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

I think he's the councilman but not sure. How bout it Mike?

I still think the election was rigged....

Okay, ya'll done got my attention and on my soap box. It is my turn to chyme in.

First off, docters thought that my daughter had either her appendix in bad shape or female type problems but after leaving at 3:30 AM this morning, turned out to be something else. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers on this as it is not as bad as they first thought.

Now then, to matters at hand.

Half mile just for speed? EXCUSE ME? Let us go with the recent events.

Stanely Reed, Jr. winning an entertaining and competitive NCRA modified feature for the biggest race win of his career.

The 1995, the annual All-Star/NCRA outlaw sprint Thunder Through the Plains tour race. Bobby Davis Jr. led from the outset and looked to have the bottom of the half mile and the other drivers covered. However, Californias Steve Kent, despite orders from car owner of the Shelma-Shell car to come home after the Knoxville Nationals, ran the tour and started near the middle of the field on this night. He would drive the guardrail towards the front and passed "lil Bobby Davis with one lap to go to claim the thrilling victory.

AN INVASION!!!! In 1989 during the time USA had a rainout at the Devils Bowl, Doug Wolfgang showed up during program, started at the back of the WoO "B" feature, put on a passing clinic and qualified. For the feature, the "Wolf" started near the back and if I recall won that thrilling 30 lap WoO feature event.

It was also the scene where some of the outlaws best got their first WoO feature victory: Danny Lasoski, Lee Brewer, Jr, Johnny Herrera (and one other whose name escapes me) plus Brad Doty, who everbody kept their eyes on Doug Wolfgang that dirty, sunny day in March back in 1983. But nobody noticed Doty slipping through the lapped traffic to pick up his first ever WoO victory.

In what Pat Sullivan calls "Arguably the best USAC silver crown show ever held." Garry Lee Maier, Rich Volger, Shane Carson and Larry Rice all took turns leading the 50 lap feature with drama taking place in an earlier heat race where ESPN analyst (now Speedchannel) Larry Rice stuffed Donnie Crawford into the guardrail in turn one. Later, the famous "stuff" where Vogler stuffed outside front row started Jon Johnson which caused the first near riot since the Wayne Cox/Harold Leep crash of 1969 ON THE HALF MILE!!! Vogler escaped OKC, Johnson and the rest of the night but not before being told by Shane Carson before the restart of the big feature "You better give me room when I get up there."

The half mile, scene of what many call the most exciting final points race of any time. Mike Peters and Bruce Jennings (yes, he was fast at one time) came into the night virtually tied for the FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY (what it should still be called to this day-not this SFS bullcrap) champ dirt championship in its final race. Peters either led the feature until the last lap or was ahead and would win the title if he finished ahead of Bruce on the last lap when Bruce passed Peters coming down the front stretch. Susan Jennings survived my jumping on her toes as those of us in that area was doing some celebrating.

The HALF MILE was the place when our friend Jack Claxton had a special tone in his voice when the cars on the half mile would enter from the pits and gave you goose bumps on those races. The track was the scene where "Tiger" Tony Armstrong jumped the wheel of another car (in champ dirt car days) and flipped out of the track in turn one, yes passed the horse track. It was the scene when a google of champ cars got together the first race in the Spring of 1984 and saw Earnest pound the light pole entering turn three and Leep flip almost as high as the pole in a very scary crash which only saw Jennings got a broken neck.

It was the scene in 1983 when Danny Wood, who didn't let off the gas then either, had his throttle hung the Friday night before the first NCRA/USAC challenge race and barrel rolled down the rest of the backstretch with motor going wide open.

The half mile was where Ronnie York, Gerald Smith and others found that the guardrail coming out of turn four was dangerous and would grab you as it reached out and touched several drivers.

It was the scene of many great races and yes, a few "yawners" but the track was also prepared correctly with Larry Hill and Coy Roberts each race. I feel tha also helped the half mile track.

I could go on and on but that is enough. I think we now know MY thoughts on the half mile, for whatever its worth.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

Remember 1 yr the NCRA 410's were here,a 4th of July Week Deal, I believe. & the lights on the 1/2 mile were not coming back on & everybody re-adjusted & ran about a 30+ lap A on the 1/4 & Shane showed everbody the way around ??? Man the traffic work the front-runners did was incredible.

