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December 28, 2009 at
10:32:06 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: [email protected] on December 19 2009 at 06:45:19 PM
I have a lot of fond memories of SFS. My personel favorite was getting 2nd place in the 1997 Factory stock 50 lap enduro race held during the state fair. It was of only 2 times I got the chance to race there. I had planned on racing there last year (08) but they cut the class. I spent a lot of nights in the stands as a fan. The sprint cars were always great but my favorite was the stock cars. The Factory stocks to be specific. In the 90's when I went the most, they always had a large field of cars. That is also true of the late 80's. I remember a old black cadilac that ran well. It must of had a 125" wheel base. When he got sideways in the corner, he took up the hole track. I think he ran the 50 lap enduro that I was in and then followed it up with the demolition derby that followed. Its amazing some of the things that stick in our heads.
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i remember that cadillac when i was a kid when my dad was still racing factory stocks i believe they announced it as jody coker in the "slick black cadillac" the old man said he was harder than hell to pass cause the car was so long, if i remember right they would weigh the front axle then he would pull forward and then they would measure the rear it probably weighed 5000lbs lol good times
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December 28, 2009 at
10:54:56 PM
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while im thinking of it one that comes to mind for me was back in 2002 i wasnt racing the city that year but on friday nights i would go and help jorski and occassionally he would let me hot lap i remember i went out there and i was getting around the track pretty good (even though it was only hot laps) im going down the back straight and i have my foot all the way in it i look down and the car has roughly 5 to 6 pounds of oil pressure so i think to myself damn it shawn is gonna be mad at me so i shut the car off and get pushed back to the pits. jorski comes up to the car when im back in the pits and says "what the hell you pull off for you were gettin it". i say man i was all the way in it and it only had 5 pounds of oil pressure we probably need to put it on the trailer. he doesnt say anything turns around goes to the trailer pulls out a bottle of stp dumps it in the car starts it up, laughs and says probably the funniest thing ever "ok i fixed it we got 15 pounds now at a idle were good for the night, now tighten the lug nuts" and he proceeded to finish the night i believe but blew up the following week if i remember right
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December 30, 2009 at
03:29:30 PM
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Billy Riggle leading the A for 18 laps in Curtis Waller's shitbox. The entire grandstand was on it's feet, willing Billy to win. Alas, it wasn't to be. But it was great while it lasted.
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December 30, 2009 at
06:01:47 PM
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I also remember a few yrs. ago taking an old man & an old car & winning a Factory A feat. Never seen an old man so happy!!! It had been a few yrs. since his last win & he was wanting to kiss me, but I backed away real quick!
Great job that night Mike!!!
Flash
New website!!!!!!!!!
www.flashracecarbodies.com
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December 31, 2009 at
01:05:18 PM
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Thanks, Flash. It really did feel good. Couldn't have done it without you.
I didn't mind the kiss, but the tongue................yuk!
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December 31, 2009 at
02:48:41 PM
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That was a fun night! Glad to have been apart of that memory!
Flash
New website!!!!!!!!!
www.flashracecarbodies.com
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January 01, 2010 at
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Childhood Memories
Dad bought his first "bug" from Tom Pickard in 1968. That was when we stopped racing at all the country tracks (Norman, Chickasha, Konawa, Ada, etc) and stopped drag racing and focused on the Fairgrounds Speedway.
We always sat at the north end of the grandstands so we could look over the wall and see who was pulling into the pits. It seems like most of us from Norman sat there and rooted for each other. Do you remember when there wasn't a chainlink fence at the north wall of the grandstands? It was a real sign of maturity and growth when you were tall enough to look over without having to jump and pull yourself up.
It was honestly a thrill to look over that wall each week and find dad's car in the pits. Who was he pitted near? Then check the competition that night.
What a thrill it was to see the blue #55 pull in. It seemed antiquated since it was still a wide body, but man, you knew it was going to be fast. I always loved when Frankie Lies came to town. And Walt and Shady McWhorter. They weren't related. Not even close. One from Dallas and the other from Kansas, but most people probably didn't know it. A.J. Little's here! There's Wayne Cox! Will Jackie be here? We didn't understand how good we had it with Harold Leep, Benny Taylor, Emmett Hahn, Evard Humphrey, Bobby Reynolds, David & Ronnie Brotherton, Aaron Madden, Buddy Cagle, George Armstrong, Grady Wade, Melvin Rodgers and others every week.
