Figure 8 Racing: It’ a Contact Sport

Ice skaters do it with precision. On the tips of their hardened steel blades, they scratch a continuous, looping number 8 into the surface. It's a test of skill to perform such a finite maneuver. Auto racers do it with precision, too. They circulate through a course resembling the number 8, twisting and turning, a pair of right-handers and a pair of left-handers with some sprint runs in between before starting the process all over again. They do it dozens at a time. It is not the picture of beauty and grace that you see from a figure skater. No, it is mayhem, chaos, and catastrophe all rolled into one. In one word, it's "exhilarating." Figure 8 auto racing borders the line between novelty act and automotive competition. It's a shirttail relative of oval track racing because the course usually swallows up a good portion of the "normal" track. It borders on novelty because it's only offered in about three dozen North American facilities. The history of Figure 8 racing can be traced to the middle of the Depression in this country. According to racing historian Allan Brown, the first recorded Figure 8 was held at the 3/8-mile Atlantic Speedway track.

However, this track did not have a crossover, using instead a tunnel in one direction and an overpass bridge in the other. The first race was held on January 24, 1936. The following year, the California track, which included a road course, was apparently replaced with a more conventional "D"-shaped oval. As time went along, the idea of Figure 8 racing didn't die off with the Atlantic Speedway's changes (incidentally, the location of the track is now part of the Long Beach Expressway), but began catching on in other parts of the country. In the early '50s, Figure 8 racing became a staple at the Indianapolis Speedrome and has remained so for more than four decades. The sport really gained prominence at the hands of New York promoter Larry Mendelsohn. In 1962, the promoter of the Islip Speedway on Long Island arranged for the sport to secure a place on television. He convinced the ABC network to include the crown jewel of his Figure 8 events as an installment in the weekly magazine program "Wide World of Sports." The "World Figure 8 Championship" drew a national Saturday television audience for several years. "You couldn't get a seat for the races," says Long Island racing historian Marty Himes. "The drivers would come from all over to be in the championship."

The track closed in September of 1984 to make way for a cookie factory. One would think because of the twists and turns from the Figure 8 racing perhaps a pretzel factory would have been more appropriate. Nearby Riverhead Raceway carries on the tradition of the sport with occasional competition in that division. Riverhead's Figure 8 events have been seen on sports channel television. Wherever Figure 8 racing makes an appearance, crowds generally follow. While oval racing is exciting in its own right, the Figure 8 and its dreaded intersection provide the prospect for added action. If it's a good race, there are no crashes, only close calls. Experienced Figure 8 racers make those close calls look very, very close. Art Calkins, who has been racing for 19 years, is a multi-time champion at Florida's Sunshine Speedway. He understands the sport and the entertainment value of it. "We really have to present it in the best way we can," he says of this form of racing. "We have to keep it clean and that's what Bonnie and Frank (Hill, Sunshine promoters) want. When I get out there, I want to put on a show and have a good race that everyone talks about."

In a nearby pit stall, Ron Davis was waiting to meet up with his 13-year-old son after the races. Davis, who competes in the Street Stock division in a different car, is having his successes in Figure 8 racing. He has lost a number of championships on the last night of the season, but maintains an upbeat attitude about the sport. "I'm going out to win races and not chase the points this year," he says. "This is just so exciting for the fans. If I can see them and see them having a good time, I drive a little bit harder." One of those fans is his son, who is too young for pit work, but is generally in a good seat to watch the action. "He's a straight-A student," says the proud father. "He's learned a lot and learned to accept the ups and downs of racing. When he was little, he would be mad if I didn't win. Now, he helps me a lot and I help him."

"Timing," says Caulkins. "You have to know when to do what you have to do. When I first started out, I didn't have everything that I have now. I had to get myself into the position to get the best of everything. I have a great owner and I've done a lot of practice. I've kept every trophy."

Together, with his brother, Wayne, and Joey Catarelli as part of a three-car team in 1999, they were expecting big things. The choice of car, by the way, was an interesting one. "Look at the hood emblem," says Calkins, pointing at one of the team cars. "This is an '85 Coupe De Ville." Figure 8 cars come in all shapes and sizes. For the most part, they look like Street Stocks used on the oval, but there are differences. "We run 50-50 weight left and right on these cars," says Davis. "They weigh 3,200 pounds. For tires, you want them all the same size. On the oval cars, the left tire would be smaller than the right." In some places, the cars have different distinctions. The cars you will see at Michigan's Flat Rock Speedway and nearby Toledo Speedway in Ohio could have wings on their rooftops. Some tracks have different divisions within the Figure 8 class that call for rule variations.

Because of the potential of impact, safety is a critical concern. Of course, the rule makers are also cautious to make sure these cars don't become battering rams on wheels either. The structural integrity of the car is closely checked, and driver protection is a key concern. "You need a lot of throttle response and proper gearing," Davis continues. "The track is shorter in Figure 8 racing, but you're doing a lot more turning. If you don't have the gears right, they'll eat you up." Many quarter-mile race tracks provide the optimum spawning grounds for a Figure 8 division. The success of the class at existing facilities hasn't led to a groundswell of growth in Figure 8 racing. Still, while the exposure may not equal the days of "Wide World of Sports," there are some major league Figure 8 races on the map. Since 1977, the Indianapolis Speedrome has been hosting an endurance event that draws competitors from Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan. The World Champion-ship Figure 8 Three-Hour Enduro rewards the driver with the most laps at the end of a time period. Drivers commonly complete 400 laps, sometimes even exceeding 500. Louisville Motor Speedway cast their lot with the World 300, offering over $40,000 in prize money. A field of 40 cars started in three-wide fashion in an inaugural race that saw packed stands.

Racing purists dismiss Figure 8 racing, but those in search of thrills don't. Potential fans introduced to the sport are often left with one question--when is the next Figure 8 race? The daring and breathtaking action at the intersection keeps them coming back for more.