Texas Motorplex Accidents

[FABMAN]

Did anyone witness these wrecks, just curious if they happened at transitions from concrete to asphalt. I am sure they did that to save cost on track, but Billy Meyer built a nice place and never figured it to be an issue if there is one. It's been 30 years on concrete and I don't believe he has ever touched it.

 

[Muddy]

One occured prior to the finish line before the transition to asphalt and the other occured after the finish line probably near the transisition. I guess if you want to speculate the accident after the finish line could have been a result of the transition but it seems that if there is a problem it would have affected more than one car. Not sure how many passes have been made in the just the last 3 days but I would guess 100s. They race most every weekend and had the bracket championships from div 4 a week or two ago. No problems reported there that I am aware of.

 

[FABMAN]

One occured prior to the finish line before the transition to asphalt and the other occured after the finish line probably near the transisition. I guess if you want to speculate the accident after the finish line could have been a result of the transition but it seems that if there is a problem it would have affected more than one car. Not sure how many passes have been made in the just the last 3 days but I would guess 100s. They race most every weekend and had the bracket championships from div 4 a week or two ago. No problems reported there that I am aware of.

After thinking about it I never had a problem myself so I would say it would be how driver handles the transition rather the track being a problem.

 

[rick]

Isn't the Texas Motorplex an all concrete?

 

[FABMAN]

Isn't the Texas Motorplex an all concrete?

Shut down is asphalt

 

[BaldyLochs]

I lived nearby for about 15 years, that was my "home track"...have seen alot of stuff there. Had some great times there. There was no transition, atleast in the late 80s, early 90s. That used to be the place to lay it all on the line. Traction galore

 

[flapjack]

I lived nearby for about 15 years, that was my "home track"...have seen alot of stuff there. Had some great times there. There was no transition, atleast in the late 80s, early 90s. That used to be the place to lay it all on the line. Traction galore

Wow, a Chris WIlt sighting. Welcome back...

 

[Usual password less 1]

The track is great but the groove has always been very narrow for some reason. If you get out of the groove you usually have your hands full!

 

[Toejam]

I lived nearby for about 15 years, that was my "home track"...have seen alot of stuff there. Had some great times there. There was no transition, atleast in the late 80s, early 90s. That used to be the place to lay it all on the line. Traction galore

Wayne McMurtry who used to work for NHRA years ago told me that Asphalt works great until you get past half-track. And for some reason isn't so beneficial past 1000'! In fact that's why you don't see all Concrete tracks anymore.

 

[vegasnitro]

Wayne McMurtry who used to work for NHRA years ago told me that Asphalt works great until you get past half-track. And for some reason isn't so beneficial past 1000'! In fact that's why you don't see all Concrete tracks anymore.

ZMax is all concrete and Maple Grove went all concrete on their repave.

 

[Just Paul]

ZMax is all concrete and Maple Grove went all concrete on their repave.

Zmax is no longer all concrete since the re-pave.

 

[MHayes]

Zmax is no longer all concrete since the re-pave.

Paul is correct. When they did the resurfacing, the concrete now goes to 700ft and then asphalt the remainder of the way.

 

[Bob]

I didn't witness the Super Comp crash and I'm praying for a speedy recovery for the driver - I HATE crashes and it tears at my heart any time a driver is taken from the track in a medical helicopter. Looking at his speed at the finish, he might have been on the brakes a little too hard while racing the stripe. I hope that isn't the case. The Alky Funny Car crash could have been the result of just about anything...those cars want to go everywhere but straight!

 

[Just Paul]

The Motorplex has just had some weird things happen there. The list of cars crashed there is very long.

I consider Bruce Allen one of the best pro stock drivers ever. He had 2 huge crashes at the Motorplex, and I don't even remember him even getting out of the groove anywhere else. Mark Oswald is another one. Drove for years and years, never had much trouble except his 2 bad explosions/fires/crashes there.

 

[Jeff]

Texas Motorplex is one of the smoothest tracks that we race at (and we race a fair number of NHRA tracks). It has several features that make it a challenge.
1. Narrow groove
2. Stands that let no air flow through (the bottom of the stands is covered, to prevent drinks/litter from falling through, I guess)
3. Track direction is 90 degrees different from an airport runway less that 2 miles away, and it is generally windy there.
4. Depending on the ground moisture level, there can be a decent bump at the 1/4 mile transition to asphalt (it was far from huge last weekend).

