Talladega Gran Prix Raceway
Encyclopedia
Talladega Gran Prix Raceway is a 1.33 mile (2.14 km) 10 turn road course
located near Munford
, Alabama
. "Little Tally," as it is also known, has no affiliation with Talladega Superspeedway
. Instead, it takes its name from the nearby Talladega National Forest
.
s. It was common for those who drove their cars to the track to find themselves unable to drive home due to shredded tires. In 2000 the track was completely repaved with a much better surface, and the middle section of the track was lengthened. These improvements brought in many more events and now most weekends are booked by a variety of car clubs, schools, and track days.
The track is run in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Generally during schools and track days the course will be run one way in the morning, and the other after a lunch or instruction break. Races may run the same way all weekend, or one way one day, the other the next. The track rewards handling
over horsepower
as its straights are very short, and the corners are reasonably long and fast. Little Tally is not a complex track, but it certainly has character, especially the first turns in either direction. Talladega Gran Prix Raceway was redesigned and repaved in 2007. The new layout is near the top of the page.
. The area is mostly pastures and farmland and the track is easy to miss for those unfamiliar with its location. Map Coordinates: 33°30′10.07"N 86°0′3.58"W
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
located near Munford
Munford, Alabama
Munford is a town in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,446...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. "Little Tally," as it is also known, has no affiliation with Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
. Instead, it takes its name from the nearby Talladega National Forest
Talladega National Forest
The Talladega National Forest is located in the U.S. state of Alabama and covers 392,567 acres at the southern edge of the Appalachian Mountains....
.
History
The track was originally built in 1985 by brothers David and Mike Upchurch, and Gerald Rhodes to provide a place for local road racing enthusiasts to race and practice. The track was also built with motorcycle racing in mind and the layout has no hard barriers anywhere that could injure a rider. For many years the track was used for car clubs events, motorcycle riding schools, and kart races, but the pavement of the track was notorious for being incredibly damaging to tireTire
A tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...
s. It was common for those who drove their cars to the track to find themselves unable to drive home due to shredded tires. In 2000 the track was completely repaved with a much better surface, and the middle section of the track was lengthened. These improvements brought in many more events and now most weekends are booked by a variety of car clubs, schools, and track days.
Layout
Car handling
Automobile handling and vehicle handling are descriptions of the way wheeled vehicles perform transverse to their direction of motion, particularly during cornering and swerving. It also includes their stability when moving at rest. Handling and braking are the major components of a vehicle's...
over horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
as its straights are very short, and the corners are reasonably long and fast. Little Tally is not a complex track, but it certainly has character, especially the first turns in either direction. Talladega Gran Prix Raceway was redesigned and repaved in 2007. The new layout is near the top of the page.
Location
The track is approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of Munford on State Route 21State Route 21 (Alabama)
State Route 21 is a state highway that extends from Piedmont in Calhoun County to the Florida state line near Atmore in Escambia County. The route runs almost the entire length of the state from the northeast to the southwest.-Route description:...
. The area is mostly pastures and farmland and the track is easy to miss for those unfamiliar with its location. Map Coordinates: 33°30′10.07"N 86°0′3.58"W