by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer –
Preparations are underway for this weekend’s “Thunder on the Syrup” races.
“This is our second year of doing A Day of Thunder on the Syrup at the North Iowa Events Center,” says Terrance Prochaska, coordinator of the event. “We’ve had a very, very, very good turnout over our last three races, when we started this crazy idea of spraying Coca Cola on the ground and racing around on it.”
“Applying the syrup is more technical than what people realize; it’s making sure the floor is clean and dry, it’s the temperature of the room, and the amount of syrup that is applied. A lot of this is learned by experience,” explains Kauffman. “It goes on like water droplets and needs be spread out. The more it’s driven on, the stickier it gets and then it turns into a rubber substance. It get so sticky it starts to pull the rubber off the tires.”
The cleaning of the floor started around 5:00 pm Thursday night and by 8:00 the syrup application was started. Zack Thompson drove the Monster golf cart around the track as Kauffman sprayed the track. (see video)
The second race for this year starts today with practice 5:00 to 9:00 pm, the doors opening at noon. The doors will open tomorrow at 8:00 am, practice at 11:00 am, Heats at 12:30 pm and Features at 6:00 pm.
Admission is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for students 6-12 years of age and 5 and under are free. Pit Passes are $20 on Saturday or $35 for Friday and Saturday. Indoor pit stalls are available on a first come, first serve basis.
Advance tickets are available at the Clarion Inn of Mason City and Mason City Honda.
Watch video:
httpv://youtu.be/mjVMNjErbWg
