Great Temecula Tractor Race competitors were given the green light by race officials to soup up their vehicles to even faster levels, thanks to safety improvements unveiled at the Temecula Speedway Saturday.

A group of about 30 racers and interested parties met at the Northwest Sports Park to check out the improvements and discuss safety following concerns voiced by racers, police and city officials last year. Record speeds of up to about 50 mph, a crash and several near-collisions prompted the changes, which included the building of a three-foot-high concrete barrier reinforced by dirt and the installation of better fencing around the track.

The changes were made by the speedway's primary user, CJ Racing, which conducts regular midget and sprint car races at the track. The improvements were engineered by the Flat Track Association of San Diego.

But having a safer track will also benefit the Great Temecula Tractor Race, which will be held for the 23rd time Oct. 1-3.

"We're real happy," said Steve Fox, general chairman of the event. "It's a safer track because it's more banked."

In addition to the other changes, dirt was taken out of the middle of the oval track and put around the edges.

Many of the drivers said they liked what they saw of the new track.

"It looks fantastic," said Ron Schmidt, 46, of Sun City. "It's going to make the racing a lot more thrilling."

Schmidt said he was happy with the changes, especially if they prevent an accident.

"We've had some problems in the past," said Schmidt, who will be competing in his ninth tractor race in October. "But it's never been near the grandstand. We had a tire come off one tractor and fly into a field. It's always been kind of a concern, but we've been lucky."

Tony Sanchez, a 27-year-old racer from San Bernardino, was another impressed onlooker.

"I'm glad they put up the K rail (concrete barrier)," said Sanchez. "The track looks good. It looks safe."

Before the new safety fencing went up, two chain link fences were all that separated the tractors from the spectators. Drivers in the pit areas were also more vulnerable.

"If one of those trucks had lost it going full bore, it would have went straight into the pits," said Sanchez. "So it's a lot safer now."

Making the track safer allows the drivers to go all out in their pursuit of having the best looking and the fastest moving vehicles they can build.

Schmidt likened all the different tractors to the machines driven in Mel Gibson's Road Warrior movies.

"What I like about it is you can use your imagination in building your tractor," he said. "You can let your creativity and whatever you have lying around in your yard dictate your tractor."

Published 8/15/1999