[blown64vette]

It's been long overdue, but Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip (Ringgold, GA) is getting a pretty significant update. I know all of the local guys have been keeping up to date, but just wanted to post this up here, in case any out of towners are considering making the trip.

The first 200 feet of the track was already concrete. From 200 feet to a little past the finish line, the track was completely dug up and new concrete was poured. The new concrete will also be ground so it is flat and level with the existing concrete.

Brainerd has a couple of great monthly racing series (275 race and index race), but the track condition has previously been a deterrent to a lot of cars. At Mark Samples' races a few years ago, pretty much everyone struggled to get down the track, but the track crew is working hard to make Brainerd a hot spot for big races again. They plan to be back open in a couple weeks, but the first big event will be the Draggin' for Toys charity race on Saturday, November 16th.

Here are a few pictures:

 

[Moodyblues]

Gonna be nice, can't wait

 

[Lady Lynch]

Need to replace those metal guard rails with concrete walls also !

 

[t-bird racer]

X2. They should have poured some concrete retaining walls, that would really save some lives!

 

[1BadTruck]

Wood be nice to a track to go test a fast car at by the house mabe they will put so Limited Street races on there to

 

[AlkyWagon]

return road being repaired, also?

 

[Rocketman 77]

Need to replace those metal guard rails with concrete walls also !

This would INCREASE their car count BIG time! Including me and a bunch of my friends. We love this track but guardrails are not cool.

 

[BAD INT]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy past due! That place was THE place to be first Sunday of every month. So many nobodies who turned into somebodies put their time in there. I hope Brainerd can get back to where it was!!!

 

[RAPID418]

^^^^^ I agree 100% with this.. 91 was my first trip down there and was stunned at how fast the cars was then lol... hope it brings the glory days back!!!!

 

[Eman85]

That's a MAJOR investment! Incredible to see a track putting money back into it's facility, most don't anymore.

 

[grandville455]

That's a MAJOR investment! Incredible to see a track putting money back into it's facility, most don't anymore.

How much does something like that cost? Would blacktop be cheaper or no? Just curious

 

[Monkey Grip]

Need to replace those metal guard rails with concrete walls also !

Does tim feel that way also??

 

[Monkey Grip]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy past due! That place was THE place to be first Sunday of every month. So many nobodies who turned into somebodies put their time in there. I hope Brainerd can get back to where it was!!!

Good ole days...was there for many of them...

 

[Eman85]

How much does something like that cost? Would blacktop be cheaper or no? Just curious

Concrete is sold by the yard, a cubic yard. A cubic yard of concrete is generally just over $100 delivered, depends on mix and distance of delivery. A cubic yard will do 81 sq. ft. 4" thick. One lane 200' long by 10' wide is 2000 sq ft. divide that by 81 then multiply times 2 and then multiply by $100. That's just materials, no labor or old surface removal.

 

[cptcreedmoor]

glad to see it getting a facelift....I sure miss the good old days back in the 90's there...maybe it will get that way again

 

[455rocket]

Good ole days...was there for many of them...

saw big money run a 4.08 there bout 5 yrs ago--too much for me n blake and our lil Camaro--awesome people and location

 

[jughead]

raced there from the beginning till mid 70s and money got tight. back then there was no cool down time one ran until lost. 119 plus in 1/4 in superstock and 10 in. drum brakes shutdown area got hairy every once in a while