Forum: Oklahomatidbits.com General Forum (go)
Moderators:  /  David Smith Jr

I know friend nonwingbill (Bill Armstrong) will tell me to get over it but...

Thanks to Bond, Tony Bond with mudslinger video, I decided to pop in a weekly DVD from 2009 at Fairgrounds Speedway on a night I was out of town. Unfortunately it was one where Ben Buckland was announcing BUT - damn I really miss the fairgrounds on Friday nights.

I would start off by standing in the pit line and once I got my pit pass would go to put down a blanket at my usual spot I had sat at since 1983 (and hope this older couple didn't move it again out of disrespect) and then make my way down to the pit area. I would then stop by Stanley Reed, Jr.'s trailer and talk racing for about fifteen minutes before making my way to the sprint pit area see friends, shake hands, talk and then continue to see who from out of town showed up in not just the two sprint divisions but the modifieds and limited modifieds as well. I would then stop by one of the racers trailer and load up my jeans with beer before heading up to the grandstands and my seat.

Needing a cup for my beer, I would always walk underneath the tunnel and pay $5.00 for my beer and got to know the lady who worked each and every Friday night. I would then sit on my perch, check out the perty women (was really entertaining to see what little they would wear durning the summer time as they walked right underneath me through the tunnel.

About race time the speedway regulars would make their way up, waving and shaking hands, making a bit of small talk about the dirt track racing world. For years the Strawns would sit to my right while the Jennings would sit down below. Annette Self would sit to my left with her husband when they came and David Jones (before the wing days) would sit further to my left next to the fence with his lovely bride. A couple I never knew the names of would sit five rows behind me and right about green flag time, big David Lambert would also come up and sit off to my right.

From the champ dirt car days to my not showing up in protest of Bruce Holtz in the mid 90's until the super sprint days and until then end, Fairgrounds Speedway on Friday nights always seemed to be an event. The specials during the span I went to the races, from MAR-CAR's WoO shows on the half mile to the NCRA late model/modified/champ dirt cars shows during the fair and everything in between can never be matched.

Watching Mudslinger Video and this one night of weekly racing makes me remember just how good we had it here in Oklahoma City.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

I miss hanging out with you and Speed Buggy every now and then too, Dave. I have many of the same memories you do plus some others that are very special.

I don't think I've been to a race of any sort for two seasons now. Would love to go to Knoxville, Dodge City or any big money show. But just can't muster the oomph. Too many other interests now.

but yet you take time out of each day to lurk on a forum of a sport that ranks low on your interest list....so you can condescendingly tell people to get over shit you hardly know anything about...

how noble of you douchebag.

sorry to funk up your trip down memory lane dave. I know the dude is your friend. and I really don't care. Despite how much many enjoy other tracks and shows - the inarguable FACT remains - we didn't just lose the most storied tracks around - we lost what was still, by far, the best show in the state. Tired of hearing how much that doesn't matter from a jackass who lurks about a racing forum only to repeatedly declare how little any of the actual subject matter interests him. It is entirely preposterous.

You hardly had interest in it then, even less now. Just don't see where you have any place at all passing off an informed/educated opinion on the matter. Not just in the destruction of the fairgrounds - but in anything else either. You have the right to your opinion - as much as you have the right to share it. Just as I have the right to state the obvious - your opinion belongs much more on a LOVE MAPS 3 forum.

How I go about expressing this opinion could be up for debate.......but for a prick such as yourself - who admittedly does not and has not ranked dirt track racing high up on their "interest" list for quite some time - to repeatedly declare that not much was REALLY lost..........when it's brutally obvious you're the last who would really know.............I think to a degree I could speak for a sizeable chunk of the dirt track racing community in saying you can kiss my ass.

Before you exert your immense ignorance for the upteenth time - you should note that fond memories and great dirt track racing events were had of State Fair Speedway not just in the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's........but in its last decade of operation under Lanny Edwards as well. You continuously insult the people that feel that way. People who did not only want to avoid seeing a historical landmark razed - but people who also didn't want to lose the high quality show that would go with it. And yet all you have done on here is constantly echo the same notion that your "interests" are far above it what that was. thats fine. but it begs the question - why the hell are you here? solely to pass that bullshit over those that miss State Fair Speedway, even in its latter version?

I could chase this even further - and I likely will. But for the self righteous bullshit you repeatedly spout off from such a completely ignorant and ill-willed position.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

not cool 12.....David should delete your post....it was his memory, not yours..........

"its useless to put on the brakes when you are upside 
down"   -Paul Newman

Sounds like you hit a nerve there.

