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

I Saw this posting on YouTube of a Winged Super Modified Race at Oswego Speedway in NY from this past weekend and was told the Black Car running infront of the Go-Pro (3rd or so place) was Ryan Conium. Is that the same Conium who used to race sprint cars?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMfHj31v6FE

last season Ryan (same guy who drove sprints) was driving a black super at the ISMA race on Labor Day weekend at Oswego...we met him in the pits as we were checking out the cars.

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

It is indeed the same Ryan Coniam. His father Warren Coniam was a VERY successful supermodified driver--20 career wins at Oswego (tied for 15th all time), and the 1978 and 1980 speedway champion.  I remember being surprised to find Ryan racing a sprint car on dirt.  

Jonnny - You are a speedway historian ! 

I grew up in London, Ontario and Warren Coniam was one of the top runners in the Super Modifieds at Delaware Speedway back when I was young.  Warren won "The Classic" at Oswego (probably the most prestigious Supermodified race in the US) in 1977 and 1987. He was inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1996. 

I believe that Ryan works for Barney Visser at Visser Precision in Denver, Colorado.  Mr. Visser also owns Furniture Row Racing - the most unique team in NASCAR. Martin Truex won the Pocono race just over a week ago for that team.  Their crew chief is Cole Pearn who also grew up in Ontario and raced at Delaware. 

Hey JD, I also grew up and am now back residing in London and grew up at Delaware Raceway.  Heck, my earliest memories as a human were running up and down the grass knoll in turn one.  Warren was not only a good racer who didn't often come down our way but was known as a true gentleman as well, popular with fans and competitiors.....

These are the type of threads I thoroughly enjoy reading on this booard. No trash, just a little Q & A with some history behind it. Thanks for posting.

Hey MSPN

I really enjoyed the supermodifieds at Delaware and Nilestown back in the day.  However, when the late models took over I was never as interested. Good to see that the supers do still come back to Delaware occasionally for special shows.

My life took a little different turn about seven years ago and now I spend quite a lot of my time in Sydney, Australia.  My home is only about 6 km from Sydney Speedway (aka Parramatta City Raceway & Valvoline Raceway).  I never miss a sprint car event at Sydney Speedway when I am here.  Our track has undergone many positive changes over the past year and the facilities and racing are really first rate.

If sprint car fans are considering a vacation in Australia I would encourage them to come in late December through February (summer here) when there are many events on the schedule and many US drivers running down here.

To paydirt 28:

Glad that you appreciate the postings. It really bothers me when I read negative posts on here - especailly when it concerns drivers, crew members or owners who have dedicated their lives and their resources to participating in the sport that we enjoy so much.  

JD, I spent two whole winters in Australia back in '95 and '96 and was based out of PCR, I even had a booth selling my photos there thanks to David Lander.  I also toured a lot of the country following the WSS tour and made it to the West Coast both years, loved the place.  I was based out of Londonderry and stayed with Patti and Don Fortune two of the finest humans I've ever known, they ran the Pit Stop Shack at PCR, likely the best souvenir booth I've ever seen at a racetrack.  Amazing how much we have in common, small world....