I-55 Raceway getting a surface tuneup!!

These guys have done bits and pieces over the years to make this a better facility.... Maybe it does help to have money but then again it helps having the car count and the fans in the stands every week to help pay for the improvements.....
This is one of the first rate race facilities and they know how to take care of their fans. I for one am very spoiled there but then again I am there every week. They take care of those that take care of them. ;)


Lisa
 
Originally posted by moonflow
.....let's just say I work at a civil engineering/surveying/consulting firm that also has GPS equipment.
Click to expand...

Just a side note, a geomagnetic storm predicted by the NOAA Space Environment Center has hit the Earth's magnetic field. It is currently at the strong G-3 level on the NOAA space weather scales—the highest being a G5. NOAA says further major solar eruptions are possible over the next two weeks. Forecasters say the solar storm has the potential to disrupt satellite and other spacecraft operations, power systems, high frequency communications and navigation systems, such as GPS.

The questions are, has this affected the re-configuration? I'm not discounting their desire to create a better track for their disciples, in fact I applaud their ability to make it happen. But is GPS really necessary to create a smooth racing surface? How have we survived all these years without it? I really believe the same thing could be accomplished by any farmer worth his John Deere.
 
It concerns me that they are taking bowl out. That will make the bottom even faster than it is right now. I think this will create an imbalance in the outside and inside lanes. If the new dirt holds water (and they water it enough) then a big enough cushion might counter-balance this. I hope so.
 
As far as Highland goes, I could care less if they got new dirt, as long as the track is one specific degree of banking instead of 2 or 3. That would make for much more competitive racing as far as the high & low side.
 
DON'T BE SO QUICK TO THINK THAT THESE COMPANIES/TRACK SPONSORS ARE JUST STANDING IN LINE TO DO FREE WORK FOR I55. I KNOW WHAT THOSE BILLBOARDS COST AND TRACK SPONSORSHIP. IT FOR D@MN SURE ISN'T FREE, SO I WOULDN'T SEE WHY A TRACK SPONSOR WOULD DO THINGS FOR FREE. MAYBE A LITTLE TRADE OFF, BUT I DON'T SEE IT BEING FREE. BUT, IF IT IS BEING DONE FREE OR FOR LITTLE TO NOTHING, THATS JUST THE WAY IT GOES. THE RICH GET RICHER AND THE POOR GET POORER.

NEVERTHELESS, JIMMYD I'M SURE DIDN'T POST THIS FOR THE 155 HATERS TO COME AND PUT NEGETIVE SPIN ON IT. ITS JUST THE BEST STL AREA TRACK GETTING BETTER, LIKE IT OR NOT. FREE OR NOT!!!!!!!!!;)
 
PITDRIFTER,
Your caps lock button is stuck. New keyboards are apprx. $8. If you use caps because of poor vision I then recommend you for a position as a track official.

FlyinDeuce,
If you could care less then why don't you?

Devil's Advocate,
John Deeres now come with GPS. My phone came with GPS.
GPS is cheap.

Millsey,
Are you jelous? You sound jelous. You are jelous aren't you? That's OK so is Devil's Advocate.

Moonflow,
Trust me, computers are expensive too. Mine cost $5000 in '89.(but it did come with a color monitor) GPS is standard equipment today.

We will find out next April if they can still race 3 and 4 cars wide. That's all I care about.
 
Originally posted by wheel spinner
PITDRIFTER,
Your caps lock button is stuck. New keyboards are apprx. $8. If you use caps because of poor vision I then recommend you for a position as a track official.

FlyinDeuce,
If you could care less then why don't you?

Devil's Advocate,
John Deeres now come with GPS. My phone came with GPS.
GPS is cheap.

Millsey,
Are you jelous? You sound jelous. You are jelous aren't you? That's OK so is Devil's Advocate.

Moonflow,
Trust me, computers are expensive too. Mine cost $5000 in '89.(but it did come with a color monitor) GPS is standard equipment today.

We will find out next April if they can still race 3 and 4 cars wide. That's all I care about.
Click to expand...

GPS surveying equipment and grading equipment is not cheap, and is much more advanced than your simple telephone and/or nav system. Where those systems get you to within say, 20 or 30 feet of your actual location, our Trimble GPS surveying equipment is accurate to 0.05' horizontally, and 0.01' vertically. It's this accuracy that results in a much smoother, accurately banked surface, rather than having a surveying company come out and stake grades, giving cuts and fills. That can be off as much as 2 or 3 inches using non-GPS controlled equipment.

As for GPS being cheap, if you buy a surveying setup like Stock and Associates (where I work), it'll run well over $100,000. Yeah, that's really cheap there.

And about that solar flare, and related magnetic storm.....has that passed yet, or has it yet to hit. I've not heard anything about it in the news. This is something I may want to bring up to my boss...we have a crew scheduled to go out to Kansas and do some surveying, and they were going to take the GPS equipment with them!!
 
