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58-795: Uniontown Speedway was a wooden board track in Hopwood , near Uniontown, Pennsylvania . The track was built in 1916, after the Summit Mountain Hill Climbs were outlawed, and held its final race in June 1922. The May/June race was known as the Universal Trophy, so named because Carl Laemmle , president of Universal Films , had sponsored the $ 3,000, solid silver trophy. Laemmle's company filmed each race, playing them at local theaters. Two National Championship races were held at Uniontown, in 1921 and 1922 . Motorsport

116-497: A 1 ⁄ 8  mi (200 m) oval banked at 45 degrees (generating lap times of 8 seconds or less) and built from 1 in × 12 in (25 mm × 300 mm) lumber on edge, was "unquestionably the deadliest". On September 8, 1912, "Texas Cyclone" Eddie Hasha was killed at a motordrome in Newark, New Jersey in an accident which also killed another racer and four spectators, and injured ten more. The deaths made

174-420: A National and/or Regional touring racing association to schedule a sanctioned event. The racers in these events earn points for ranking within the series and sometimes the tracks points. The associations also usually require a guaranteed purse from the tracks of sanctioned events. Some tracks also have a "run-what-you-brung" contest usually toward the beginning of the season. Spectator racing pits two drivers from

232-563: A clay surface, though some use dolomite , dolomite and clay mix or even sand and clay mix. During the 1970s and early 1980s, a small number of tracks were paved with asphalt, though this phase only lasted about a decade and all tracks paved over eventually reverted to their former surfaces. Each racetrack or sponsoring organization maintains a rule book outlining each class of race car which includes dimensions, engine size, equipment requirements and prohibitions. The requirements for each class are usually coordinated with multiple tracks to allow for

290-840: A few original stock parts and may be nearly as fast as late model race cars. Most cars have their glass windshields removed and their interiors stripped out. The original seat may be allowed to be used in the lowest classes, but a racing seat and roll cage is required to be installed in higher divisions. Other safety and performance features are added to higher division cars. The engines in lower divisions are completely stock, and higher divisions are highly modified and enhanced. Most modified production cars use full exhaust systems. Engines vary from unmodified 4 cylinders to highly modified V8. Cars in lower divisions use stock tires, and higher division cars use purpose-built specified racing tires. Common names of modified production car divisions: These are Full-bodied cars with very few changes allowed from

348-469: A final light watering, just prior to wheel-packing. Outdoor dirt tracks are typically aerated 12" deep. Nearly all tracks are oval and less than 1-mile (1.6 km) in length with most being 1 ⁄ 2 mile (800 m) or less. The most common increments in the U.S. are 1 ⁄ 2 mile (800 m), 3 ⁄ 8 mile (600 m), 1 ⁄ 3 mile (540 m), 1 ⁄ 4 mile (400 m), and 1 ⁄ 8 mile (200 m). With

406-438: A half-mile (.805 km) dirt track . It held a National Championship-level sprint car race won by Ted Horn . Non-championship races in italics Board track racing Board tracks proliferated in part because they were inexpensive to construct, but they lacked durability and required a great deal of maintenance to remain usable. Many of the tracks survived for as little as three years before being abandoned. With

464-700: A late model stock. Crate late models use Chevrolet small-block engine engines that have been sealed with a special tag. Typical motors include the GM 602 and GM 604 engines. Recently the GM CT525 crate has been a popular choice of racers and some after-market Ford motors have surfaced in competition. Crate engines are sealed at the intake manifold, cylinder head , front cover, and oil pan with special twist off bolts. Crate engines must not be altered, modified, or changed in any way from factory specifications. Crate late models have three primarily Southern region touring series:

522-426: A number of classes, and many tracks offer both open wheel and stock car racing. There are a wide variety of event formats. These races are 2-5 laps for drivers to get an understanding of the track conditions and the set up of their race cars. They are at the very start of the night before qualifying and the heat races. A qualifying session happens before the start of the event. The Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series and

580-553: A race the year before. To attract both competitors and fans, race promoters offered what were then considered sensational amounts of prize money - a total purse of $ 25,000 was not unusual around the time of World War I. After World War I, the Automobile Association of America 's Contest Board resumed and re-organized the National Championship system. From the beginning of the 1920 season to

638-437: A set number of points for where they finish, 1st-59 2nd-57 and so forth the lower they finish. To add to the points the driver gets for finishing, the driver also gets 1.5 points for each car they pass. They will then usually take the top 16 drivers with the highest total number of points and line up the A feature. There may be a semi-feature where unqualified racers may race their way into the remaining open starting positions in