Yes David ,Rich Vogler .... I still remember Shane stickin his finger thru the roll cage & tellin him 'what it is'...............I have that on VHS around here somewhere..

Yep, I have that on VHS also along with every NCRA race held there in 1984 and 1985, thanks to good friend Dean Martin/Hard Charger video from back then.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

Speaking of Lanny...did anyone see him and the Flagman get into it at Lawton Saturday night?

That was a kick in the b lls. I'm sorry about the wing remark

That hurt!

That race with Steve Kent, I think he won the B and started near the back of the A and like you said won it also. Anyone remember Pat Patterson #6 from texas hit the first turn gaurdrail full speed. I heard he was pretty bad off for a while.

Ted

Ted Sanderson

David,

That was Darrell that hit the light pole and broke his neck.

The 1/2 mile was hard on motors, tires and equipment in general. Crashes were generally harder on drivers and cars as well.

Sheila

The best I can remember, Pat Patterson first got hit in the face with a starter another car kicked up. This was I believe 71' before rock screens. It knocked him out & He hit the guard-rail a ton.

When Tony Armstrong did his deal, I was a track official then, he flipped all the way out in the parking lot where the old ice house used to be!!

I remember that happened just about the time push-starting the champ dirt cars w/3 wheelers was banned.

Don't remember who it was but the pushbar they had rigged on the front of the 3 wheeler got all hooked up on the rear bumper of a car, The car bump started & fired off taking the pitman for said champ dirt car flying in all kind of directions.

I am sure someone knows who that was cause it hurt me just watchin that from just inside the pit gate.

OWWWWWWW!

You folks are fortunate to still have a track that is still open and operating for as long as it has in OKC. Lots of great memories of past races at that venue.

If your going to have a big track, or small as far as I'm concernd, pull the wings off. It makes for better racing and driving. I was at Knoxville last weekend and the ASCS race (Sucked). Fast but, very little passing, follow the leader racing. The midget race was way better. Still fast with lots of passing and elbows up driving. (slid Jobs are awsome!) You could come from deep in the pack and still do good. I think it would be cool to have either the new ASCS2 midgits at SFS or ASCS rule sprints with one class of winged and another non wing.

I know alot will disagree but....

Most of the country and/or big time racing doesn't give 2 cents about wing racing anyway. Caes in point. TSR driver, Tracy Hines says to me after practice last weekend, "Who's in the 41 car? He's fast." Well we all know it was Jason Johnson who has won everything you can in a 360 car and it still doesn't matter. If I had a young driver wanting to move up the ranks of racing I wouldn't touch winged cars after mini sprints. Everyone else is wasting their time and money. Just my opinion, but I think its accreate.

Money isn't everything, but it sure keeps your kids 
close!

You have the USAC/NCRA CHAMP CAR DEAL ON VHS?

LOL - thats funny.

naw skeesiks or Dogwater - - - I dont want the half mile back either. i was just goin on a ramble that kind of took off. the 3/8ths is the best idea lanny ever had at sfs. I like it.........

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

Did I read that right Greg? ASCS2 Midgets? What is the deal with this class this is the first time I have heard of them. I totally agree with everything you said.

"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 

damn straight. and david also dont forget to mention how stretched out the racing would get. i remember as a kid counting light posts between the cars lol.

Lanny dont want to have to prep 2 tracks - and could any of you blame him? - just like sheila said - it is easier on the cars to run on a smaller track. its prob cheeper to. that may piss off those that want to use their funds as an advantage over the rest of the field --------- but it makes for a better racing experience for us fans who want to see better racing. and to the drivers who struggle to even get their car out there. I think its just better for the collective good ya know?

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

o yeah - if you want half mile - go to devils bowl. with the banking down there - - - it can be great racing.

Knoxville Raceway is the best I ever seen. but more effort is put in to their racing surface than most other tracks.

The half mile at SFS had some great races and great moments. but its better in the long term for sfs to run the 3/8ths. and hell ------ everyone take a 2nd look - it was better in the SHORT TERM as well.

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

Hey guys, Dont forget about the friendly ARP WING guys! We still need a job! AND GREG MOORE you are on the wrong message board, stay on the micros ,dont need any more trouble on here. D.Jones takes care it! LOL.