Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Many moons ago, late 80's, I went to Sunset for a Nebraska Modified Sprint Association show. The support class was those cameros. There were 53 of them! THey had 5 heats, and a D,C,B, & A feature! The sprint races were good: the cameros forgetable. I think the rule was, if you spin 14 times in the night, you're done. The NMSA race the next night at Eagle got rained out. 

Puts a smile on my face knowing that others have special memories of Sunset Speedway too. I went from 1983 - 1986, when I PCS'd to Mississippi. Like others have said, masssive crowds on a Sunday night. The announcer was a local radio station DJ who would tell the funniest jokes and was very entertaining. A ton of late models and even more street stocks (who put on a great show). I remember a driver in the street stock class who drove a huge car that was purple. I think his name was Sugar Bear.

Of the 3 Kosiskis, I got to know Joe the best. You will not meet a nicer guy. Steve and Ed were tough as nails like Joe was.

I left Omaha for Biloxi MS with tears in my eyes. I loved it there.

My wife (girlfriend back then) was with me at that race. The different areas of the stands were marked with signs like "no smoking section" and "no alcohol section". One sign said " family section- self explanatory". We were perplexed. My girlfriend wanted to know if we were expected to start a family there in the stands. 

37yrs old, was watching races since I was about 4-5 on TV. Turned 12 my parents finally got cable and would watch anything race related. Sprint cars, late models, indy, nascar, anything. When I was old enough to drive I would go to all the different pavement tracks in Ohio at the time. Went to Michigan every year for the nascar race and several others. One day in 2009 I took a friend who wasn't into a racing to a race. He was from lima and the following week he called me and asked if I would like to go with him and his dad to a race at their local track. Had no idea who was going to be there,  had never seen a dirt race. Saw a world of outlaws trailer and remembered seeing it on TV. Got in the stands and moments later a green 11 quaker state car pushed onto the track with a few others to hot lap. I remembered seeing it on TV as a kid and watched it slowly go around the track and when the green hit and the cars got on the throttle I was hooked. 

Went to Eldora a couple nights later for what was the kings royal.  Had no idea how big the event was. End up going to about 20 races a year between outlaws, all stars, local stuff, hardly go to pavement races anymore. My son is racing a couple different things now which occupies my time. As a matter of fact as I am writing this I'm in the garage doing maintenance on one of his cars. 

I am 84.  Saw first race of sprint cars about 1946 at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, Ia.  Were 26,000 fans and the biggest crowd ever at Hawkeye Downs.  Had to stand in infield.  Watched midgets abut 1948 and jalopy stock cars at Ce_mar.  Hawkey downs had AAA sprint cars every 4 th July and we got to see many of the Indy 500 stars, John Parsons, Duane Carter, Troy Ruttman and many others.  AS famous as these guys were, they were budget racers.  Open trailer with a small tool box bolted to trailer.  Would have 2 worn out rear tires for spares and a front tire, A  couple of feul jugs and pulled with a automobile.Sometimes cars crew was just driver, and some had 1 crew.  Drivers today are sort of spoiled.. Went to Indy 500 7 times, but spent last 30 years at Knoxville.

Man y'all is some old dudes!   I'm 57 and have lived most of my life in Texas.   I was born in Memphis though, and saw my first race at Riverside (The Ditch) in West Memphis at 5 years of age.   I remember sitting in those stands and crying because the noise bothered my ears, even with cotton in them.   I was watching Sammy, Hooker, Chuck Amati, Bubby Jones, and Bobby Ward in those days.   Of course I was way too young to appreciate who they were or the legends they were.

My name is actually Jon.   I stole my handle from brother.   He used that name on another racing forum and I thought it sounded cool.   

Thanks Linbob!  For a while there, I thought I was the oldest "Ol Fart" to grace the pages of this forum.  You, I and others our age have been fortunite to see the evolution and progression of this sport.  In many ways, I wish it was still like it was 60-70 years ago.

A worthwhile thread! I enjoy this one.
About to turn 41.

I started going to races at just a couple years old at Huset’s Speedway. We were pretty poor in my young days but my mom made sure we got to Huset’s every Sunday where we’d sit with my grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins etc. (see Hurricanfan’s post).

I grew up in Hartford, SD, so we’d get out to the races there quite often, as well as trips to Madison, SD to Lake County Speedway and some Friday nights to Rock Rapids, IA for their shows.

In my early teens, we’d take a family trip to the Duel in the Dakotas races with the World of Outlaws in Fargo. I also remember chasing the Outlaws from Huset’s to Eagle the next night with my mom and grandpa.

At 15, I started picking up garbage at Huset’s on Mondays and doing general maintenance through the week. That opened the door to do some writing for the local program and newspapers which eventually led to me announcing my first race at Lake County at 18 years old and taking over there the next year… then Rock Rapids and as the pit reporter at Huset’s. I’ve been announcing ever since.

I also started dating the cute mini-donut stand girl at Huset's when I was 16. We've been married since 2007.

