I Have A Dream
As Upstate Speedway crosses the 18 month old mark, we can already see how promising the future looks. When Upstate began on Mill St in Inman the Corner limb quickly gained a following and many of the rookie mistakes we made were overlooked by gracious racers all wanting the best for the future of the raceway.
After briefly mourning the loss of our Tri-oval, we were able to bring a fantastic Grandstand into the family.
After briefly mourning the loss of our Tri-oval, we were able to bring a fantastic Grandstand into the family.
UPSTATE REINCARNATED Summer 2020
After a 4 year hiatus Upstate Speedway has begun taking steps to reopen in a downtown area. The new location will be the largest facility Upstate has occupied. 400 sq ft of open space will allow for three racing tracks and a drag track. The tracks planned include the Dadds Corner Climb, an Engleman and a Monarch. The history of those tracks can be found under the "About" tab elsewhere on this web site.
The location provides some interesting and different dynamics from the first opening on Mill Street in Inman, SC and the second building occupied on the Ashville HWY in Inman. The downtown Spartanburg location is in a shopping plaza that includes several restaurants and other stores. One in particular is known for being a popular spot for hosting birthdays and a more adult oriented (serves alcohol) restaurant next door provides substantial foot traffic directly past the store front.
In order to prepare for these changes, new rental cars and controllers have been purchased and stocked. A more controversial decision to include a very little known class of racing as an entry level class has also been made. That class is Formula E. Formula E is currently almost exclusively in Europe and as a Slot Car racing class, is virtually unknown in the US. The cars are particularly attractive however and given the lack of solid appeal and growth of NASCAR among younger racers, I am putting some stock in the potential of this class with new and younger racers. One thing we know, the traditional racing classes struggle to gain new racers in any significant numbers so I am willing to try something with a different look and feel. These slot cars will utilize an 18000 rpm motor which will slow them down and allow for better control on the track.
Other flexi classes will continue along more traditional lines allowing racers to use one set up for a chassis to race three classes, NASCAR, Dirt Late Model, and GTP/LMP. With three operational tracks, rentals, beginning racers and experienced racers should find ample opportunity to race according to skill level and interest.
There is an interest in hard body racing among existing racers. Therefore there will also be classes built around existing cars and racers.
Cooperating with other area tracks is a fundamental commitment of Upstate. Working better together to be stronger together is an axiom of my thinking and I enjoy the opportunities afforded by corporate ventures.
Upstate Speedway is striving to be an exciting, visually appealing, and diverse racing experience for the Upstate of SC.
The location provides some interesting and different dynamics from the first opening on Mill Street in Inman, SC and the second building occupied on the Ashville HWY in Inman. The downtown Spartanburg location is in a shopping plaza that includes several restaurants and other stores. One in particular is known for being a popular spot for hosting birthdays and a more adult oriented (serves alcohol) restaurant next door provides substantial foot traffic directly past the store front.
In order to prepare for these changes, new rental cars and controllers have been purchased and stocked. A more controversial decision to include a very little known class of racing as an entry level class has also been made. That class is Formula E. Formula E is currently almost exclusively in Europe and as a Slot Car racing class, is virtually unknown in the US. The cars are particularly attractive however and given the lack of solid appeal and growth of NASCAR among younger racers, I am putting some stock in the potential of this class with new and younger racers. One thing we know, the traditional racing classes struggle to gain new racers in any significant numbers so I am willing to try something with a different look and feel. These slot cars will utilize an 18000 rpm motor which will slow them down and allow for better control on the track.
Other flexi classes will continue along more traditional lines allowing racers to use one set up for a chassis to race three classes, NASCAR, Dirt Late Model, and GTP/LMP. With three operational tracks, rentals, beginning racers and experienced racers should find ample opportunity to race according to skill level and interest.
There is an interest in hard body racing among existing racers. Therefore there will also be classes built around existing cars and racers.
Cooperating with other area tracks is a fundamental commitment of Upstate. Working better together to be stronger together is an axiom of my thinking and I enjoy the opportunities afforded by corporate ventures.
Upstate Speedway is striving to be an exciting, visually appealing, and diverse racing experience for the Upstate of SC.
Choosing what to race
Do you go fast? Slow? or does it really matter?
Choosing what car to race, how to set it up, and what other accessories to buy such as a controller or other parts depends on what sort of race you want to participate in. Most associate racing with speed. But, speed sometimes kills on a slot car track. Driving the car is the secret to Slot Car racing happiness. By that, I mean you will enjoy racing more when your car stays on the track than if you zip quickly down a straightaway only to watch your beloved Slot Car slam into the corner or turn after desloting. Staying competitive in a race requires staying in the race!
Find a racing class where you match up well with the other racers. Having a close race and coming in 2nd, 3rd or even 4th is more fun in the end than racing past slower cars and finishing first long before the others have even finished a lap. Racing is competition and competition needs to be evenly matched for it to be engaging for everyone.
So if you want to run fast, make sure you find the class of race that fits. Build your car for speed. And then race so that you never blow out of the slot in the turn. If you are consistently coming out of the slot then you are not driving your car, you're just pulling the trigger.
The fastest cars are those that are generally slopped from the rear to the front and have some sort of wings on the side. The GTP fits that description and of course the Wing Car is the body style choice for those wanting to go fast. But if you want more than speed, the you may want to pick a car body and chassis with a more classic race car look and pick a class with some technical limitations for the motor and the chassis and gearing.
Upstate Speedway tracks are generally considered driving tracks. While an Engleman can handle the out right speed of a Wing Car, it is a much different experience to simply drive the course and compete with other drivers at speeds you can observe.
Choosing what car to race, how to set it up, and what other accessories to buy such as a controller or other parts depends on what sort of race you want to participate in. Most associate racing with speed. But, speed sometimes kills on a slot car track. Driving the car is the secret to Slot Car racing happiness. By that, I mean you will enjoy racing more when your car stays on the track than if you zip quickly down a straightaway only to watch your beloved Slot Car slam into the corner or turn after desloting. Staying competitive in a race requires staying in the race!
Find a racing class where you match up well with the other racers. Having a close race and coming in 2nd, 3rd or even 4th is more fun in the end than racing past slower cars and finishing first long before the others have even finished a lap. Racing is competition and competition needs to be evenly matched for it to be engaging for everyone.
So if you want to run fast, make sure you find the class of race that fits. Build your car for speed. And then race so that you never blow out of the slot in the turn. If you are consistently coming out of the slot then you are not driving your car, you're just pulling the trigger.
The fastest cars are those that are generally slopped from the rear to the front and have some sort of wings on the side. The GTP fits that description and of course the Wing Car is the body style choice for those wanting to go fast. But if you want more than speed, the you may want to pick a car body and chassis with a more classic race car look and pick a class with some technical limitations for the motor and the chassis and gearing.
Upstate Speedway tracks are generally considered driving tracks. While an Engleman can handle the out right speed of a Wing Car, it is a much different experience to simply drive the course and compete with other drivers at speeds you can observe.