Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

      Went to the races the last two nights in Williston. While the car count was only 11 tonight they put on a good show. There was a real good crowd and I want to thank the drivers for making the trip out here. It is a ways to go but the possibility of having a real good show out here is really intriguing. We are close enough to Rapid City, Montana, Wyoming and the Grand Forks group. I have been a sprint car fan for many years. I grew up going to Buffalo River, Fargo and West Fargo to watch the sprint cars. I love sprint car racing. I have been so excited to have them back to Williston. The other night I called the president of the NOSA group out of Grand Forks, Mr. Olson. I wanted him to know how much excitement there was in Williston to see the sprints coming here and how beneficial it could be to his group of guys with all the money in Williston right now. As a fan I didn't realise how politicial sprint car racing is. I have never been this disappointed after talking racing with him and how much he disliked the leader of the organization that was coming to Williston. He actually told me that he hoped they failed in their efforts to put on a good show out here. What an attitude. I will never attend a Nosa sanctioned event again. I hope you drivers know what you have for a person representing you. Thanks to the drivers who did attend. You put on a good show. Hopefully next years will be lots bigger. I hope the rest of the people in western North Dakota think twice about supporting Grand Forks sprint racing, I know I will.

Have you ever thought there might me a reason Mr Olson feels the way he does!! I'm sure he does not want to see other sprint car racing series fail, unless he's been duped by them one way or another. Maybe NOSA and the ASCOC have had conflicts in the past. I'd tend to believe that's probably the case here, and being someone who runs a sprint car organization, I'm sure some kinda shit has gone down behind closed doors between the two groups. I know NOSA works closely with the WoO when theyre in the area. I wouldn't think in this day and age anyone wants to see a racing series fail, but you gotta admit the All Stars are about to take their final breath very soon.

Knoxville Natioanls attendee since '95
Favorite Tracks...River Cities, Knoxville, Cedar Lake
Favorite Drivers...S.Kinser, T.Kaeding, K.Madsen, S.Smith
Proud Canadian 

Random shot in the dark here, but I'd like to think that Mr. Olson makes timely payments of monies owed to his drivers, unlike another leader of a certain organization. 

You are not talking to a promoter or someone who runs a sprint car organization. You are talking to a sprint car fan and so was Mr. Olson. I don't care who promoted this race. I really think a big opportunity was lost here. Williston has a bunch of people staying up here right now from all over the country. We have great hunting and fishing but we don't have a lot of entertainment or events like this. It is the reason we do so well as hosts  of the little league world series. This might be the biggest event to come to town in 3-4 months. There are lots of guys working countless hours up here and they don't have a lot to do after work. Lots of people travel out of our area to vacation. My wife and I usually go to 5-8 sprint car events every year. I think you had a chance to pick up more fans like us that have never seen what a true sprint car race is like. I don't care about the politics. I think they missed a golden opportunity to introduce people to what a full field of sprint cars is like. This was a chance to really grow the sprint car fan base in western North Dakota. Our little town has led the state in taxable income for the last couple years. People are hungry for entertainment up here and willing to pay for it. I don't care who put together this program. If you get people excited about the sprint car races it just makes it better for the next person who puts on a show, whoever that may be. Fans pay the bills and you just lost one and you also lost the chance to pick up many more.

Sounds like you blaming NOSA due to the shit show the All stars came to town with. Honestly NOSA is under no obligation to help the All Stars with one of their shows, especially in helping them fill an empty pit. If they can't bring any cars to a race they are sanctioning, it's not NOSA's responsibility in any way. I agree it's very political, but isn't all type business nowadays. This race was held mid-week correct?? NOSA drivers are all working regular jobs during the week. To ask your drivers to haul 700 miles round trip on a weekday for a race you don't sanction is asking too much. Get off you're damn high horse and give your head a shake. You don't want to support a NOSA show in the future, that's your choice, but in the end you went to an All Star event. Did they advertise as an All star/NOSA race?? No. Did they guarantee a car count? No. NOSA is from ND, I'd support my local racers over a rag tag Ohio based outfit that's about to go tits up like the all stars. 

Knoxville Natioanls attendee since '95
Favorite Tracks...River Cities, Knoxville, Cedar Lake
Favorite Drivers...S.Kinser, T.Kaeding, K.Madsen, S.Smith
Proud Canadian 

Not blaming nosa at all. If the hauling the car 700 miles would have been the reason pointed out to me I can understand that. All I heard coming out of his mouth was the political BS about the All Stars and how he wanted the show to fail. Complete attitude is the reason I am really disgusted. I guess even if he felt the way he did he should have used some of the reasons you have pointed out. That wasn't what I heard coming out of his mouth though. I do have to give him credit though, he did speak his mind and sure didn't try to sugar coat anything. As a fan I don't care who promotes a race out here. We had a pretty good race out here the other night. It could have been a whole lot better. The whole reason I am pissed is because of the attitude of the head of NOSA. Oh buy the way, it's 700 miles if you start at Williston, go to Grand Forks and come back to Williston. I don't get tow money. Are these truthfully my local racers. I've supported these guys for years. I will not put up with the head of their organization telling me that he hopes our show goes down the tubes.  This is the last time I will try to explain myself. If there are more people like me and my wife you missed a chance to really convert a lot of people to sprint car fans. We travel all over to watch sprint car racing and spend lots of money and vacation time doing it. We haven't had a sprint car race out here in about 15 years. At the races last night a guy sitting next to me was telling me how they ran snowmobile engines in them. That is how green a lot of the fans are. This is why I called him, to try to let him try to see the benefit of having a good car count out here. I didn't hear any reasoning like you pointed out above. I've shook my head and gotten off the highest horse I own. Now could you try to read this a couple times over and try to understand the reason I am truly disgusted.

