Learned some disappointing news today

"Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey" (dingersghost) 03/07/2015 at 23:22 • Filed to: None

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I found out today a place that I've spent a lot of time (and money) at over the past few summers won't have a regular race season this year.

The place in question is Lake Erie Speedway, in Northeast, PA. You haven't heard of it, and no that's not because it's populated by hipsters. Quite the opposite actually. It's my local asphalt short track. It's a 3/8 mile oval, and it's run by the NASCAR Whelen All-American series. The track holds races sanctioned by that body and by INEX. They can't run a season this year due to selling the track, and any possible deal falling through.

My reason to be there so much over the past few years stems from a car most of us have forgotten: The Chevy Lumina. While they may mean nothing to you, they'll always hold a special place in my heart. It's incredible how one car can bring not only heartbreak but elation.

It all started when my good friend made a visit to the track. After watching the compact class, he had the crazy thought in his head to destroy what was actually a decent car and get out there. We both went into the adventure with zero knowledge on what we were getting into. I joined the game early on. I was in school and training to become a technician, and I was looking into any excuse to wrench. When he asked me along, there was no way I could turn it down.

(That's me there)

The first year was.. rough. The car was slow. If we finished a race at all it was a good night. We were constantly getting lapped. But it was a taste. We knew we wanted more, and if we couldn't get the car in first we would sure try like hell.

Over time we picked up some tricks to tune the car. If you didn't know, a simple commuter car doesn't take very well to banking, bumping, hard cornering, heat, you name it. Things break. Tires shred. So, you have to find ways to avoid that. For example, we ended up pretty much designing new front strut mounts and a strut bar in order to get the camber we needed for the car to not understeer severely.

Now, a lot of lessons were learned a hard way. There's a reason I call my friend Bondo, not by his actual name Bondy. There were plenty of times the car was limping off. But, the other good way is to talk. To learn from those who have done it. That was always the best part. I always had a great time in the pits. You spend a lot of time shooting the bull and making friends. You even help out with other people's cars. That's where I worked on my first small block Chevy, under the hood of the bright yellow Street Stock Camaro our pit neighbors drove.

After a year or two, we became somewhat competitive in the class. Which, I'll be honest, was a feat in itself. It took quite a bit of work to get a four door Lumina to hang with even two door Cavaliers. Now, the Acura Integras in the class? Not a chance. Our final push, however, was hard on the car. Although we had clean races, we'd break something every week. Something had to give, and it did. One night, near the end of last season, yet another CV shaft broke. That was probably our third that year. Well, when it let go, so did the car. It threw itself at the wall, probably in an attempt at committing Seppuku. After getting towed in, we started up the car. It wasn't good. The impact took out what was left of the 3100, and it was knocking pretty bad.

The car still sits dead today.

But after it all, it wasn't how we finished that mattered most. It was the memories.

Like how when we first started, they announced my buddy as "Racer X" because they had no clue what his name was. Or getting to help hold the giant American flag as they played the national anthem. Or riding my bike around the track on autograph night. Laying with my girlfriend on the hood of the car, watching the fireworks. Making my own addition to the car in the form of Suzy Q, a hula girl we ducktaped to the roll cage for good luck.

I also learned a few things along the way. For example, cars have a way of getting scorching hot when run hard, especially the wheels. (That's what started my love for Mechanix gloves.) I also learned a good way to track wheelspeed is to put neon orange tape on the wheels. While watching I could easily see exactly what each wheel was doing. I also learned that I could manage to set the toe exactly where I wanted it to be, in five minutes, just by eyeballing it. Pretty sure we ended up taking third in the feature race that night.

So if you couldn't tell, I'm extremely sad to hear there won't be a regular season this year at LES. While we didn't have a car to race anyhow, I still loved to be there. I loved to root on our friends in the other classes. I always had fun there with friends and family. I really truly do hope they can make a deal and at least hold a few races.

desertdog5051 > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey 03/07/2015 at 23:42

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Great story.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey 03/07/2015 at 23:44

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That is pretty sad. My only track experience was about a 10 minute stint on a small asphalt go-cart track at the side of race city in Calgary. It was probably the most fun I've ever had on four wheels. As far as I know, they closed the place, though.

A picture of the guys lined up, ready for a run on the track. Despite being a lot smaller than the actual race city track, it was still a blast.

Alex from Toronto > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey 03/07/2015 at 23:45

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Man that sucks but...

You raced a lumina and had fun doing it.

100 jalop points to you.

CodyVella > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey 03/07/2015 at 23:55

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Similar story for me. My local short track, Barrie Speedway which is a 1/3 mile asphalt oval will stop hosting races for the first time since 1965. Over the winter a concert promoter purchased the massive concert/camping events park next door. After constant pressure from their new neighbours, and even threats of a lawsuit should they hold a race on a Saturday night, Barrie Speedway was reluctantly sold to their new neighbours, who immediately announced they would shut down the track. It's a shame really, the place was packed every single weekend. It's sadly a growing trend across North America.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > CodyVella 03/07/2015 at 23:59

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Sadly, yes it is. A lot of tracks are dying out because others move in and complain.

My logic is always the same: They probably know there's a racetrack there. Those are noisy things. Don't come in and cry when it was there first.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > BaconSandwich is tasty. 03/07/2015 at 23:59

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So far, I have yet to drive on a track. Throughout all that I wrote about, I was only the pit guy. My buddy drove.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Alex from Toronto 03/08/2015 at 00:01

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Haha, I guess what I didn't word well enough (or forgot to mention all together) is that I wasn't the one driving- my buddy was. I was always the pit guy. Which was still a blast.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > desertdog5051 03/08/2015 at 00:01

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Thank you! I appreciate it!

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey 03/08/2015 at 00:02

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Still a fun experience. I went with the same crew to Spokane to shoot pictures/video of some dirt track go-cart racing. Even being in the pits was fun, but I did feel a bit useless, just taking pictures/video. I did make this, though:

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Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > BaconSandwich is tasty. 03/08/2015 at 00:04

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That's a cool vid!

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey 03/08/2015 at 00:06

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Thanks!