Cecil County Dragway and Rain, how does it work?

[Oreo931]

I have been planning a meet for the past 3 weeks (I keep postponing it due to rain <_<) with a bunch of Volvo guys to go down on a Friday night and race at Cecil County. I know that obviously if it is raining during the operation hours of the track, they will not allow racing. What if it rains earlier in the day, but not while the dragstrip is open, will they still let people race later? Does the ground have to be completely dry or what?

Kind of newbish questions, I know. But I've only been to a dragstrip once before and that was on a nice day, so I'm not sure how these things work.

TIA.

[Scapegoat]

dragstrips don't work in the rain

[Oreo931]

dragstrips don't work in the rain

ORLY?
That still doesnt answer my question.

[Scapegoat]

ORLY?
That still doesnt answer my question.

accidents happen on wet tracks

[DBryden]

Depends on how early it rains I believe. I've gone a few times last year where it rained in the morning (maybe stopped around 1ish) and they still opened the strip for the night. It wasn't very heavy rain, but still...

I do, however, find it disturbing that for the past 3 weeks it's called for rain, only on fridays, starting at 5pm. Wtf...

[Oreo931]

accidents happen on wet tracks

If it rains on Friday until 11am will the track still open up for racing at 6?

[Oreo931]

Thanks Dan, thats the info I was looking for.
The rain this friday is supposed to be light, and its not supposed to continue into the night. I'm crossing my fingers.

[Scapegoat]

If it rains on Friday until 11am will the track still open up for racing at 6?

should be fine. As long as the guys and gals there have a chance to prep the track you'll be good.

[Oreo931]

BAH! Weather.com keeps changing the forecast. About an hour ago it said rain during the day, and clear at night. Now it is saying clear during the day and rain at night. WTF.

[Verocious]

The best thing to do is to check the forum they have. They will post if they are going to be closed due to weather conditions. As long as the track is or can be dry by 5pm, then they will normally be open. Here is a link. http://cecilcountydragway.com/phpBB2/index.php

On a side note. I do not know if you can wait until April or not to run. But a Wednesday tends to offer more chances to run then a Friday night does. Wednesday grudge nights start the first week in April.

Andy

[Oreo931]

The best thing to do is to check the forum they have. They will post if they are going to be closed due to weather conditions. As long as the track is or can be dry by 5pm, then they will normally be open. Here is a link. http://cecilcountydragway.com/phpBB2/index.php

On a side note. I do not know if you can wait until April or not to run. But a Wednesday tends to offer more chances to run then a Friday night does. Wednesday grudge nights start the first week in April.

Andy

Thanks for the tip, I'll check there on Friday.

[LS2GTO]

i went to the strip on bald tires a couple times. basically the same thing. i also hold the pedal down for another quarter mile then jam on the brakes. the guys at the track love when i do that

[kenzx3]

Dude your not the only one whose been trying to plan out a G2G up there for the past 3 weeks. A Ford Focus group I run has been trying to make it up there each week since opening and its been the same for us. Unfortunately this friday looks to be rain too. :cry:

[garrettej8]

i went to the strip on bald tires a couple times. basically the same thing. i also hold the pedal down for another quarter mile then jam on the brakes. the guys at the track love when i do that

wait, what do they love? when you brake? that's pretty neat I guess...

[HickRocket1258]

It determines how much it rains and when it stops. Sometimes they just don't want to have to bother with drying the track after it rains. It costs a lot of money to run the jet dryers.

[Fazeshift]

It determines how much it rains and when it stops. Sometimes they just don't want to have to bother with drying the track after it rains. It costs a lot of money to run the jet dryers.

Exactly. If there was questionable weather earlier in the day, or a threatening forecast, call them first. Don't rely solely on raceway's website either - sometimes they aren't up to date.

[Verocious]

They update the the forum regularly in the event of poor weather. There are not that many people who work for the Dragway. So it is easier for them to post on the forum, then have to answer the phone

[Fazeshift]

They update the the forum regularly in the event of poor weather. There are not that many people who work for the Dragway. So it is easier for them to post on the forum, then have to answer the phone

Makes sense. Last time I raced at Cecil, there wasn't much of a web site. Additionally, I've been bitten by slow web site updates in the past... ex. Atco posting they would be closed the next day due to weather forecast, then opening anyway. I still prefer confirming via phone.

[95gstnj]

i personally think anyone who would go down a track that is less than 100% dry is an idiot. that said, idk how dry it has to be to be open.

[TTsupra911]

jus call the strip, they have an automated voicemail. Also when they are calling for rain is the best time to go. Less people head out if there is a chance of rain

[ej20wrx123]

Cecil doesnt seem to give you much of any indication that they will be open. I wanted to go a couple of fridays ago and the answering machine said call back at 4pm......no message after 4pm and they dont post on their forum. It was suppossed to rain so i figured they were close and just went on sat. Then come to find out they were open the night before.

Your best bet is to drive down there and see if their open.

[Oreo931]

I went last night, weather was great until about 830.

[Mercury]

I went too, made it down by 8 and paid, getting ready to move to the staging lanes, then the rain hit. No runs for me... blah

[Crashed_Again]

I have been planning a meet for the past 3 weeks (I keep postponing it due to rain <_<) with a bunch of Volvo guys to go down on a Friday night and race at Cecil County. I know that obviously if it is raining during the operation hours of the track, they will not allow racing. What if it rains earlier in the day, but not while the dragstrip is open, will they still let people race later? Does the ground have to be completely dry or what?

Kind of newbish questions, I know. But I've only been to a dragstrip once before and that was on a nice day, so I'm not sure how these things work.

TIA.

I have raced at Cecil for many years and they look at the weather predictions before the track opens. It must be clear hours before the track opens and forecast clear for the evening otherwise is won't dry out in time.

I have taken many trips down only to have the track close early due to weather too.

I now only go down on if the weather is supposed to be clear.

I have raced at Atco and Maple Grove and it is the same deal. Maple Grove usually won't open if it rained that day.

Good luck.