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

So I was just driving out to work on the car yesterday when what I thought was a cool thought popped into my head. What do you guys think about retiring the numbers of the great drivers of yesteryear? I think it would be cool if SFS did it. They wouldn't have to do banners or anything, just paint the names on a wall of fame. What do you guys think. I'm guessing the ORA would have to take the lead on it.

That sounds perfect and for the fact of duplicate numbers, a "s" or some sort of letter could be allowed on those numbers.

I think most would agree that the number "76" owned by Pat Suchy would be the very first car number to be retired. In fact, I don't think that number has been used in any division since Pat quit sponsoring or owning a race car.

The one problem would be the long-term status of State Fair Speedway, which still should be named Fairgrounds Speedway. Would do no good to retire numbers for locally if there is no track to do so.

BUT Brandon, I love what you thought of as this could make for some serious and very interesting conversation and ideas.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

Mike Johnson always ran 76.

true that

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

Earl Hall had a 76 number in the late '80s I think. He ran a wingless super on the 1/4.

But then Pat Suchy ran many numbers from what I recall. 33,13,24,76,76s. I think he ran 12$ on his cars longer than anything. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Truth is, many of the more successful racers and owners had more than one number over the course of their career.

I think the general idea here is really about honoring a signature element of the legends that have raced regularly there before.

Brandon, you have a Noble idea. I myself have thought of ways to pay tribute to our drivers of yesterday. I think a wall of fame would be more suitable than retiring car numbers.

It's just not feasible to retire car numbers. For example: you can't retire the #2 of (Cates) Harold Leep, since Steve and Whit have ran that number for years, and the #12 of Evard Humphrey has been used for several years by Don Strawn. Uncle Rickey even drove the #12s for Mr. and Mrs. Strawn. And the #11 of D.E. Suggs is most deservingly being used by the Messimers.

In my opinion there should definatly be a Wall of Fame and Bud & Mary Carson should be the first on the list. If it were up to me, I would name the grandstands the Bud Carson Memorial Stadium, and the race track Fairgrounds Speedway. After all it was Bud and Mary that built Fairgrounds Speedway when Lanny Edwards and Emitt Hahn were just race car drivers.

I could go on and on, but for those that don't really know were I came from here is a short summury.

My Aunt, Buddie Faye Ebye (Foster) was the first woman race car driver and the first women allowed in the pit area in all of racng. She set a presidence throught racing from local tracks to the Indy 500. It opened doors to Shirley Muldowney, Danica Patrick, Michelle Decker, Shalia Waddell and many others.

I guess I could say, I'm just a proud nephew.

We still don't know where you came from.lol

To expand on Brandon's idea and everyone elses. They could induct three or so a year and just not drivers. The powers that be could do this on the Future stars of racing night. That way it is kinda of a honoring the past and future of racing.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands 
in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he 
stands at times of challenge and controversy." 
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Erich Petersen 

I didn't mean to actually RETIRE numbers. I guess it was more of a wall of fame, with the names and their most famous number on it. Also, if something did happen to the race track it could be transfered somewhere else and re-started.

i'm not really anyone to say on this topic....

i agree with david smith on the long term factor with the future of the raceway. i think it would help if all tracks in the state had something to do with the ORA. not meaning everyone run same rules or whatnot - but so that drivers could be recognized STATE wide and stuff like that.

not sure bout the retiring #'s part of it. but most definitely there should be something substantial to remember and honor the legends of SFS AND OTHER STATEWIDE TRACKS AS WELL. i was really impressed when i went up to 81 speedway in wichita in 2006. they have this neat little room just LOADED with framed pics of drivers. i thought it was really cool they had done SOMETHING to honor all those racers of the last half century...

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

Like the idea of not retiring them but placing them on a wall of honor. And perhaps it would be best if the state's racing association would take the lead, but if SFS would do this, and perhaps move forward with a hall of fame at the speedway (to also honor owners, etc.) it might secure the track for historical purposes. It's hard to tear down something of historical signficance. I don't think it would have to be a fancy hall of fame to start, just a place where names and maybe pictures could appear.

"I'd pay $15 to watch a sprint car sit still."