Revved up about dirt at El Paso County Speedway

Nestled quietly within a residential area 35 miles northeast of Colorado Springs lies a dirt oval that attracts racing enthusiasts from around the region.

The quarter-mile track is part of the El Paso County Fairgrounds and serves a niche two Saturdays a month from April to September.

"There's nothing like the feeling of running on a dirt track and throwing the car in a turn and just letting it be on the ragged edge of out of control, sliding through the turns and flying down the backstretch," driver Alan Davis said. "There's nothing like that feeling."

Three years ago, Davis helped bring that feeling to the fairgrounds when he proposed the construction of a track to replace the rundown strip built in the 1970s.

The idea quickly gained support from community members and Dan Vetrano, president of a non-profit organization that supports the fairgrounds.

"Two seasons later, it's every bit of what we thought it would be and then some," said Vetrano, who noted that no tax money was used to fund the track and racing leagues.

Davis spearheads activities on the track while Vetrano oversees the intricacies off it. But without the assistance of multiple volunteers, the dirt-racing dream likely never would have come to fruition.

Some donated cement barricades and 10-foot catch fences. Others came in with dump trucks to remove piles of useless materials.

Even the racers had a hand in construction.

"Eighty percent of the work to build this race track out here, believe it or not, was done by volunteers," Vetrano said. "Every time we have a work day, there are more and more people that show up here and want to make this thing successful."

On Saturday, 65 cars were registered to compete in six events - modifieds, 1200 sprints, stock cars, hobby trucks, outlaw micro sprints and hornets. The next race is scheduled for July 5, with a fireworks show following.

The concept of dirt-track racing is different from NASCAR and the Indy Racing League.

Imagine everyday cars with normal shells. The stock cars then receive suspension modification, slight engine and roll bar changes and additional horsepower. The hobby trucks are much like trucks on the street - Fords and Dodges - with the exception of a minor suspension change.

The windows in each vehicle are removed so drivers don't have to worry about dirt built-up. Drivers' helmets have sheets of see-through strips that are peeled off as dirt accumulates.

Some drivers take a comical approach to decorating, pinning up dolls of Elmo or Scooby on the passenger door.

Davis understands the showmanship in the event. His father, Donald, used to race at Pikes Peak Speedway, which played host to races as early as 1955 near the intersection of Platte Avenue and Powers Boulevard in Colorado Springs.

The dirt track, Davis said, provides a challenging task for the drivers as they must adjust to the ever-changing pathway. Basically, the drivers are running sideways all the time, he said.

Despite the lure of the race, Vetrano said there have been a couple of naysayers in his two-year involvement with the speedway.

"You know, you're not going to make 100 percent of the people happy 100 percent of the time," he said. "We all know that. A lot of the reason why (the two people) didn't agree with the race track is because they haven't been educated to know about the numbers it brings in, to know where this money goes that the race brings in.

"I think if they would come forward and let us educate them, I think they would probably come to our side."

The speedway is expected to draw its largest crowd on July 19 when it opens for the 105th annual El Paso County Fair.

TICKETS

Next event, which includes a fireworks show, is July 5. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for active-duty military and $5 for children ages 5-12. Children under 5 are free.

WEEKEND WINNERS

Stock cars - Jason Escolopio
Hobby trucks - Elmer Followel
Outlaw micro sprints - Nick Rigali
Modifieds - Ernie Jones
1200 Sprints - Nic Sutton