I went this weekend and had such a great time. I know next to nothing about sprint cars, midgets, ext. but I do know it is awesome.
The crowd, sounds, mud, beer, merch, crashes, it is all good.
I went this weekend and had such a great time. I know next to nothing about sprint cars, midgets, ext. but I do know it is awesome.
The crowd, sounds, mud, beer, merch, crashes, it is all good.
The chili bowl, in Tulsa, is an absolute blast. I haven't been able to get up there since moving to OKC.
Racers come from everywhere, and it's run what you brung. One year Michael Pikens brought a car with the Hayabusa V8. All the way from New Zealand.
I wonder if this type of racing is popular in New Zealand? A racer named Matthew Radisich from New Zealand gave all the kids I was with hats.
In reply to z31maniac :
Peter Brock speaks very highly of the Chili Bowl.
As for myself, I'm really starting to appreciate the circle track world. In some ways it's really similar to circuit racing, but in other ways, it's very different.
I am a Chili bowl fan, Flo has great coverage. I would like to attend in person but with work and family commits that isn't in the cards at the moment.
The Turkey throwdown was pretty great this weekend.
I like the midgets, non winged sprints don't have the same excitement for me for some reason. Dirt is fun to watch because the different lines and the major variations in speed that can happen due to line and getting it just right. I also watch asphalt racing but it seems to me that the standard deviation in lap or corner time is really small. In dirt there can be a massive variation lap to lap, turn to turn, and entry to exit.
In reply to Colin Wood :
It's wild, there are so many entrants it's almost a week long event. I used to go with my dad on Tuesdays, because that was race of champions. All the past winners.
I think the last time I went there was something like 355 entrants?
In reply to NY Nick :
I also like the winged sprint cars, at tracks like Knoxville they are hitting 150 mph.
The drivers are so rowdy, this happened at the race
They used to have an indoor quarter midget race at the New York State Fairgrounds in late winter every year for easily over a decade. I went with some of my autocross friends on a whim and it was an absolute riot and we looked forward to going again. And then they've never held them there again since.
Some of the best racing out there. I love a good sprinter race. Had the pleasure of seeing the WoO many times here at the high backed 1/3rd mile and have been to knoxville 4 times. I catch a few of the more local big events when I can.
You don't realize these guys are lapping at like 85 mph.
Sprints/Midgets/Silver Crown; some days it's just work but yeah, I enjoy it.
Dirt ovals are great 
Our classes don't align particularly well with yours and, I guess like the US, not every class races everywhere. We have some very good midget racers, other posters have mentioned them at the Chili Bowl, and visiting drivers have to work hard to win with Super Modified / Sprint Cars but both those classes race roughly 10 hours away from me.
I personally prefer the "contact classes" - Stockcars and Superstocks where they have bumpers and are encouraged to use them - check out the three race action from a nearby track's championships meeting
Richard
A coworker used to run Mini Sprints, a small version of a Sprint but powered by a 1200cc Suzuki engine. He ran at a small track in Accord, NY, once his group came up to a larger track near Saratoga and weren't invited back. They hit 130 mph on the straights, scared the officials!
I considered getting into it, but civilization is moving in and these tracks are disappearing. =~ (
I announced for Sprint Cars of New England for a season. Had a blast getting involved with sprint cars. They're quite basic machines, but a ton of fun.
For those who prefer cars that (aren't supposed) don't run run into each other here's a visiting 'Merican at the same track in a sprintcar :
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