Hey, you really can't beat a track that wants to make improvements all around - from the drivers standpoint and from the fans standpoint. Kudos to Ray and the I-55 team for making a great track even better. I can't wait to get there next spring!
T
 
Wow I can't believe a Good Post goes bad :rolleyes:

Here is the Dirt on the dirt at I-55. It did come off the property owned by the Marlers. And yes Bloomsdale is a VERY GOOD SPONSOR!!!! More ways than one. Think about it over the last 8 years they have done improvements that have been BIG enough for the fans to notice not to mention the little ones no one does notice and they still cost $$$$$$$$... These people have full time jobs that supply their life styles and they do the racing thing because ( RAY SAYS SO ) :eek: Just kidding it's because they love racing... And Ray Mr. PERFECTION likes to IMPROVE the facility as often as the incoming money allows. As for Kenny S. he does not bank roll anything... The money made goes right back into the track and that makes it one of the premier tracks in the MIDWEST.... AS I said before it helps having the car count and the fans in the stand. The Prices are still the best around.
And the racing is impeccable....

AS for Devils Advocate: I say get on that John Deere farmboy and make the track you go to a better place to play or at least TRY!!!!! Or at least try!!!!!

Lisa
 
Wow! DG has got her claws out. She is so cute when she is pi$$ed.

You gonna be throwing your rock tonight, Lisa? See you there!

Tim
 
cowracer

Yep throwing the rock... Or gonna try!!! LOL!!!! Is that almost over yet? My average seems to be getting worse each week!!!
Maybe I am not drinking enough :eek:
 
Hey, I'm in your corner DG. I was just trying to prove a point. It's always got to be about the money to someone.

Anyways, I can not stress to you enough how BAD I want to see that new surface in action.

Also, for the record - GPS was actually not used, I know it says it was on the website and all but, just trust me - I know. What was used was a robotic total station that has the 3D model of the racing surface inside the surveying equipment. This method, believe it or not is actually more accurate than GPS. I can personally guaruntee you that every inch of that track is accurate to within 1 tenth of a foot (1 in.) of the design surface.

Sorry, just had to clear all of that up. Gettin tired of hearin' about GPS. I wanna hear about how smokin' fast this track is gonna be.

King Korte's record WILL fall this year at I-55.
 
Well, if we're taking sides, I'll have to be on DG's side, too. Way to go I-55 - keep up the good work!
 
Hey DG, I really appreciate the props on Bloomsdale Excavating. They are a valuable track sponsor, and to all those who think Kenny has deep pockets, then I guess they are still just as deep.

Why do I say this?

Well it just so happens that I'm one of the fellas standing in those photos on the first page. We (BE) did this for our own good as well as the good of others. You see, we had operators and laborers that were learning new trades while working at the racetrack. Our workers gain more experience and I-55 gets a new racing surface. It's a win-win for both of us. And I, Mr. Moonflow, gain more experience designing three dimensional models.

:D
 
Originally posted by wheel spinner
PITDRIFTER,
Your caps lock button is stuck. New keyboards are apprx. $8. If you use caps because of poor vision I then recommend you for a position as a track official.

Devil's Advocate,
John Deeres now come with GPS. My phone came with GPS.
GPS is cheap.

Moonflow,
Trust me, computers are expensive too. Mine cost $5000 in '89.(but it did come with a color monitor) GPS is standard equipment today.
Click to expand...


WHEEL SPINNER, YA' KNOW WHY I ALWAYS TYPE IN CAPS??? BECAUSE I WANT TO AND BECAUSE I CAN!!!!!

BUT, I THINK I LIKE IT IN CAPS AND BOLD NOW.

HEY EVERYONE, DO YOU ALL KNOW WE HAVE AN OFFICIAL KNOW IT ALL HERE ON STLRACING? ITS TRUE, HIS NAMES "WHEEL SPINNER". FROM "TRACTION CONTROL" TO "GPS SYSTEMS" HE KNOWS IT ALL. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, JUST ASK HIM.

HEY WHEEL SPINNER, YOUR PHONE HAS GPS? WHAT DO YOU HAVE WITH TRACTION CONTROL THATS MADE YOU AN EXPERT ON THAT????????????

I RECOMMEND YOU FOR AN OFFICIAL POSITION ALSO. OFFICIAL @ S S KISSER, AND YOU CAN START WITH MINE PAL!
 
THATS GREAT BLACK ICE!

I FOR ONE AM AN I55 FAITHFUL, AND I AM FOR ANYTHING THAT MAKES IT BETTER. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOUR WORK. I AM SURE IT WILL BE NICE!:)
 
I just hope everyone is pleased with it. I along with everyone else who has saw it thinks it looks amazing. Ray is a little nervous as to how much faster he thinks it will be. I do know one thing, we're gonna find out!

Sure excited for play day!
 
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