Actually street racing deaths are part of the darwinian process, all the stupid ones will get killed off.
But just because you take it to a track doesnt mean that you'll be safe, you can kill yourself just as easily at a track as on a road. Tracks are more for the safety of spectators rather than the drivers.

The last time the idea of building a track came up around my home area those in charge said: "We don't want to attract that kind of people." What a asinine response, that "kind" of people is already around. There'* one small town near here that has a 60 foot and quarter mile marked off not even a mile outside that town, there'* county roads that have grooves from 700hp cars, a track is needed badly around here.

There'* my thoughts.

Street *.M.A.R.T.*. hopes to build an extensive network of participating vendors that support the mission of the Street *.M.A.R.T.*. program. Future goals are to have vendors offer discounts to official members of the program. This includes tracks. I realize that either you don't have tracks, they don't stay open late, they're too expensive, etc., we hope to get the tracks to work with us so that you will get your money'* worth.

I'm not here to change your mind, my only intent was to let you all know about Street *.M.A.R.T.*..

Jenn

PS- I only race at the track. I like having timeslips.

WELL THE TRACK IS FOR SAFTEY OF THE DRIVER TOO! K WELL IF YOU CRASH ON THE STREETS HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR EMS TO GET THERE? AS FOR A TRACK HOW LONG?

I agree with you, more tracks are needed. Maybe Street *.M.A.R.T.*. can help with that (with sponser & member participation).
Darlington International Dragway is 80 miles from me. It'* a nice track & all, but wish it was closer. There'* a track south of Columbia, (in Orangeburg) but I've heard that it'* a crappy track.
There'* a guy in Dade cty Fla that had a petition going wanting a track to built there. Have you all tried that?

Jennifer

IVE GOT A TRACK THAT IS CLOSE TO WHERE I LIVE GREAT LAKES DRAGAWAY NOT THE BEST BUT IT WORKS ABOUT 30 MILES

If it was closer, we'd prob go maybe twice a month. (I know I can't say much, some people have to drive hundreds of miles just to go to a track) My hubby works shift, so we have to do things when he'* off & we have to plan ahead, lol. The club we belong to is having our fall shootout there at Darlington in Nov. I'm looking forward to seeing all the F-bodies!

Jenn

If there was a track open late here, and it was say $5 a run, i would love to do it once i got some mods. I know lots of people who would, if they charged less and were open more, EVERYONE would be doing it.

Not to bash SMART.. I know its not their fault and their hopes and goals are noble.. but I just find it hard to see how they are closely knit with the police and encourage such good things and having the police enforcement go out and ruin it. Take for example what happened this summer with car events such as "Next Episode" and "darknights" just to name a few. There was 3 different police department all conjuring there salivain with their ticket book in hand.. there blocked all access to parking lots and search and prod every car and givin out tickets for anything they can ( including CAI as it'* not OEM ). Thats like askin me to sit down while standing up.. go enjoy your car.. do things safely, but if you do.. then we will nail you for it anyways.. as long as they do stupid things like that.. there will be stupid people who don't want go to a track as they know they will get a ticket there with cops waiting anyways.. so it becomes dam if you do.. and dam if you don't.. just venting.. and again.. nothing against SMART.. they do have a noble cause

It would be awesome to have a track in near me in New Orleans, because I would get my need4speed out on the tracks instead of getting speeding tickets on the roads. However, having cops at the tracks givin' out tickets right and left for other things is discourging and no one will really want to go to the tracks.

heres my point about tracks.... we NEED MORE! i had one not more than 5 mins from my house...... some of THE BIGGEST names in racing graced my area.. and i will NEVER see any racing there ever.... my dad remembers it all, however....



Name: Tri-City Dragway Street: Sarle Rd Near Tri-City Airport
City: Saginaw County: Saginaw

Status: Closed
Notes: THAT SATURDAY NIGHT 70'* SHOW UNDER THE LIGHTS!
WaterWinterWonderland - 4/14/2003 Recent site inspection reveals that some structures of the old strip remain. Close inspection was not possible due to the site now residing on MBS Airport property and access is strictly forbidden. If anyone out there has a connection at the airport, contact us!

Web - 1/16/2003 The Tri-City dragway was located in Saginaw MI. It was built in 1965, (as a 1/4 mile dragstrip) NOT a converted air strip. It Opened in 1966 and closed in 1978. Along with my brother, I worked as the starter, in the tech barn, in the wire wheel pits, and the crash truck in the shut down at the far end of the strip. Many of the heavies in the Detroit, Flint, Lansing and tri-city areas of the big three manufactures ran many super stockers, gassers and modified production cars there. Also top fuel, funny cars, and wheel standers were the hi-lights every weekend. There was also a Division 3 N.H.R.A. points meet every year. Fred Militello


Web - 1/7/2003 As Jon Lunburg mentioned in another post, Tri-City closed down due to terrible management. The manager(name respectfully withheld since he has passed) was also a corporate pilot. The hands off owner of the track also owned a very large successful Saginaw GM dealership (son still runs it). The manager had little or no customer(racer) relations skills and cared little for any racer input or comments on how to improve the sportsman (or any) program. What brought it to a head in the spring of 1978 was several consecutive weekend rain outs and no compensation for the entries fees that had been paid. Any efforts by the racers committee to either up the pay out or get a free pass fell on deaf ears. A boycott was planned by a large group of racers. On that fatefull weekend, all the racers were instructed to pull into the spectators parking lot until the manager came out and talked to the group about some remedy. After several hours of silence from the still locked track, the manager came out and said if we didnt pay the entry and race he would close the track for good. At this point the majority of us (Im guilty)thought he was bluffing and pulled out of the facility thinking the next weekend he would be begging for us to return. Guess what, he wasnt bluffing...and the rest is history. The track remained in semi-race ready condition for years and was used by GM for testing purposes. In the 90s a local drag racing family (with significant financial resources) tried unsuccessfully to submit a plan to the Tri-City Airport board to reopen the dragstrip. Their permission was needed because the majority of the pit area of the track was leased from the airport(bet you didnt know that), only the track and parking area were part of the privately owned facility. Without their permission, the reopening was dead in the water. After several professional presentations demonstrating total financial backing to rebuild the track, economic impact projections on the local economy from large (points or national) events and NHRA involvement, the airport commission voted NOT to lease the property needed for the reopening. The project was DOA. Sometime in the late 90s, the airport bought the property from the owner. The "offical" end of an era.


::edit:: as you can see.. this state is NOT very racer friendly.......
http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/speedway.asp

sorry its so long.....