Kudos to the Teams that Showed up to an Area Showcasing America!!!!

I think I speak for everyone associated with NOSA. We appreciate Bill Olson with what he has done for us as a group. He does not want to see any group fail, he would like to see Williston schedule a NOSA show instead of an All Star show. As far as the small showing from NOSA drivers, Canucklehead is right. We are all regular guys that have to work regular jobs. Would I have loved to pack up my car and head to a race midweek? Absolutely. The reality of it though is that most of us NOSA guys simply cannot do this. If this is a weekend show, I would guess there would have been more cars. I for 1 would have been there if it was a double header on a weekend. So before you go bashing us NOSA guys for not participating in a non NOSA sanctioned event midweek, just think about the whole picture here. We are normal people just like you. We hope you reconsider and attend a NOSA show in the future. I promise you that you will leave with the same satisfaction or more than an All Star show with 2 all-stars.

Chris Shirek

Driver of the 1k

11 cars, 2 touring All Star drivers and 1 Cali driver. Ok your frustrated, you wanted at least a full field, you were hoping Mr Olson would throw his support behind the race, hoping he wished it be a huge success. First off if I were you I'd direct my frustrations to the All Stars for even considering a race this far away from their home, midweek with 2 touring drivers....pitiful. Secondly, why would a businessman tell you he wants his competition to succeed. I think you are reading way more into this than need be. The all stars are a joke, holding events halfway across the country with two cars. It be like NOSA going to PA or OH. How many teams would pack up and head out there for a week or two?? Not many!! And would you honestly feel the local sanctioning bodies in those states would be anymore welcoming. It's like your invading another territory. They'd probably want you to fail as well. Look, if you want to see some outstanding weekly sprint car racing you're gonna have to travel to Grand Forks, or go to a big show far from home. That's the reality for me, I have to travel, or I won't see much. Come to RCS in Aug, I guarantee 35-40 sprints at the WoO show.

Knoxville Natioanls attendee since '95
Favorite Tracks...River Cities, Knoxville, Cedar Lake
Favorite Drivers...S.Kinser, T.Kaeding, K.Madsen, S.Smith
Proud Canadian 

Well said Chris.....good luck and see you at the Nationals

Knoxville Natioanls attendee since '95
Favorite Tracks...River Cities, Knoxville, Cedar Lake
Favorite Drivers...S.Kinser, T.Kaeding, K.Madsen, S.Smith
Proud Canadian 

Racer1113, I understand that the guys have regular jobs. I was just really disgusted after my conversation on the phone with the head of nosa saying he hoped this show failed. When you say he doesn't want any group to fail, that is not what he said to me. I have nothing against any of the drivers, just him. In fact thanks very much to the drivers that did show up.  I have been to almost every outlaw show in Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, Mandan and Fergus Falls. We have been to lots of Nosa shows over the years. I've been to woo shows in Rapid City. Billings, Beaver Dam, Las Vegas and Williams Grove. I have been to the Nationals 16 years in a row. I was there to see Leonard McCarl come to Buffalo River speedway the first time the outlaws came to Fargo. I watched Don Mack, Linus, Kennedys, Chapman, Speiker, Bucky Peterson, Wyman Wade, Dave Skari. My Grandpa had a shop next to city cab in Moorhead where Bucky had his car. Him and his brother Babe would come over to Grandpas shop and visit. I have been a fan for over 55 years. Canucklehead,  I can see why you call yourself Canucklehead. One more time now.  I am not complaining about the show they put on last night. I would go to see them again tonight if they were here. You don't get it. If it is a big show you pick up fans that will probably travel more frequently to see the sprint cars in other areas. This means good for Nosa also. As in more fans coming to Grand Forks for a weekly show or supporting you at other venues.  It is good for sprint car racing in general. This is the point I was trying to make with the head of Nosa.  As far as invading their territory, I think you've made it pretty clear that this is not your territory. Remember the 700 miles. If this is your territory you haven't been here since Donny Schatz was a young kid and came from the back to win and picked up the bonus for coming from the back. Nosa puts on a good show at Grand Forks. Its always a fun track to watch the sprints at. Canucklehead, One more time, I am only disgusted in my call to the head of Nosa. If you're still having a hard time comprehending this I will talk to Animal, he's the guy from Estivan that has the golf cart that looks like a sprint car. I will explain the situation to him and he can translate it into canadian so you will maybe  understand. WOW

Gotcha....then call Mr Olson back and bitch/cry to him, cause frankly I could care less at this point. 

