Auto Racing History Dirt

When the thought of Dirt Track Racing comes to mind, everyone seems to gravitate toward NASCAR and their roots in running Moon Shine throughout the south east regions and the Smokey Mountains. Young hot rodders, in modified cars, out running the local law enforcement. Sharpening their driving skills, while making deliveries of illegal liquor. Runnin Shine, and evading the Revenuers, became good sport. Drivers who started gathering on weekends, in competition with each other, to race on oval dirt and mud tracks. A competitive lot, they all wanted bragging rights as to who was best. Eventually they became organized and started the beginning of the modern day racing organization known as NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car Racing. There’s only one problem with this story, it’s not where Dirt Track Racing began. Dirt Track Racing goes back before World War I, becoming very widespread during the 1920’s and 30’s. Oval dirt tracks opened up to two predominate types of racing, Open Wheeled in the North East and West, and Stock, or fendered cars in the South. With estimates of 1500 or more local and regional tracks across the country, these flat circles, or ovals have provided recreation, and entertainment for small communities almost back to the invention of the automobile. Virtually every County Fair Grounds has a Dirt Oval Track included as part of the entertainment. Oval Dirt Tracks are usually relatively short, most a half mile or less in length. With longer tracks the cars get dispersed farther apart, speeds go up, and the number of crashes goes down. But when they do crash there is more opportunity for serious damage or injury. Short track racing is more spectator friendly, as its harder to avoid bumping into other competitors, and spin outs and fender benders are just part of the fun. With congestion comes lower speeds, and less likely hood of injury. Dirt Tracks can be make of any soil, but the favorite is clay, to keep the surface sticky, it’s usually hosed down before the start of the race, and may be re-watered throughout a series of races to maintain the sticky surface. Many tracks have banked corners, but Flat Track racing is also popular. Open Wheeled racing comes in a number of classes, Sprint, Midget, and Quarter Midget are just three of the group. Fendered Car racing includes Super Stock, Modified Production, Hobby Stock. This is only the tip of the iceberg, as the list of types of race cars goes on and on, varying largely by the part of the country your in. There can be different names for the same class of cars, just by how a local organization wishes to label them. Classes can be separated by the size of their engines, or to what level the car or running gear can be modified. A typical evening of racing will include a variety of Heats, or races leading up to the main event. Usually starting with Qualifying races, then Heat Races, maybe a Semi-Feature and finishing up with the Feature Race of the evening. As the night progresses cars will be sidelined by crashes, or mechanical failures, lowering the numbers until the Main Feature Race when only the best who have survived the nights preliminary races will be running for the big money. So you see when it comes to the beginning of Dirt Track Racing, forget NASCAR, go all the way back to the invention of the automobile, ever since the second car was built, their owners wanted to know who’s was fastest. Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil