BIR... It's about that time.

[Bubba]

The first national event I ever attended was the 1984 Northstar Nationals. I was lucky enough to be covering the race for a Winnipeg newspaper. Here's a pic from that race.

 

[Just Paul]

After Ormby's 89 1st round crash see the orange paint - Brand new car

Actually an old Miller car purchased from Larry Minor in a pinch because he had crashed his car in Sonoma.

Wrecked 2 cars in 3 races.

 

[The Swegian]

the pro cars continued into turn one as their stopping point, at which
point the car would be towed around the entire circuit and rite back to
pit space already facing rite direction when ready to tow up for next run.

some zoo folk that couldn't quite make it up to track to watch the actual
racing could at least say they still saw every car on 'the track'

I remember that Mike. Imagine...towing your car nearly 3 miles to get back to your pit area.

 

[Eracer]

The first national event I ever attended was the 1984 Northstar Nationals. I was lucky enough to be covering the race for a Winnipeg newspaper. Here's a pic from that race.

Brent, That's one awesome shot. Thanks for sharing.

 

[MK]

Nice pics from the past. Our whittled down gang is here, me about a half an hour ago, all lined up in the formally known as Tom Thumb parking lot. It's now a BP fuel/Freedom brand store. Ran through some pretty big storms getting here, hope that's all we'll see.

 

[DrRocket]

Great example of how they used to line up the cars/haulers in the BIR pits in single file order(cuz they were pitted on the road course) instead of the side-by-side formation that is the standard now. Instead of walking thru the pits and seeing only the rear-end of the hauler and car, you got to see the entire length of the operation. A very fond memory of the way it used to be.

I really miss that. Everything was so much more accessible to the fans that way.

I've posted it before, but here's a link to a slideshow of pictures I took at the 1985 Northstar Nats.

 

[FC138fan]

I really miss that. Everything was so much more accessible to the fans that way.

I've posted it before, but here's a link to a slideshow of pictures I took at the 1985 Northstar Nats.

Nice slide show. Love how the pro stockers looked back then. I've only heard stories about the mud pit in the old zoo. I heard they cut that out after one year as they were towing a truck out of the mud - the tow strap snapped and whipped back into the tow truck and killed a lady.

Looks like an older crowd in the zoo back then. Nowadays it seems mostly 18-20 year old college age kids - watching them makes me wonder if they are following the NHRA year round like everyone in here or going to the event to party - I guess it doesn't matter as long as they show up and put down the money. Makes for a nicer show in the zoo too with the 18-20 year old chicks too.

 

[Toejam]

I remember that Mike. Imagine...towing your car nearly 3 miles to get back to your pit area.

So does that mean they had plenty of Shutdown???

 

[mick]

So does that mean they had plenty of Shutdown???

yes.........turn one is a great 'out' to have and has always been
available to run-a-way drag racers at the national event, seems that every
year there is a car or two that utilizes the turn in the event of parachute
and/or brake failure.

i've read that turn 1 @ BIR is the fastest turn of any road course in
north america; i've also heard the bikes that used to run there would not
even let off the throttle, think of that after a 1/2 mile straight away!?

does anyone know if nhra mandated a sandtrap/fence system at brainerd?
i believe if they have one it would not be built on the track, but rather
just off the track before turn 1?

 

[mick]

I've posted it before, but here's a link to a slideshow of pictures I took at the 1985 Northstar Nats.

david, awesome slide show.........again........thanks.

about 1/3 down the page there are (2) pics the author states as being
'road america' circuit, a few posts later he is corrected - this is original
donnybrook speedway - the two pics are taken from bridge as you enter,
looking north where the present day pro pits are located - the cars are
headed for right turn onto 1/2 mile straight away (drag strip)

then a few posts down a few more shots from 1972 trans-am race.
first shot cars coming around last corner onto straight (dragstrip)
for green flag.......next two shots are on the straight and kids getting
autograph from driver sitting on pit wall, the entrance of which was
the curved temporary barrier that ormsby hit in '89.

