Monday night, August 5th was supposed to be the first night of a huge week of racing for IMCA Modifieds in Iowa and Minnesota. Monday night was scheduled to be the Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour on display in an event sponsored by Hahn Roofing. From Spencer they are due to head for Spring Valley Minnesota for the Harris Clash, then on to Fairmont Minnesota for another Dirt Knights race and then on to Britt Iowa for Hobo Days and three nights of big buck racing at the Fairgounds there in the Thousand Stars, Ten Thousand Stars and All Stars races on consecutive nights.
However, things got off to a crappola start here in Spencer. It was very hot and humid and did feel like it could produce a storm at the drop of a hat. However, based the forecasts I saw and the way the radar looked, it seemed like a reasonable gamble to make the drive down to Northwestern Iowa.
And things were looking good when I arrived as it appeared that the light showers and come and gone and things were on schedule as planned with the pit gate already open and cars in the pits, some left over from Sunday night's show that was also a larger than normal payoff for the drivers too.
However, things started to go downhill when storms started popping up all over the place and when the last one made a right turn and bore right down on Spencer, we were in deep do do. It rained hard for fifteen minutes with a little hail thrown in for fun. As quickly as it started though, it stopped just as fast. However, the damage was done. The track itself was very wet with water in the turns coming all the way up past the marker tires and on to the track. The pits was half under water and there appeared no way that there would be racing.
However, those in charge were bound and determined to try and get a show in and they started packing the track while at the same time dragging the pit area which was just as much of a mess. They packed and packed with out getting very much accomplished while at the same time the clock was ticking and it was getting later. Their last ditch attempt was to pull a grader behind one of the big tractors to try and skim off some of the muck and it worked to some degree but there was just so much mud and water and with time getting away from them, the car count in the pits being small due to the weather scaring off many and just a handful of spectators in the grandstand, even though it was past the scheduled starting time, they finally threw in the muddy towel and called it a night, refunding pit passes for those that were already signed in.
I myself, was the envy of many in the pits. I found my mud boots in the trunk that I usually have to use only once a year at the Red Clay Classic in Ashland Wisconsin where it typically rains and turns their red clay into a sea of red goo and there is no way to walk around without having boots like these. This way I didn't ruin my tennis shoes and my feet stayed dry, even if I didn't exactly set a fashion trend unless that trend might be the most ugly costume ever seen in any pit area. Kevin Yoder said that no one would care what I looked like and I'm counting on him to be correct so no one better be laughing at me the next time I see them.
I admire the determination of the track officials at Spencer for trying to get the race in but sometimes there is no fighting Mother Nature. I was a dismal way to start the week though, that is for sure. Hopefully things turn around tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment