Madhouse

Ralphy · #1 (**permalink**) 01-02-2010, 09:24 PM

New show coming on, The History Channel. January 10th 10 PM

http://www.history.com/content/madhouse

http://www.history.com/content/madhouse/videos

Every summer at Bowman Gray racetrack in Winston-Salem, seasoned veterans and rising stars alike battle it out as tens of thousands of fans cheer them on. And the drama doesn't stop when they slam on the brakes. Decades-old rivalries between both individual drivers and family racing dynasties reach a boiling point as drivers settle scores by spinning, psyching and even punching each other out. Off the track, the drivers must juggle their passion for racing with day jobs, wives, kids and the financial strain of maintaining top-notch vehicles without corporate sponsors.

Madhouse follows four teams of modified racecar drivers through a season at North Carolina's historic Bowman Gray Stadium. The NASCAR track has been in operation for 60 years, and features some of the toughest conditions and tightest turns in stock car racing. This is a story about men who live life on the fast track, and the family, friends and fans who are behind them every lap of the way.

Ron61 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-03-2010, 06:05 AM

Ralphy,

Thanks for the links. Now that is the down home small track type racing that is fun and entertaining for the fans. We have a small track here but it is paved now and they can't slide like they did when it was dirt. But there are some good drivers in these small town series. One driver from here went on into the NASCAR West series and won 5 championships I believe it was and finished 2nd several times, but he never made it to what was then the Bush series. His family owned a lumber company and he would work on his car while taking breaks from loading lumber.

Ron

Excaliber · #3 (**permalink**) 01-03-2010, 08:24 AM

Many years ago I looked into getting into dirt track racing at our local round track here in Hawaii, thought that might be fun. So I started hanging with a few car owners, helping out here and there. I quickly found out those guys are serious as a heart attack about their racing. A LOT of inter-family feuding going on, you get on the wrong side of someone and they ARE going to take you out. To much in the way of politics for me, gave up the idea.

Bobcat · #4 (**permalink**) 01-03-2010, 11:50 AM

Ernie ... it`s called paying your dues . I used to run the local dirt tracks in SC , GA and NC and it could get a little rough for a while for a new comer until they found out they couldn`t intimidate you . Yes , I took my car back in pieces several times , but , you put it back together , go back and put the guy in the wall that tore up your car the previous week .... and be prepared to have a spirited " discussion " in the pits later ..... but then , I enjoyed that sort of racing . No pretense there ... "when the green flag drops , the BS stops ."
FWIW , some of those guys are still very good friends of mine today .

Excaliber · #5 (**permalink**) 01-03-2010, 01:38 PM

Oh, there a TIGHT bunch all right in Hawaii. Play hard and don't take in new comers easily. Now me, being haole, had a second strike going in. Newbie AND white, sometimes you gotta know when the deck is stacked against you and exit, stage left.

Ron61 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-03-2010, 01:55 PM

That's alright Ernie. You can race here and they won't even notice that you are a newcomer. I know we are talking about dirt tracks in this thread but I think you would like Thunder Hill. They hate everyone equally. When I used to go down there there was one group that would dare you to crash your car as they blocked for each other. Also turn 7 or 9, I forget which, will take you a few laps to feel comfortable with as it is a dangerous one and several people have wrecked there. You are going up hill and all you see is the sky and just over the top the track turns hard right and is flat. Just keep the front wheels on the ground and you will be ok.

Ron

Ralphy · #7 (**permalink**) 01-10-2010, 06:20 AM

Not sure, but it looked like Todd Bodine was in the previews.

Ron61 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-10-2010, 06:29 AM

Hard to tell for sure but he and Ken Schrader seem to race on every track they can find. Schrader said in an interview that he wished he could race on every track in America before he is through. He loves dirt track racing.

Ron

Tommy · #9 (**permalink**) 01-10-2010, 07:02 AM

Several of my extended family here in east central Alabama have gone dirt track racing. The one who got good at it had one central complaint. The track owner kept changine the rules to help his relatives win. It's hard to compete successfully when the track owner has a stake in who wins. You can see where that would cause hard feelings.

Ron61 · #10 (**permalink**) 01-10-2010, 07:42 AM

Tommy,

Years ago when the small track here was dirt two of the wealthier racing brothers bought it. After two seasons they had to sell it and quit as they kept making it impossible for anyone but one of them to win with rule changes and protests. Then the new owners paved it and I don't go any more but they still have some good races there. But politics seem to be in every sport and thing any more and they have their share of complaints about rule changes to benefit some people over others.

Ron