Rockford Speedway, located in Rockford, Illinois, is one of the most historic racetracks in the United States. As the first purpose-built wooden speedway, it’s been around since 1914 and it still hosts some of the biggest races in the country, including the Indy 500, as well as the prestigious U.S. Open Cup series of professional football.
The only way to make your experience at this historic track truly special is to race there yourself. The good news is that you can do just that! You just have to know how to go about it.
Here are some tips on how to race at Rockford Speedway.
Get A Group Of Friends
One of the best things about this place is that it’s so open. There’s nobody watching the race, so you can go as fast as you want without anybody complaining about it. You can also bring a group of friends to watch the race with you; it’s a lot of fun!
However, you should make sure that they’re all equally committed. Some of your friends may want to spend more time hanging out with you rather than watching the race, so make sure that you don’t take them to Rockford Speedway unless they’re really keen on racing too. This is key to keeping the experience realistic.
Get Familiar With The Track
The best way to prepare for any kind of race is by doing some research on the track. The layout of the track is something that you’ve got to learn to navigate quickly and accurately, so that you can use the advantage of that speed. Getting familiar with the track also means getting familiar with the cars that will be there. There are a lot of different makes and models that you’ll encounter at Rockford Speedway, so you should get to know them all.
If this is going to be a realistic experience for you, then you might as well get to know the good, the bad, and the ugly of racing at this track. Also, pay attention to how the cars handle, because this is going to be crucial in allowing you to stay upright as well as finish the race successfully.
Choose The Right Car
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a car for the race is weight. All racing cars are not created equal, and unless you’ve got a good mix of heavy metal and muscle, you’ll find that you don’t stay upright for very long at all. You also want to make sure that the car you choose is reliable and has everything that you need to make it work. For example, do you need a special steering wheel, a special gear shifter, or a special foot brake? These are just some of the things to think about before committing to a specific model.
If you’re looking for something more luxurious, then you might want to consider a convertible. These types of cars are very easy to break down, so if you’re ever in a situation where you need to get out of there quickly, you can always pop the top and go for it.
Practice And Practice
As we mentioned above, this is one of the rare places where you can practice freely without being penalized. This is something that you’ll need to take advantage of while you’re there. Just make sure that you don’t go too fast or too slow, because as long as you stay within the limits, there’s nothing the officials can really do to you. They don’t really monitor the speed that much either, so it’s up to you to keep your eyes open for cars coming from the back for a pass or move aside so that they can draft off of you.
If you want to race at this place successfully, then you need to have the respect of the drivers that are there. If you’re ever going to get a ride with a pro driver, then you know that they usually look out for the best interest of the team, so make sure that you do the same.
Eat, Drink, And Be Social
You’re there to have a good time, right? That’s what this is all about. You’ve come all this way, spent a lot of money, and you’re finally going to get to do something that you’ve always wanted to do. What more could you want?
Well, you could want to keep your energy up during the race so that you have enough to fight for once the checkered flag drops. This can be done by consuming the right food and staying hydrated, so make sure that you stock up on those before the race. Also, make sure that you get a good night’s sleep and that you wake up in the morning with a clear head. All this will help you go faster!
Now, on to the fun part… once the above tips have helped you navigate the treacherous waters of racing at Rockford Speedway, you’ll feel ready to experience one of the great American classics. And who knows? Maybe next year, you’ll be able to bring your family and friends and join the party too.