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May 14, 2007 at
04:07:25 PM
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11/27/2004
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I know that there are some really hard core old school fans on here, so I thought I would share this with you guys. This article appeared in FlatOut Magazine last year. It's raw, so don't jump me on my editing! Enjoy......
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EASYRIDERS
By Gary Costa
...As I play my favorite song "Against The Wind" by Bob Seger, I envision myself traveling down the highway to another race, but in another time.
I'm travelin' to this race in a pack of Harley-Davidsons with you, and in spirit with California legends Gary Patterson and Dave Bradway Jr.
The two California legends have races named after them, and rightly so.
We are going to cruise California, and do some reminiscing, tell some stories, and have a good time. We will talk about whatever we find interesting, racing wise from our great state. All we know is that we will end our trip somewhere on the West Coast. We won't talk politics, as us dudes don't give a damn about 'em.
As a child, my dad took me to the Old San Jose Speedway located in San Jose, California. I remember at the young age of just 2 years old those old Super Modifieds and Midgets beating that asphalt.
I know most of you remember the 150 lap Johnny Key Memorial races there. Guys like Chuck Christian, Danny O' Neil, Howard Kaeding, Dick Whalen, and Johnny Brazil, just to name a few. I mean that joint would host a who's, who every Saturday night!
Oh yes, how can I forget about the Sargent vs. Pombo rivalry. Can you say "The Hatfield's & McCoys"?
The BCRA Midgets would hold some great shows there too.
I also remember Jack Epperson treating me like a king. Drivers, take note, I was only two and can still remember this.
I remember watching indoor BCRA Midgets at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Now that was fun. I couldn't breathe, but who cared!
San Jose Speedway, then turned into San Jose Fairgrounds Speedway. How could a guy not love seeing John Viel, Nick Ringo, Nick Rescino, Mike & Mark Sargent, and an up and coming kid by the name of Brent Kaeding mix it up every Saturday night. The action was just as hot in the stands too. Some of those guys would just as soon take a trip to fist city than let someone bad mouth there driver.
I was also lucky enough to visit West Capital many, many times as a youngster. Geeze, images of Wayne Sue, Johnny Anderson, and all my hero's bounding through the rough stuff, dances in my thoughts before me.
A lot of fans can relate to the great times of the past. I'm not one to live in the past, but man, if I could just figure a way to bottle up all these memories, I would be one happy dude.
How can we continue this article without mentioning "Thunder Park". It didn't last long, but I sure did enjoy watching Jimmy Boyd in the Brandy-Glaspy XX backin-it-in there. For those of you too young to know any better, us Northern California Sprint Car drivers raced without the wing for years. By the way, our buddy Jimmy from Dixon, California, won the 1st ever WoO show at Devils Bowl.
As we leave "Thunder Park", our next stop is at Dixon. Oh yeah, you guys are getting excited now! I recall an Open Competition show there. I have always loved "GP", so this night was one to remember.
Gary was leading the deal, and very determined "Tempe Tornado" was on 'em! Well, the two of them touched going into turn 4, which left an extremely upset Gary crashed out, and sittin' up against the fence. The red flys. I see GP walk to the pits, and when he came back out on the track, I swear it looked like he had a hundred guys behind 'em! The crowd was going nuts! Cooler heads finally prevailed, and after the race I went to the pits. Gary new my ugly mug from seeing me around, and put his hand on my head. I didn't wash my hair for a year!
As we saddle up, and say our goodbyes, we hit the road with Gary & Dave leading the pack. Myself and you are riding side-by-side in the back. As we head to Baylands Raceway Park in Fremont, California, myself and you, just ride in the cool wind, and reminisce good thoughts about what we have been able to witness. Although happy, we leak tears on the pavement, because all the tracks mentioned above are either torn down, or don't hold races anymore.
We pull into Baylands, and this is a joint where Dave feels at home. Dave could take on anyone at anytime at this joint. It's not a cocky statement, it's just fact. This writer has seen some ferocious battles, with the likes of Ron Horton, Tim Green, Jimmy Sills, Ed Organ, and many, many more. I was the third person in this place, and I miss it dearly.
It's on to the Southern part of the State. We head into Los Angeles. Gardena to be exact. Here we have made several trips. Watching the CRA guys get busy. Turkey Night was a always attend show there. Talk about some heavy hitters.
Brad Noffsinger, Dean Thompson, Ron Rea, John Redican, Buster Venard, and all those guys down there, I absolutely cherish all of them.
As we sit under the "Ascot" sign, under a fiery sky, we talk about some of the great memories that have helped shape California racing. As we say our goodbyes, myself and you watch the two legends ride off in the sunset, we can't help but think just how great our sport is. And we both agree how important "GP" and "JR" are to us.
Seger's "Night Moves" gently plays from the Heavens above. Ride on guys, you may be gone, but you will never forgotten....
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May 14, 2007 at
06:25:23 PM
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Joined:
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05/13/2007
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3
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Reply to:
Posted By: Gary Costa on May 14 2007 at 04:07:25 PM
I know that there are some really hard core old school fans on here, so I thought I would share this with you guys. This article appeared in FlatOut Magazine last year. It's raw, so don't jump me on my editing! Enjoy......
-----------------------------------------------------
EASYRIDERS
By Gary Costa
...As I play my favorite song "Against The Wind" by Bob Seger, I envision myself traveling down the highway to another race, but in another time.
I'm travelin' to this race in a pack of Harley-Davidsons with you, and in spirit with California legends Gary Patterson and Dave Bradway Jr.
The two California legends have races named after them, and rightly so.
We are going to cruise California, and do some reminiscing, tell some stories, and have a good time. We will talk about whatever we find interesting, racing wise from our great state. All we know is that we will end our trip somewhere on the West Coast. We won't talk politics, as us dudes don't give a damn about 'em.
