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In 1968 a wheel came off of Herb Copelands #8 and jumped the fence in the grandstand. This was back before the fence leaned out over the track some. I believe the story was not as good as at least two people (maybe more but these two were critiical) were hit. I believe they were both from Oklahoma and they were kids? I believe one was paralzyed? Back then it was standing room only. I wouldn't be surprised at pics if there wasn't 500 to 1,000 people down in front of the stands back then for the nationals. Herb was in shock if I remember the story right. Next year he won the nationals

Warren Vincent
Cans 4 Kansas Heroes

another wheel off, just a couple years ago, probably the 49 t/h hutch nationals, mark wallender driving a sprint from colorado lost a left front wheel coming off turn 4, no injuries to anyone, after the race asked him how long he had been driving 3 wheeler's....

My Dad was running at Lawton one night and pulled the lug nuts through one of the rear wheels. It took off! The picture in my mind is- nightime, red clay. the vast skyline with the lights of Lawton in the background, and a tire suspended in the air with the intentions of exiting the zip code.

Luckily they found it in the pond beside the track. I have no idea how. My Uncle swam out there to retrieve it, junk wheel-worn out Bucron complete with loamy silt from the pond floor. I did ask him why he even bothered, his reply was "Coz Ah needed that wheel!".

Brian,

Along in '76 or '77 if I remember right a car lost a LR tire going down the back stretch and crashed with another car, as the red flag came out the drivers brother ran up the backside of turn 3 banking and just as he crested the top of track his brother's tire and wheel mowed him down, I think it broke his legs. Maybe Jr. or Mike might remember this.

In Memory:

Amanda Dutton (1986-1993) September 5, 1993

Josh Dutton (1983-1993) September 6, 1993

Warren Vincent
Cans 4 Kansas Heroes

Back in the late 50's Ardmore had a track that was just starting. They had coupes/sedans. They probably could have been a noted supermod track in the coming years. A security guard was sitting on the back of a flatbed truck when a car came off the track and you can guess the rest. Track was finished before it's 1st season due to a lawsuit.

That spot is 2 miles from where I grew up.

I don't remember that night but I do recall quite a lot of tires coming off race cars going down the front stretch here at Lawton and going right through that barbed wire fence that seperated Lawton Speedway and Kelsey's farm. Kelsey had cattle in that field but I can' recall if any cattle were hit by those wheels. Do you guys in the City remember my buddy Cannonball who pitted for Bobby Wainscott getting hit by Todd Coker's tire one night in the City? I think it was coming out of turn four during the early 1970's. I wasn't there that night,but his mom asked me to check on him the next day. CB had a big belly and he sure had a big black and blue bruse on it.

Mike

Here's one for John from 1985. Holy Cow! I just can't believe it's been 24 years since then. Lotta water under the bridge. Hope everybody has a great new year, hope to see everybody soon. Any of you guys going to the auction tommorrow? I know Ernie's goin to look for that tail tank. I've gotta work, but if I get away early I'll be there. Enjoy.

Cool stuff!

How about those extra tall wing stands? That was the hot set up BITD. Also, that wing was made with no bracing on the left side so it could flex out and catch more air. Remember when they made the cardboard/plastic wings?

Thanks Jim.

John Stewart

Retro Racing Custom Model Cars
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Oklahoma City, OK

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John,

Remember alot about those plastic wings, when Howard the Duck started driving for the old man we started using them because they where light and we were tring to cut down on the overhead leverage wgt. They were made by a company by the name of Schriver Plastic's they worked well except at OKC on the 1/2 mile the high speed was hard on them so you had to stay on top of your maintaince.

Roger built us a couple of alum. wings but the body's were to thick and would just lug our motor down. I remember a race at Lawton when it was slick as snot we had that wing stood up probably 45 to 50 degrees hung a real low gear in it and started on the back and took the led on about 8th or 9th lap and just drove off to the win that was quite a season Ewell & Sewell won all but 5 A 's that year, that wing deal I learned from Bobby Allen as I had watched him do the same thing at Lawton during an outlaw show!!

In '85 I saw a wing mount that Ed Wright had built you could slide it up or down, frt to back or side to side, I went home and built my own version for the Gambler car man that just helped fine tune that car, we would move the wing all over for the differant track conditions, ther were a few guys that tried it a little but I was surprised no more used it. I'm surprised that more ORA guys don't use it know there's alot there to be gained, people just don't want to try that kind of stuff much anymore, David can you build me a wing with adjustable slide posts??

I actually do have a couple of ideas. We need to get together and talk sometime.

I know Jay woodside, Dale Reed, Parsons, DE Suggs all drove it that year.. My uncle Tommy also worked on the car alot. Man I sure do wish we could go back in time to those days. They sure seemed like alot more fun. Maybe I was too young to know different.

This is how we should still get to track.

This is DE in it at OKC.

Why do we not name our cars anymore?

This is when the 33 car was getting lettered at Walker's shop. If you notice the R isn't finished on the name. Who can name all the people?