It was just Friday night in Oklahoma City.
HM
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January 02, 2010 at
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This message was edited on
January 02, 2010 at
12:41:34 PM by Corey74
Reply to:
Posted By: David Smith Jr on December 21 2009 at 05:29:14 PM
Memories: There are a plenty as I can't narrow them down to just one or two. Hang on, here we go:
My parents took me to the speedway back in 1969 when I was 4 yrs. old and I remember the night that Wayne Cox and Harold Leep tangled in turns three and four and the fight with the crowd in an uproar. I remember we quickly left for some reason.
We went quite often from then to about 1977 when my parents quick taking me and bought me season tickets to the OKC 89ers instead.
I got courious, after getting my drivers license, and went to the fair races in 1982 and have been going strong ever since.
I attended every weekly show in 1983 and every event the track hosted. The USAC/NCRA champ car challenge was one of the big races I remember for not only the Indy USAC veterans and our NCRA heros but I won the contest that gave away a free tv and clock radio - which still works today. The USAC/NCRA races were a hoot and was always anxious for that weekend to come, just as I was for MAR-CARs WoO races. I would always go to all the hotels and sit next to the highways and get goose bumps when I saw the WoO trailers. Luckily I got video of all those WoO races and the 1984-1986 USAC/NCRA races.
I met alot of drivers in the 80's to which I cherish them all to this day: All the Jennings', Jack Moulton, Steve Carithers, Shane Carson, Danny Wood are the main ones to come to mind. When Bruce Jennings and Mike Peters went down to the last points night to determine the final champ dirt car points champion in history, I remember jumping up and down with Bruces' wife, Susan, and I swear I must have step on her feet each time.
The USAC/CRA non-wing sprint car challenge in the mid to late 80's was also one of the hightlights to round out that decade.
The WoO were still a highlight of mine in the 90's while I left all the weekly racing at OKC and traveled out of town to races because of my extreme dislike of Bruce Holtz. The mid 90's brought another round of anticipation with the All-Star/NCRA outlaw Thunder Through the Plains tour, which I was proud to have been asked to cover for both series, which still found me on the road. The highlight of those OKC races was the night Steve Kent started tail back in the feature in the Shelma-Shell #11k out of California. He then was the only driver to find the top side to his liking, drove the guardrail and on the last lap, caught race long leader Bobby Davis, Jr. to take the victory. He then got fired by his car owner as he was suppose to bring the rig back home right after the Knoxville Nationals but ran the Thunder Tour instead.
I remember the lovely OKC scorers arguing the All-Star officials (1998 I believe) and with the very beautiful series official Kelly Dawson sitting with me, in uniform and radio headset in hand, telling me that they would never be back to OKC again. And they never were.
This website was born in 1998 and I met several more drivers (and fans) from here in Oklahoma City and after seven years at one business, I was then a part of a local racing parts place when it very first opened. Gary Flatt, Dutch Ter Steege (both who have plenty of great stories from the past by the way), Stanley Reed, Cale Levascy, Randy Timms, Frank Dittman are just a few of the drivers I still am proud to have known from the racing ranks here. Some I consider people I can count on.
I hit the road from 1998 and still have to this day but always looked forward to "coming home" where I met alot of great drivers and fans. Yes, there are a couple I don't necessarily care for but it happens.
The crashes, it is hard to narrow it down to just one. Harold Leep flipping end over end as high as the light poles in the Spring of 1984 teared me up as Harold was my favorite driver from the outset. It was also the time Earnest Jennings broke his neck in the same melee.
I always sat in turn four and watched Gerald Smith and Mike Allison retire after busting their butts hitting that guardrail coming out of turn four. The night I think it was Carithers slamming the guardrail and landing on top of Sammy Swindell, who feuded with WoO president Ted Johnson and drove Tony Bruces' (Sr.) Challenger Chassis house car on a weekly Friday night show.
