Forum: SCRAFAN.COM Forum (go)
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X2 oldtimeracer. Better than any wing race thats for sure. Plenty of passing in the heats, B and A. Larson was looking good both nights until trouble found him. Sat I'll say was his fault (got in the marbles) and Sunday he didn't have anywhere to go. Great races to watch as a spectator seeing the boys wash up in turn 2 and get yarded and then to have to fight there way back up. The fun started off early watching the socal people at the wine tasting. I only say socal folks because we northerners know how to sip. LOL. Some thought it was water or beer and they soon where on there melon. Well needless to say, we watched a couple of friendly people helped back to the camp ground possibly not to return. Over all in my mind it was a great weekend. Would like to give a shout out to Kim and Chad Hawkins for all of there efforts along with Steve Howard, Tommy Hunt family and everyone else that made this weekend possible. Thanks and see you all next year.

First off this is not a complaint about this weekend in Calistoga as we really had a great time. Maybe its because we enjoy Scott D's announcing @ the PAS so much, as he keeps the fans well informed at all times. Things like the top 5 or top 10 or on what lap and he does his homework about all of the drivers sharing this information with the crowd. I have nothing personally against Bobby Gerould who handled the PA for the USAC/CRA portion of both races. For one I was a great admirer of his father Gary Gerould when I lived in Northern California. In my opinion the best in his day. The thing that bothered me the most, and I was there both nights, was he (B. Gerould) rarely informed the fans as to who was in the top five or top ten. Even when there was plenty of time to do so (during a couple of red flags late in Sunday's main). There is nothing wrong about racing or Calistoga history. But the time for that is early on in the race program, not when I for one am trying to figure out who is in the top five. The track's scoreboard was not working all weekend so that resource was out, so you are left to depend on the PA.

Again, I think B. Gerould is very talented and I am sure that he does an excellent job for the Outlaws, but I believe that he may have missed his mark this weekend. One more thing I thought that he should have spent a little more time getting background information on the USAC/CRA drivers to help with his PA duties. He mentioned young Bloom several times, but failed to mention that he went back to Indiana for a couple of weeks earlier this summer and was very impressive. He only mentioned that Bloom was last year's Silver Dollar spec sprint car champion. Anyway I don't want to make this a rant because I do like Gerould's style... I just wished he could have kept the fans a little better informed. Especially about the close points battle in CRA. I mean after all he was only a door way away from Robert Mayson the USAC publicist. Again he missed out on the race fan's interest and centered to much of his attention on Hockett, Swindell and several Norcal drivers. Too bad. Congratulations to Mike Spencer on a great win and we had a great weekend.

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

I had a blast shooting the weekend. Hockett's crash was inevitable - he kept jumping the cushion in 3 & 4 and it was just a matter of time til he couldn't save it. Another photog (I think it was Mike Arthur) said that Larson was going to miss the wreck but got punted when another driver - possibly Matt Mitchell - didn't get the message.

It sure was good to see a CRA regular win a big race like this one!

I think the track was in better shape Saturday - it was one groove on the cushion until halfway through the sprint A Main, when it widened out dramatically and got REAL racy. Drivers were making passes high, low, and through the middle! Calistoga regulars were saying that was the best they'd ever seen the track in years. That was a fun show.

Galleries are up, see my other posts.

Photo website: http://www.chucko.com/photo/
Also see my (ad-free!) sprint car website at:
http://www.chucko.com/racing/sprint-cars.html
Updates coming soon!

Man, this six weeks between races has got alot of us just a little bit on edge.

When we get back to PAS on the 19th.

A track with a great sound system, and a guy that knows how to use it.

The only dirt track I've ever been to that has a scoreboard that works.

We can all take a deep breath and be thankfull for what we have here in SOCAL.

Thank You Donny K. and keep up the good work.

Victorville on sat. nite gets us one week closer to the 19th!

Wes

Everything about the PAS is the best there is,

Parking Lot

Facilities

Food

National Anthem Singer

Announcer

Seating

Lighting

Sound System

Scoreboard

Drivers & Teams

Management

I"ll second that thank you to Mr. Kazarian and all that run that race track, is the price a little higher yes, but its well worth it. IMO the price is to low and the teams are not paid enough. This is a first class racetrack.

