Admission: $10 per person,
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Flat Track Races - 2009 Video
History of Flat Track Racing
by Boulis Racing
American style dirt track or “Flat Track” racing is
a peculiar American phenomenon. Our type of dirt
track racing is done only in North America, and
strangely enough, Australia. This primarily is
because of our climate. The world’s other great
continents have not the predictable weather and
rainfall that allows our races to be run in the dry.
Dirt flat track only flourishes here as a result of
our moderate summer weather; no where else does that
exist! Any dirt “Flat Track” competition is
dependent (more so than any other form of racing) on
weather. High-speed dirt track racing literally
can’t be done in the rain, period, nor on a muddy
track either. In order to produce a good ‘show’ the
track must be smooth, dust free, and have just the
right amount of moisture to hold the dirt surface
together. Moisture gives it acceptable traction,
keeps it dust free, and allows for great wheel to
wheel racing that no other dirt racing allows.
Motorcycle racing is the second most difficult of
all the mechanized disciplines, second only to
flying a helicopter, as our men in Viet Nam flew
then. Motorcycles (like helicopters) have no natural
or normal attitude and can not even stand up
unassisted! Racing a motorcycle is much harder than
even driving “Formula One”! If you even slightly
doubt any of the forgoing, consider, that going back
into history, many, many auto racing champions were
first motorcycle champions – never the other way
around. Many of America’s dirt tracks have been
paved over because of the tremendously high
maintenance cost to properly groom and keep up to
par a “dirt track”. Nothing, however, produces the
excitement of dirt! Nothing! And shame on us for
taking the easy way out and giving up the great dirt
tracks. Now as to why we call it “flat track”
racing…
In America, horse
racing was originally either “quarter pole” racing
(i.e., racing in a straight line for a quarter of a
mile, between surveyors stakes, as the country was
surveyed and laid out into townships, for easier
legal and geographical descriptions of the location
of real estate) or on a closed oval grass or dirt
racing track. These circuits were of course flat. In
the old days it was not necessary to say flat track,
because of course it was flat! They all were.
However, shortly after the coming of motor vehicles,
special (high-speed oval motor race) tracks were
constructed usually of wooden surfaces “banked” or
tilted up to about 45 degrees. This was done to
allow the primitive machines with their even more
primitive tires to attain even higher speeds than on
a flat(er) track. The quest for speed is eternal,
for like freedom, speed is in the soul of mankind.
Normally no tracks are flat anymore (because of
drainage, not just to make them faster) but compared
to banked “speedways” or motordomes they are flat!
One additional
fact! Great dirt tracks are never just local “farmer
dirt”. Good, professionally made dirt ovals for
horses or motor races are made of a number of
elements, comprised of (but not limited to) clay,
sand and usually “decomposed” granite. Clay gives
the track body and glues it together, but clay is
waterproof! Remember ancient tombs were sealed with
clay. Sand and decomposed granite are mixed with
clay along with local elements. These makes the clay
porous enough that water can soak in and/or
evaporate, which allows a skilled, experienced track
maintenance man to get a good water depth while
keeping it smooth and most important of all, dust
free! Motorcycle speed racers can’t stand bumps,
dust or mud! If you ever see any of these, you would
see a better race if you had not! Preparing a fine
dirt flat track is as difficult as farming, i.e.,
you use all your skills and experience and do
everything right but you are absolutely still at the
mercy of the wind, sun and rain! The machines used
in NFTRA flat track racing are, as are stock cars,
not stock, but are based on production engines or
sometimes whole machines that are, under the rules
of the sanctioning body, allowed (only) certain
modifications. Flat track racers use special purpose
made Goodyear racing tires, almost exclusively!
Traction is more important than horsepower. All flat
track racing is done going around the corners and
not on the straight of ways. If you see passing on
the straights it is usually the result of “getting
up speed” in the middle of the previous corner. You
may see today, the future National champions of
either motorcycle or auto racing as well, or even
the road-racing champion of the world. Today’s
riders start out at earlier and earlier ages and are
clearly better and more skilled than any generation
in history!
Additional Information:
Kerry Klug - 989-312-1312 Email
Ethel Boulis - Contact Boulis Racing at 231-638-2497
or 810-686-7083. Email
Sponsored by
Event Times:
American style dirt track or “Flat Track” racing is
a peculiar American phenomenon. Our type of dirt
track racing is done only in North America, and
strangely enough, Australia. This primarily is
because of our climate. The world’s other great
continents have not the predictable weather and
rainfall that allows our races to be run in the dry.
Dirt flat track only flourishes here as a result of
our moderate summer weather; no where else does that
exist! Any dirt “Flat Track” competition is
dependent (more so than any other form of racing) on
weather. High-speed dirt track racing literally
can’t be done in the rain, period, nor on a muddy
track either. In order to produce a good ‘show’ the
track must be smooth, dust free, and have just the
right amount of moisture to hold the dirt surface
together. Moisture gives it acceptable traction,
keeps it dust free, and allows for great wheel to
wheel racing that no other dirt racing allows.
Motorcycle racing is the second most difficult of
all the mechanized disciplines, second only to
flying a helicopter, as our men in Viet Nam flew
then. Motorcycles (like helicopters) have no natural
or normal attitude and can not even stand up
unassisted! Racing a motorcycle is much harder than
even driving “Formula One”! If you even slightly
doubt any of the forgoing, consider, that going back
into history, many, many auto racing champions were
first motorcycle champions – never the other way
around. Many of America’s dirt tracks have been
paved over because of the tremendously high
maintenance cost to properly groom and keep up to
par a “dirt track”. Nothing, however, produces the
excitement of dirt! Nothing! And shame on us for
taking the easy way out and giving up the great dirt
tracks. Now as to why we call it “flat track”
racing…
