Hey folks,
Got a question for you guys that ran faster cars @ Dover. Over the years, what was used for track prep @ Dover? Anything like the VHT compounds of today? I see in some pics rosen was used on the line. Did the whole track get treated? How was it done in 1961 as compared to 1976 at closing. Interested in what you all remember.
The only track treatment I remember was the bring your own kind. Rosen, bleach or water were the only things I saw but it was not used by many. The cars were not that fast back than. I remember the top fuel record 7.8 held by Tommy Ivo around mid 60’s. The reason I remembered that was, I was comparing my S/C dragster to times back than and thinking if I could have brought that back in time. I had run 7.70 on gas with one carburetor, faster than top fuel from back than.
The track didn’t even have water burnout area just dry hop and go.
I remember that the rosen was the only thing that was put down on the track during match races. But I have asked this question before and nobody was certain. What was the fastest speed and et ever recorded at Dover?
HA! …TRACK PREP???…ah…Al’s broom….do you Really Think Chet & Joe would actually “PAY” for stuff like VHT? it was new and a lot of guys tried their own thing….but to come out to the line and pour something down…that was a N0-No…back behind the line I saw chlorox bleach a lot or just jugs of water.If rosin was put down down back in the altered wheelbase match race days, everybody ran better times that day. nope…just Al -his helpers and the old Broom.
I remember that the rosen was the only thing that was put down on the track during match races. But I have asked this question before and nobody was certain. What was the fastest speed and et ever recorded at Dover?
Yo Al…About 217 if I remember correctly, by a Funny Car…the Fuelers always got crossed up with bad traction ( As In skating rink)…why Garlits always went to extreme edge of the lane.
BX-10! found a can and a paint brush in the trunk of a car back in the old days. the current stock car racers use some substance to help tires stick better. I was told ed eaton at ny national used his own concoction that had gasoline in it? I still remember the torch at island.vht is now about 800.00 a 55 gal drum.
SSPETE,
I heard a similar story this weekend. A racing buddy of mine told me back in the day @ Hampton Dragway on Long Island there used to be metal drums or cans near the starting line. In there was a solid roofing tar like material. It was heated up and mopped or squeegee’d on the line for traction. Imagine how thick that was when put down?? Again, no traction material past the line. No wonder Top Fuel cars would smoke the tires the whole run! 😆 Anybody else got info??
the fact is that the great people that worked there week in and week out really cared about the racers and the spectators. I will never forget WESTHAMPTON, where a woman in a fur coat, new caddy Eldorado, and her granddaughter, sat at the front gate collecting money. put it in a big wicker basket, and we raced. needless to say, as bobby said, TRACTION was non existent with any V/8 !
I made a 9.98 pass at Westhampton with my Camaro in 1971……..that Sunday I ran A/MP with only a 12.5 ” tire…The starting line worked for me…It was mid track and top end that was a bit of a handfull.. 😆 😆 😆 And how about that return road?????? 😮
Yeah, I remember coming out of the Modified/Gasser pit area to race our Modified 55
or Gasser Anglia and always smiled when we followed a car that put down water or bleach. 😆
Don’t know why we never carried a bottle of water or bleach. It sure wasn’t a $ issue. 😆
Yeah Don, that return road was certainly one of a kind ❗ 😮 Always wondered what some
of the “Top Guns” (Garlits, Snake etc.) ever said about that return road ❓ 😆
frank-j-majauskas.
dino