As far as username, it might be the least creative one on this board. 

The winna & still Champion!!!

I don't think I know anyone who witnessed AAA sanction races....

63, my first race was Lincoln Speedway 1962. I don't remember, mom & dad drug me along. First recollection was 1963 or 1964 at Williams Grove with my dad and grandpa. Standing on the slighlty elevated ground on turn 3 between dad and pop. I used both hands to cling onto the fence. We were right against the fence and other than that all I remember was loud and dusty but I don't recall complaining. My dad's uncle was Bob Bender a late model track champion at Selinsgrove, Williams Grove. We went to all local tracks. Lincoln (Sat), Williams Grove (Fri), Susquehanna (now BAPS), Hagerstown, Selinsgrove, Port Royal, Bedford, Reading, Grandview, Penn National, Clyde Martin, etc... All were within 45-90 minutes of home except Bedford and Hagerstown. Those about 2 hours away. When I think back of all of the legends I got to see race it's amazing how luck I have been, sprints, latemodels, modifieds, etc... Weld, Opperman, Stevie Smith SR. & Jr., May brothers, Bobby Allen, Paxton, Snellbaker, Davis Jr., Old man Blaney, Dave & Dale, Rick Eckert, Stuhler, Peck, Devilbiss brothers, Grinestaff, Zechman, Rahmer, Hodnett, Brightbill, Tobias, Schnieder, DeSantis, Hoffman, Horton, Hearn, Von Dohren, Don & Donnie Kreitz who's shop is 7 minutes down the road, etc....

57. Grew up in NW Iowa. Started going to races in 1980. Rock Rapids, Jackson and Husets. A few years in Lincoln Ne in late 80's. Last 30 years in Indianapolis so blessed with lots of racing. 

Gary Allbuagh

54

Grew up in a tiny west central PA town called Marion Center. Had our own quarter mile track. I lived for Saturday nights in the late 70s watching camaro bodied late model legends Ben Buzzard, Gary Pease, Bob Wearing, Turk Burkett and my all time favorite Red Neal. I lived directly behind the Marion Center Volunteer Fire Department, so I got to ride in on the trucks into the middle of the speedway each week and had free run of the pits as a 10 year old. Perhaps my happiest memories as a kid. Got to see sprint cars one weekend at Bedford and I was hooked. So much cooler than late models. Just faster and crazier wrecks. 

Moved to Washington state as a teen and didn't get back into racing until around 2010. A good buddy used to go to Skagit with his brother all the time. His brother died tragically young and I became his surrogate brother at the track. Since then we've made trips cross the country to Eldora and Knoxville. Really wanting to hit PA speedweek in the next couple of years. 

Currenlty I'm in second year of a two year teaching contract in China (we're 12 hours ahead of the east coast here in China). Been considering a trip to Australia to catch some races while on this side of the planet, but it's a REALLY far trip. Not sure if I can make it happen. Saturday and Sunday mornings I can be found watching Flo and DV repeatedly saying, "This is so cool". A year from now I'll be home in Bellingham, WA attending Skagit on the weekends. 

To the top. Well when I first thought about starting this thread I was really hoping it wasn't going to turn into a thread that became a name calling, bitching thread. My hats off to all, there's a few out there that I haven't seen,  again I thank you all for not turning it into one. Hooper 31, you need to get back to pa to watch the posse make those outlaws work hard for a win.

The few you haven't seen, most likely don't care to reveal their age.

I'am 75 and haven't watched a race live in about 10 years..Not being able to walk does that to you..I watch every race I can on Dirt Vision and enjoy them very much..

Bob Wearing is a legend among legends in LM racing. Mr. Invitational.

A

Bob was good, no questioning that,  one driver that always seemed to have wearing's number was clate husted. They had some epic races.

Ron Sweigart, 57 years old, live in Robesonia, PA. Been a huge fan of racing forever back to the Reading Fairgrounds where my parents took me to see Kenny Brightbill on a regular basis who was my Dad's brother's, wife's brother.� Got the name Butcher many years ago when I was a Butcher and it stuck with me forever. The 69 is because I'm a life long fan, friend and also a proud sponsor of the 69K and many other cars years ago. I bleed Kreitz Blue and I'm proud to call Donald and Linda great friends. I try not to get mixed up in the internet chatter, but sometimes I just have to let it out. Section M at Port Royal if you ever need to find me. 69K forever!�

Interesting side note.  Young fans interact on social media nowadays.  Message boards are way past their height of popularity and are ancient in internet years.  We need to recruit replacements to keep this historic board going.  

Stan Meissner

Stan, when you look around the spectator stands,  I see mostly males and I would say most are mid to late 40's in age. 

In my later teenage yrs 17 to 19 we probably had at least 20 friends male and female that would sit together every week. You just don't see that any longer. The yuppies I call them, would never think about bringing there 1000 dollar plus cell phone to a racetrack. The teens, 20 and 30 yr olds are not attending  today's racing.