Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
Moderators: StuDeedooo

I was a little disappointed that teams of Wimmer & Allard both left the pits early after Antioch. I had friends that wanted to buy a t-shirt and speak with the drivers but they were gone just as the pit gate opened up for fans. Maybe that is why the Kaedings are so popular as they stayed behind and spoke to the fans.

I assume Wimmer was mad (at himself) as he spun out while running in 2nd place. Allard had nothing to be mad about as he ran a heck of race coming home second. There was no stopping TK as he was bad fast!

I was not there this year, but Antioch was one place that Morrie liked to get out of quickly because of the 7 to 8 hour drive home to Oakhurst. May be the same for Wimmer.

Steve
http://sprintcarphotos.com/

Not to mention Allard having his crew chief ejected from the pits. The way they were treated there I don't really blame them.

I'd have to say that Steve and John's answers are the reason why the 0 rig left early.

Come to Chico and you'll most likely have the best opportunity to stop by and see the 0 guys.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
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Thanks for the update. I would leave early too if my crew was treated that way.

I heard they left early cuz they were wearing BK shirts and forgot to bring their bandaids? No, maybe not.

I was disappointed that they left quickly too, and i understand how they were upset with the track, BUT the opening of the pits after the races is for the FANS.

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO ASHLEY??

DID HE REALLY GET EJECTED??

I AM OBVIOUSLY A STATLER , AND BK FAN, BUT,

I THINK THAT SOMETHING MUST HAVE HAPPENED IF THEY BAILED OUT,,THEN AGAIN, IT TOOK FOREVER TO GET IN TO SEE THE TEAMS AND DRIVERS, AS YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH THE GOOFY "PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY",,,,

I KNOW THAT JONATHAN LIKES TO BE GOOD TO THE FANS AS HE ALWAYS SEEMS TO THANK THE FANS FOR COMING, AS WELL, AS WHEN HE GAVE THAT LITTLE KID HIS DASH PLAQUE,,, THAT GOES A LONG WAY TO SEE A DRIVER DO THINGS FOR THE FANS,AS DO MOST OF THEM .. THERE'S GOT TO BE MORE TO THIS,,

To elaborate on this a little further, yes Ashley was kicked out for speeding through the pits while trying to help out fellow competitors. Was everybody in the pits warned, yes, but there are certain circumstances in racing where things need to be taken into consideration. This was absolutely one of them.

Our car owner of the 0 is 73 years-old and drives all the way from Oakhurst to Chico every Friday, then to every Golden State race on Saturday. He drove all the way to Chico this past Friday, then to Antioch on Saturday, and then had to drive home to Oakhurst Saturday night. Again Morrie is 73 years-old and has to drive home at night so it is really tough to stay until midnight for the team when there is a long drive home.

After Ashley was booted out, Jonathan and everybody with the team was ready to pack up and head home after the dash. But Morrie was the one that said, ‘No, these fans have a right to see a good race with everybody out there."

Also, Morrie was treated like garbage when he and the team had a meeting with the promoter. The team was threatened a fine if anything else happened so why would anybody want to stay after the race? Plus Jonathan did sell 10 shirts following the races, so he did stay for a little bit.

Jonathan prides himself on being cordial after the races, so we don’t like being questioned for leaving early under these circumstances.

I myself was treated pretty rudely when I signed in. Every time I go to Antioch I get the feeling that we are putting them out by being there. If they don’t want us, don’t schedule us. It’ll be a tough decision as to if I’ll go next year if they are on the schedule again. And we did see a good race so that’s the worst part about it.

It'll be enjoyable having two races in Chico this weekend. John, Robbie Padjen and the whole staff always treat people with the utmost respect and it makes it fun being there.

See everybody this weekend.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

It just plain baffles me that Soares lets this crap happen. Is it that Antioch in general is just a hard-ass shithole of a town that they need guards with weapons at the track? Or is it the promoters policy at Petalmua as well and thats just they way he does business? Apparently Customer Service is not a staffed department or even a concept they endorse.

In any case, I havent been back to that dump in 27 years and its gonna be at least that long before I consider it.