The AUTOSPORT Bulletin Board > Trans Am racing and 2.5 Challenge memories

 

[DrRocket]

Mike. (Or anyone) If you're down that way, check to see if they removed the concrete barriers they installed between the drag strip and the new road course for the July 4th road race. Some thought they were temps, others thought they're permanent. If they're still there, then turn 1 is no longer available as an emergency shut-down area.

Trans-Am is coming back to Brainerd this Labor Day. I'll be working the turns again.

 

[.]

Mike. (Or anyone) If you're down that way, check to see if they removed the concrete barriers they installed between the drag strip and the new road course for the July 4th road race. Some thought they were temps, others thought they're permanent. If they're still there, then turn 1 is no longer available as an emergency shut-down area.

Trans-Am is coming back to Brainerd this Labor Day. I'll be working the turns again.

I'll check when I get there later today. I'm sure they moved them since that is the route all the sportsman racers use to enter the pit area after being staged on the road course from today through Wednesday.

 

[DrRocket]

This is where the wall (In Red) in question was for the road race on July 4th. They were using the drag strip at the same time that weekend for the annual "Show & Shine" event, so leaving it up is not out of the question.

If it's still up, they'll not be able to use turn 1 as an escape route.

The green spot is where my favorite camping spot was when I was a younger pup in the eighties.

 

[mick]

This is where the wall (In Red) in question was for the road race on July 4th. They were using the drag strip at the same time that weekend for the annual "Show & Shine" event, so leaving it up is not out of the question.

If it's still up, they'll not be able to use turn 1 as an escape route.

The green spot is where my favorite camping spot was when I was a younger pup in the eighties.

brian is rite - sportsmen will enter at back entrance and drive backwards
around turn 1 to pits...........the sandtrap i'm wondering about actually shows
on your picture just to upper rt. of your red line, but from campground it's
difficult to see as turn 1 is banked and can't see clearly what's there?

if i were a driver i'd rather have turn 1 as an option than risk the unknown
consequences of sand and nets?

 

[DrRocket]

Just wanted to say I'll not be able to make it up there this year, but you folks who are there?
HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!!

 

[FC138fan]

brian is rite - sportsmen will enter at back entrance and drive backwards
around turn 1 to pits...........the sandtrap i'm wondering about actually shows
on your picture just to upper rt. of your red line, but from campground it's
difficult to see as turn 1 is banked and can't see clearly what's there?

if i were a driver i'd rather have turn 1 as an option than risk the unknown
consequences of sand and nets?

With turn 1 being superelevated, wonder if that would act like a ramp if a car went straight towards the sand trap. If its like we design public roads, it would be at 60% of full super at the Point of Curvature. (Ive been waiting years to work those terms into a conversation).

Translation, the banking of curve 1 would begin prior to actually entering the curve, meaning that if you were to continue straight and off the back of the curve, you would be launched in the air if the banking is steep.

 

[DrRocket]

With turn 1 being superelevated, wonder if that would act like a ramp if a car went straight towards the sand trap. If its like we design public roads, it would be at 60% of full super at the Point of Curvature. (Ive been waiting years to work those terms into a conversation).

Translation, the banking of curve 1 would begin prior to actually entering the curve, meaning that if you were to continue straight and off the back of the curve, you would be launched in the air if the banking is steep.

I was wondering about that myself, Nick. (No, really........ I was..........)

 

[TooTall999]

Just wanted to say I'll not be able to make it up there this year, but you folks who are there?
HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!!

We'll be there Friday-Sunday

 

[mick]

nick, i think you're rite.

here is a great video of full BIR road course from a couple years ago.
enters track just past 1320' finish line and directly into turn 1

YouTube - ‪Porsche 996 GT3 Cup Car: Virtual Ride‬‎

 

[The Swegian]

Just wanted to say I'll not be able to make it up there this year, but you folks who are there?
HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!!

OMG, the vaunted Dr. Rocket will not be there?!?!?! That's too bad David. A matter of economics, I presume?