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696-603: Is a final race featuring the fastest competitors. In mainland Europe, long tracks can be grass, sand or cinder, and can be up to 1-kilometer (0.62 mi) long. Dirt track racing in Australia has a history dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. Most oval track speedways are similar to those in the US for car racing such as sprint cars , speedcars (midgets) and sedans, with most tracks generally around 1 ⁄ 4 to 1 ⁄ 3 mile (400 to 540 m) in length. Most tracks have

754-737: Is a form of motorsport held on clay or dirt surfaced banked oval racetracks. Dirt track racing started in the United States before World War I and became widespread during the 1920s and 1930s using both automobiles and motorcycles, spreading throughout Japan and often running on horse racing tracks. There are a myriad of types of race cars used, from open wheel Sprint cars and Modifieds to stock cars. While open wheel race cars are purpose-built racing vehicles, stock cars (also known as fendered cars) can be either purpose-built race cars or street vehicles that have been modified to varying degrees. There are hundreds of local and regional racetracks throughout

812-555: Is being run. The racetrack dictates what type of late model is raced, but most fall into one of these categories: Current dirt super late models feature steel constructed tube frame chassis with aluminum bodies that give them the sleek aerodynamic appearance of a stock race car but there is nothing stock about these 2300 pound machines. The cars are powered by an 850 horsepower (630 kW) motor than can turn in excess of 9,000 rpm. The engines are based on V-8 Chevrolet, Chrysler, and Ford power plants. These cars are considered to be

870-516: Is both a traditional learned craft as well as a long and complex job requiring hours of work. Typical machines used in track preparation include a grader, a cultivator or rototiller, 2 types of rollers and a watering truck, although the process varies at different dirt tracks around the world. After an event, a track's rutted surface is first graded and smoothed back into the contours of the track's layout. then further smooth and tamp loose soil shoveled into any soft spots. The freshly smoothed track surface

928-429: Is held for each division. The top cars from the event compete in the race. The starting positions may be determined by the season's point standings, or by a combination of the heat/qualifying speed/trophy dash/semi-feature finishing positions. It is usually the longest race in the program and depending upon the division it may range from 10 laps to 50 laps. Points, a trophy, and frequently a purse are generally awarded, with

986-879: Is much more expensive. To get the frame (chassis) and parts all new without the transmission and motor is around 20,000 to 30,000 dollars depending on the quality and from which manufacturer the chassis comes. The top manufacturers around the country include Rocket, Sweet-Bloomquist, Club 29, Longhorn, MB Customs, Black Diamond Racecars, GRT, Warrior, Barry Wright Racecars, Rayburn, MasterSbilt, Kryptonite, Domination chassis, and Schwartz Race Cars. The engines for these cars are around 850 horsepower and can cost up to 40,000 dollars. Motor builders include Hatfield Racing, Jay Dickens Racing Engines, Durham Racing Engines, Cornett Racing Engines, Sheered Engine Development, Gaerte Racing Engines, Clements Racing Engines, Custom Racing Engines, Vic Hill Racing Engines and Pro Power Engines. Most racing series and special events offer different motor options with

1044-402: Is then aerated with a cultivator or rototiller to loosen the now-compacted upper layer and assist with greater water penetration for a moister track on race day. Watering is repeated as necessary according to climate, location and soil composition. Using offset boom nozzles to on water trucks will avoid mashing aerated soil. A dirt track should be rolled and watered as required on race morning with

1102-528: The 1920s, and included four Indianapolis 500 winners, three of which occurred at the Altoona track (another Pillsbury design) in Tipton, Pennsylvania , and three in the same years in which the driver won at Indianapolis. Winner of the 1919 Indianapolis 500 Howdy Wilcox died in an Altoona race on September 4, 1923, while co- 1924 winner Joe Boyer and 1929 winner Ray Keech both suffered fatal accidents at

1160-425: The A feature event. This race is called the last chance qualifier or B feature. The cars who did not make the A feature through the heat race or qualifying session get one more chance to qualify for the A feature through the B feature. The B length is anywhere up to circa 20 laps. Depending on how many B's there are determines how many transfer to the A, anywhere up to circa 6 will transfer. If a driver transfers through

1218-418: The B, they will start behind the drivers who made it through the heats / qualifying position. At selected other races with a larger car count, there may be more "alphabet soup" features (C, D, E, F, etc.). In those cases the drivers in the lower feature race will race with a certain number who advances to the next higher feature (e.g. top two in the F advance to the E, etc.). The A feature or main feature race