...

 I am friends with all concerned but, let's not make excuses for them.  The 83 car left early because the owner was upset with the driver.  I am not sure why the 0 car left early but, I do know that it isn't 7 or 8 hours back to Oakhurst.  It's no further than my trip from San Jose to Chico...If you are upset with the security don't take it out on the people that pay to be there...........I will leave it at that

I was sitting in the stands so the only incident i saw was when BK stopped during the red near the 3 car crash in turn 1 and 2. then he motioned for the push truck to push him away and it looked like the push truck banged into him hard and also hit his left rear tire hard, it looked like there was an exchange of words between BK and the pusher. I know nothing about or did i see armed security around the stands or gestopo tatics but maybe i missed something, maybe in the pits it was a different story.. I would hate to see Antioch get dropped for the simple reason we have to few tracks as it is already and especially in the bay area.. Maybe before GSC gives Antioch any dates next year they should air there grievances with Soares about gestopo tatics in the pits.. As for Petaluma i never had a problem there, it appears both tracks run a tight ship and have a zero tolerence for drunks or fights, Petaluma especially since they seem to have a large amount of kids and families that patronize there track and Jim pretty much caters to the kids with rides etc.etc.... John is the promoter at Antioch and Jim is the promoter at Petaluma so i doubt you can lay blame on what one does at his place on the other, heck i don't even know if both even talk to each other.

I stayed in the pits for at least 45 minutes after the races, maybe longer. I live in Tracy and was driving behind the zero hauler on highway 4. So, they either stayed for a while or stopped somewhere along the way. Either way, I don't think they loaded up and left right after the checkered flag.

Well we race at Antioch once a month for points. I totally see what you are saying about how they act like they are put out by us being there. Petaluma is another story. They are totally doing a great job this year with the Sprint Car show. I must say hands down the GSC Officials are a class act. They are toatally helpful in everyway and always there to answer any question. It's almost like they love doing what they are doing. Wow that is great! It is a great organization that we feel very fortunate to be a part of.

Chick-o-Motorsports

I stayed in the stands and listened to the driver interviews after the races and then went to the pits (and waited in the line to get in the pits thru the little gate). After walking around the pits, I stopped and talked to Jonathan. There were quite a few people buying shirts and waiting to talk to Jon. The zero hauler was still there then so they waited a while before leaving.

To change the subject, I'm looking forward to this weekend at Chico. The Friday night shows at Chico have been excellent and a bargain at $10 for adults. Add a Saturday night GSC and it looks to be a great weekend.

For those who like to visit the pits and talk to drivers after the races, stop by the 33e sometime and say hi to the Suggs family. Also the 6m of Jon Maiwald and his crew. The 6w of Mark Workentine. There are others out there like them too, they may not be setting fast time, or winning the A main,s but they are all good people who work hard to be there every week.

They all seem to be in a bit of bad luck spell, the wrong place at the wrong time thing, but you can see these drivers getting better all the time. They also always seem to hang around for awhile after the races.

Couldn't agree with you more, i really am enjoying watchin Evan Suggs develop into a solid competitor!! Enough with the bad mojo lets move on!!

for a racer to be treated rudley by the antioch staff and the promoter john jerk sores, jerk off push truck drivers, and looters jumping the fence with no help from security is nothing new. i hate that place. ive seen one of the push truck drivers run over the back of a minisprint ruinning the the right rear, rear nerf, tank and top wing. the chewed out the driver for no reason. then in the pits tried to start a fight with the driver twice. all said and done driver and bcra were kicked out for the year. does that make sense? hell no! as far as im conserned. screw that place! we also found multiple chuncks of rebar sticking out of thr track.

I don't think anyone would choose to be an official for any series if they didn't love what they were doing --- most of the time. For most (especially the competition director) it can and will be a no win situation. But in spite of the arguments, cursing, etc., they do it for the love of the sport. I, thankfully, have a very small and limited role and don't get railed at very often. I love what I am doing and am having a blast. I will speak for all of the Golden State Challenge Officials and say Thank You Alissa for the Kudos.

Are we having fun yet?