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Topic: Local Legends
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Page 3 of 4 of 60 replies
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November 02, 2017 at
03:15:26 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: alum.427 on October 30 2017 at 06:16:02 AM
western pa and eastern ohio. wow were to begin. you had guys like, wise, quarterson, blaney, murphy, these guys in the 70's could race with anybody. i believe they all dabbed into usac. johnnie beaber followed and he would win everywhere. Then along came a group of guys that were good enough to go on the road. Dave Blaney, Brad Doty, Doty got his big chance because he towed into lernerville on friday nights. He caught the eye of a coal guy by the name of Bower's and was put in the best equipment and one of the best crew chiefs there was Tommy Sanders. Dave Blaney ran the all star deal in his Trevis built car and finally got his break in the Luna ford w Kenny Woodrift turning the wrenches. 2 local guys that had 2 of the best wrneches out there. I know Brad finished 2nd in points to, who else, SK 1 year. Blaney and Woodrift won the title. Then along came brother Dale, and tho most of his careeer was on the all start tour he has won his share of races and titles. The 2 young guys from back in that time period that could also race with them but had day jobs. Tim Schaffer and Eddie Lynch Jr. Schaffer has won everything there is to win. One day he will be the discussion of being in the hall, I say yes. The 2L of jr. i think out of all, i hope someday he is considered for a spot in the hall. All the above mentioned drivers had great crew chiefs behind there every move. Eddie was never a points chaser, and he mite follow the outlaws, the all stars, or if it was early in the season head to central pa. the guy did everything, driver, crew chief, tire specialist. You name it. I believe he would have been a all star champ, he won many races with that group, he ran with the outlaws and won, and i think out on the road he would have given them all a run for there money.
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I would add Buddy Cochran to this list. He was on the pole for the 1972 Knoxville nats and finished 6th. Also, in 1974 Lou Blaney finished 4th at the Knoxville nats and Ted Wise got a podium finish of 3rd. Not too shabby.
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November 02, 2017 at
06:06:38 AM
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Bobinski, mentioned Ted wise, and blaney. Glad you brought up buddy cochran. To me that was the best Era of racing, I think you probably had 8 to 10 guys with a chance to win. It just shows how good guys like , blaney, wearing and more were at the various tracks. Thursday to Sunday and the summer sizzle on Wednesday nights at the drome. A great time.
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November 02, 2017 at
09:59:24 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: alum.427 on November 02 2017 at 06:06:38 AM
Bobinski, mentioned Ted wise, and blaney. Glad you brought up buddy cochran. To me that was the best Era of racing, I think you probably had 8 to 10 guys with a chance to win. It just shows how good guys like , blaney, wearing and more were at the various tracks. Thursday to Sunday and the summer sizzle on Wednesday nights at the drome. A great time.
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Thanks, I can't help myself- I forgot another one from that era-- how bout "the man in black" Gus Linder in the black 69 ford powered sprinter-- Your correct there were bout 8 or so legit contenders , thanks again
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November 02, 2017 at
10:13:20 AM
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Around Ontario back in the 50's and 60's there was Jack Sharpe "Lobo 1" and Harvey Lannox "Tammy 10" winning about everything, they were the Steve and Sammy of their day, big time rivals. They ran pretty well well in MI also against the Johncocks, Johnny Logan and Sammy Sessions....
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November 02, 2017 at
12:24:37 PM
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My father always enjoyed talking about Gus Schrader and Emory Collins.
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November 02, 2017 at
12:58:56 PM
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Posted By: dryslk on November 01 2017 at 03:01:25 PM
Brad Pake ,Lou Kennedy Sr.
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I take it that's up In Winnepeg?
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November 02, 2017 at
07:41:28 PM
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Well I was raised in Stock Car countery so our local Legends were the likes of:
Mel Morris
Dick Kleindolph
Tony Stewart (From Washington Iowa)
Johnny Johnson
David Birkhofer (Brians Dad)
Gary Webb
Just to name a few.
