BRC27

Stop turning posts into political crap....Yes: Politics have an impact in racing.  Yes: Pennsylvania's current government sucks for racers and motorists alike.  .75 cents more per gallon than our neighboring states.  However The track in question is in a Red county.  Most people in this area vote for Coal however the population in Centre, Allegheny and Philidelphia counties far exceeds those who care about racing or the coal industry.  There aren't a ton of cars in this area to support three or 4 tracks.  I had hoped that hidden valley would run Sunday to give themselves a chance.  I fear that they will either be open for a year or two and close or they will ultimately force another track to close

Honeybadger, they usually run Hot Laps at 7.  

Yes saddly, I don't see this track surviving much longer.  After they disappointed last year cancelling race events the night before due to rain and saying that the track was beyond repair for the next night. Also for cancelling due to a fire in the concession stand and someone getting hurt.  Just sounds like Dave's kids didn't want to carry on their Dad's Legacy to me.

 

I'm sure there is a reason/excuse for them cancelling and pushing back their opener, but it's a shame to see a great track spiraling downhill this way.

 

I mean no disrespect.  I love this track and would've loved to race there this season, but I'm just going from past experience.  The writing appears to be on the wall. 

I personally raced there when it was AMP, my dad raced there back in the early 90's and we would watch frequently.  The surface was fairly smooth, slick and dry.  It got dusty when it was AMP.  I don't recall it getting too dusty under previous ownership though.  The track is a bull ring with a unique configuration.  Pretty tight turn 1 & 2 but 3 & 4 is a larger sweeping corner.  In my opinion it was a "Driver's track".  Big Engines didn't afford you as much as being able to wheel a car.  the way the track is set up there was always a dip that would form in turn 1.  I've heard rumors that there is an underground spring there, that it was filled with old tires, and also hear it was due to the entrance to the pits being right there not sure but that dip almost always showed up.

 

There is a large pit area that is fairly flat, but sits below the racing surface in the bottom of the valley.  So it gets swampy from time to time.  The spectator parking has a lot to be desired and the road into the race track could use a little love.  The grandstands are all on the hillside that makes for a good view pretty much anywhere but a hike to get back to your vehicle.  There is also space for hillside parking that allowed spectators to watch the race from the beds of their trucks in turn 3 & 4 all the way down into turn 1 and above the pit area.

 

I, like so many others, loved this track.  It's tucked away in the rolling hills, has some beautiful views, and always produced some good racing.  If this track was managed properly it would do very well.  The issue with the last time it was opened was a combination of poor management and drivers taking problems into their own hands.  It's a bullring!  There is going to be close racing, rubbing, and tempers flaring.  The flagman and officials need to be on their game at a place like that.  That's just what I've observed and is my opinion.  Wish someone would open it back up.  would be a good sunday track.

Since there is no racing this weekend this is an open invitation to anyone wanting to race to come to Hummingbird. Before this turns into a big argument, if you run a 4bbl carb and anything bigger than a 358 in the strictly stocks plan on running with the Street Stocks at Hummingbird. Let's fill the pits and give the crowd a good show. There has been exciting, clean racing all year long. We'd love to have some more guys to race with.

Eliminate the extension cord park closer to the outlet. Lol

In 4 years I have $10k invested in 2 motors and 2 cars. I treat my car like a business. I buy sell and trade a lot to keep the costs down. But in those 4 years of racing I have made a third of my money back. I probably will never break even or even profit from racing unless I get really good, but I'm not breaking the bank either. I'm out there having a good time turning more laps than wrenches and bringing the car home in one piece. I use old second and third hand tires that only hold air for a night, but again I'm not breaking the bank. That's all I mean when I say I won't be going there for peanuts. Hummingbird I can afford to finish 10th and break even. Marion Center if I finished 10th I'd be in the hole $30-40 still not bad but I'd be dumb to not take the money

May I suggest finding a better hobby? Like a bad car crash I read through this post. Dirt track racing ain't rocket science. Stop making it seem like it is. Your definition of a drift and mine is not the same. From what I've read you're talking about sliding the front tires. Drifting is breaking the rear tires free to help turn the car. Unless you've been under a rock these last couple years you've seen cars do less drifting and more forward driving. If your car is scooting the front it's a geometry issue. Now go outside and play. Stop writing stupid lengthy posts

There are a lot of good points being brought up.  Frames are getting hard to find, we're our own worst enemy, and there are way too many classes.  I miss the days of yore when you had to start out in a lower class and work your way up.  it was a different time period, and unfortunately wouldn't work with Todays classes.

