April 17, 2011
By Kim Roberson
Kim Roberson
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Racing at Talladega in the spring is always a tricky adventure. Not only because of the racing adventures on the track, but because you never quite know what Mother Nature will have up her sleeve.
Last year, rainy weather deluged the track, with campers finding campsites flooded and damage to temporary camping structures.
Talladega Superspeedway has emergency plans for just about every situation. A few years ago, my real job (which involved conducting emergency training exercises across the country) took me to the track on race weekend to oversee an emergency preparedness communications drill. But just because the track is prepared doesn’t necessarily mean the fans are.
"You're talking about an outdoor venue, it's not a thing where, it's not a superdome where you can put 80 thousand people inside a building," speedway Chairman Grant Lynch told a local TV station last year when asked about dealing with thousands of fans and unexpected weather. "Certainly we'll be (notifying campers), giving them some advice on what to do with their campgrounds about tying down everything that they can, taking down tarps, taking down, drop your tent if you can. All the R-V's need to pull their awnings in."
One of the problems with most any campground is that it is usually in a grassy area. In Talladega, the camping outside of the track is actually on red-clay hills and when it rains, that turns to red clay mud. And it usually also comes with red clay puddles. A lot of them.
This year wasn’t much different. Friday, more than 70 tornadoes were spotted across the south, with several in the Birmingham area. At one point, sirens sounded at the track, and drivers and their families, crew members, and the media sought refuge in the few solid structures at the track. Twitter became the place to not only get weather updates, but people updates as well. In years past, you would have to wait for a member of the media to post a story about what happened as the storm blew through. This year, we were able to track the weather, media, and drivers as the sirens went off thanks to regular updates.
Talladega officials started using Twitter and Facebook to send out updates as soon as the weather started going sour.
“Communication methods to receive weather updates include: NOAA Weather Radio – Area code is 001121 Talladega EMA.”
When one fan asked about where to go if the weather got too bad to stay outside and they couldn’t get to shelter, the track responded “If the storms become severe the American Red Cross recommends you seek shelter in a vehicle, fasten your seat belt and turn your motor on.” (Note the reason for this is that if the engine is on, the airbags will deploy if the vehicle is hit or goes air bound.)
Friends and family who had loved ones at the track started posting notes on Talladega’s Facebook page asking for updates.
“Anyone at Talladega wanna share the weather report, my husband, his Boss and another buddy is there in the infield in a motor home, Just wondering how the weather is there!!!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!!!!”
One fan noted “Our campsite is flooding and slowly getting into our tent so we’re cooped up in our truck.”
Alex Hayden, reporter for MRN radio, was at his hotel when the sirens sounded. “Tornado sirens sounding loudly! Hunkered down in the 1st floor” he posted, and then added a photo showing where his hotel was in relation to a deep red storm cell passing nearby.
Dave Moody, lead MRN turn reporter and host of Sirius Speedway, was broadcasting live on Sirius when the sirens started sounding. “Nasty, nasty weather here at Talladega right now. The boys just saw a HUGE bolt of lightning nearly hit my turn position” he noted on line, while adding on the air that they were paying close attention to the weather and would drop off the air if need be to remain safe.
Brian Neudorff, who is a meteorologist in Rochester, NY, and goes by the twitter name “NASCAR_WXMAN” (Wx being shorthand for weather in the TV business), was busy providing updates as the conditions changed. “Tornado Warning for Talladega County it does not include @TalladegaSuperS but for central western part of County #NASCAR.” “@NASCAR_WXMAN: Center of this storm 35 mi. SW of Dega. looks like the worst will pass south of track but expect severe storm conditions.”
“Left the track to get something to eat.. Brought the dogs with us.. Just in case the motorhome isn't there when we get back..” tweeted Ashley Allgaier, wife of Nationwide Series driver Justin Allgaier.
Michael Waltrip, owner of Michael Waltrip racing, was interviewed by the Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore, and said that he, Kenny Wallace, Martin Truex, Jr, and Dale Earnhardt Junior all headed to the Infield Medical Center to ride out the storm.
Travis Kvapil, driver of the No. 38 Long John Silver Ford, posted “Well this is a first for me. A policeman stops by the motorhome and asks us to go to media center for shelter.”
Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowes Chevrolet, also got a knock on his door. “Siren went off at the track... we are hiding out in a block building in the garage. I hope the campers have a safe place...”
Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 AARP Drive For Hunger/DuPont Chevrolet, apparently joined his teammate in the garage. “@JimmieJohnson nice seeing u & the fam in the safe house as well. Guess better to b safe than sorry. #JG” he tweeted upon returning to his motor home.
Dustin Long, reporter for Landmark Newspapers, tweeted “Party in media center starting to end. Drivers and families and others starting to head back to motorhomes now with threat passed.”
But some fans refused to let the weather interrupt their fun.
“Mud slide races start in 15 minutes now that the rain has stopped!”
“Hope they have a good drainage system around this joint, we've had a lot of rain this evening, saw the Aflac duck go floating by a minute ago,” tweeted FOX broadcaster and former NASCAR Champion Darrell Waltrip. “Added bonus, the trailer park is now comes with a water park, the kids down at MRO bible club are going to love it!”
As the sun rose over the track yesterday morning, fans and teams went out to assay (access) the situation.
“Drove thru the infield this morning. Looks like all the fans weathered the storms. Good to see. NASCAR fans are tough cookies!” tweeted Richard Petty Motorsports.
“A big "SO" (shout out) to all of the dedicated fans who weathered the storm yesterday!” added Jimmie Johnson as he headed out to prepare for qualifying Saturday.
The good news is, the sun was out and shining Saturday, allowing the ARCA and Nationwide races to go off without a hitch, and the same weather is expected to shine down on the track today. Let’s hope the racing is as exciting as it was in Daytona!
Follow Kim on Twitter: @ksrgatorfn
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
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