Grady

. 

I too am on the thank you bandwagon can't wait to get back to the hometrack we have it really good at the P.A.S. !!

See you at V.V. Sat. Wes

I agree, I think we are a bit spoiled with Scott D's informative dialogue at the PAS. Having attended last year's race at Calistoga, I can tell you that with the scoreboard out, it is nearly impossible to keep track of everything going on with the race. That track is just too big, and too much is going on. The PAS is ideal because the back-straight sits at a higher elevation than the front-straight, so the fan can see virtually everything taking place on the track. That is not the case at Calistoga, the race fan only gets to see what's going on on the front straight there.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate and respect the history of the famed 1/2 mile, but the PAS is by far a superior facility.

Can't wait for the 19th, I'll see everyone there.

RADROBINLB

Well i guess everyone has there opinions and i don't really agree with yours..as i believe Bobby G did a great job..I was in the pits both nights so it is hard to hear everything but what i did hear was good...The idea of someone watching a race and not knowing who is in the top five on a big half mile with very few lapped cars is something i just don't get?? But again everyone is different. If you want to complain about some announcing i think you should look at the infield announcer..as he was not very good in my opinion...He was trying to do interviews during qualifying.I don't know about you but i want to hear the times during qualifying....and outside of Larson ..only interviewed so cal drivers.With boring questions.

Anyway....great event .. I will be back next year..

You're right everyone does have different opinions and I certainly respect yours concerning Bobby Gerould. As I stated I think he is a very good track announcer just didn't do his homework when it came to the CRA drivers and teams. After all it was a USAC/CRA race. As far as your comment concerning not knowing who is in the top five let me share this with you. I am a fan of Tony Jones, who on Sunday night was near the rear of the main event field. Consquently my attention earlier on was focused on Jones. I followed his efforts and occassionly checked when I could as to the leader. I know I missed Hockett's pass of Swindell for the lead. It is difficult to follow someone from the back and keep track of the front runners. That in my opinion is the track annoucer's job. I won't say he didn't give a top ten because he did, but just before the green dropped following a red.

My point again is not to bash anyone only to hope that Boby Gerould maybe could do a little better next year. Maybe the scoreboard will be working. In my opinion he could have done a little more homework while preparing for a very popular USAC/CRA two-day show. Did you hear any mention of the CRA point battle? And BTW, what race were you watching as there were several lapped cars for the last green? I guess your view from the pits was much better than mine.

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

Grady don't forget about the great fans like you at the PAS!

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

Great weekend - Great Racing.

I'm glad some of you realise how good you have it at the PAS. I see a little griping from time to time and that's understandable, but the truth is that YOU folks need to stick together and help keep the PAS and the So Cal racing traditions alive. Here in the north we are just thrilled to now have had TWO weekends of great non-wing racing in the last TWO years. We really do need to fix some stuff around the track like the score board and the PA system. This past year the Fairgrounds did get the seat area of the grandstands painted and it looks so much nicer. Now we just need to address some more areas and we are sorry that these things aren't up to par. I don't know why I am saying "WE" since I am not employed by the fairgrounds or even on the Fair Board, but I do feel somewhat responsible since myself, my family and my friends have really pushed to get YOU SoCal folks to come race up north. As a group we are trying to make sprint car racing popular and fun again.

So like I said earlier, Please don't let what you have slip away. I remember when we had over 10 races a year at Calistoga and now that I see you guys going a month between races, it bothers me. I know the economy has impacted a lot of the entertainment and sports industry, but you fans can help people like Mr. Kazarian keep racing fun and exciting at the PAS.

There are so many people that I need to thank for this past weekend, but I am just so exhausted right now, that I can't think straight.

I will say that I wish Tony would've had a better weekend because he was so positive and upbeat when we spoke to him, but I am very happy for Spencer and the #50 team.

Chad

Chad

Thank you for talking Tony and the #4 team into making the trip up to stoga.

I was in his pit at the PAS when you guys were trying to get him to come up.

I too wish Tony and the team could have done better up there but thats racing.

I could not make it up there this year this economy has me losing my job of 32 years at the end of the mounth. I'am going to try like hell to get up there next year.

Two friends of mine from the PAS were there and they had a blast.

