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It’s been a few decades since I’d been to a stock car race.  They’re not foreign to me, having grown up on “Thunder Road” where the likes of Junior Johnson and Richard Petty got their training running moonshine before moving on to what eventually became NASCAR, they’re just a ways down my list of priorities.

Through a friend, however, I know of the races at the Norman County Racetrack in Ada, MN, held on most thursday nights during the summer.  A NASCAR buff friend of mine and I decided to try one out.

The racetrack as located at the Norman County fairgrounds on the west side of Ada on highway 200.  The grandstand is old, the parking ample, the admission $10 per person and the concessions are cheap.  There is also a beer garden.

The races start at 7, and there are four classes, from the junkiest of jalopies to the late model modified stocks.  The track is dirt, and gets pretty dry byu the time the races are over, about !0 PM.  The spectators have to endure quite a lot of flying dirt, and it is best to park a ways from the track in order not to need an immediate car wash when the races are over.  And it is loud, but not enough to need the earplugs my friend brought.

There were an undetermined number of 8 lap heats which seemed to determine the order of starting in the four features.  The four feature races, one for each class, are each 25 laps.  So what more is there to say about automobile racing?  Quite a lot, I think.

First, most of these drivers are highly skilled athletes, in my opinion.  I do not now nor have I ever had the nerves and reaction to do what they do.  I’m not sure the size of the track, but I’m guessing a quarter mile.  During the feature races, which would have approximately 20 contestants, there would be less than half a track between the lead car and the last one.  I’m not good at guessing speeds, but of course they spend about half their time sliding sidewise around the turns before accelerating down the stretches.  Naturally, there are accidents, and I think every heat and feature had several  periods under the caution flag.  Fortunately, there were no serious accidents.  Several cars left the track, so the caution light came on while they got them back on.  On one occasion, a car left the track and flew over the fence surrounding the track, a first, it was announced, for Norman County Racetrack.  The speed with which two Ada firetrucks and the paramedics get to the car and driver was impressive.  The driver was unhurt, and the 741 fans in attendance applauded.

Speaking of speed, the organization of the races keep things moving right along.  As the drivers from one of the qualifying heats left the track by one exit, the next heat was already entering the track from another.  There is an intermission between the qualifying heats and the feature races, during which two rides around the track in a late model stock after the race were auctioned off.  I was fun to listen to the professional auctioneer auction them off.  Unfortunately, the car broke down and was unable to deliver.

The feature races, particularly the last one for late model modified cars were exciting, particularly the last one.  It seemed to me that these were very fine cars with skilled drivers.  My friend agreed, but didn’t think these cars and drivers would move much further up.  Nonetheless, I spent an enjoyable interesting evening.  I also think a turnout of 741 for such an event is Ada is impressive