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

I remember quite a few years ago they would have fly overs for the Knoxville Nationals, One year I think it was a Stealth Bomber, Another it was 2 or 3 Apache Helicopters. I wish they would still do this as it just adds to the abiance of the event and gives you that sense that, "Hell yea this is a Fly Over for the biggest damn Sprint Car race in the World". I remember a few years ago when the Budweiser Clydedales were there the whole week of the Nationals and thought that was a pretty damn cool addition to the show. I'm just ramblin my thoughts but I just think the Knoxville Nationals deserves something to salute the greatness of the event.

What reminded me of it was, I was at the 4th of July parade in Greeley Colorado this year and they had 3 different flyovers (2 different formations of fighter planes, and a Air Rescue Helicopter) Thought it was pretty damn cool and really added to the event.  

i tend to like the idea about "the greatness" of the sport, that's a given.  with a flyover someone has to foot the bill i believe besides the taxpayers so my question is, where do the funds come from?  military, knoxville ticket sales?  you have raised an intersting point, tnx!

Ascot was the greatest of all time..

West Capital wasn't half bad either..

Life is good...

Fly overs do cost A LOT, and most of the time it comes out of their training budget.  I don't know how much the cost is but just for the fuel costs, how far the aircraft has to fly (usually from the nearest USAF base), and other things, I'm sure it's not cheap to do.  Plus I belive the military has to give permission to even give a flyover.  Since NASCAR, Indy Car and those series have a little more money in the checking account, I'm sure the military is always jumping at a chance to do that.  Plus the USAF uses fly overs as a recruiting tool.  There's a small AF base in Des Moines, and a larger one outside of Omaha, NE (Offut) so those would be the closest bases that aricraft from come from.

We had a free one at lincoln this year. Right before feature on a wed. WoO show this year we had a flock of geese flyover. Coolest thing I ever saw.

Couple of years ago it was found out that sports team were being paid to do Honorary ceremonies by the Military it was like 10 million dollars ( I misread from earlier) If you want a flyover I say get a crop duster

BTW one rule that the NFL always lives by when doing somthing (At No Cost to the League) Its in almost everyone of their none FB related contracts,

Think theres a country song about the flyover states. The midwest is definatly in on that.

How about the "Greatest Parade lap of the Year"     a two lap, parade lap of pickups/convertibles. Each vehicle could feature two winners. That would be special, and appropriate. To really do it right.....they could have 3' x 5' flatboard photos of all deceased winners displayed,  and the  surviving winners actually riding in the parade  and run the parade laps in order of the years run......1961 >>>>>>. Multiple winners could be positioned just once and in the year of their first win. So it would be a mix of surviving winners and deceased winners being recognized for their achievments in the most prestegious sprint car race in the sport.

Come to my house, you can have a flyover by the Stealth a couple times a week...they've picked up recently, a lot more flying and a lot more at night.  Just sayin...

I think they should spend the money to bring back Porkchop----the inebriated hobo clown.  

(just kidding by the way)

He got bood on the back strech by the way.

Blazer has a great idea, let's honor the past winners!  Along the same lines they could also bring any Hall of Famers who just happen to be there and add them to the parade, they have more than earned it with whatever skills they had to get to the pinnacle...

Not a flyover but a salute to Ralph Capitani before the start of the Saturday night National would seem appropriate.

Can't honor him too much, but I think the Capatani Classic honors him properly as it is.

B T W....should have mentioned that in the 56 year history of the Nationals there has been 24 winning drivers. So 2  previous winners per parade vehicle would take 12 vehicles to fulfill the tribute. 

People with convertibles would jump at the chance to make a lap at Knoxville, especially with a star riding in the back waving....Let's not forget the Hall of Famers also....