Maybe when the CRA returns to the PAS on the 19th The Cowboy can repeat what he did on aug. 1st. Thats the Tony we all know and love!

Chad

My above comments were not meant to be negative and certainly do not reflect on you, your wife and family's efforts as well of the rest of the group that have worked so hard the last couple of years to make the Labor Day weekend a huge success for sprint car racing. My wife and I truly had a great time. Thanks to all of you for the great job that you do at the historic Calistoga half-mile. Its a beautiful race track and your group will only continue to make it better for us race fans. Thanks again!

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

Thanks to all of you for coming out and having a great time. I didn't take offence to any comments. I am the most critical because when I collect money for something or have someone donate in a certain way, I have this vision in MY mind of how it should look in the program or play out over the PA etc. So I get totally stressed out before I get to see the final draft of the program etc. This event has taught me so much respect for the promoters of our sport. Just getting tables and tents set up in a manner that actually looks organised can take hours. We are very happy that the races were a success again, but don't think for a minute that we don't know that we have some areas that we need to work out better for next year. We live and we learn and we promise that we will continue to try and improve year after year.

Thank you all for coming

Chad

We made this second trip to "STOGA" mapped out a great road trip up there to see places we have not seen! I agree the announcer could have done his homework more, we get spoiled with dialosio on the microphone. The guy who did the announcing from the pits the first night sounded like he was swallowing the microphone. All I heard was scccccchhhhhhh. scccccccchhhhhhh., then you would hear the driver he was interviewing clear. All in all I thought this year and last year have been the best races I have ever been to. Just another great trip to have alot of memories instilled in my mind. My dad, Our good friend and I. We are still talking about things that happened. Like That Kyle Larson kid. Very impressive. Or Mathew Shedarowich leading his heat and almost winning it, before he bit the cushion a little bit, he drove his A$$ off, Great Job. But still making the main event. There is alot of young talent out there. Great job to everyone out there for making this one of the best shows for the year. Now we can be prepared to have three great weeks of racing. Victorville on the 12th, Perris on the 19th, and Victorville the following weekend. For those of you that are Fiending like us for racing, Finally this month I can stop twitching!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone is a little Crazy in their own unique way...

Its the one's who Don't think they are Crazy you have
to Look Out For!!!!

Well, it wasn't vintage Calisatoga, the days of GP, the Anderson, Leroy, Brent K., the mid seventies until the darn wings around 86. Sunday the track was just awful! I said it once, I'll say it again, it looked like, I was back home in Indiana! Only one problem with that, Sunday there was no bottom. Nothing to race on! Spencer did a get slide job! What we saw was a wing show without the wings. A 360 track! My son had plans to stay home that night if they brought the kid. It was great to see the 50 car do it's thing Sunday night

Now the second winning est NARC driver ever to race there didn't show up, I think I know why! The same reason he never raced the World of Outlaw shows here in Calistoga!

Joe

Tom

Are you going to Hictorv errrrrrrrr, Victorville Auto Raceway on sat. sept. 12?

If so I would like to meet you if possible.

We will be sitting on the turn 1 side of the main grandstands at the top over by the edge where the speedway track is.

I'll have on a Tony Jones shirt and a beer in each hand, come see us.

I thought the weekend was outstanding. Exciting racing, great weather, great wine! It's my second year and I'll be back for every non-wing race you have. Personally, I thought the track was in great shape. It was a little windy Sat night and Sunday which may have contributed to a little dry slick but compared to anything east of Nevada it was perfect. Other than the scoreboard I only had one beef. Whoever the looser was who was filming the webcast high in the grandstand cost you some customers. I don't know if he was a USAC guy or what , but he cussed out and ran off several families with his rude behavior. He took up a half a row below his camera (I'm surprised the blanket police didn't't do anything to him like they did others.) and as people came up he would cuss them. He would yell at people to get out of the way or to sit down. A family came up and a mother with two little kids came up and asked him if they could sit there and he yelled, no, especially the kids. No pleases or thank yous. If he would have talked to my wife or my kids like that I'd have dotted his eye. If he was supposed to be there then rope off the area and let him have the space. If not he should have been thrown out. What a punk.

Enuff. I be there next year no matter what. Kudos to you and your staff.