"Tiger" Tony Armstrong, my favorite driver of the 80's scared me and everybody else when he exited the track entering turn one during the Firecracker Nationals and cleared the 5/8ths mile fence and landed outside the track into the parking area.
Danny Woods stuck throttle in 1983 during time trials for the USAC/NCRA challenge race aboard J.T. Filans #08 I can still hear reving through the air to this day. Of course, who can forget the late Larry Rice stuffing Donnie Crawford entering turn one in heat race action of the 1986 USAC/NCRA race, which was a preview to come to Rich Voglers stuffing of Jon Johnson down the back stretch on the first lap. The near riot of the crowd during and after is also one I will never forget. This is the race that friend Dr. Pat Sullivan (USAC announcer) calls "the most controversial race in USAC history."
Of course it was also the scene of all of us losing a good man on opening night when a too tacky to race track cost us Ken Whitehouse.
There are more most memorable moments but those are all I can recall. I do hear people say that Amarillo's Conner Pullen crash in turn three with everything breaking and descenigrating except him and the cockpit was probably one of the more scariest crashes ever.
That is all for this short novel but all that comes to mind when I look on our Fairgrounds Speedway and the many memories this person will never forget.
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Of course, who can forget the late Larry Rice stuffing Donnie Crawford entering turn one in heat race action of the 1986 USAC/NCRA race, which was a preview to come to Rich Voglers stuffing of Jon Johnson down the back stretch on the first lap. The near riot of the crowd during and after is also one I will never forget. This is the race that friend Dr. Pat Sullivan (USAC announcer) calls "the most controversial race in USAC history."
I just read about this in Flat Out today. Does anyone have video of that night? I still race with Jon, still a hard charger to this day. I remember him talking about it when I was a kid and seeing something on ESPN (I think?) It's kind of cool to be able to race with guys that are part of a living history of the sport.
On a side note, a buddy and I drove to OKC from Goodland, KS in 94 I think for a show that got "winded" out if I remember correctly. I got to watch hot laps and about half of the time trials that day I think. They would come out from behind the grandstands and the cars would almost lay over it seemed.
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January 07, 2010 at
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All good stuff so far. Lots of memories from the stands. I wish there were more from the track. There has been at other tracks and there will be from even other tracks. Its not soo mutch just about a particular track but the freinds and memories you take with you in your memories. State fair speedway has a lot of great memories for all of us but I think we all have a lot of special memories from a lot of different tracks. I dont think any of you only seen races at State fair speedweay. I sure hope not. There are a lot of other great places to race and see races.
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January 08, 2010 at
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Reply to:
Posted By: uncle a on December 16 2009 at 12:35:31 AM
Here are just few of the memories from Fairgrounds Speedway, I have more, and did have tons more before my ex-Wife decided to use them to get the Fireplace started.......Guess she was cold.
I feel truley blessed to have known and know these great people, and many others that I did not post. Bud and Ms. Mary Carson are always at the top of my list, they always treated me as if I was one of their own. So many others at the Speedway did the same.
If I left you out please understand that I have not forgotten, or that you or your Family is not important to the History of the Track, because each and everyone of you from Fairgrounds Speedway to present is important to me.
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Wow that picture of you with Jackie Howerton!!! He was my favorite! And the model cars, that was so much fun to do! They need to bring that back. The pics brings back a lot of memories. Thanks for posting. Good meeting you the other night.
Tammy
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January 08, 2010 at
06:19:56 PM
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This message was edited on
January 08, 2010 at
06:22:02 PM by street stock 81
My dads only coil spring car he ever ran. This was back in 89-90 era at OKC. If I remember correctly it was series that ran ada, okc, witchita falls, possibly enid and a few other tracks. Leading the A feature and ran out of tear offs and finished 4th I think.
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January 11, 2010 at
11:26:54 AM
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This message was edited on
January 11, 2010 at
11:28:19 AM by brian26
1. My first memory there- mid-70's fair, some guy stops his flat track bike just as he comes off the track-to check out my mom!
2. 1984 NCRA/USAC show. The chopper with Tony and Stoney!