Like many other race fans that regularly attended racing at Fair Grounds Speedway, I do miss my Friday Night Fun, but have found other activities to take up the time. I'm going to try the Friday nights at Brill, but the main factor is a 125 mile round trip as opposed to the 15 mile round trip from days past. When the Speedway first closed, one of my close friends that owns a two barrel sprint commented the sad part is the majority of the Friday night crowd will find other ways to spend their time and money and will not make the trips to weekly shows at adjacent tracks. The hard core racer will find a place to race in front of new fans and a few old fans that will make the long round trip. It's sad to see the state of dirt track racing in our immediate area, but until some one has several million dollars to invest in a facility, it's a road trip for most of us, and right or wrong, it looks like most have made the decision to not make the road trip.

Cody Morris.... I'll bet Emmit and Tommy Hahn are really proud of you , after reading your rant, to represent them with ASCS2 and to be their public relations person, keep up the good work dumb A$$.

I know where nonwingbill stands as he sat with me many a year on many occassions and we would often talk quite often. He has his right to speak his mind just as you have every right to post your novels on here.

If I don't have a problem with it and keeping it on here then nobody else should. He has a right to say what he wants just as any of you do - within reason. As stated before, he has probably done more to help promote Fairgrounds Speedway (mid 80's) than 98% of you people on here. And that includes me.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

Trust me, I won't get over it and there are many who won't either.

But at the same time there are those, even ones who have a vested interest, who are over it and tired of it still being brought up. Some people deal with closer alot better than others. Me, as per my post, not so much.

I should have known what this topic was going to start, hell I have been doing this long enough, BUT least I forget.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

open your eyes Kyle. I'm not attacking or even passing judgement over what memories he had there. But blasting at his condescending reply to any post about SFS and belittling other's experience - including mine - at SFS. I would have thought that was obvious?

I mean that respectfully by the way lol.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

Some things are just hard to get over , some things you just cant get over . I too miss sfs i grew up there i met my wife there , i still get angry when i drive by there and probably always will. Cody i back ya for standin up for what you believe in and its everyones forum to speak their mind and state their opinions . Maybe the Bill guy should try goin to the races somewhere else there are plenty of quality tracks around the state .

winners dont cry when they lose , they go back to the 
drawing board and come back for round 2 !

"Get over it".

Three little words. Didn't think they could ever cause such a ruckus.

"Get over it" didn't mean you shouldn't be angry with what happened. "Get over it" didn't mean you should forget what the speedway means (meant) to many. "Get over it" didn't mean to be a phrase to provoke profanity-laced tirades.

"Get over it" meant exactly that. Move on. Things happen that are beyond our control. No matter what effort or passion you may put behind the resistance to change, whether you like it or not, it happens. Roll with it. Move forward. Get over it. Make things better.

My first racing t-shirt was a custom-made embroidered Ronnie Brotherton "Falstaff Special" my father had made for me when I was six or seven. I saw 'em all at the speedway. From Leep to Decker. From Daniels to Reed. From Ewell to Rozelle. I saw the birth of the ORA. I experienced the Hill years. I suffered through the Hotz era. I didn't mind the Lanny years. There was a time, not too long ago, that I couldn't wait to find out how many cars were in the pits for an ASCS national show. My guess is that I spent more time on the grounds of that racing facility than many of you combined.

Frankly, don't make assumptions about my passion (or lack thereof) about racing in Oklahoma City or racing in general. I'm still a fan. A fan of motorsports not just a facility. I frequent websites. I read message boards. I watch races on TV. I still subscribe to National Speed Sport News. F1 to OCRS. IRL to DIRT. NASCAR to USMTS. I know it. Do not question my passion or credentials.

Dave, I love you, man. But frankly, this board has become something that it never should have become. The hate and vitriol that sometimes comes out-well-frankly it sucks. I'm thick-skinned and, you know what, find it kind of funny. But I don't need it and probably won't be coming around for a while. Nice job 12.

Dave, you know my e-mail address if you want to get in touch.

i only have one eye.

"its useless to put on the brakes when you are upside 
down"   -Paul Newman

Cody Morris- Hey dude, I have nothing against you or Catpuppy. As a matter of fact, I enjoy your "rants" at times when you have POSITIVE things to say about racing in general. I also enjoy racing very much but you don't hear me bad mouthing tracks, organisation's, racers, or other race fans for their OPINIONS about our sport as you and Catpuppy do. Like I said, The Hahn's must really be proud of you after they read your posts. If you guys can keep it on the positive side maybe I'll go away, if not, I am still around. Have a nice day.

WOW... I guess some things never change. I haven't checked out Tidbits for awhile now. Damn I come back and it is still like a fishing competition. "King David" stirring up all the little people on his board... And then siding up with the best reply to keep the Bull Shit going.

