Forum: Oklahomatidbits.com General Forum (go)
Moderators:  /  David Smith Jr

Well I'm off on a quest.

I leaving for the Michigan International Speedway to watch my son compete with OU's FSAE racing team. FSAE is a 1/2 scale formula car powered by 600cc motorcycle engine raced against other university teams from around the world. The events are largely SCCA Autocross style and the whole program is sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers.

http://www.sae.ou.edu/index.htm

That is only the beginning of the quest. I have always wanted to go to Indy and spend the week prior to the race chasin' racin' all over the region and that's just what we aim to do. First stop is Friday night at Hartford, MI to watch stockers on dirt, then Butler Battlegrounds for 410s. The priority for races to watch is Famous Races (i.e. Hoosier 100), then dirt races, then sprints. If none of those criteria can be met, then any kind of racin' will do. We are fully scheduled every night starting Friday May 16th thru the 500 with the exception of Monday and Tuesday (one of which will be filled with a trip to Stephan Johansson's karting center) and a family wedding on Saturday before the 500 (I've seen the Night Before the 500 before, but I wanted to see the Little 500, but family comes first.)

As we get internet connection, I'll update the trip with photos.

On the road ....

Wow sounds like a lot of fun and a great trip ! keep us up dated on your journey !

No, you can never see too many races! The more the better

GOD, Family, Dirt Track Racing,  OU Football, and the 
Dallas Cowboys is what we live for:)

I asked Chris Economaki that question one time and he said "WHAT? HUH? I CAN'T HEAR YOU! SPEAK UP!"

I went to the indy fairgrounds for the hoosier 100 about 15 years ago. It was so cool, your making me so jealous. There is so much racing going on there around the 500 that's it's like racing christmas. Have a great time.

Ted

Ted Sanderson

ttt

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

Okay, so we are finally connected!

First off, OU's race team did a great job at competition. I'm going to be posting more information about the FSAE competition because we need to help these kids out.

Friday night was a choice between staying with the plan and driving from Michigan International across the state to Hartford Speedway's 1/2 mile dirt OR drive even further to see sprints at Gas City. I really wanted to see Gas City, but got a late start from MIS so I drove the 90 miles thru threatening skies to see the UMP Mods and SUPR Late Models. I didn't expect much from the track, but it was a great setup! Full half mile down in a bowl with a tall berm for a grandstand reminiscent of the old Faxon track. The grub was decent, but I had higher hopes for Jay's Hilltop Grill. Unfortunately, when you get there late, they sell out of pork chop sandwiches and grilled sausage w/ peppers & onions. The racing was very entertaining, with that hometown feel of Ada or Ardmore.

Saturday was the Butler Battleground! 410s, late models and 2 classes of stockers. Rain was again a threat, but we made it through the program. Butler is an old speed factory with dirty old wooden bleachers and a fast track that reminded me of Devils Bowl before they cut down the trees on the back stretch. You can run a car off the backside of turn three and eventually emerge off the top of turn 4 just like the old days at Norman Speedway. The coolest thing was the treehouse the kids had built overlooking the back straight. It looked like Swiss Family Robinson back there and by feature time, it was full. Kinda like sitting on top of the building at a Cubs game. I thought the Polish dog with kraut was superb, but my boy enjoyed the grilled cheeseburger. Neither of us was a big fan of the chili cheese fries.

Tonight as we sit in our Kokomo Motel 6, this was to be redemption for skipping Gas City. Wingless 410 action on Kokomo's clay! But, instead, we were victims of all the rain this area received earlier in the week. They called the races because of a muddy infield! Come on man! I didn't come all this way to watch them race thru the infield anyway. The track was bone dry. The track operator was getting in some painting and re-wiring when we talked to him and he said they pumped out the infield and it was a quagmire. Reminded me of Black Widow/River City when the infield would fill up like a lake.

Anyway, greatly disappointed with the rainout, but if that's the only one we have, I'll consider us fortunate. No more races until Wednesday at Anderson. Well be cruisin' gasoline alley in the meantime. Maybe we'll try to look up Jackie's fabrication shop. I found it 8 years ago, but don't remember where it is.

More later ....

Good stuff.

I'm jealous.

Finally another motel with connectivity!

