Drivers with Jim Burns and Bill Spencer Bobby Allen, Bobby Davis Jr, Boyd Schauer, Brad Doty, Brent Kaeding, Ceicil Walker, Chuck Miller, Danny Smith, Darrell Hannastead, Dave Blaney, Dave Bradway Jr, Dave Rule, Dean Nelson, Donnie Evans, Doug Wolfgang, Gary Hylton, Gary Lynch, Greg Wooley, Jac Haudenschild, Jay Follmen, Jay Smith, Jimmy Sills, Joe Donahoe, Keith Noffsger,Kenny Jacobs, Larry Silva, Lee James, Leland McSpadden, Mark Kinser, Mark Sargent, Marvin Mitchell, Mike McCreary, Randy Turner, Rich Voss, Rick Downey, Rick Haugh, Rick Hirst, Ricky Hood, Ron Shuman, Shane Carson, Steve Kinser, Steve Seigal, Ted Harrison, Texas Joe McCarthy, Tim Gee, Tim Green, TJ Winningham, Tommy Estes Jr, Wheeler Gresham
Thank you for that!!! that was my first WoO race, and no it was not Keith Noffioger it is Keith Nafzger, not relatied to Brad. Those vidios brought back alot of memories. Do you have a complete tape of that night? Please let me know. Thank you again.
Interesting. I guess that is what I get for moving out of CA. Did the local show ever run on the half, or was that prepared just for the WoO? I did get back to San Jose a few times in the 90's and those shows were local and/or NARC/Golden State Challenge and on the 1/3 mile.
I remember flying up to San Jose for an World of Outlaws race and was sitting in the stands and they
called the race. Fortunately the next night they raced at Baylands and we got rained out. They ran on Sunday but I had other plans. Finally got the results from Ron Shuman on the flight home to Phx.
They ran the half mile in the fall of '86 and spring / fall of '87. It was BAD ASS and wicked fast. The first time they ran it was a fall NARC / late model show that even though it ran against the season finale at Baylands still drew over 50 sprinters. I'm pretty sure Haud won in the DSR 1st. The race was called early due to a wicked backstretch crash by either Bobby Buehler or Anthony Simone (can't remember which) but it was getting late and there was significant damage to the sound wall. The late models were awesome on that track. They did run the weekly series there a few times and I remember one night Rick Downey passed Mike Sargent on the last corner of the last lap one night to steal the win. They ran BCRA midgets, street stocks, late models, and sprints on a night that went on forever as they decided to qualify EVERYBODY. As you can probably imagine they had a buttload of street stocks show up as it was probably their first if not only chance to run a track that size. In the end it probably cost too much to re-configure the race track two times a year for 6 or so shows to keep doing it but I have always been thankful they tried it and is one of my fondest memories of SJS.
The SJ supers ran 2 shows there in Fall of 87. Does anyone have the results or videos of those 2 races? I remember seeing the video playing at the car show they use to have in Santa Clara near Great America, so I know its out there somewhere. The first one that ran with the 3 other classes did run very late. The super main rolled on the track at 11:15. I remember asking Bill (from Bills Custom Machine) to compare this track to Calistogas he said "you could fit Calistoga in the infield of this place."
the fairgrounds was a dirt half long before it was a 1/3. if i remember correctly, after the pavement track on tully rd closed in '77 a 1/3 mile track was added in '78 to run weekly races. the mile and the half mile were still there, but the 1/3 was used for weekly shows. the half was used for the woo in it's inaugural year of '78. the half also got used for special shows like open comp and some narc i think. the GSRA (golden state racing association) ran a series on the half in '76 when there was a split from nascar at the old speedway. wasn't the last half mile show in '87 when kinser brought out the first down tube gambler? the rest of you old farts out there should know this stuff! lol.
Ah!!.......those were the good ole days in S.J!!.....was there for 51 years,till 93!!.race chasin' there then,still chasin more than ever,now that work don't get in the way!!...Just moved to Yuma,centrally located to Phx,Perris Auto Spdway!!....Back to S.J.FairGrounds Spdway, the 1/2 mi. was also used on Sun. for Flat Track Motorcycle Races in late 60's-early 70's...best I can remember!!.. I have a few black/white photos from Bill Spencer,with us racin on 1/2 mi.....
Posted By: laudarevsonhunt on December 13 2009 at 10:12:13 AM
Kinser brought out the down tube Fall of 86. The 87 Gamblers were down tube.
I was also there in 1986,Steve won the prelim. with his old car then showed up the second night with the new down tube car. Some of the owners complained that he should have to run his car from the first night since he was locked in along with three others, they got together and thought since he won the first night it might be a disadvantage for him to try a new car ...................wrong,he took his new car & spanked them again...... thats why he is the King.
The memory is still working Buzz. You're right about the GSRA shows being on the half mile. I have a program in front of me from March 8, 1976, it wasn't mine originally but the person that tracked the times lists 101 cars qualifying that day! Fast time. Jimmy Boyd, 24.235.
NARC opened the 1977 season on the half mile at the fairgrounds. I remember it had a wooden gaurdrail on the inside of the track. And the half mile was used for the late season open comp shows in 1976 and 1977.