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November 05, 2017 at
11:22:40 PM
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Grew up going to Husets and there are the obvious legend thats went through there, Wolfgang, McCarl, Lasoski, Schatz, & Dollansky. The one night Kasey Kahne showed up and blew by McCarl to win his first night ever at the track was awesome. There are a couple drivers that stood out that I feel had "it" but things just didn't pan out.
One is Justin Henderson. He is still doing well here and there but never really had the backing needed to make it. The couple years he ran the Outlaw tour it was really just Justin and his dad with his dad building the motors. His time on the Outlaw tour can be compared to the Shark Team.
The other is Chad Meyer. This guy had a ton of talent and speed. When he started to hit his prime he had a couple major wreaks that set him back and was never the same after. The talent was there but just was not the same after the injuries.
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November 16, 2017 at
03:18:05 AM
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Well I held off on this one cause my guy was not a sprint car driver, but dirt track modified "jalopy" or coupe. Smokey Stover of Staunton, Va. Raced in the Shenadoah Valley, mostly at Eastside Speedway in Waynesboro, Va., where he won 24 out of 26 features in 1962, always starting from the back due to total inversion based on season points.
He drove what looked like a 33 Ford with a Corvette 327, factory Rochester fuel injection. In the self published "Tales of the Track". by Steve Strosnider, his car owner says they won at Hagerstown & Williams Grove, but I've never been able to find documentation of this at EMMR.
He retired from full time racing in 1963, but would occasionally race special events, regrettably it turned out.... got badly injured driving what sounds like any early sprint or super modified in 1964: the 1200 lb "Flying Rollbar" (I never saw the car or a picture of it) Then in 1968 his career ended with severe burns at a sprint car race in Hagerstown. He left his car after an accident & rolled in a pool of what he thought was water, turned out to be methanol which burns invisibly.....I guess sprint cars were not his thing!
Smokey was a WW2 & Korean War vet & machinist/ tool & die maker who worked for my late father, who was chief engineer at American Safety Razor in Verona, Va.
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November 16, 2017 at
05:23:06 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Paintboss on November 02 2017 at 07:41:28 PM
Well I was raised in Stock Car countery so our local Legends were the likes of:
Mel Morris
Dick Kleindolph
Tony Stewart (From Washington Iowa)
Johnny Johnson
David Birkhofer (Brians Dad)
Gary Webb
Just to name a few.
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Grew up in SE Iowa-father was a late model guy but I always loved the sprinters! Add Dake, Niffenegger, Moss, Weedon to the Stock Car list.
Manny Rockhold, Ned Fry, Cliff Blundy and a car that I never had the name for (#14, yellow orange and red, late 70's possibly) at 34 raceways. I imagine my dad (RIP) is still mad I would always head to the sprinters after the races when they opened the gates....
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November 16, 2017 at
09:42:01 AM
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Posted By: Eagle Pit Shack Guy on October 31 2017 at 02:34:03 PM
Wow! Where do I start??? It's hard to remember all of the legends I saw around here (Lincoln, Nebraska), but I'll give it my best shot.
Between Midwest Speedway and Eagle Raceway, so many HOF drivers raced here on a pretty regular basis.
Little Joe Saldana, Ray Lee Goodwin, Kenny Gritz and Jan Opperman were all winners of the Knoxville Nationals. In addition to those 4 we regularly saw Wolfgang, Shane Carson, and so many other of the top drivers of the day.
In the 60's you had the true locals in the supermodifieds like Lloyd Beckman, Cliff Sealock, Keith Hightshoe, the original Black Bandit Lonnie Jensen, Rebel Roy McCain, Louie Quattrochi, Frank Brennfoerder and the Drouds.
Sprint car drivers were such names as Ed Bowes, Steve Grossenbacher, "Smokin" Joe Wade, the Drouds (Don Sr. and Don Jr.), JJ Riggins, Lloyd Beckman, Lonnie Jensen, Dean Chadd, Don Maxwell, Ray Lee Goodwin Jr. and dozens of others. There are just too many to recall all of them, but I relish the memory of every night spent watching them.
For a glimpse of Midwest Speedway's history, go to http://www.nebraskadirt.com/ and see for yourself.
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You mention Eagle, I have to mention Billy Alley. Yes, he is still a fairly young guy but what he accomplished was pretty remarkable.