 

In my opinion, I feel like this class can be saved but a couple things have to happen.  1.)We have to reduce the number of classes all around.  I'm ok with 2 classes of lates.  358/crate class and then a steel and aluminum class.  Anymore you need to have a FWD class. Combine the Pure Stocks, and Street stocks into 1Stock class.  Real these SS guys back in a bit and most of the Pure Stock guys are cheating anyway. and then have one class of Open wheel cars (Sprint, mod whatever).  5 Classes a night will keep fans entertained and if they differ in appearance, fans will associate better.

That brings me to my second point. 2.) Get rid of the damn Latemodel noses. (Wedge noses).  Bring back the stock appearance of these cars.  They all don't have to look like an 85 monte carlo or a 70's Camaro, but let's get rid of these wedge noses.  I'm fine with Aluminum bodies, and Fiber glass roofs, but the only way to visually tell the difference anymore between a LM and a SS is to look at the Lug pattern on the wheels.

3.) Let's unify the rules.  The more Tracks you can get on board the more successful everyone will be.  It does no good for one track to adopt a set of rules. and every other track in the area to have their own.  People don't want to race for points anymore.  most people are traveling to other tracks with the PennOhio series anyway.  Put a Cubic inch rule, a cam rule and a carb rule on these cars.  Make sure the shocks aren't adjustable, and put everyone on a 10" wheel with LM tires.  (I like that rule...it allows guys to save some money and buy used LM tires.)  Allow Stock and after market transmissions.  Neither gives someone a real advantage.  And allow after market OEM frames.  they are getting hard to find.

4.)Lastly you need tracks to Tech.  Rules do no good if no one is enforcing them.  Stop letting things go and making an excuse of why it doesn't make a difference.  You do that one time and guys are going to push the limits.  Then before you know it you're back to PennOhio rules.  Unlimited Cubic inch rules and 3 link suspensions.  Just my opinion

Sounds like Jeff Taylor all over again.

Well Pro Dirt, I never said I was against opening up the Lates to include Aluminum motors.  But you know as well as I do that the payout wont increase from 800 to win to 1000 to win.  Just isn't going to happen.  unless you could guarantee 24 lates a night there would be no cause to raise the payouts.  Super guys aren't going to race for $800 when they can go to marion Center and Thunder mountain and race for $1000.  Sure you'll get a few people you always do.  but no way are you getting enough people to justify raising the purse $200 to win.  People often forget....Running a Racing venue is a business.  People only see it from one point of view.  Fans "well that guy sucks, I could do a better job if he'd let me drive his car. or the Track looks like shit this dust sucks I'm not coming back"  Driver:  "Man I don't have the money these other guys do.  If only the track would pay better I could afford better equipment....if things don't change I'm going somewhere else."  Track: "We can't afford to hire someone to work the track all week, Hope we get good car counts this week, we need a good show to be able to survive next week."

 

quit complaining about classes and payouts.  racings a hobby.  if you're in it to make money, you're in it for the wrong reasons.  support your local tracks and quit bitching.  lend a hand.

Where would this extra purse money come from that you speak of?  You really think that Hummingbird would pull in enough cars to make up for the payout increase?  Doubtful.   Most of the guys running Supers will run Marion Center on a Saturday night.  I don't see the bird pulling any cars from Marion Center.  so the only way to make up the difference is to rob peter and pay Paul (Kot) lol. 

 

As for the rest of the Neighsayers on here.  Charlie is a stand up guy and will talk to you about pretty much anything.  He'll try and help you out and even tell you what works for him.  so next time you are in doubt about his motor...ask!  Guarantee you that you'll eat your words of calling him a cheater and walk away dumb founded.  he's a good driver with good equipment plain and simple.

Do you need a stronger prescription?  Or does a sticker kit that looks like a stock nose constitute as stock.  Look at the pictures from Saturday.  The 54E and the 23 clearly running dominator and MD3 style late model noses.  Sadie Sigel in the 91 Latemodel nose. 

so from the pictures I've seen online, it appears much like other rules, that the No Late Model style nose rule isn't being enforced?  What's the deal?

it's dirt track racing if you're afraid of a little dust go watch some asphalt