75-80 Today

[rygen]

Going to check out 75-80, plan to get there at noon. Anyone else up for checking it out?

[MarcSpaz]

I can't. I am going to have to let this motor setup. Let me know how the track is. I heard they are only running an 1/8, not the 1/4. Is that right?

[rygen]

Depends on the day. They run 1/4 for TNT cars today, other cars/classes is 1/8th. They have some cool classes. http://www.75-80dragway.com/Schedule.html

[boss281]

Son went there last night, got 3 runs in, ran a 12.4 best in his '86. Said track got very slick after the first run, but found the overall track acceptable although it's the same old 75-80 with fresh paint and a few upgrade. Bottom line it's 20 minutes away from us.

I've been doing yard work, and just finished washing the '05 up for the Mt. Airy cruise in...

John

[MarcSpaz]

... it's the same old 75-80 with fresh paint and a few upgrade...

Is this good or bad?

[boss281]

The track was never the best, had a bump or two, an interesting rise at the end, nooks and crannies here and there, so-so track prep, poorly maintained grounds BUT it was a great rural, "local" track that attracted a surprising amount of talent. When word spread regarding a company coming in to lease the track and dump just under a million in upgrades, we all hoped the entire track would be repaved and resurfaced. Well, the put money in the grounds, did somework on the track proper, but it fell just a bit short of doing it all the right way. Zach said it looks like the first 1/8 mile was fixed up, which makes sense considering they are running 1/8 mile Outlaw classes.

That being said, it's NOT a shithole, and better yet, only a few minutes from the house. Get some new tires? Run over and try them out. Put on a new manifold? Get a tune, data log it, and then go back get the tune retweaked, and try again. Call it a utility track.

Zach got 3 runs in 3 hours, said it was packed, and everyone you can think of was there racing minivans, SUVs and the family hauler. May take a while to settle down.

[rygen]

I read that they repaved the first 1/8th. I took pics and video. There were single digit cars hooking there. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to run as I just realized my DR's are shot, and with a band showing through one of them. Time for some MT 295/45/17's.

Here are the pics I got with my crackberry:

http://www.mustangcollective.com/cpg/albums/userpics/1~0.jpg

http://www.mustangcollective.com/cpg/albums/userpics/2~0.jpg

http://www.mustangcollective.com/cpg/albums/userpics/3~1.jpg

http://www.mustangcollective.com/cpg/albums/userpics/4~1.jpg

http://www.mustangcollective.com/cpg/albums/userpics/5~1.jpg

http://www.mustangcollective.com/cpg/albums/userpics/6~1.jpg

[boss281]

Wow, they did improve the grounds a bit. I should be trying it out in the upcoming weeks...

[rygen]

The bleachers were all fixed up and repainted. The paved pit area is still a little rough, but functional. The grass pits have new paved road going through it, and the grass looks like its been seeded and has hay all over it. The grass pits are uneven, and will play havoc on our chin spoilers so choose wisely. On saturdays, TNT cars have to pit in the grass.

I went through tech, he said I needed open lugs for DRs and slicks. He also said I may need metal valve stems. I'm wondering if they are going by IHRA rules. Oddly enough he didn't have me pop the hood. He did check for my helmet and I volunteered the jacket as I said I needed it for 12.x or faster, he nodded his head. It seems they are trying to be very safe, but tech is still not thorough as the perception they give.

The walkway behind the burn out box has been rebuilt completely, with heavy screen and new fence/wood. It looks like the tower, timing booth, etc have been fixed up and repainted. They had vendors in via trailors, so no fixed concessions yet. I didn't look at the rest rooms.

I got on the track early on, it was somewhat sticky. Not as sticky as say Md or MIR. But the guy working it said that will change in a few weeks once more cars lay down some rupper. I spoke to Jay, the guy that runs the place and he said they got a lot left to do. He said they had to make a call on opening now, or waiting and finishing everything. I asked him about a rental and he said to call him in 2 or 3 weeks time as they are still trying to get the place to operate smoothly. He said the computer and timing equipment is brand new, and then muttered 40k for equipment that isn't running with a track full of cars.

Everyone on staff was very nice and approachable. Well, there were two young guys in a golf cart making the TNT cars leave the paved area. I was nice but firm pushing back that I need pavement to change out my front runners. They said ok, and seemed to lighten up. But then later I saw them pull it again when I was putting air in my tire, which is in the paved pits. They got snippy and I was like "hey, I'm just airing up..and they back pedaled". I can see some old timers ripping these two guys apart, so I think it will sort itself out in time.

The entry road into the track is so so. Part of it is old, and annoying...while the last half is repaved. I think they need to widen the return road, and repave the pits and this place will be 100%.

But I agree, I don't know why people are dogging this track so much. Its in pretty good shape considring, they got new jersey walls up. And frankly, aside from being smaller, it reminds me a lot of MD.