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November 16, 2017 at
10:47:09 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Murphy on November 02 2017 at 12:58:56 PM
I take it that's up In Winnepeg?
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Lou Kennedy Sr. from Winnipeg raced at Grand Forks, Fargo, Minot, Husets, Jackson, Hartford, Minnesota State Fair, Northstar among others and was a front runner.
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November 16, 2017 at
03:38:52 PM
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don ray, ramona california, balboa stadium san diego circa 58'...
Ascot was the greatest of all time..
West Capital wasn't half bad either..
Life is good...
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November 16, 2017 at
04:11:17 PM
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While there are many from the late 70's and early 80's, I have to go back further.
Earl Wagner, Johnny Babb, Danny Richardson, Bud McCune, The Hibbard Brothers, Tom Corbin, Bill Utz, Ray Lee Goodwin, Thad Dosher, Dick Sutcliffe, Dick Forbrook, Jan Opperman those are just a few. More modern era drivers Timm Green, Jimmy Sills, Doug Wolfgang, Steve Kinser, Jimmy Boyd, Leland McSpadden.
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November 16, 2017 at
04:52:01 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: one silverfox on November 16 2017 at 10:47:09 AM
Lou Kennedy Sr. from Winnipeg raced at Grand Forks, Fargo, Minot, Husets, Jackson, Hartford, Minnesota State Fair, Northstar among others and was a front runner.
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I remember seeing Lou race at Husets, Jackson and maybe the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds for Cheater's Day.
The Kennedys are a racing family where I've watched3 generations race- Lou Sr., Lou Jr., and Thomas. I think the only other 2 generation racer families I've watched are The Mcarls- Leonard, Terry, and Austin and maybe the Macks. Are the Macks racing now grandsons of Don or Linus Mack?
Edit> I've seen 3 generations of Sharks- Bobby, Jacob and Logan.
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November 16, 2017 at
07:41:45 PM
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Howard Kaeding,
Howard won 23 races in a row at the San Jose Speedway in the early 1970s–17 of those wins were accomplished with the No. 3 car–the most of anyone in the history of the racetrack. The car was inducted into the Knoxville Hall of Fame about four years ago I think. I just can't think of anyone who could do that today, cars power are more even today than when you "run what you brung" days. Still, that man could drive a sprint car.
ROD
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November 16, 2017 at
10:46:47 PM
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My early memories were of Blackie Watt and Bob Wearing in western PA. Up in the great northwest its all about Kasey Kahne at Skagit Speedway.
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November 16, 2017 at
11:39:05 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Murphy on November 16 2017 at 04:52:01 PM
I remember seeing Lou race at Husets, Jackson and maybe the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds for Cheater's Day.
The Kennedys are a racing family where I've watched3 generations race- Lou Sr., Lou Jr., and Thomas. I think the only other 2 generation racer families I've watched are The Mcarls- Leonard, Terry, and Austin and maybe the Macks. Are the Macks racing now grandsons of Don or Linus Mack?
Edit> I've seen 3 generations of Sharks- Bobby, Jacob and Logan.
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They are Donny’s grandkids.
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November 18, 2017 at
09:30:03 PM
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Posted By: Murphy on October 31 2017 at 10:45:17 PM
An Oldsmobile sprint car? When and where? Tell me more please.
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despite hot wings attempt at making fun of my 45+ years of racing,yea I ran an Olds powered sprint car for a few years in the late 90's.At the time IMCA had a 360 cube limit on injected cars but carburated cars were allowed unlimited cubes.I'd been running 455 Olds engines in some modifieds so I put a455 in an old Gambler chassis I had.[there was an Olds powered car at Husets also] I can also remember when racing was fun,too bad these kids racing now will never experience that.I'm now 66years old and still racing IMCA modifieds and every once and a while I put my 500 cube Cadillac engine just for fun
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November 19, 2017 at
05:29:12 AM
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Going old school Ray Lee Goodwin, 24. Speedway motors 4x purple car any driver, dick sutcliffe in trostles 19 that was the time to see sprint car racing. Sonny helms in trostles 96 car way back!needs to be in the hall of fame can't help he way taken way to soon.
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