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1276-689: The Durrence Layne Dirt Late Model Series, the United Crate Racing Alliance and the Fastrak Crate Late Model Series. There are hundreds of additional unsanctioned regional and national special events run throughout the year. Dirt and grass track bikes have capacities of 250, 350, 500 and in the solo classes and can reach speeds of up to 80 mph (130 km/h) on the straights and with no brakes fitted to

1334-540: The United States and also throughout Japan. The sport is also popular in Canada , Mexico , Argentina , Brazil , Chile , Australia , New Zealand , South Africa and the United Kingdom . A dirt track's racing surface may be composed of any soil, although most seasoned dirt racers probably consider a moist, properly prepared clay oval their favorite dirt racing surface. Preparing a dirt track correctly for racing

1392-516: The World of Outlaw Late Models use the qualifying system to line up their heat races. They give each driver 2 timed laps to get their times. This system is also used to line up the big crown jewel events. For most of the regional series they use the method called the "pill draw." Before the races each driver draws a number and that determines where they start in their heat race. Recently the innovation of Transponder Scoring has brought dirt track racing into

1450-422: The amount of each is determined by finishing position. The winner of the feature event is considered the winner of the event. Many tracks have special events which tends to draw a larger crowd. Occasionally, a track will sponsor a "powder-puff" race to allow women the opportunity to drive racecars for a few laps of racing. Otherwise, woman racers may compete in the same events as the men. Many tracks contract with

1508-408: The country for winged sprint cars are Eagle, Maxim, J&J, Triple X, and GF1. There are also several engine builders that build both 410ci and 360ci engines for traveling sprint car teams. Speedway, Kistler, Gaerte, Wesmar, Shaver, Don Ott Racing Engines, and Fisher Racing Engines are the more popular engine builders. Modified cars are a hybrid of open wheel cars and stock cars. This class of car has

1566-436: The courses. The first board track for motor racing was the circular Los Angeles Motordrome , built in 1910 in the area that would later become the city's Playa del Rey district. Based on the same technology as European velodromes used for bicycle racing, this track and others like it were constructed with 2-inch (51 mm) x 4-inch (100 mm) boards, often with turns banked at up to 45 degrees. In some cases, such as

1624-628: The driver and passenger working together to obtain the best grip and speed around the corners. Many obsolete race vehicles that were left in barns to rust are being restored to their former glory. The restored race vehicles are being displayed at car shows and sometimes raced. Cars that compete in vintage racing events are from the late 19th century to historic cars from a few years ago. There are more than 170 racing events in North America, and thousands of other vintage events sanctioned by hundreds of clubs. The typical race program usually involves

1682-466: The drivers. Super Stock cars are very similar to Late Models and can be built from the ground up by the racers. They have limited engines and other restricted items that keep them from being full blown Late Models, but they are much more powerful than the Street Stocks and are an intermediate class between Street Stock, Modifieds and Late Models. The bodies are aftermarket or made by the racers in

1740-407: The effect on car handling was pronounced. According to Pillsbury, a correctly engineered track could be driven without steering input from the driver – the car would steer itself, simply due to the track geometry. The effects of these changes were higher cornering speeds and higher G-forces on drivers, but not necessarily greater safety. Driver fatalities continued to mount on board tracks into

1798-578: The end of 1931, the AAA sanctioned a total of 123 championship racing events on 24 different race tracks, and 82 of those races were run on wooden surfaces. (Of the remainder, 12 were on the bricks of Indianapolis, and the other 29 were on dirt tracks or road courses .) The first track in Playa del Rey was banked at a 3:1 pitch (about 20 degrees), but later tracks were built with higher banking and some motorcycle tracks were banked up to 60 degrees. Even though

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1856-420: The facility in the same years as their Indianapolis 500 wins – Keech's occurring only seventeen days after, on June 15, 1929. Gaston Chevrolet , winner of the 1920 Indianapolis 500 , perished that same autumn, on November 25, 1920, in a Thanksgiving Day race at Beverly Hills. Even when the cars did not crash, racing on a board track was exceedingly dangerous due to flying wood splinters and debris, and due to

1914-498: The factory except for the roll cage. These would also be considered Pure Stock, but not full sized. These are also Full-bodied cars but can have changes to the frame, engines, tires and some changes to the suspension. They have to have bodies shaped like the actual cars that are used on the street direct from the factory. As with the Pure Stocks cars, all are required to have a full set of Roll Cages and safety harnesses to protect

1972-454: The factory models sold for general use on the streets. Changes can be limited to a certain type of tire, making some parts of the car stronger to withstand the punishment of racing and so forth. All cars used on the race track are required to have a full set of Roll Cages and safety harnesses to protect the drivers. Some tracks have what they call Hornets which are smaller unibody cars with 4-cylinder engines, that must be pretty much as they left

