One of the tricks for proper...
One of the tricks for proper preparation of a dirt track involves using equipment that will allow the track to absorb the water spread onto it. By using a truck desgined for agricultural applications with large, wide tires, less pressure is put on the dirt and there is less compaction. The soil stays wet longer and we see better, cleaner racing as a result.
There were many Sprint Cars there for this event and the show went like clockwork. Rain was predicted to come before midnight so the program was started early with each heat and feature run one right after the other.
The whole show ended right at 10 p.m. and the rain started falling just 10 minutes later. The timing was excellent and I can't say enough about how great the racing was. I can honestly say that I enjoyed this night of racing as much as I ever have, and more than most.
The winner of the 410s, Dean Jacobs's, car was setup perfectly and he had so much bite coming off Turn 2 that he pulled wheelies several times. There was a fierce battle for second behind him that went on the whole race.
We visited UNOH, the University...
We visited UNOH, the University of Northwestern Ohio, during our stay in Ohio and took a tour of the facilities. The students in the High Performance Motorsports program get to work on real, top-tier race cars. Everything needed to become a professional race team member is taught.
In one of the Late Model heats, John and Mike Bores, father and son, battled side by side for position with Mike taking position over Dad. John is the promoter of Attica Raceway Park and the two of them put on quite a show. I have much of the action on video and it can be seen on our website, www.circletrack.com.
Also running in the 305 race was someone I've been communicating with over the past few years, Chuck Butler. He's the engineer for one of the teams and is working on a new steering system using a rack-and-pinion. He promised to keep me informed as to the progress.
The next week proved to be special as we visited a racing performance school many of you are familiar with. It's just up the road from our campground and we jumped at the chance to visit.
UNOH High Performance Motorsports Program Steve Farmer is the person who was entrusted with forming and promoting the motorsports program at the University of Northwestern Ohio. The school is a college for technologies and business and the motorsports program is operated under the College of Technologies where students can learn all about a variety of automotive related topics.
Students get hands on training...
Students get hands on training using the most advanced equipment and machinery there is. Many students go from graduation directly to working with race teams in NASCAR and ARCA as well as other motorsports series.
I visited with Steve the Wednesday after Attica and he gave me the dime tour of this large facility. I was impressed with how advanced the course structure was and how many different areas of study were included.
The school boasts placement of graduates directly into professional race teams right out of school. One photo I saw mounted on the wall in the student area showed two ARCA cars on pit road at Talladega and identified about eight former students servicing the cars shown.
The school is expanding each year and adding more and more equipment and curriculum to the High Performance Motorsports program. We talked about doing some projects together and we may be making some announcements in the near future.
Conclusion
Our next race weekend will include the asphalt tracks of Kil-Kare Speedway and Columbus Motor Speedway, both NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racetracks. Meanwhile, we'll try to stay warm and dry, but it won't be easy with the forecast showing more rain.