Knoxville Natioanls attendee since '95
Favorite Tracks...River Cities, Knoxville, Cedar Lake
Favorite Drivers...S.Kinser, T.Kaeding, K.Madsen, S.Smith
Proud Canadian 

No calling back but if you want to get together at the Dingus for a beer I will buy you one.  You can reach me at 701-770-0510 Don't worry I wont be violent.

for the sake of argument, People should walk one mile in others shoes before judging the first fifty feet,    Mr Olson's personal beliefs are not that of each individual racer, nor Nosa as a whole, My personal opinion doesnt matter , I know which side of the fence im on and understand that fact, Nosa has struggled with car counds on similar "weekday" events, thiers being less of a tow to teams that reside withing two-three hours of tow, my props go out to Allstars for trying to host the show, nobody likes competition, in a promotors eyes its a dirty killer,Fact is, cars on the eastern side of the state do not support sprint shows like the "few" cars from the western side do to shows in GF,DL ect .. that is a FACT. a few of the Nosa drivers like to race when and where ever that is great. not much will change until individuals choose to change for the better, otherwise grudges just make the fans  pay the consequences. Nosa works with the WoO because they host 30 cars weekly at RCS.. ironically 10 or better of those cars Were NOT in attendance for the June WoO show. that is Fact.  half the field from regular friday night shows were roaming the pits, what could have been better than 30 cars? 40 cars!.. anyway, wish in one hand and shit in the other. I will say this , its a bit unnerving to hear Mr Olsons responce to the event. just two years ago Nosa was trying to hold hands with Allstars.. im not sure the dirty details, but putting dirty laundy on the line for everyone to see isnt in Nosa's best intrest. there is a better way to handel something you dont want any part of. and that would be the professional thing to do. will the Nosa cars in attendance be treated differently? i think you get my point.

STANA, not getting into your conversation with Canucklehead, but you sure brought back some memories with the names you mentioned..Some of the BEST sprint car(modified as they were called back then in places) drivers in the Upper Midwest...Skari,Macks,Kennedys,Peterson,Guida,Wade,Speiker,Chapman Schatz and many more..I worked at Winnipeg Speedway and went weekly to the Fargo shows and Grand Forks..Remember going with Palmer Berger to Hartford on weekend and saw Don Mack and Doug Wolfgang(before he was a big name) change lead in each corner..Skari and Mack in Grand Forks trading slide jobs(or what it was called back then)..The Red River Valley fairground had the best track in the upper Midwest and it still is today.  Only too bad it sits idle...Sorry for crashing the original thread...

To my buddy stana....you have been to many top quality racetracks and to many big shows. You can't be serious that you'd go see them race again in Williston?? I wouldnt pay good money to go see that debacle. All stars have absolutely no business putting on a show halfway across the country with 2 travelling teams. They are a friggin joke. Williston, starving for a sprintcar race, makes sense in their eyes, starving fans, easy money I guess. Seriously, would they have gotten away with this anywhere else in the upper Midwest? What other credible sprint car series in the country promotes their races with 2 cars. None That comes to my mind!! The all stars motto.....take their money and run, and never come back a second time. Anytime I hear of an all star show outside of W. PA and Ohio, all I think of is ripoff/fail. 

Knoxville Natioanls attendee since '95
Favorite Tracks...River Cities, Knoxville, Cedar Lake
Favorite Drivers...S.Kinser, T.Kaeding, K.Madsen, S.Smith
Proud Canadian 

Would rather see 11 sprints that 20 mods. Just me. I've been to a show in Minot with about 12-14 cars. That wasn't an all star show. Just love sprint car racing. Sorry about being a little hard on ya earlier canucklehead. I'm not usually that much of a smart ass. Serious about the Dingus or pie and a turkey leg by the Hall of Fame. First year my wife won't be with to the nationals. They scheduled the world archery tournament in Yankton this year and she shoots in it so it would fun to meet up and give each other a little shit. Offer stands.

Put it this way, once the party starts on Wednesday night of the Natls it won't end till Sunday morning. Sort of like a marathon of racing, booze and dubachery. That's how me and my boys roll down in Iowa lol!! My wife never comes there, just the way I like it too lol. I'll drop ya a text and we'll see if you can keep up haha!!

Knoxville Natioanls attendee since '95
Favorite Tracks...River Cities, Knoxville, Cedar Lake
Favorite Drivers...S.Kinser, T.Kaeding, K.Madsen, S.Smith
Proud Canadian 

This is me. Just so you know. I will not be in workout gear, but rather sprint car racing attire lol. I'll see ya at the Nationals bud, come join the fun!!

Knoxville Natioanls attendee since '95
Favorite Tracks...River Cities, Knoxville, Cedar Lake
Favorite Drivers...S.Kinser, T.Kaeding, K.Madsen, S.Smith
Proud Canadian 

Don't have any pics but I'm about 6-6 and about 330 lbs. Shouldn't be hard to find me.