Wonderland 101

Here are a few basics about racing at Wonderland Speedway

Classes

There are 2 classes of sprint cars that race at Wonderland Speedway, Micros and Outlaws, both classes are powered by air cooled,  2 cycle motors. 

	Micro	Outlaw
Suspension	No	Yes - coil over shock
Minimum Weight (including driver)	425 lbs	550lbs
Power	440cc Fan / Air Cooled	440cc *1 Fan / Air Cooled

*1 - For outlaws,  cars that exceed 650 lbs (car and driver), can use a 570cc air cooled engine. 

Track

• 1/8" mile oval
• surface - clay

A lot of preparation work occurs almost daily to keep the track smooth and fast. For the fast track, the amount of moisture in the track has to be just right. During non racing days the track is watered and sometimes graded and packed to have the surface perfect for racing on Friday nights.

Some common terms used at the track

Mudding the track in: In order to keep moisture in the track (moisture = fast track and no dust) it is necessary to mud the track every race night - usually before hot laps and between the heat races.

Flat Bottom: Another name for the Micro cars.

Baby Buggy: Another name for the Outlaw cars.

Race night - From a racers perspective

• Get to the track around 6:00
• Register with the gate keepers
• Grab some food from the girls on the hill
• Gets the cars off/out of the trailer
• Check gas, tire pressure and make last minute adjustments.
• Visit with fellow racers and catch up on the weeks activities and news
• 6:30 - Mud laps - work the track in by running around slowly. Starting at the top of the track and working down towards the bottom each lap (by starting at the top of the track, it helps keep the mud off the engines). Usually, one week the odd numbers cars work the track in, the next week the even numbered, and so on.....
• Be ready for hot laps around 6:45 or so
• Make minor adjustments after hot laps
• 7:15 - attend drivers meeting
• Check line up board - which heat race and what starting position
• Buckle in for heat race - try and finish in the top 4 (sometimes top 3 depending on car count) to transfer directly to the 'A' main
• After heat race - repair any damage and / make handling adjustments
• did you know it takes about:
• 15 - 20 minutes to change the rear gear
• 15 - 20 minutes to replace a broken chain
• 10 minutes to replace a spindle or wheel
• 1/2 hour or more to replace a rear axle
• If the heat race didn't go well, check starting position for the 'B' main
• After the 'B', repair any damage, check tires and gas, get ready for the 'A' main
• Check starting position for the 'A' main and buckle in
• every racers strategy if different, but most races try to get through the 1st few laps, avoiding crashes.
• once the race is underway for a few laps and all competitors are getting in the grove, start moving up if possible.
• After the race, load the car into/onto the trailers, pack up all the parts/pieces/tools/gas/tires etc.
• Socialize with fellow competitors and friends.

• The cars enter the track and run single file around the top of the track (so cars can pass under you) until all cars are lined up as per starting order.
• The flagman will give the signal (crossed flags) to line up double file for the start of the race
• 1st position inside 1st row, 2nd position outside first row, 3rd position inside 2nd row, etc...
• Once all cars are lined up, the starter will signal 1 lap to go... now all the cars tighten up - nose to tail
• Between corner 3 and 4 - closer to 4, the cars begin picking up speed - the front row must cross the start finish line side by side.
• If the front row does not cross the start/finish line side-by-side the starter will show the caution flag and the race will be restarted.
• If the start is good (side-by-side) but there is a wreck before the 1st lap is completed, the race will be restarted.
• If he race has to be restarted too often (the flagmans discression), the flagman will direct the cars to line up single file, in which case, the race will start single file AT THE START/FINISH LINE.

• After 1 lap is completed successfully, if the yellow flag is shown, all cars must hold their position and safely slow down.
• The line up for the restart reverts back to the last time the cars crossed the start/finish line. For Example: 
• Car #1 was behind Car #2 when they crossed the start/finish line.
• Car #1 then passed Car #2 in the second corner and then the caution flag was shown
• Car #1 would have to go back behind Car #2 before the race could be restarted (because that was the position of the cars the last time they crossed the start/finish line).
• Once the reason for the caution is resolved and the cars are lined up correctly the race is ready to be restarted.
• The backstretch official places a orange cone on the backstretch, just before the entrance to corner #3. The cone is critical for the restart - cars cannot pass each other UNTIL they have passed by the cone.
• On the restart, as the cars enter corner #1, the green flag is shown and the cars will begin accelerate between corners 1&2 - but they MUST remain in single file until they pass by the cone on the backstretch. If passing occurs prior to the cone, the car/driver will be penalized.