2030-409: The feature event. In a race where they qualify to determine their starting position for the heat race they use a "heads up" system. This system is where there is a predetermined set of cars that go to the A feature from the heat race, usually either the top 3 or 4. In a race where they use the pill draw to line up the heat races they use a method called passing points. In this system a driver receives

2088-418: The front page of The New York Times , and the press started calling the short 1/4 and 1/3 mile circuits "murderdromes". The 1913 motorcycle championship races were moved to a dirt track because dirt was safer. The national organization overseeing motorcycle racing banned all competitions on board tracks shorter than 1-mile (1.6 km) in 1919. One by one, the manufacturers withdrew their support due to

2146-496: The general shape of the brand being represented (Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, etc.). These cars are automobiles just as driven on the street; including the original interiors. The engines may be modified as allowed under different rules: Saloon These are stock cars custom built for racing, usually with welded tubular frames and custom built or purchased bodies. The most popular type of dirt full-bodied stock cars are late models. They are categorized depending on what track and series that

2204-456: The internet immediate post "live" scoring and timing of events (Race Monitor). Preliminary races for each class, called heat races, frequently open the schedule. The heat races may determine the starting race position in the main events and usually earn season championship points. The heat races are shorter than the feature races, and not as many cars race in each heat, from 8 to 12 laps for a heat race. There are numerous formats for qualifying for

2262-548: The less-predictable racing that was taking place on dirt tracks. Though board tracks disappeared from the National Championship scene in 1932, a few smaller tracks did continue to operate for some years afterward. For instance, the Coney Island Velodrome hosted midget racing until at least 1939, and Castle Hill Speedway in the Bronx ran midgets into the 1940s. Dirt track racing Dirt track racing

2320-448: The longer tracks, the race cars achieve higher speeds up to 160 mph (260 km/h) and the intervals between cars increase. This decreases the chance of crashes but increases the damage and chance of injury when cars do crash. In Great Britain the oval tracks are normally on grass with lengths of 400 meters (¼ mile) to 800 meters (½ mile). The races consist of several four lap qualifying heats that eliminate slower drivers. Then there

2378-564: The machine. The American Grand National dirt track championship uses motorcycles of up to 750 cc capacities and can reach speeds of up to 130 mph (210 km/h). There are three sidecar classes. The continental class has a 500 cc single-cylinder engine, also in Great Britain there are left- and right-handed sidecar machines with the engines up to 1000 cc. Sidecar races are some of the most exciting in Grass Track sport, with

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2436-425: The major automakers with certain modifications as allowed for each class. There are several general types: These cars are modified manufactured automobiles. There is a high degree of variability between classes of modified cars. The lowest divisions of modified production cars may be completely stock except for having their interior or windshields removed. The highest divisions of modified production cars may have only

2494-418: The most sophisticated cars in dirt racing. They hit speeds well over 100 mph (160 km/h) and slide around the dirt corners. They are raced on dirt tracks throughout the country anywhere from 1/5 to one mile. The expense for these cars is significant. The cost for one complete race-ready late model is around $ 70,000. There is also cheaper equipment and parts that can be purchased, but staying competitive

2552-417: The negative publicity. A major contributor to the demise of board tracks was the high cost of maintenance. There was no suitable wood preservative available, and depending on climate, tracks needed new boards every five years on average. Resurfacing required as much as a million board feet of new lumber per 1.25 miles (2.01 km) of track, which would have cost around $ 125,000 at the prices prevalent at

2610-524: The onset of the Great Depression in the early 1930s, board track racing disappeared rapidly. However, several of its most notable aspects have continued to influence American motorsports up to the present day, including: A technical emphasis on raw speed produced by the steep banking ; ample track width to allow steady overtaking between competitors; and the development of extensive grandstands or stadium-style spectator seating surrounding many of

2668-563: The physics of such track designs were intuitively obvious, it was not until construction of the Beverly Hills track in 1919 that builders began to incorporate engineering knowledge that had been known to railroads for decades. At Beverly Hills, designer Art Pillsbury, who eventually worked on more than half of the championship-caliber board tracks nationwide, first employed the Searle Spiral Easement Curve , and

2726-672: The primitive tire technology and head protection of the era. In one oral history taken from a driver, he told a tale of wooden shards driven into the faces of drivers and riding mechanics, and sudden catastrophic tire failures caused by track conditions. Cars were fitted with anti-splinter devices to protect their radiators. Other safety devices also hadn't been invented yet (seat belts, roll bars, or fire protection). Drivers often were ejected from their cars and would fall tens of feet (several meters). Drivers and riding mechanics often were driven over by their own or another car. Pete DePaolo wrote in his book Wall Smacker that racing on boards