3. Wayne Johnson two in a row on a Sunday makeup show.
4. McSpadden outsmarting Shuman in the CRA show in '88.
5. First WoO show I went to by myself. (old enough i guess) 1986
6. The best one.
I used to come to OkC once a year in the summer for 2 weeks. I was and still am a Lawton guy. But, riding up Sheilds and going through the neighborhoods and seeing race cars on a regular basis. Luchenbach Texas on the radio, high saturday morning, and knowing they are running supers that night at Lawton. And then getting back to the house to see the race car in the driveway. WHO NEEDED CALIFORNIA WHEN YOU HAD OKC? I hope that spirit is still alive.
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January 22, 2010 at
06:31:40 PM
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My favorite memory is winning the track championship twice for demolition derby. It's hard to believe that I took the last checkered flag at SFS.
Demo derby because most sports only use one ball!
Dave Unsell 2X SFS Demo Derby track champ
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January 22, 2010 at
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Reply to:
Posted By: Corey74 on January 02 2010 at 12:39:42 PM
Of course, who can forget the late Larry Rice stuffing Donnie Crawford entering turn one in heat race action of the 1986 USAC/NCRA race, which was a preview to come to Rich Voglers stuffing of Jon Johnson down the back stretch on the first lap. The near riot of the crowd during and after is also one I will never forget. This is the race that friend Dr. Pat Sullivan (USAC announcer) calls "the most controversial race in USAC history."
I just read about this in Flat Out today. Does anyone have video of that night? I still race with Jon, still a hard charger to this day. I remember him talking about it when I was a kid and seeing something on ESPN (I think?) It's kind of cool to be able to race with guys that are part of a living history of the sport.
On a side note, a buddy and I drove to OKC from Goodland, KS in 94 I think for a show that got "winded" out if I remember correctly. I got to watch hot laps and about half of the time trials that day I think. They would come out from behind the grandstands and the cars would almost lay over it seemed.
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Yep, I have the video from both nights and he got the Crawford flip and the Johnson flip. I even added the scene where ESPN's racing show had where Shane put his head in Voglers cockpit and gave him a few choice words that he better give Shane room down there.
Once I figure how to post DVD to youtube that will probably be the first to be posted.
David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com
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January 22, 2010 at
08:38:47 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: okiecrasher on January 22 2010 at 06:31:40 PM
My favorite memory is winning the track championship twice for demolition derby. It's hard to believe that I took the last checkered flag at SFS.
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That checkard flag you took should stay in your memory for a very long time. Congratulations, even though I can't accept the fact the speedway seems to be all but done.
David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com
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January 25, 2010 at
10:53:03 PM
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This message was edited on
February 10, 2010 at
04:23:50 PM by rhilbers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si73FvvS2E4
Memories from my daughter Amy.
Randy
DIRT TRACKIN
"When it's wet slide it in"
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January 29, 2010 at
09:20:21 PM
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John Stewart
Retro Racing Custom Model Cars
405.922.6163
[email protected]
Oklahoma City, OK
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Retro-
Racing-Custom-Model-Cars/235624429834292#!/pages/Retro-
Racing-Custom-Model-Cars/23562442983429
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January 29, 2010 at
09:31:34 PM
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John Stewart
Retro Racing Custom Model Cars
405.922.6163
[email protected]
Oklahoma City, OK
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Retro-
Racing-Custom-Model-Cars/235624429834292#!/pages/Retro-
Racing-Custom-Model-Cars/23562442983429
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January 29, 2010 at
11:27:45 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: jlstew25 on January 29 2010 at 09:20:21 PM
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I got that 1990 YearBook & just looked today at it as I was digging through a box of OpenWheels & Fairgrounds Speedway programs.
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February 04, 2010 at
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I've tried twice to put my memories on here, and twice the damn thing has jacked up on me and deleted everything that I wrote. If you really wann here my memories call me, we'll have some beers and talk.
I do wanna say to everyone, good luck in your future racing endeavors. Hopefully when Angel Ridge opens up, I'll see most of the people from SFS.I-44 Speedway has asked me to be their track photographer this year so come see me out there. Maybe I'll see some of the fans out there and maybe even some of the drivers.
Chunk's Racing Images
Yukon,OK
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