You've got to keep the car centered in the groove if under power, and if you brake hard near the finish line you will very likely have the tires lock in mid air when you hit the bump.

It's a great track, but you want to trust the person next to you, and mechanical failures tend to result in higher tolls than many other tracks.

It clearly holds the record for life flight comings and goings during the race .... by our experience at least. But it is a great track if you have a fast car.

When the car clears the stands you oftentimes have to be ready to input a 1/8th turn wheel correction to maintain a straight line ... and lots of times the wind is strong right to left one day, and strong left to right the next. This weekend, unusually, the wind was mainly headwind or tailwind and generally only around 10mph.

 

[Tumbleweed]

I didn't witness the Super Comp crash and I'm praying for a speedy recovery for the driver - I HATE crashes and it tears at my heart any time a driver is taken from the track in a medical helicopter. Looking at his speed at the finish, he might have been on the brakes a little too hard while racing the stripe. I hope that isn't the case. The Alky Funny Car crash could have been the result of just about anything...those cars want to go everywhere but straight!

Brian dropped #1 Intake Valve, engine caught on fire and body buckled from the explosion. The front body latch released, the back one did not. He popped his fire bottles which, in theory, is correct, however, when the body caught air, he went airborne with it and it sent him 180 degrees in the air, landing going backwards and slapping the wall hard. He was still on fire when sliding backwards, we were going on scales and I still had my suit on so I took off running to him because no other emergency personnel had time yet to get to him. I got about 10 feet from the wall an official way behind me was telling me I had to stay clear, I kindly mentioned that I was dressed better in suit with boots on than he in street clothes to help him and kept running. As I turned back around he was out and telling the car some choice words (LOL) I knew he was ok and then ran back to the scales. Glad my foot hung in there from running through the grass area.......... I'm very glad that our fellow competitor was okay, that was the most important thing.....Not sure about the other person, only have heard that he was stable....I hope he has a full recovery as well...

 

[Huge]

Brian dropped #1 Intake Valve, engine caught on fire and body buckled from the explosion. The front body latch released, the back one did not. He popped his fire bottles which, in theory, is correct, however, when the body caught air, he went airborne with it and it sent him 180 degrees in the air, landing going backwards and slapping the wall hard. He was still on fire when sliding backwards, we were going on scales and I still had my suit on so I took off running to him because no other emergency personnel had time yet to get to him. I got about 10 feet from the wall an official way behind me was telling me I had to stay clear, I kindly mentioned that I was dressed better in suit with boots on than he in street clothes to help him and kept running. As I turned back around he was out and telling the car some choice words (LOL) I knew he was ok and then ran back to the scales. Glad my foot hung in there from running through the grass area.......... I'm very glad that our fellow competitor was okay, that was the most important thing.....Not sure about the other person, only have heard that he was stable....I hope he has a full recovery as well...

That was a scary deal for sure. It was nice meeting you at the fanfest.

 

[Toejam]

The Motorplex has just had some weird things happen there. The list of cars crashed there is very long.

I consider Bruce Allen one of the best pro stock drivers ever. He had 2 huge crashes at the Motorplex, and I don't even remember him even getting out of the groove anywhere else. Mark Oswald is another one. Drove for years and years, never had much trouble except his 2 bad explosions/fires/crashes there.

Back in the Mid 90's a couple of racers had gotten killed there, it was called the Murderplex for a time.

 

[BaldyLochs]

Ah, I think I remember the Oswald Motorcraft FC body blow at the lights...or maybe it was White or Hoffman. Forgive me. But I do remember the track PA guy commenting on how they thought he was blaring past the finish line and was like motioning to the Safety Safari to "come and get me"....then they realized he had oil on his helmet and was blindingly reaching for the chute levers, which were blown off with the body

 

[BaldyLochs]

That track is also special to me because during a Buick Club meet, my Dad blew away Pro Golfer Bruce Lietzkey, in a showdown between the only 2 '87 Buick Grand National GNX's that were there. Both bone stock, no mods. Dad even forgot to turn off the A/C....and still creamed him.
It's also the track where Scott Kalitta qualified in both FC, and in his Dad's Top Fueler, at the same event.