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Rome Speedway - The Coliseum of Speed
Late Model Mark
PINSON, Ala. (May 27) - Round three of the "Red Clay Report" coming at you from the lush green hills of Central Alabama. This round I will give my review of Georgia's, Rome Speedway. Being a Dirt Late Model addict that I am, I have heard of Rome Speedway for years as a fast and racy joint. That is a true assessment of this track. It is indeed the "Coliseum of Speed." Early this year, when drawing up a race schedule, I made sure to put a X on the calendar for the opening show at Rome. With the Swims family running this track and Dixie Speedway, it had to be good. Better than good, outstanding would be understatement. So here we go, my trip to Georgia's, Rome Speedway.
Leaving Central Alabama at 2:30pm. and knowing that we lose a hour going into Georgia we headed north. Thru Gadsden then into Georgia on Highway 411, it was a very nice drive thru towns that would remind you of "Mayberry." 103 miles later we find Rome Speedway. Very remote and rural. The parking is on some rolling hills with the track at the top of the hill. Easy parking and a short walk up the hill and you are at the ticket gate.$17.00 dollars later you are in. There is a special feeling and excitement whenever you walk into a new track for the first time, this was no different. We were told at the gate that the top three rows for lawn chairs were all gone. I asked the gate dude, when did people start setting up chairs, he said, Thursday!! When we walked up and saw the track, I was just blown away. The crowd was huge, a full two hours and change from track packing. We found a spot near the end of the large concrete terrace seating near turn one. The track has large grandstand seats in turns three and four that are up high. What a seat this is to see a race. Trackside parking runs from turn two all the way to turn four. Again, what a place to see a race. Drive-In Dirt Late Model racing from your car. Fans brought large Bar-B-Que barrel cookers, boy did it smell good! The concessions had huge yet fast moving lines was under the large and spacious tower. They do not allow "frostys" in the grandstands but it is ok in the trackside parking.
The track, it is a small half-mile in my view. It is outrageously wide and spacious. Red and white painted walls grace the outside. Cars are pitted in two areas, the infield for most cars that have open trailers, while the big rigs park in a huge area near turn one. The infield was packed with cars as well as the other area. All roads were expertly watered everywhere to hold down dust on this hot and muggy day. This high-banked track was very well prepared. Owner Mikey Swims did lap after lap of high speed watering, his effort paid off. In the South they start much later then the West. The cars did not even get on the track until 7:15pm. At 7:45pm the action started with hot laps. Right then, I then realized why Rome Speedway is something special. Fast, wide, racy, that is putting it mildly! This is a real mans track. What a view from up in the seats, on top of a mountain with a view of unpopulated rolling green hills. This track you can race high or low, no dust at all. There is nothing similar to this place anywhere in the west.
The action. The car count was a whopping 168 cars!!!!!!!!!!!! The Super Late Models had 23 cars, Crates a nice field of 41, the Steel-Block Lates had around 30. At 9:30pm. racing started in front of totally packed crowd. The first feature went off at 9:45pm. Crate heats at 10:10pm. After the Bomber and Econo-Bomber features, the Crate main got the green at 11:20 pm. It was a doozey!! Three or four yellows did not detract from the fine action. Three wide racing is the norm at Rome. At the stroke of midnite the Super Late Models took the green. Another action packed race interupted by 5 yellows. There was action all thru the pack all race long. The track surface was flawless. The racing excellent!!! At 12:35am. we were on the road for the 103 mile trip back to "Bama."
Opinion, Rome Speedway is one special place. Rome only races 5 or 6 times a year. This is a place that is very well run in all aspects. Professional staff, good concessions, super track and great fans. Kids were everywhere, a good sign for the future. Very few fans left even at 12:35am. A great crowd indeed at a super track. The Swims family should be very proud of this track. Every Dirt Late Model fan should see these cars at a track like this. This is one special joint. I for one will be back more than once in 2008. Rome Speedway in Georgia is a must see. Oh yea, the track record for the Dirt Late models is a ballistic, 13.25 seconds!!! On a half-mile!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rome Speedway is the "Coliseum of Speed."
Late Model Mark
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