Anderson was AWESOME! I wish we could stay for the Little 500, but that will have to wait for another year. Levi Jones took himself out of a win and the points lead, then, with fresh tires after the incident that wrecked Brady Bacon (who came back from red flag repairs), Jones, down 30 laps or something to the field starts getting racy with the lead lap cars. Whatever dude! You weren't out there to race with the leaders, you're just out there to make laps and get points. Fortunately he didn't take anyone else out.

Anderson is a great setup. The track is right in town. No one is gripping about noise or wants the land for development. They community actually SUPPORTS racing! The local radio station simulcasts the race broadcast. It is refreshing to see an environment where we as racers and fans aren't outcasts. Oh yeah, the cheeseburgers were great, but the local frozen yogurt company, Ritter's, stole the show for us. Mmmm, frozen yogurt.

We spent Monday and Tuesday cruising around Speedway. We did stop in at Howerton's and found out that Jackie retired some years ago. The receptionist said he doesn't come around that much anymore and was spending his time building a 32 Ford roadster street rod. It was still a trip to Mecca for a kid that used to hang on the front straightaway fence after a Howerton feature win in Zink's car. I'm quite certain the receptionist thought I was insane. She hadn't seen him for a couple of days.

Gasoline Alley isn't what it used to be I'm sure, but seeing Hemelgarn, Sniden, Howerton and Competition Welding all within a block of each other is still pretty cool.

Apparently our picture files are too huge to download and post. Were going to work on that while we sit here and rest our heels in the Coverdale Motel 6. We'll leave here in an hour or so to go to the Vigo County Fairgrounds and the Terre Haute Action Track for more USAC sprint action on dirt. Tomorrow will be our busiest day. Indy Light race, Carb Day and then the HOOSIER HUNDRED.

More later... HM

Just back from the Hulman Classic at Terre Haute. Quite a night. The two Oklahoma boys didn't fare so well. Dustin Morgan, who has won at the Action Track, was running well in the heat, but something broke on the car and he made solid contact with the turn 3 wall. He wasn't hurt, but the car was and they were done for the night. Brady Bacon was in the same heat and he was able to qualify for the Main, but his time wasn't great so he started toward the back and finished toward the back.

Jerry Coons Jr. was going to make all us rim-riders proud as he took the lead from bottom dweller Levi Jones, but a cut tire put him out of the money and turned the lead back over to Jones who held off challenges from Daren Clayton and Brad Kuhn to hold on for a win. Jesse Hockett the Warsaw Rocket looked to be fast enough to challenge for the lead but went out with mechanical woes mid-race.

If you ever get a chance to see a race at Terre Haute, you should take advantage of it! The big half mile and covered grandstands reminded me of Muskogee. You are closer to the track than at OKC and there isn't anything in the infield. In fact, fans can buy admission to sit in the infield and watch. The teams all unload and set up pit stalls on the front straight in full view of the grandstand.

The ribeye sandwich was good and the fried pickles were tasty (even though they store bought and not hand battered.) Still looking for that "to die for" track cuisine.

Off to bed. Friday is Carb Day (even though they haven't run carburetors for decades), Indy Lites and tomorrow evening, SILVER CROWN!!!!!

Can't wait.

You're killing me....

Wish I was there.

Cool Stories... Thanks from all us working race fan dreamers....

Wow, what a finish to a 10 day journey!

We went to Carb day and got rained out. No practice, no Indy Lites, no pit stop competition, but we did get to see (under cover of several tents) a large collection of old Indy cars that are restored for exhibition competition. Odd to see a car from the 50's with disc brakes, but that is obviously one of the requirements for exhibition driving. Lots of Offys. Good educational opportunity for the Little Monkey.

The rain also go the Silver Crown event at the Fairgrounds. They called the event awfully early in my opinion, but nonetheless, no Hoosier 100 for the second year in a row. There was a racing memoribilia show going on at the Fairgrounds at the same time. Got to meet Gary Bettenhausen and Mel Kenyon. Wow.

Feeling disappointed that the entire day had been awash, we made a desperate call to I69 to see if the rain had ventured that far north. JACKPOT! They were on schedule to push off at 7:30 so we hightailed it to Gas City and saw the best racing of the trip. Forget any other track to go see, if you love tacky tracks were they are slingin clay on every lap from hot laps to the A, you've got to go to Gas City I69 Speedway. Billy Puterbaugh Jr. won Chad Boat hanging in for 3rd. Local driver named Ott (hey Paul, you got family in Indiana?) slipped in from 4th to take 2nd away from Boat. Great racing and good BBQ sandwiches.

