Drag racing is thrilling, but what if halfway down the dragstrip you put in a hard left U-turn? Then imagine that you flooded the dragstrip with a couple feet of Louisiana mud water. Throw in a few hundred spectators, the smell of sweet barbeque, and the heat and humidity of a swamp, and you're bound to have a good time.
We recently spent a Sunday afternoon at the Richmond Motor Sports mud track outside of Richmond, Louisiana, where trucks in four different classes of competitors battled it out for a clean win. If you think full-throttle runs through a sloppy pit with up to 1,000hp race trucks sounds like fun then check out the American Mud Racing Association at www.iracemud.com
What's It Like?
We got to hop in the Modified truck of Ken Barry for a 1,000hp lap of the course, and it was a hoot! These trucks have full rollcages, little interior amenities, and enough motor to throw you back in your seat. Our first race was a blur as we came off the line and the whole world exploded into a giant brown cloud.
By our second and third run we had a handle on what was going on. Just before the green light, switch on the big windshield sprayers and wipers. Next thing you know you're rocketing down the main straight trying to get the inside line, and when you hit the water the back of the truck wants to lift and pitch, but never lift, and by then you're making the first left. If you get the lead you'll want to hug the bank for the shortest line to the finish while fighting off your opponent, who's trying to pass, but because of the lack of visibility you'll never know if he's trying to pass inside or out. Near the finish the water recedes and it's all mud, so just stand on it and hope you're fastest.
Before the trucks get to that...
Before the trucks get to that first turn, however, there's a few feet of water on top of the mud, and this causes a muddy typhoon to wash over windshields, making it a drive-by-Braille situation.
This type of mud racing isn't...
This type of mud racing isn't about neck-deep water and giant tractor tires; instead it's about speed and reliability in the wet stuff. Two trucks start side by side (inside lane decided by flipping a coin), and when the light turns green it's a full-throttle race to the first left turn into the big sweeping U-turn.
To deal with this massive...
To deal with this massive muddy water spray, most trucks have giant irrigation systems spraying clean water across their windshields and high-speed wipers. Even so, visibility is nil and the first turn must be won by either pushing the outside driver out farther or cutting across or behind the inside driver while going for the lead.
The four classes are Stock,...
The four classes are Stock, Super Stock, Modified, and Super Modified. Each class has specific rules: Stock requires original body, frame, suspension type, and stock engine components; Super Stock allows engines up to 412ci small-blocks and 477ci big-blocks; Modified trucks can have a maximum 516ci engine and a single four-barrel carburetor; Super Modifieds must keep a stock cab with doors that open, but can have a full-tube chassis and a 633ci engine running on gas, alcohol, or race gas and nitrous oxide.
The tires on most of the classes...
The tires on most of the classes are required to have a DOT number, but the Super Modifieds can run anything. And with the big motors they're packing, the brown Louisiana gumbo flies high.
Even though it is a flat track...
Even though it is a flat track covered in mud and water, the high speeds and occasional rubbing mean it's never boring. With lack of visibility and the high banks, it's not uncommon to see a competitor getting all sides muddy. Notice all the skidplating to better skip across the water.