Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
Moderators: StuDeedooo

Why does this series end so early. The John Padjett site lists a late April race as the only one besides the late date for the Gold Cup. Why do they have such a short season? Thanks.

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

The last race is late July and then teams have time to go to Knoxville or race other WoO races if they wanted to. They usually run about a total of 25-26 races every weekend from March to July at 8 or so tracks. In years past I have gone to most of the races from as far north as Quincy and as far south as Tulare. Gold Cup is usually the first or second September and is a must see event! The GSC are a talented bunch of drivers who are fun to watch race!

Looking forward to the new Golden State King of the 
West series schedule! 

Winged sprintcars = the fastest and most exciting 
racecars on dirt! 

Thanks Ms Kelly, I may be dating myself but I remember going to the Gold Cup at West Capital way to many years ago. As far as open wheel racing goes I grew up there and at San Jose Speedway and Stockton's 99 Speedway when the modifieds ran there. It just seems like a shame that their season ends so early - but what do I know? Thanks again.

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

Many years ago, when NARC was still in existence and aligned with the GSC, I asked Jim Allen, the PR guy for both series, the same question. NARC and the GSC went dark from early August and only NARC returned for a few shows after the WoO left California in mid to late Spetember. His response was...

1) No promoter will schedule a race when the WoO is in Nor Cal.... too great of a risk, both in fans and teams attending.

2) The WoO used to race a bunch in Northern and Central California - Baylands, San Jose, Hanford, Santa Maria, Calistoga, Chico, Oildale - so the WoO could schedule a bunch of races over several weeks to keep everyone racing busy.

3) The teams that wanted to attend Knoxville would miss too many NARC/GSC point shows, which would eliminate them from championship contention. At the time, maybe 2 or 3 NorCal teams went to Knoxville, so while this really made little sense to me, it was among the reasons presented...

So while there is some validity to Jim's answers at the time, the very fact is that most PA, and Ohio 410 tracks do NOT go dark during the Knoxville Nationals. So as a race team you can go to the Nationals, but it's your choice.....

And Kelly, one year in the 90's I seem to recall that the NARC/GSC schedule entailed 39 or 40 races, and that did not include WoO shows!

Chuck.....

Thank you Chuck for the info.

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

sprinter25 pretty much said it.

when the woo used to have their western swing arouind here it included not only the washington and oregon tracks but a lot more tracks in cali than now. local teams from our area that wanted to could head east towards k-ville and race their way to the nats and then race their way back home with the outlaws without missing points races with narc/gsc. now a days there are still teams that like to make the trip to the nats and hit some races on the way back to the west coast. also there are the late season specialty races both 410 and 360 that cali is known for that our teams run without points pressure on them. they have the bennifit of both worlds, racing for points, and traveling.

there was also a minimum miles radius in the contract that prevented other WoO contracted facilites to remain dark when the series was in the area. I believe it was also in the contract for the WoO regular teams who thought about running non-woo shows.

...

Theres 6 Civil War races after the GSC Series ends, plus Trophy Cup, Wright One, & Fall Nationals. A lot of teams have both 410 & 360 motors, I think of the 2nd half of the year as mainly 360 racing. (except for Gold Cup).

Don't forget the Oval Nationals @ Perris and the Western @ Manzanita in October - November as many teams, including the Kaedings, take their wings off and run with USAC/CRA.

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS