Forum: Racing From The Past (go)
Moderators: Racing From The Past

Okay, 10-26-08

I am now in the process of putting together the "core" list of cars to build this event from. As you know I was told I needed 20-22 100" supers at least. I have reconfirmed 8 cars thus far. Mostly from North Texas,1 from Kansas. This number counts my 2 from Ardmore,Ok, not including my 6 cyl coupe.

The idea is to get in satisfactory track time for those open wheel cars outside of this group. The sooner we can get these numbers in, the sooner we can make a strategy as to how this day unfolds.

Hopefully people have been checking with Lanny Edwards to verify this is in the planning stage.

Kansas car owners, or anybody else, I'll call you or you can call me at 580-653-1538, or 580-465-8351.

12

Just a note

The interest in this show is strong! Amazing how many people want to bring 2 cars! The base list is going good too. I am surprised at how many are not on the internet yet................Took me a long time too.

This is cool- Just got off the phone with none other than Benny Taylor! There is a car in the works for him also. Benny is very interested in being there. That is awesome.

The old days of Tulsa vs OkC and Lawton vs. Wichita Falls or even Kansas vs. Oklahoma are over in the rivalry department. This is about what's left of us, the time is now.

The "show only" list is growing too. Looking like several of the sheet metal sedans/coupes are interested. Have 2 midgets also interested so far.

A list is coming with names of people I haven't even heard of. Should be helpful.

Try to have everybody there by 5:00 PM that Friday of, out in front of the grandstands for the weekly crowd to see. If you can have cars there all day, perfect for what is being held on the fairgrounds. That way they can see what is going on as well.

Go old-time. Get a big piece of plywood, color it white and paint in red letters like they use to back in the day about "Stock Car Races on Saturday."

Got old popcorn machines that work? Got old pans and can you get some hot water to boil hotdogs? Can you make little programs for those who are going to be there, complete with pictures such as they were on those race nights?

Sell the hot dogs for .50 or $1.00 or whatever it cost back then. Sell the popcorn for whatever it was selling for back then. Sell tickets to the races for what, $3.00? Whatever was the norm back then, do as the same as back then with those same costs.

That is something on SFS 50th Anniversary they should have done with promotion. Roll back the prices.

Any and all proceeds earned (if any) could go to the Steve King Foundation.

Just my opinion.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

I like it! I'll have to see what can be done. The trick is to get BOTH sides to agree or at least find a common ground. I'm in a position where I have to talk to Lanny and talk to the car owners. If I can be true to all 3 sides, I think the show can go well, and the fans will like what they see. And I'll get to sleep at night, work permitting of course.

Things are melding together nicely right now. Instead of asking people for money, I'm asking people to come and have a good time. The interest is strong, and without that nothing can work. Money is a reality, but keeping things conservative like it looks right now, could help on the prices. In the end the prices are not my call. I do believe this could be a good promotion for the speedway, vintage/classic race cars in our region, and Lanny and his team. Could also give the young'uns another reason to respect the ones who gave the speedway a reason to live. That being the fans,drivers,car owners, promoters, and sponsors. The plus would be if they fell in love with the cars as well. What they drive today, evolved from these cars.

Would have loved Harold Leep Jr. doing the sign, and Jack Claxton doing the "voice".

Going thru the pages on the main site, I found the car that showed me that the times were turning for old race cars from our neck of the woods.

1997 I think it was, the NSRA Street Rod National, yes Edna the big one, was up and running at OkC. I walked through rows and rows of street rods. The reported number was somewhere around 6k I think. I saw a '37 Ford cabrolet fresh from a rod shop that had to be in the 6 figure range for build cost. It was parked in a high profile spot for attention and a magazine cover should any one want to do it. It drew a few onlookers now and then.

I looked down a row of all kinds of rods and saw a crowd in one spot. Couldn't see a car, just a crowd. Overcome by the 'rubberneck' spell I walked down to see who was hurt. Nobody hurt, just this old car soaking up pedestrians. I knew then, things were coming full circle for my favorite cars!

Okay, couldn't sleep.

Money,proceeds,earnings etc. First we have to see if we have a foot to stand on, and then make sure we don't shoot it. A huge success makes

giving easier. Build the event like it needs to be, the donations will be there to give. Looking around we can see automotive events doing well enough in their own, and they do give. Yes, even Lanny gives. He might be quiet about it, but he does. If this show goes on to do well, and then it continues year in, year out-there is no reason not to give.

Which brings me to the other part of the money issue here- Cutting out the profit will make it harder to give.

At this moment, my first priority is to keep the cost down for the vintage/classic car owners and the promoter. By not having a purse, nor "racing nose to nose", we have taken a step in the right direction. This is about just having fun. Sometimes people spend more money than they need to when they have fun.

What if- Charity auction? Autographed items from the Legends? Donated items from businesses around town, and so on. ----My time is swept up right now on bringing these guys together. If there is someone dedicated enough to do the charity side, i'm sure it could be fit in. I know there is a silent auction at the Chili Bowl. Could be here?

Here's a good one- Copies of old NCRA/USAC/WoO etc races on DVD. $5-$10 a pop. I'd pay $20+ for a Mar-Car copy.

11-4

Interest remains strong and solid. Still that's all I'm allowed to say at this point. A few points brought up this week.-

The "Knoxville accident" a few years ago has made it clear that "racing" is NOT the way to go at vintage shows like ours. The members of KAR have already convinced me of this, but I just got off the phone with a man from Florida who has a 6-cylinder Nance style modified, his club runs a show at East Bay. They nearly lost that show over insurance worries brought on by the death at Knoxville. His clubs rules are very similar to KAR. KAR 's rules have been earned through years of experience, and they are set to keep this hobby alive.

I have cooled my heels for one week to look at what's before me. I have a lot of stepping up to do, positive yet slow progress keeps happening,

What demographics I have found are very interesting. Small group in our case, when compared to huge national groups, but we are solid. There is a larger interest in this website amongst the 35-49 year old crowd. 60%+ are male, excellant incomes,50%+ have college etc,etc. THESE ARE THE FANS YOU OLD RACERS MADE FOR LIFE. Why is the older crowd not stronger in viewership here you ask? Most of them do not bother to get on a computer and hunt like we do when we can. It amazes me how many old race car gearheads do not know about Racing From The Past. They'd love it!

The need for the date set and held is compounding daily. Just like you, I need to know how much time I have to get these parts I have together and make a turn-key car(actually I am shooting for 2). Car owners, I'm in this boat with you guys. I'll be getting back on the lines today.

The guy I mentioned earlier in this post from Florida? He wants to bring his car if we go by KAR's safety rules. EVERYONE I've talked to prefers KAR safety rules.

Have I mentioned that Benny Taylor has a roller chassis waiting for him? In these parts Benny is a Legend. Yup. Benny has grudgingly accepted the notion that passing everyone on the outside and going for the lead on the first lap.........may not be the ideal thing to do here. If Benny Taylor wants to do some laps in an old super, I want to be there to see it.

There's more good stuff coming up in bits and pieces, time does not wait, gotta go.

I have just bought a set of these and am looking to use these for a restoration award. Thinking of these on a plaque of some kind and think they could be real special.

11-14

Have been working with solid people lately, things are looking better all the time. Interest has been showing from all corners and there are some that have come on board to keep this thing rolling. The grab from this show is with a forward pull, which means things are definitely positive. I have taken a conservative approach, so be patient...................................

here are some pics form our 3 day deal. you are all welcome to come in 09 as we have about every class. http://www.vintagegarage.com/MVVRCA/index.html

LETS RACE BOYS

Thanks, I'll look them up. By the way, do you guys race or do exhibitions?

WE RACE. WE CALL IT NO CONTACT RACING. IF YOU MAKE CONTACT WITH ANOTHER THEY PARK YOU FOR THE REST OF THE EVENT. HOPPE TO SEE YOU GUYS MAKE THE TRIP.

LETS RACE BOYS

I'm sure that there are a several that would like to.

Right now there are so many that are getting their cars back out and running that haven't seen the sun in 20-40+ years. Like myself, many either haven't driven in years, or they haven't at all. We've put these cars together for the love of the memories, the people, and of course the machines.

At the time being, the ground is too shaky for us to even think about racing these cars.---Don't get me wrong, there are some here that could run with the best of them- I can think of 6 -10 guys off the top of my head that are retired that with a little rust knocked off, wouldn't get lapped. A couple of them would be right in the hunt. ........I couldn't be one of them, I was a dinky puddle jumper back in the eighties, and since I haven't driven in 20 years, I have no choice but to be one right now. Skills and money aside, it took me too long to get the parts together. Most of us won't be in the position to put these cars out there to "race".

I have my instructions from 95+% of the owners down here that if this gets turned into a "competition race, contact or no contact rules"--these guys will not show up.

That would make this a "one time show". Don't give up on me here now--read the last line

On the horizon, in years to come, there COULD be a few supers(reproduction, higher safety standards) that WOULD want to "race". Yet that, is a whole 'nuther ball of wax and too far down the road to worry about right now.

I just received these in the mail and have been very impressed.

In a few days, I will be letting you know about a very special "restoration" award in the works. It will be simple, but worth it.

This is for you guys working hard to restore your cars.

ps- Yes, I know a restoration does not involve a plastic lime green seat and an armguard from the wrong decade! LOL

read 1st post

Guess what? For you guys south of OkC, we have a new track on the radar!

For those of us in the North Texas, Southern Oklahoma area there is another track very interested. Early signs of flexability are excellent! With the possibilies of both this track and at Ada, our plates are just about full. He understands the concept of what we are trying to do, and is an old supermodified fan. Just like us, he wants to see them again. "Exhibition" is the order, and from talking to you guys I think this is gonna be right up our alley.

As venues go, it is a simple facility,clean and JUST what you need. The clay is the very same as a well known facility's surface in the area. Since this is all new, we have yet to get all the things down. For now I have to keep the tracks name quiet until things are finalized.

One thing we will have to do is keep an eye on KAR's schedule since we do not want to conflict with them if they are in or close enough by to hurt theirs or our car count. Either way, if you just want to run laps and have a good time, this is the most simple and least stressful I've come across.

more later hombres

I looked at their website for the other track. It is a small facility, but they do take a lot of pride in it. There is plenty of room to run. The attitudes are great.

I think I just saw this car listed on EBay in the last couple of days. Asking 14k

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Coupe-Jalopy-Pre-1949-Vintage-Race-Car-Jalopy-34-Chevy-Coupe_W0QQitemZ300273803980QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item300273803980&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318