Forum: Racing From The Past (go)
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My brother lives in Omaha and called me today and said how much he missed hunting. I agreed, but I added, I really miss super modifieds. I moved away to Texas in 1980, and sometimes, especially during pheasant season, and Hutch Nationals and Belleville Nationals time I REALLY miss living in Kansas. I happened to be in Hutch this year during the Nationals and was so excited to go again. I haven't been since 1979 (some of my photos from that year are on Warren's site). But it wasn't the same. No super modifieds...No Frank Lies, no Emmett Hahn, no Harold Leep, no Dale Reed, no Selekne's or Riner's or John Johnson, or anyone else I used to love watch in the day. If I want to see dirt I have to go to Houston Raceway Park, about 2 hours away, not the 45 minutes from Hoisington I used to drive. Anyhoo, I know this is off the usual topics, but I just felt like sharing how much I miss something that used to mean a whole lot to me. Thanks for listening.

mike e

Hi Mike; I belong to the K.A.R. ( Kansas Antique Racers ) everywhere we take the old cars to events, people come up and tell us if they still raced this cars they would come back to the races. As soon as our 08 dates are out they will be posted here. Hope to see you this summer. Dwane

Mike

Know what you mean, and I still live in Kansas. Never missed a race at the High Banks from the early 50's to the mid 70's, when the midgets kind of took over. Had relatives that lived there, and we made the Memorial day races as well as the fair races in the fall. Got to see the best the midwest had to offer, as they came from all directions. I am also a member of KAR and one of our members from Dodge City just moved to Texas. I think it was to the DFW area. His name is Max Estes, an attorney, and he has several of the nicest modifieds you will see. Check out the restored section for the Jim Harkness car he rebuilt. Don't know if there are many restored modifieds down south, but am sure Max will be trying to get guys to get them out of the weeds and back on the track. Besides the KAR schedule, I imagine there will be another big show at 81 in Wichita this fall, as well as a show about the same time in Wichita Falls, I think.

Take care

The Wichita Falls/Lawton area is busy with cars being built as well. There is a movement on.

I can't believe you miss the winters too. You live to close to The San Antonio ( if I remember right) area where the temp, well you know!!

Warren

Warren Vincent
Cans 4 Kansas Heroes

Years ago I actually belonged to KAR. Didn't have one, but figured I'd help the cause a little. Saw a couple of events at 81 Speedway and I still have pictures somewhere. Like Warren said, I live between San Antonio and Houston, so if there is activity around DFW or Wichita Falls, we're talking about an eight hour drive. So I might as well go on to Kansas. My sister lives in Hutch and my Mom moved back to Great Bend when my step dad died several years ago. That's how I ended up going to the Nationals last summer. Since most of you guys have been to the fairgrounds track at Hutch...do you think even if there was Noah's flood the place would dry out and be slick as glass? I'd think with all the work and money fed into that place there'd be a better surface. Warren is right, the weather down here is a lot milder. I left for school (I'm a teacher) and it was 70 degrees this morning. By the way, I taught with a guy who had exactly the same experiences all of us did in Mississippi. They have a website called misschicken.com. It's very similar to Warren's site, and is worth a look. Miss Chicken is a famous jalopy/modified that has recently been restored, I believe by the original owner and his son. Joel actually made a street legal super modified, a narrowed Vicky body and all. He's a big GMC fan and has one on the stand in his shop. Pretty cool.

mike

Mike e-
Greetings from Springfield, Mo. and happy new year! You are right about the good old days being gone. I grew up in Wichita and I can remember the good ole jalopy days as well as my favorite era, the supermofieds. The next best thing is the Sprint Cars! I now get to 6-7 shows a year as I have to travel to get there. Springfield, Mo. is late model country in this area. Terry Phillips is my next door neighbour. The old Ozark Empire Fairgrounds is still here close by but they don't operate the race track anymore. They just have Tractor pulls, monster trucks, and concerts. Springfield Raceway out near the Airport will run several Sprint Car shows this 2008 season. Lucas Oil is a great Facility up in Wheatland and they will have several Sprint car shows. It is really too bad that Bolivar Speedway is up for sale. It has got to be one of the fastest 3/8 mile tracks I've seen. The Sprint Cars really fly on that track. If anyone has 350,000 dollars their not doing anything with, you can own it! Ha! I wish someone would do an update on the remaining Super drivers from the 60-80's era. It would be nice to see updated pictures and what they are up to now. I e-mailed one of my hero's last year- Herb Copeland. He says he doesn't go to the races anymore and the only thing he races these days is a golf cart! He's down there in Bella Vista, Ark. along with Grady Wade. I think it would be a neat idea to have a big Supermodifed Driver Reunion in Hutchinson, Ks. in the summertime. I realize a lot of money would need to be invested to get that kind of thing off the ground and running. But, at least, thanks to Warren,we have this outstanding web site at Racing From the Past and I do appreciate it very much.!

Jetstardude-Russel

Actually, they did have a reunion of sorts this year at the 50th anniversary of the nationals. They had as many past winners as they could find, or could show up, or if they'd passed on, their spouse, and introduced them all before the show on Saturday night. So many of those guys aren't with us any more. It was sort of strange when they introduced Romey Lies, as I sort of knew her way back when, (Frank had good taste!) and she's gotten older like the rest of us. I gave her a standing ovation. One of these days when someone begs me to, I'll tell the story of when they came to my house in Hoisington with my cousin to pheasant hunt, and it started snowing so hard they turned around and went right back to Wichita.

Springfield is a nice town. My ex's niece lives there. I like Joplin too. I think that track has also closed down. I did see a WoO show there a few years ago. So many tracks are gone or for sale.

m