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

The only person Bruce has to impress is the guy signing his pay check. He has been the announcer at the grove for more years than most of you yakkers have sat in the stands. Keep it up Bruce, the day he decides to step away from the mic it will be a sad day. 

I agree. I've always liked Bruce. His "ladies and gentlemen, it is show time at Williams Grove Speedway" call is legendary and it won't be the same when he decides to hang it up. I also like his "What do ya think?" thing that he does as they get ready to go green. 

The ladies and gentlemen thing is probably all his, but the what do ya think deal is a spinoff from the great Warren Ruffner of the fabled Reading Fairgrounds. He would ask the fans who do you think has the hot shoe tonight? Then go through the field and charge up the fans right before the green. It works for Bruce at WG but it's not original. I believe an announcer is a necessary to keep the fans informed, but need to toe the line of necessity and not feel like they are the show. He has stood the test of time and has been good. Sometimes crossed that line but mostly understands his role. For those who think the track announcer needs to worry about what the online fans hear and see, they need to tell their service to provide its own announcer. The people at the track can see more than on the tv. Get your own guy or show up to the track if possible. Those guys who scream and yell are trying to convince the people the racing is more exciting than it really is. I believe if given the chance Gibson could make watching paint dry or grass grow seem exciting. For me that's what the racing he announces is like. The best invention for racing fans may be sound deadening headphones, that way if you don't like the announcer put them on and problem solved. Especially at Port Royal. Obviously the mute button works for the internet race fans. Anyway go out and enjoy any of the racing you can as it's already Labor Day and this abbreviated season is coming to its end. 

I played a few rounds of golf with Jack in Florida, talk about a fun time.  If one of us hit a bad shot I would say to Jack, Announcer Voice Jack and he would comment on the brutal shot, he was a funny, funny man.  So polite and peasant he always made you feel better being with him...

Ole Warren Ruffner sure did have that trademark of who the hotshoe is tonite not only at reading but also at Penn National 2 of many great tracks that are long defunct!  I am fine with Bruce as I am with most announcers

I think Bruce is one of the best. He's an icon in the business. I do like Hare better though. He has the voice and many entertaining nicknames for the drivers. 

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i don't have a problem with any of the announcers.  it's another job that everybody thinks they can do.  gibson is one of the best in any sport.  the port royal guys have done a lot social media wise to promote sprint car racing.  beerhill gang tv gives the sport more frequent/up to date coverage than it deserves.  hopefully they will bring back the pre-race shows at the grove. i like when they go down to the track during the race to fill everyone in on what's going on.  there's not an mrn frequency you can dial up to find out what's going on.  

It is a nealy thankless job and I don't believe any of us think we could do it better. The over the top stuff is really what a lot of us take issue with. An announcer who can keep the fans informed without trying to become the show is all a sprint car show really needs. 

I remember being at the grove one night, pre Bruce Ellis, and they were actually having live tryouts for a new announcer. I think they tried out 3 announcers and 2 of them were worse than anything I've ever heard at any speedway( even the announcers that sound like they're in some sort of hostage situation) all that said,  I'm glad we have had Bruce for as long as we have.

410 INSIGHTS

"I really like his mechanic Jimmy Russel. He was the guy 
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                    B.STRAWSER26

Enjoy bruce's  announcing while you can. it is great opposed to the shit show they got at port as if earl's kick the tires light the fires,rip the lip,rocketship,sweet meat pie  bullshit wasnt bad enough. now they added a guy who sounds like a teenage girl cryin it is so painfull  to hear. And yes the fill in guy at lincoln is horendously bad but if i had a choice between fill in guy and port announcers i would carve my eardrums out with a dull spork!

I find that most of the Late Model announcers are over the top trying to outdo each other with the witty sayings.  Sprint announcers are tame by comparison.  I like the ones who announce drivers and sponsors, maybe add a few facts that fans aren't likely to know then call the action like the actually understand Sprint Cars.  I have never heard Ellis live but watched TV races he has announced and it doesn't stand out.  I would take periodic silence over Late Model southern type humor any day.

Another benefit of watching from home, the mute button.

Stan Meissner

It's not an easy job. Neither is throwing a 100 mph fastball but being passionate about baseball isn't enough to get you into the rotation or the bullpen for any professional baseball team. Those guys have done great things for Port Royal and the sport as a whole, but that doesn't make them good at calling a race. Some people have it and some don't. They just don't.

I actually think the guy they fired is much better than what they have now. Sure Brouse can be annoying at times and he's 1 that fishes for compliments, but few have his knowledge of local track history and the drivers. I respect that. He's also decent at calling a race.

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I believe that was Chet Christner from Flo Racing. For an announcer who travels around the country, he was well prepared with local facts and history of the track and drivers. A true professional and quite entertaining in my opinion.

yes i dont mean chet he is great.i mean the other guy  youtube race before last week id post it but dont know how to . youtube port royal speedway 9-5-2020  and sit thru that shit if you can make it to 2 minutes mark and on  warning it is  painfull to hear. Everyone listen to that announcing and explain to me how anyone could stand a whole night of that."I am so glad the cars are loud wish they didnt have to run mufflers

I still have the letter I received from Williams Grove after applying to be the announcer.  They had tried unsuccessfully to get in contact with me but had to go ahead and make their selection.  And it was Bruce Ellis.  I knew then and still know now they made an excellent choice.  Bruce is the type of an announcer that I prefer.  For some of the others, I just put my ear plugs in earlier.