Late Model Race 50 Laps 7/19/14

FLORIDA STOCK CAR RACING KARNAC's FLORIDA STOCK CAR RACING
21

John,

Track length has always been a puzzlement.

Some measure the inside, some the middle, some the outside, and some, well, I think they just name the length.

Bristol’s banking was apparantly misquoted forever, and now that it has been reconfigured, twice, it is less than what it was back in the (good 'ol) day, I think.

Subjectively, Auburndale, Inverness, and Sunshine all feel about the same, with Bithlo being longer than all three.

New Smyrna seems a lot bigger than double that of any of them.

But then, it seems like I shouldn’t be nearly this old…

22

No way citrus is a 3/8 mile like desoto. It takes roughly 100 points more gear there than it does at desoto

23

Bottom line is that New Smyrna Speedway (.48 mile) is not twice the size of Citrus County Speedway. It surely isn’t .25 mile larger which would make it twice the size. I’ve seen many a 1/4 mile track in my racing lifetime, up and down the Eastern seaboard. I can say, assuredly, Citrus County Speedway is larger than 1/4 mile.

Being a Northern transplant like me, Scott should have realized this. He is familiar with the defunct Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, MA and Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH both 1/4 mile tracks. CCS is bigger than both of those tracks.

[QUOTE=OldSchool+;147866]John,

Track length has always been a puzzlement.

Some measure the inside, some the middle, some the outside, and some, well, I think they just name the length.

Bristol’s banking was apparantly misquoted forever, and now that it has been reconfigured, twice, it is less than what it was back in the (good 'ol) day, I think.

Subjectively, Auburndale, Inverness, and Sunshine all feel about the same, with Bithlo being longer than all three.

New Smyrna seems a lot bigger than double that of any of them.

But then, it seems like I shouldn’t be nearly this old…[/QUOTE]

24

I’m thinking that New Smyrna Speedway may be a 5/8 mile track like Thompson International speedway in Thompson, CT. Desoto may actually be a 1/2 mile track and Auburndale, Citrus County and Showtime are 3/8 mile ovals.

My favorite Florida track got taken away from us several years back that being the 3/4 mile U.S.A. International Speedway in Lakeland. That track was fabulous and you could always be assured of great racing there. Plenty of room to make moves.

25

Re: Lakeland

Yep, nice track, and a shame it is gone.

Interestingly, that looked like a big place, and yet I had the opportunity to drive a sportsman-type “student” car around the place for a number of laps and it felt quite small compared to, say, an sweeping curve on an on ramp.

Managed to bounce it off the rev limiter at the end of the straights, was kind of proud of that…

26

Hey John. My gear tells me what size the track is. I’ve turned many a lap at Riverside (gone unfortunately) and Thompson. I find Citrus to be just a hair bigger than “The Park” but not much more. The way these tracks are listed is suspect. Citrus requires about 70 pts. more gear than Desoto. The way I see it Citrus, Bronson, Showtime and A-dale are 1/4’s, Orlando and Punta Gorda are 1/3’s, Desoto is a 3/8 and New Smyrna and Lake City are 1/2’s. Some on the big side and some on the small. I had to laugh some years ago when Waterford Speedbowl went from a 1/3 to a 3/8 without anything being done to the track!

27

Citrus measured all the way around at the outside wall, the entire length of the track, is just short of being 3/8 of a mile. Been there, seen it with my own eyes.

28

That’s the difference. It seems there is no uniform way of measuring a track. Some measure it so far off the wall, some measure the groove, apparently Citrus measured right on the wall, and some even measure so far off the bottom. I always felt Citrus was the shortest 3/8 track I’d ever seen and the difference is probably the way they’re measured.

29

[QUOTE=OldSchool+;147875]Re: Lakeland

Yep, nice track, and a shame it is gone.

Interestingly, that looked like a big place, and yet I had the opportunity to drive a sportsman-type “student” car around the place for a number of laps and it felt quite small compared to, say, an sweeping curve on an on ramp.

Managed to bounce it off the rev limiter at the end of the straights, was kind of proud of that…[/QUOTE]

Lakeland was a 3/4 not 5/8
OSW 1/3 DS 3/8
SCS 1/2
Alburndale smaller than a 1/4

You mesuare a track 8’ off the bottom
I have worked both Alb and OSW the little track on the bottom of Orlando was bigger than alburndale 1402’ vs 1290’ now that’s funny.

now back to the sun in your face… come to the other and ill buy you a ticket cheap ass…lol
I have heard for years about the races being to late
"Times are a changing "now it to early

don62

30

Don,

Thank you for the offer, but was hoping it could become a “regular” deal, for myself, my Dad, and others (that have indicated similar interest).

The idea was not to leverage anyone, but to provide an idea that will theoretically get more people into the stands.

–or you could hand out parasols to the folks in the top row of the frontstretch with “Don Nerone” written on them…:slight_smile:

31

Rick,you may call my complaint bashing if you truly feel the unjust need

But the facts are this,I live in the Fort Myers area and to be honest it was barely worth it to drive to Citrus for a 50 lap late model feature.And I understand the need to keep the racers happy as they are the show.But likewise have you looked at your stands anytime?Your improvements have pulled smaller and smaller crowds to your facility.If you cant put out the money to keep the late model division happy then do it through the rulebook not by making the program less and less attractive to your patrons is what Im saying.Hey if your stands are full then hell run 10 lap features but we both know they’re not.As far as using a screen name,I have posted my actual name on here in the past but it doesn’t make any difference since my name doesn’t mean anything to anybody anyway.Go ahead do things the way you know are best,it doesn’t mean a flying fart to me.All Im saying is you guys have taken any reason for 3 gate admissions to come back with your new improvements.

32

And as far as investing my time and money into it

Being an ex racer in Ohio there was a time the money end was (barely) possible.Thirty plus years later and on social security the money end isn’t possible.Im lucky just to be able to sit in the stands.I would be willing to help with time since time is the one thing I have plenty of nowadays.But when I approach anyone Im met with the attitude that I don’t know anything and that they don’t want to waste they’re time talking to me.The only one that has is Jaime Haase at 3 Palms but then again that’s a family run deal and family is family and Im not family.Good luck moving forward you ARE going to need it.ERIC BARTRUM

33

Oooohhhh Eric Bartram ok, now it makes sense.

34

it might make more sense Lurken

If you at least spelled it right

35

Citrus, for years was billed as a 1/4 mile. They widened the backstretch by a few feet, and now call it a 3/8. The inside lane didn’t change an inch, and neither did 8’ from the bottom… but now it’s a 3/8…?
OSW was billed for years as 1/3 mile, didn’t change a THING, and now call themselves a 3/8.

I think it’s all being done to make these tracks SOUND faster than they are. A longer distance, in the same 15 seconds translates to quicker average speeds.

36

I was just goofin around with you.:grinser010:

37

[QUOTE=Frasson118;147969]Citrus, for years was billed as a 1/4 mile. They widened the backstretch by a few feet, and now call it a 3/8. The inside lane didn’t change an inch, and neither did 8’ from the bottom… but now it’s a 3/8…?
OSW was billed for years as 1/3 mile, didn’t change a THING, and now call themselves a 3/8.

I think it’s all being done to make these tracks SOUND faster than they are. A longer distance, in the same 15 seconds translates to quicker average speeds.[/QUOTE]

From what i remember at Citrus the turns and the backstretch got widened. The front is close to the same. (Exit of 4 to entry of 1 is the fun zone) I only was there a few times before widening but i did go down 30 points on my final gear after the re-config. Not a huge difference but a little. OSW has been the same since i started going in 84’ :slight_smile: