some dirt tracks are thriving

[jhanson]

Cedar Lake is financially strong. The ownership group is stable: Bob and Chuck Kaufman, Brad Both and Chris Heinbuch ---they have owned it since 2001 ---year after year they consistently invest in the facility with improvements I think they have over 1,000 camping spots ---the track is racey and fast ---it has an indoor karting and motocross facility ---it runs every week through out the racing season ---attracts WOO sprints and has the USA Nationals for late models ---multi day events are no problem for them ---they are willing to try new stuff
Jim Hanson Pine City, MN

[chathamracefan]

Add Fairbury to the mix of thriving tracks. One thing they have going for them is unwavering support from the community. They realize the revenue that place brings in. They don't jack em around on curfews for their big events. That is an issue some tracks run into. Town puts a 10pm curfew on, it's really hard to schedule any big national events or multi day shows.

I'd reckon during the 4 days of PDC from the Flonight show thru PDC the supermarket in that town does about a month's worth of "normal" business. The city works hand in hand with the track (and vice versa) and all reap the rewards.

[Morgs153]

I would mostly agree with the assessment of Cedar Lake. They do have a fantastic facility and what you mentioned about the camping and the indoor event center is all true. They are a relatively short drive from a major metro area so the specials are often very well attended. Their weekly program is terrific.

But.

Why does a Crown Jewel type event like the USA Nationals need a Fans Fund to attract a few extra drivers? Cedar Lake is up north a bit but it ain't up in Santa Claus country, it's near the Twin Cities. A major show paying the money it pays and being a really good track should not need fans digging in their pockets to bring a few extras. Now I do really appreciate the people who organize and run that fund and I think they are top notch fans for doing it. What I'm saying is it shouldn't be necessary. Sadly it is because some drivers/teams will treat the travel to Cedar Lake as some sort of hardship.

[Highside Hustler25]

Cedar lake is a drive for some guys farther south. Heck, its over 7 hours from central Illinois. Probably 15 hours from say, Tennessee.

[jhanson]

Cedar Lake has over 1,300 camping spots

[WisWildManFan]

Add Fairbury to the mix of thriving tracks. One thing they have going for them is unwavering support from the community. They realize the revenue that place brings in. They don't jack em around on curfews for their big events. That is an issue some tracks run into. Town puts a 10pm curfew on, it's really hard to schedule any big national events or multi day shows.

I'd reckon during the 4 days of PDC from the Flonight show thru PDC the supermarket in that town does about a month's worth of "normal" business. The city works hand in hand with the track (and vice versa) and all reap the rewards.

As a fan that lives 2 hours away I sure wish they would move flo night to thursday and golf to wednesday. I end up torn between driving back and forth or sitting around thursday bored as hell.

[jhanson]

22-year-old Christopher Thram just recently broke the 410 sprint car record at Cedar Lake 10.746 around 124 mph average three-eighths track

[jhanson]

Shannon Babb has the late model track record at Cedar Lake 12.950 104.2 mph average speed P.S. Thram's average speed should have been 125.6 mph