[lust4speed]

Only in California would a dragstrip that is located deep in an industrial area surrounded by a steel mill and recycle yards be forced to erect a $1,250,000+ sound wall to resume operation. Most of us figured that we would never see drag racing again at the track, but it will host the first race of the 2014 calendar year on February 22nd. Here's some pics taken today at the track:

[David Holmberg]

California, great weather but really oddball politicians.

[The Boss]

Originally Posted by David Holmberg

California, great weather but really oddball politicians.

Concrete & construction company must be big contributors to the political machine.

Now with the sound bouncing off that wall, they'll need to construct one in the other direction.

[straycat]

And you wonder why Cal is in the financial hole their in!

[Chris65LeMans]

Is that the one off the 605 in Irwindale?

Originally Posted by The Boss

Concrete & construction company must be big contributors to the political machine.

That's why LA has a $700 million high school, a $500 million one, and a $250 million one.

[racegto65]

Good now the train noise in the predawn hours won't wake you up in the pits
while staying overnight. LOL

[2manyponchos]

Glad you guys in Cali can get back to racing, but this unbelievably stupid. I think Boss said it best.

Same goes for all the concrete "sound" walls surrounding big city interstates.

[harry k]

Originally Posted by racegto65

Good now the train noise in the predawn hours won't wake you up in the pits
while staying overnight. LOL

too bad,you're not going to see the chu chu train go by neither

another thing with this enviromental study if they took into count is:
what about the burn out smoke on a non windy day,smoke contained in the launch pad area takes long time to clear due to not enough of open area ...just wondering!

[MikeNoun]

a) I'm surprised a California politician didn't require a "This wall made possible by...." sign across the top.

b) The track will only be open for a few hours before giant ads are plastered on that wall.

I'll bet the plan all along was to shut down the track, and the politicians already made that decision a year ago. But before they do, they want to payback various unions to build that wall, then payback more unions to tear it down.

[Alvin]

Thxs for the update and pics Mick!

Who knew those circle track "roundy round" guys had so much stroke to mandate sound protection for their ears from hearing "BIG HP" from drag cars?!!! JK

How are they going to "sound wrap" the "Speedway" track? Is this the same track seen in the background of your photos (below)? No matter, regardless of the costs GR8 you have a live functioning Dragstrip there IMO.

[61 389-348]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

a) I'm surprised a California politician didn't require a "This wall made possible by...." sign across the top.

b) The track will only be open for a few hours before giant ads are plastered on that wall.

I'll bet the plan all along was to shut down the track, and the politicians already made that decision a year ago. But before they do, they want to payback various unions to build that wall, then payback more unions to tear it down.

"The track will only be open for a few hours before giant ads are plastered on that wall."

Via spray cans

[61 389-348]

Hopefully, some of us Pontiac guys still have our reserved parking.

[lust4speed]

Originally Posted by harry k

too bad,you're not going to see the chu chu train go by neither

another thing with this environmental study if they took into count is:
what about the burn out smoke on a non windy day,smoke contained in the launch pad area takes long time to clear due to not enough of open area ...just wondering!

My first thought was that the wall might help block some of the Santa Ana winds coming in from the north, my second thought was I sure hope they ran the pylons down nice and deep because I don't want to be fly-swatted with one of those tilt-ups about the finish line.

Actually a non-union company did the contract work. We don't have the "complicated" union/government infrastructure so prevalent back east. Our politicians are just insane green liberals.

Here's earlier pics from December:

[MikeNoun]

Originally Posted by lust4speed

My first thought was that the wall might help block some of the Santa Ana winds coming in from the north, my second thought was I sure hope they ran the pylons down nice and deep because I don't want to be fly-swatted with one of those tilt-ups about the finish line.

Actually a non-union company did the contract work. We don't have the "complicated" union/government infrastructure so prevalent back east. Our politicians are just insane green liberals.

Here's earlier pics from December:

Well, I hope it all works out. I imagine ticket prices and entry fees will rise. Someone has to pay for a $1.25 million dollar wall, and I doubt the track had this much cash lying around.

[61 389-348]

Well with this kind of investment I bet they'll do everything they can to keep it open.

[Alvin]

WAG is that Auto Club "anchor sponsor" may have provided bulk of $ and/or financing to keep track open. Good PR for anti- street racing campaigns, etc.

[61 389-348]

Originally Posted by Alvin

WAG is that Auto Club "anchor sponsor" may have provided bulk of $ and/or financing to keep track open. Good PR for anti- street racing campaigns, etc.

Except that you had to be there real early to get a run card because of the crowds. At one time a few of us met in West LA to conyoy the 70+ miles to the track together. Sure cut down on drive time and gas mileage, but sure did nothing to cure street (freeway) racing.

[lust4speed]

The LAST street drags I attended at Fontana had us in line before the sun came up and leaving after the sun went down. Got ONE run in the entire day. Ricer's kept oiling down the track spewing engine internals everywhere - one right after the other.

[TheSilverBuick]

Originally Posted by Chris65LeMans

Is that the one off the 605 in Irwindale?

No, you are thinking Irwindale. This is in Fontana off the 10fwy near the 15fwy.


Ran my '69 Firebird there the first Test N' Tune they had. I think it was 2000, when the track was in the middle of the parking lot.