I thought this was a Racing board not a crying post for male menopause...

It sucks it's gone so move on... It's OK to look back on our past at SFS but why does it have to be a bitch session? I guess some people didn't forget what was said during the closing of our beloved track by some. And some of those people wish they probably would have thought about what they were going to say or typed it first...

 Randy       

       DIRT TRACKIN
"When it's wet slide it in"

I don't think Erich or myself engage in any of that.

Especially in bad mouthing oragnizations and tracks. We don't do that dude. If you rewind (pun intended considering the name lol) - you'll scarcely find any of that. Dude even in private conversation Erich goes far in avoiding criticizing local tracks. I can't think of anytime in years recent I have been except for with Creek County Speedway. And even in then none of it was disrespectful or out of place. As a paying fan I went and was very unhappy with what I saw. It wasn't a personal issue...and hey on the bright side - their opener this year sounded much better than what I experienced last year - maybe it's the start of something better for them.

As to this - I responded to Bill initially because that seemed to be exactly what he was doing whenever Allen, Erich, or anyone else posted about SFS. As to anyone being proud of my posts....you're echoing the same redundant crap there man. I rarely post on any forum unless I am posting previews/recaps of our events. You're suggesting I put forward a wealth of negative stuff - and suggesting that as long as I do you'll police it lol. But sir it was you that in the recent future started blasting away at - as it ended up - several tracks and classes of cars.

I mean - it doesn't add credibility when you speak from two holes as opposed to one. Your short list of participation here does VERY little in backing up what you claim there. As I didn't even see until last night - in a topic that wasn't close to be negative - it was the opposite - you take aim at me and the form of racing I cover. And it was you that got a collective hammer dropped on you - more or less - when you started attacking e sprints, ncra, and everything in between (more or less lol).

So you're really here to police what Erich or I write? you are uttering nonsense. Little of what erich or myself posts is negative - and if that is your sole point of participation (especially when you lace it with hypocrisy)....go duck back under a rock. What your saying there is chopped at the knee by certain facts - the negative posts you have put on here - and they weren't replies sir - you introduced them.

And to your end point - yeah dude - I bet they are. Since I was asked to perform that task for them - I have more than fulfilled it. I'm confident I have done it very well and to every standard. And it's with that in mind that yea I'll stand behind my post.. I felt someone was repeatedly undermining the decades I, and others, had spent out there and the collective right to communicate about it to each other. The only thing I would back down from is....it was a tick over the top. As it sits up there is exactly how I feel he should read it - but initially I should have refrained from dropping the full bomb lol. But you keep throwing this crap forward like they shouldn't be proud - back your point up dude. show me all the negativity I've constantly put out there in the last year that you feel so compelled to address. That's a hollow request by the way...because I know what I say and don't......and I haven't introduced anything of that nature in hardly any quantity for a long, long time. THAT FACT - combined with the vast majority (as if there is really that many lol) of your posts brutally exposes the falsehood of what you just echoed above. One would be doing themselves a great disservice to take anything about you seriously before looking at a few of your past posts. As it's clearly not been exclusive to negative anything to draw out punk statements from you.

It is with these facts in mind that the bs you keep suggesting takes a different shape. But I'll be forward - yes I bet they are sir. That I would be compelled to defend the decades of racing I witnessed before current endeavors is both understandable and justified. And I don't believe it reflects poorly on either those parties or myself. Although, I do feel I owe Bill in apology in the exclusive sense that I took it slightly over the top.....how it is there is exactly how I feel it should be and I will not back down from that.

All ANY reader has to do is skim through your dozen posts prior to this and it completely shatters what you just said. Which makes this quite interesting....at the inconsistent rate you're wrapping rubbish in roses....I wander if I'm the only one sensing a bit of deja vu here LOL. time will tell. even with your point miserably shattered.......not even by my hand but just a few clicks.......is there a further personal angle you would like to pursue here? I'm getting the fleeting notion that there is more to this than the obviously hollow point you just brought.

and YET AGAIN......in the way you keep speaking to me you sound like you know me. But I don't have a clue who you are, I don't think anyone does lol. How about stop being rude (and thats putting it nicely) and introduce yourself. At the rate of and for quite some time now - you're addressing me like we're old pals. I'm thinking maybe we are if we're not.....then until acquainted.....you should address me in a far less intimate manner.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

Just to let everyone know I am watching. lol

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands 
in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he 
stands at times of challenge and controversy." 
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Erich Petersen 

creeper!

LOL

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

Well I am sure you got a few more of those around you than I do. lol

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands 
in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he 
stands at times of challenge and controversy." 
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Erich Petersen