Fresno Municipal Stadium will be rocked to the core in 5 days time by the mighty monster trucks of the Past Present Racing League for the fifth consecutive time! A half decade of tradition and excitement leaves many drivers excited and awe-inspired by what might be to come Saturday the 21st. The process of transferring this stick and ball field is a major task for track architects and builders alike due to the sheer size and the demand for a competitive unique racing track by drivers.
Work began early Sunday morning as dirt crews began trucking in the beach sand and gravel that will construct the base of the race course. In years past this process took up to two weeks as the sand for the four leaf clover racing course needed to cure and compact in cycles so that the monsters would not deteriorate the course in its first few racing passes. This year a third of the amount of material will be brought into the venue but fear not racing fans the track will be just as crazy as years gone by we're told.
"This years racing track is 360 Round About Style" spoke League President Dave Collard. "Three of the four past running's of Fall Madness have been conducted on the four leaf clover style race track and I felt it was time to throw in a curve ball for the drivers and fans with a more stream lined course." The 360 Round About Style is similar to the PPRL Classic Clash track from Monster Mania 2. Trucks will start out drag racing into the stadium before taking the appropriate turn to go down their lane of the course. Upon negotiating obstacles drivers will then make a complete 360 and race over the same obstacle again before drag racing to the finish. "The elapsed times will be about 20 seconds faster then the four leaf clover design but the track is just as much a drivers course as was the previous. The gravel and sand base option we elect to use on a yearly basis levels the playing field as it doesn't hook or slide like any surface we use on other courses thus opening the competition up to whoever can master a line first." The 360 Round About course will feature the traditional Fall Madness grade levels in it that many have been accustomed to in years past. "Trucks will be racing up and down a incline on the near end of the course yes. We did this to add yet another element of treachery while still trying to keep the elapsed times down from years past."
Another reason for the course change was for what many is the favorite competition of the night. "Freestyle this year with the flatter racing course will be much more streamlined and exciting. Kevin Payne and I sat down and outlined what needed to change and that was Freestyle layouts at Fall Madness." In years past with the four leaf clover track it was tough to get a rhythm going with constant mountains of packed sand in the way resulting in early rollovers and lower speeds.
"The new track is guaranteed to produce absolutely thrilling freestyle runs. We will be including a bus stack, semi stack, and multiple box van stacks as our feature elements. Upon racing's conclusion the plan is to move our turning marker cars into different places to provide slap wheelies and more big air." It will be interesting to see how drivers adapt to a higher speed freestyle routine with more room to maneuver. Perhaps we will see more flip saves, slap wheelies, side surfs and maybe a backflip? "You never know what might be possible. We're trying to incorporate the ability to double up in several different directions with the obstacles. The preliminary setup on our bus stack this year will allow for it to be hit both normal and cross ways." Freestyle sounds like a can't miss event this year from the Fresno Municipal Stadium!
While we're not allowed inside the stadium yet to take pictures we can announce that the track is taking shape quickly. Crews have suggested it will be ready for public viewing Wednesday evening to fans and drivers alike. "Our goal is to be done by Wednesday evening so that the sand can settle in and compact. If we get finished later then that we will risk the possibility of a track that can go away over the course of the evening and we do not want that" said Collard. So it seems PPRL fans and drivers will have to wait until Wednesday night for track shots from Fresno. Stay tuned to the website and Facebook for whatever updates we might be able to provide and be sure to not to miss out on the Fall Madness experience Saturday November 21st at 7:30 PM EST!!!
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