2784-603: The racing characteristics of a stock car. The rear wheels are covered by fenders, but the front wheels are left exposed. There are sanctioning bodies that control the rules for this class at most tracks. Each sanctioning body has their own set of guidelines provided in an annual rule book and their own registration fees. Sanctioning bodies include: Full-bodied cars, sometimes referred to as stock cars, are vehicles that, unlike open-wheel cars, have fenders covering all wheels. Full-bodied cars can vary from full tube frame chassis and aluminum bodied late models to automobiles manufactured by

2842-458: The smaller open wheel race cars have classes for single-cylinder engines. Depending on the class, the cars may have wings to aid in handling at higher speeds. Open wheel cars are generally manufactured with tubular frames and a body purchased for that particular class. The wheels of these vehicles are not protected by fenders; they are exposed or "open". Classes include: Open wheel sanctioning bodies include: Popular chassis manufacturers around

2900-475: The stands who, after signing waivers, can run their personal automobiles against each other in a one-on-one 1 or 2 lap shootout. Dirt tracks tend to be somewhat more makeshift and more versatile than asphalt pavements, and can be converted for use in other motorsports. For instance, Little Valley Speedway in Little Valley, New York is a half-mile dirt track that can be converted into a figure 8 track ,

2958-452: The time. Thus, during the last decade of the board tracks, carpenters would repair the tracks from below, sometimes even during a race, while the cars raced overhead at 120 mph (190 km/h) or faster. An additional factor was that as speeds increased, overtaking became more difficult - the fastest car would almost always win the race, as long as it held together long enough to finish. This led to spectators turning their attention to

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3016-614: The total facility cost of the 2-mile (3.2 km) Tacoma Speedway was just $ 100,000 in 1915, compared to the $ 700,000 spent in 1909 just to pave the 2.5-mile (4.0 km) Indianapolis Motor Speedway . Racing on these tracks often drew large crowds of paying spectators. In 1915, a crowd of 80,000 was reported in Chicago , three weeks after only 60,000 had attended the Indianapolis 500. Relatively small and isolated Tacoma (population 83,000 in 1910) had turned out 35,000 to see

3074-586: The track at Culver City , banking was 50 degrees or more. Longer tracks were later built – some up to 2 miles (3.2 km) long by 1915 - and lap speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour became commonplace. Interest in motorsport was exploding during this period and by 1929, at least 24 board tracks had been built around the country, although by 1931, 20 of the 24 had been shut down or abandoned, and from 1932 on there were no more championship-level races run on boards. The tracks were relatively inexpensive to construct compared to more permanent facilities –

3132-426: The use of different total vehicle weights to create an even playing field: Limited late models and late model stocks have the same body rules as super late models. The main difference in the two classes is the motor rules. Engine limitations typically include maximum engine displacement size, certain required cylinder head angles, maximum compression ratios, and maximum carburetor size. Suspension rules typically forbid

3190-525: The use of expensive canister shocks. Tire choice is also typically limited to a certain tire such as the Hoosier D55 spec tire. Late model stocks have the same body rules as super late models and limited late models. This class typically has even more limited engine rules. Typical late model stock engine requirements: Many different tracks and sanctioning bodies have variations on these rules of what constitutes an open late model, limited late model and

3248-461: The widest available venue for each type of car. This coordination allows the drivers to compete at many different racetracks, increase competitors' chances of winning, and lets racing associations develop a series of race events that promote fan interest. Many tracks support two types of racing in their programs, open wheel cars and stock cars. Both types range from large and powerful V8 engines to small yet still powerful, four-cylinder engines. Some of

3306-484: Was "a great sensation, tearing around a board speedway dodging holes and flying timber." On the motorcycling motordromes , the situation was also very dangerous and the danger was aggravated by the riders' lack of proper safety equipment. Fans sat above the top of the track, looking down at the racers. When a rider lost control, he could slip up off the track and into the crowd. Many fatalities occurred, often involving spectators. The velodrome at Nutley, New Jersey ,

3364-421: Was extremely dangerous in the days of the board tracks, but the inaugural race at Uniontown on December 2, 1916 was an especially bloody event, even for the standards of the day. Two were killed (a driver and his riding mechanic) during practice a few days prior, and five (two spectators and three participants) died during the race. A second Uniontown Speedway, adjacent to the original site, was active in 1946, as

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