as the gen admin seats. Even then you could hear every word being said even, even in the pits during the race. Pits mostly paved, well lit. Was a pleasure being there. I mean this only as constructive critisism, (I BELIEVE THATS WHAT BONEY CALLS HIS COMPLAINING WHEN HE DOES ABOUT RACING STUFF) The speakers at NSS might as well be shut off basically during the race, especially in the center pits and in lots of the main grandstand, you cant understand anything being said, and how many yrs has it been since the score board has consistintly worked? Lots of times I don’t know how a driver knows what lap it is. Anyhow, its the little things like this that makes a good track a great track.

4

Yep, that track can get REAL bumpy. Cars were totally bottoming out coming out of four a few weeks ago and getting air! I didn’t look like alot of fun to me.

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Considering all the rain I was happy to see them still get the race in. The food was pretty good but I didn’t care too much for my cheeseburger getting thrown on the counter in the pits. If I wasn’t hungry I would have thrown it back.

It was cold and the racing was average but it was still a fun night at the track.

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I have been there for racing many times and it will never be boaring. The track is always clean and ready to go. The best lights and PA that money can buy. 1,000 hi dollar state of the art seats that are 1st class. So if the track is rough after it rains and is hard to drive it has every thing a fan would want in a short track. (closest track to me). Hope i get to go some go racing this year.Boney dont get on Mikes board in the pits
Don62