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

Not to crash the other thread but why is Opperman so famous if he never won a WOO race? Or was he pre-WoO? What did he accomplish? 

Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!

Mostly pre-WoO.  Was the GOAT of the "Outlaw" era (non-USAC) of the late 60s to mid 70s.  Was starting to get big in USAC when he suffered a major head injury.  Came back from that but wasn't quite the same.  Suffered another head injury in the early 80s that left him unable to care for himself.

Signature here.

And yet, you still opened it. About 99% of everything posted on a message board could be made irrelevant by googling the information. Maybe he's trying to elicit more personal information than what's available from google by asking races fans. I saw Opperman race in western South Dakota in the late 70's. Did you ever see him race?

At the time of his first accident he was really on the way to good shot at Indy with Bobby Hillin. He made 2 starts prior there. Made his name on the east coast in Pa with a rivalry with Kenny Weld. Made it nationally when he beat USAC in the Human classic at the time the biggest Sprint race. Hope that helps Rod.

In the other thread someone said he thought that Opperman had run some WoO races in his own #6 car. All I can find on the internets is sort of passing reference to 1 WoO race each in1980 and 1981. Can you google and find more inf about Opperman and the WoO? Let us know what you find out.

-Thanks

Can't be much more than that the 2nd crash at Jennerstown was in 81 I believe.

Opperman and Weld were racers.  Jan, the hippie, uniform that may never saw a wash tub, the hair and sideburns, lol what a great time. Weld was the exact opposite,  but boys he could make slow car look fast.  Equipment has come such a long way since then, the racing was just as exciting then as it is now. Tonight Lincoln starts the season off hopefully, the smell of it all is one thing that will never be changed.

Say what? Go back and read your first post where you said you opened and read the post before knowing who the author was. Note: you can see who started a thread or post before you open it. Sounds like you just want to pick at somebody.

Anyway, what did you find out about Opperman and the WoO?

Jan Opp was just before my time, I always wandered if I saw him race when I was little but didn't know it. I read the book about him called 'Where Eagles Fly'. There is abnother one titled 'Dialed in'. 

I believe he had a shot at Indy but had to cut his hair first. That famous 76' Hulman Classic when he beat USAC's best is on Youtube I believe, back when ABC's Wide World of Sports covered a few sprint car races. 

Right. Maybe ole Rod wanted to exchange information with other human beings rather than look it up on Google.

The world needs need more of that, IMHO

He was a pot smoking Jesus freak hippy who won a lot!

AKA "True Outlaw"

Also, there's a book about him. Its good

You can find it on Google & probably buy it from Amazon.... I bet you can handle it 

Some of these books are tough to come by! I was trying to get Bob Troxels book "Lifes Tough on the Circuit" for a while but had no luck what so ever. Luckily I have Lone Wolf & Still Wide Open whick I am sure are probably not easy to get anymore either.

Opperman also had some good runs at the Knoxville Nationals, winning in 71 and finishing second 3 times. I was there in  1974 when he was leading and Dick Gaines passed him in turn 4 for the win.

Trosle's Lifes Tough on the Circuit is an awesome book. one of the best sprint car biograghies IMO. Check local racing museums, I think EMMR in Latimore Valley ,PA may have a copy or two. You'll be glad when you get a copy, cancel plans, make a lunch, and dig in.

Opperman was a free spirit race car driver and a good one. The few sprint races I went to in the seventies I didn't know all the drivers I remember Smoke Snellbaker, probably Paxton and Bobby Allen, Weld, Kramer W. not sure if I saw Opp. I heard some cool stories from some of my buddies in Hanover that it was like a little hippie commune when Opperman was in town, he hung out with the"Hanover Gang" and it appeared that they just lived for fun doing what they wanted as a band of racing hippies. Free Spirits.

Jan was a true outlaw.  His famee started when he was hired to drive in what he thought was going to be a new name brand chassis.  The car he got was called the Shit Box.  It was a arc welded home made type of car.  It was rough looking and Jan said they never washed it, just shoveled the dirt out of the belly pan.  He won alot of races with this car.  Jan should have never been allowed to race again after first head injury.  He did not know people he had known for years and once got in the wrong car beforew a race.  

Did you look on Amazon on EBay?

I couldn't resist springing about $70 for a book about drag racing's Chrisman brothers.... worth it too, hard cover, lotsa pictures, GREAT cars!

The EMMR has a copy of the Trosle book. Call their gift shop Friday (717) 528-8279,  they might ship it to you.

Thank you Beezr, I will check them out.. Thanks again.