If you haven't stood in line for at least an hour waiting your turn to purchase a pound of ice cream, then you haven't truly enjoyed the “Norwalk Experience”.

In its third year on the NHRA circuit, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park (SREMP) located a few miles east of Norwalk, Ohio, has quickly become a “must do” destination for the drag racing fan. This past weekend the fans turned out to see hot action on the racetrack and to enjoy the carnival atmosphere surrounding nitro alley. And, no stop would be complete without the ice cream.

But, there is more than ice cream on the menu. You can find all the traditional carnival fare, with the exception of cotton candy. There didn't seem to be a single cotton candy stand on the premises. Corn dogs, elephants ear, funnel cakes, lemonade, sodas, steak sandwiches, philly cheese steak sandwiches, “western” style barbeque chicken and ribs, and for the truly daring a roast beef sundae. All of which wouldn't be complete without dessert – a pound of ice cream.

 

If you haven't stood in line for at least an hour waiting your turn to purchase a pound of ice cream, then you haven't truly enjoyed the “Norwalk Experience”.

In its third year on the NHRA circuit, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park (SREMP) located a few miles east of Norwalk, Ohio, has quickly become a “must do” destination for the drag racing fan. This past weekend the fans turned out to see hot action on the racetrack and to enjoy the carnival atmosphere surrounding nitro alley. And, no stop would be complete without the ice cream.

But, there is more than ice cream on the menu. You can find all the traditional carnival fare, with the exception of cotton candy. There didn't seem to be a single cotton candy stand on the premises. Corn dogs, elephants ear, funnel cakes, lemonade, sodas, steak sandwiches, philly cheese steak sandwiches, “western” style barbeque chicken and ribs, and for the truly daring a roast beef sundae. All of which wouldn't be complete without dessert – a pound of ice cream.

In time SREMP will establish itself as a premier stop on the NHRA tour. From the standpoint of offerings for the palate, SREMP is already a smorgasbord of delight for the race fan.

“I think it’s very important to have a large menu,” Bill Bader Jr., General Manager of SREMP said. “You got a large cross section of race fans and we try to provide something for everyone. I think it’s important because some like tacos and others prefer burgers.”

Sondra Rafferty, of Pennsylvania, was 45 minutes away from ordering her very first pound of ice cream on her third trip to SREMP.

“Yes, I am,” said Rafferty, when ask if she was willing to wait such a long time just for ice cream. Why? “Because everybody else is and I figured I should do it.”

Standing directly behind Rafferty was Judy, one of her friends. Judy comes for “just the ice cream” because it is after all, “only a dollar”.

Closer to the goal of getting his pound of ice cream was Joe Smith, possibly an alias, travelled from West Virginia because SREMP is just a “nice racetrack”.

“You bet,” joked Smith, when asked how important it was for a fan to buy a pound of ice cream. “Look at me. I didn't get this big not eating ice cream.”

Smith is one of those who just doesn't stop with the ice cream.

“They've got some good bbq turkey legs. Turkey leg, that's the best,” he said. “That's our Friday night tradition.”

Racing for Smith is about a little bit of nitro, a lot of food and a “little bit of beer”, he said laughing.

Off in another corner of the midway, Tonya, from St Clairsvile, Ohio, was salivating over her roast beef sundae.

“It looks like a heart attack in a bowl,” she said, answering the question about why one would buy such a concoction. “So, I had to have it. I haven't tried this one yet, but it looks delicious.”

Across from Tonya, at least 50 food critics were in line waiting for a serving of the “western” bbq, which, by the way, the cook wasn't sure what made the half chicken and slabs of ribs “western.”

Back under the grandstands, Shallone, from Michigan, was happily munching on her corn dog, sans any fixings, and sipping her lemonade.

Shallone happily passed over the ice cream, the bbq and the ice cream for the corndog. “The flavor” was the reason. Shallone was actually there for the races but she just “couldn't pass up a corn dog” and some lemonade.

Truly, SREMP offered up a culinary delight for all in attendance, but without a doubt, hands down, it was the ice cream which drew the longest lines, three to four times longer than even the beer lines.

For Bader, Jr., the ice cream brings back fond memories of his youth. Memories he can share with the dollar a pound special.

“My dad was a workaholic when I grew up,” Bader said, remembering his youth. “He would come home at 11 o’clock at night with a half gallon of ice cream, the old box. He would take a knife and would cut it in half. He’d eat half and I’d eat half. We’ve always been ice cream eaters.

“We were in a management meeting (one day) and the suggestion was made to sell a pound of ice cream for a dollar. Everyone in the meeting got to select their favorite flavor. It started out innocently with a scale at the ice cream bar.

“In 2007, when we completed the expansion [of the track] and opened for a divisional event, one race team didn’t bother to comment on the track. The driver, he sees the paved pits, the scoreboards, the suites and yet (all) he wanted to know (was) when ice cream was going to be open.

“Why that has become so popular, I haven’t a clue.”

SREMP, or Norwalk, because it’s easier to say, is fast becoming a fan and racer favorite because the facility is first class and the food, well, it’s to die for.
 

 

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