Finally, Sunday and the granddaddy of them all. The 500. Beautiful weather and great competition. I don't know what Sarah Fisher had to do to get a break. My only expectation for her was to finish and be running at the end. Just wasn't meant to be. People keep clamoring about more American drivers and more sprint car drivers going to Indy. People, Sarah IS American and she IS a sprint car driver. Oh well, Wanica will continue to get all the press even though she has done less with superior equipment.

I would have like to see Carpenter or Meira win to break the Ganassi/AGR/Penske stranglehold on the 500, but it wasn't going to happen. Dixon was just playing with the field when he let Kanaan, Marco and Vitor pass. Great, great race.

Now the major let down, I've got to get back home to be at work by 6:00 AM Tuesday.

The verdict to my question, NO, you cannot see too many races. Second, my pursuit of the best track food: the pork chop sandwich at Indy was the best.

Saving up for Belleville and Knoxville.

HM

Thanks for the stories... Man what a trip. I can only HOPE to ever get to do anything like that......

Sarah's a class act, I felt sorry for her. Have a new respect for Danica, she was ready to kick Briscoe's butt. Thought her march down pit road was cool and loved Cheever's comments about it. I really admire Roger Penske and his drivers. Class all the way. But Vitor Meira is a guy I've rooted for since he came onto the scene. The guy can hustle a race car.

Glad you had a good time on your trip.

although I agree she kinda got screwed today............

who freakin cares - she is a joke. I agree that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is overhyped and overrated - but Patrick is wayyy more overrated. Patrick cant hardly do crap unless they gamble and it pays off like in Japan. the indy race that got her on the scene was the biggest BS I ever saw in indy cars.... she caused the caution - and the caution screwed everyone else on their fuel stop - but benefitted her. even that I say o well too. but she's a lil bitch she is. never heard her take accountability for anything - and I mean anything. its always someone elses fault.

And I'm biased as hell - if Sarah Fisher would have had the same exact oppurtunity at an earlier age - we would be laughing and saying Danica who? granted Patrick is pretty. well her body is a 9 - but I think her face is only bout a 6.

I'm just saying I would harp abotu her being overrated well before I would Dale Jr. minus what happened at Daytona with his father - I mean you take the whole massive popularity out of the equation................he's a pretty decent driver - int he top half I'd say (not sure that means much with nascar being much more car than driver). Take his last name away and he wouldn't be the most popular driver - but he would be pretty popular. he's not a dick or an idiot. But even with all the popularity - I think he's handled better than anyone else who would ever be in that situation. But enough about that................I actually watched a nascar race today. Porter called and said I would be lathered up after hearing how many cars were in Ardmore............but instead I was bummed I wasn't there. o well. it was cool seeing the dirt track reps - Kahne, Stewart, and especially Blaney have good runs. I mean there were 3 lead changes in the last 8 laps - and it was between those 3. I would have rather seen Blaney win. and then Stewart - but o well Kahne took it. The problems his sprinters had at Lowe's with Saldana grenading a right rear and Jason Johnson being run over by Steve Kinser were offset by a few thousand miles from winnin a cool million and then the 600. thats cool. for some reason I like Kahne more now that he gave Jason Johnson a prime ride. usually the good rides get traded around and stuff between guys who have run WoO before. So I think it was cool that Kahne opened that baby up for a 360 driver. it will suck not seeing Johnson around here runnin ascs - but its great for him - and he deserves it. come to think there are a lot of 360 drivers who deserve such an opportunity. maybe someday.

at least this rant was mostly positive.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

Yeah 12 I didnt know what happened to Jason Johnson Fri nite I was workin & didint get to see how he finished. Hope this turns out to be a fulltime ride for him. Any ways back to the original theme of this thread... It would be coooooooooool to go on a Field Of Dreams/road trip type of sprint car racing vacation some year. I guess the closest thing I got tio that was back in 91 when I followed CRA a little bit on the South west shwinnnnng and went to Knoxville the same year. Same year I was a newlywed......Is there something wrong with going to the Knoxville Nationals on your Honey moon ?? Please if any female race fans read this tell me what I did wrong there.......Pork Fritter sandwiches at the Raceway and sleeping @the Hy-Vee parking lot......AHHHH The memories of lost youth !!!!