As a child, my dad took me to the Old San Jose Speedway located in San Jose, California. I remember at the young age of just 2 years old those old Super Modifieds and Midgets beating that asphalt.
I know most of you remember the 150 lap Johnny Key Memorial races there. Guys like Chuck Christian, Danny O' Neil, Howard Kaeding, Dick Whalen, and Johnny Brazil, just to name a few. I mean that joint would host a who's, who every Saturday night!
Oh yes, how can I forget about the Sargent vs. Pombo rivalry. Can you say "The Hatfield's & McCoys"?
The BCRA Midgets would hold some great shows there too.
I also remember Jack Epperson treating me like a king. Drivers, take note, I was only two and can still remember this.
I remember watching indoor BCRA Midgets at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Now that was fun. I couldn't breathe, but who cared!
San Jose Speedway, then turned into San Jose Fairgrounds Speedway. How could a guy not love seeing John Viel, Nick Ringo, Nick Rescino, Mike & Mark Sargent, and an up and coming kid by the name of Brent Kaeding mix it up every Saturday night. The action was just as hot in the stands too. Some of those guys would just as soon take a trip to fist city than let someone bad mouth there driver.
I was also lucky enough to visit West Capital many, many times as a youngster. Geeze, images of Wayne Sue, Johnny Anderson, and all my hero's bounding through the rough stuff, dances in my thoughts before me.
A lot of fans can relate to the great times of the past. I'm not one to live in the past, but man, if I could just figure a way to bottle up all these memories, I would be one happy dude.
How can we continue this article without mentioning "Thunder Park". It didn't last long, but I sure did enjoy watching Jimmy Boyd in the Brandy-Glaspy XX backin-it-in there. For those of you too young to know any better, us Northern California Sprint Car drivers raced without the wing for years. By the way, our buddy Jimmy from Dixon, California, won the 1st ever WoO show at Devils Bowl.
As we leave "Thunder Park", our next stop is at Dixon. Oh yeah, you guys are getting excited now! I recall an Open Competition show there. I have always loved "GP", so this night was one to remember.
Gary was leading the deal, and very determined "Tempe Tornado" was on 'em! Well, the two of them touched going into turn 4, which left an extremely upset Gary crashed out, and sittin' up against the fence. The red flys. I see GP walk to the pits, and when he came back out on the track, I swear it looked like he had a hundred guys behind 'em! The crowd was going nuts! Cooler heads finally prevailed, and after the race I went to the pits. Gary new my ugly mug from seeing me around, and put his hand on my head. I didn't wash my hair for a year!
As we saddle up, and say our goodbyes, we hit the road with Gary & Dave leading the pack. Myself and you are riding side-by-side in the back. As we head to Baylands Raceway Park in Fremont, California, myself and you, just ride in the cool wind, and reminisce good thoughts about what we have been able to witness. Although happy, we leak tears on the pavement, because all the tracks mentioned above are either torn down, or don't hold races anymore.
We pull into Baylands, and this is a joint where Dave feels at home. Dave could take on anyone at anytime at this joint. It's not a cocky statement, it's just fact. This writer has seen some ferocious battles, with the likes of Ron Horton, Tim Green, Jimmy Sills, Ed Organ, and many, many more. I was the third person in this place, and I miss it dearly.
It's on to the Southern part of the State. We head into Los Angeles. Gardena to be exact. Here we have made several trips. Watching the CRA guys get busy. Turkey Night was a always attend show there. Talk about some heavy hitters.
Brad Noffsinger, Dean Thompson, Ron Rea, John Redican, Buster Venard, and all those guys down there, I absolutely cherish all of them.
As we sit under the "Ascot" sign, under a fiery sky, we talk about some of the great memories that have helped shape California racing. As we say our goodbyes, myself and you watch the two legends ride off in the sunset, we can't help but think just how great our sport is. And we both agree how important "GP" and "JR" are to us.
Seger's "Night Moves" gently plays from the Heavens above. Ride on guys, you may be gone, but you will never forgotten....
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We will really date you if you ever went racin at Atascadero speedway, Pombo, Sargent, Billy V, all big names in the modified days.
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May 15, 2007 at
08:17:43 AM
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Joined:
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11/27/2004
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Posts:
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589
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This message was edited on
May 15, 2007 at
08:34:07 AM by Gary Costa
Checkerguy-
No, I've never been there, I wish I had the opportunity to see that track. I embrace the history of our great sport, thanks for your response!
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May 16, 2007 at
01:04:19 AM
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05/16/2007
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388
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very cool
thanks Gary
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May 17, 2007 at
06:57:59 AM
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Joined:
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11/27/2004
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589
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Hey my friend, the pleasure is all mine! Also a HUGE thank you for all that you do for our great sport Writing is just my little way of giving back to the best sport in the world.
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May 17, 2007 at
12:18:47 PM
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Joined:
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01/20/2005
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Posts:
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1483
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Chuck Gurney 11n
Bubby Jones, Leroy Vanconnet, Mike Sweeny- all pictures at Baylands
Jimmy Sills-Bailey Bros 01
Stan Fox Kevin Olson?
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May 17, 2007 at
12:20:39 PM
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Joined:
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01/20/2005
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Posts:
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1483
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Baylands USAC Midget Race Stan Fox, Ronnie Day in the Background
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May 17, 2007 at
01:09:00 PM
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Joined:
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11/27/2004
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Posts:
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589
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Oh man! Those are priceless! Can you send me the one of "Buckwheat"?
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May 17, 2007 at
01:11:00 PM
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Joined:
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01/20/2005
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Posts:
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1483
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will do
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