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

We just wanted to thank you for the generous gift you gave us Saturday night at the Bradway. Totally unexpected and very much appreciated. You guys are great.

Thanks again

Linda, John & Evan

Linda, if you are refering to the Heat Race prizes, it was the pleasure of HoserVille to be allowed to particapate. The Bradway is my favorite race... period.

Boy, having my truck on the track to transport the prizes and my daughter to the front stretch after each heat sure made that job a ton easier!

Thank you to all who donated to HoserVille during the year in one form or another, and thanks especially to Mike, Rich and Larry for making it all work and for allowing me to be a part.

JPM... Thank you.

I brought along my nephew Rob ("Tony Stewart" for those who remember that day at Tulare a few years ago) and his new bride Megan. It was Megan's first race, a Sprint Car Virgin as it were. Although it's a little bit of a long read, below is the text of an email she sent to friends and family on Sunday morning. I love the perspective.

About two weeks ago, maybe three, Rob told me that his Uncle Jim and cousin Lindsay were going to see a car race a little bit north of us and asked if they could stay at our house that night so they wouldn't have to drive all the way back to Tracy that same day. (It wasn't really a question... we always open our house to our friends and family.) The race was on a Saturday so, on the Friday before they were to come up, I went grocery shopping for some breakfast food, washed some sheets, made up the guest bed, and tidied up the house. Friday evening Rob called me and said the city was going crazy and he'd been too busy at work to call Uncle Jim... would I please do it and find out the time frame and all that stuff? Sure, I said. No problem.

I had to leave a message but late that evening got a call back from Uncle Jim. He said the race is in Chico and he planned to leave around 10am and meet us up there between noon and one. I said 'we? what? we're going too?' (strike one for Rob)

Uncle Jim said he and Lindsay were going to be in the in-field of the race because she is the Trophy girl and he was going to be picking up the trophies and awards to hand out to the race winners. He said about a month ago, he had invited Rob and I to go with him but they were e-mailing back and forth and Uncle Jim hadn't heard back from Rob about the final details. Uncle Jim asked 'didn't Rob tell you any of this?' I said of course not... Rob only told me that you and Lindsay were coming to stay the night. I had no idea you were actually involved in the race activities. (strike two for Rob)

So he gave me all the info and of course Rob claimed he HAD told me (all he said was 'you've never been to a Sprint Car Race before have you?' and then at a separate time - a completely different day - said 'hey, my cousin and uncle are going to a race on Sat and are staying the night here'. How was I supposed to know they two correlated?!?) Lucky for Rob, he never reached strike three. =)

The next morning, we got ready for the race and and made the hour and half drive to Chico. We got there and immediately started sweating... it had to be at least 100 degrees outside. After a little while, we drove into the center of the race oval and the race got started. We saw a few crashes and lots of dirt fly from the giant tires on the cars kicking up the mud track. It was a little intimidating being that close to the cars and litterally turning in a circle to watch the cars go around. Very different from sitting in the stands and having a semi-bird's eye view. After a few laps (I think 8 laps) the winner was announced and we drove over the front stretch (the part right in front of the stands) and Uncle Jim escorted Lindsay over to hand the winner his trophy and plaque.

Any time there was a crash (or sometimes when the cars bumped into each other pieces flew off and caused a hazard to the drivers) the Pace Car would come out to slow everyone down until the crash or debris could be removed. Then the Pace Car would come back into the in-field and the race would resume. Rob got to be a passenger in the Pace Car for two races and had the biggest grin on his face.

There were a total of four races that Lindsay handed out trophies and plaques for and those races determined who was racing in each of the three main event races. The main event winners won money, and Lindsay didn't hand that out, so we watched the main even from the stands with a bunch of Uncle Jim's friends.

What I didn't know is that they like to sit by the fourth turn. That's the turn right before the straightaway where the race will end... where the drivers punch it to try to win the race.... and kick up a TON of mud and dirt when they punch it. There is a fence separating the stands from the race track (in fact one driver was accidently pushed off the track and ran straight into that fence). When the cars go by and kick up mud, the mud goes so high it goes over the fence. We litterally got pelted with small chunks of mud as much smaller bits of dirt rained down upon us. Uncle Jim's friends were making jokes about how you can't drink your beer at the race until it has mud in it... turns out there wasn't much kidding about that! As I looked around, I realized that most people were wearing some sort of eye protection - clear glasses like construction workers use when using saws/machines and even some goggles like I wore in my Chemistry lab classes. Even the little kids were wearing goggles!

I couldn't stop laughing at the ridiculousness of it all... people voluntarily sitting in an area they know they will get pelted with mud while a shower of dirt rained down. Uncle Jim said they don't normally get so much dirt rained down. Since it was so hot that day, the sun dried up the track and caused more loose dirt than usual. He said they usually see a little dirt kick up, but not usually as much as we saw. The whole day was so much fun but I was never more glad to take a REALLY long shower that night.

Topwing

I was referring to a little something extra in addition to the heat race prizes which were wonderful as usual. They know who they are and what I am talking about.

Thank you to everyone!

You are welcome Linda. I'm glad we were able to help out. It's great having Evan running GSC and seeing all of you at the track each week.

99% of all racing people seem to be good people and I think the Suggs family rates up there with the best of the best.

CWM

Quote by CarwashMike: "99% of all racing people seem to be good people and I think the Suggs family rates up there with the best of the best."

I have to agree with Carwash although I am curious who the other 1% are, lol!

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

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

Megan, I am sorry that you didn't get a chance to ride in the pace truck Saturday night, but "Uncle Jim" had to get up in the stands so he could have a beer with "mud in it"! :) I am pleased that you enjoyed your first sprint car race and that Rob enjoyed his ride. Maybe next time we can make it happen (but you will have to arm wrestle with Lindsay for it).

Linda, I also agree with CarWash -- you guys rank right up there.

Are we having fun yet?

nice read! always coool to see an essay about "yer first time to a sprint car race".

99% is a bit generous, lol. But the Suggs are top shelf!

...

You are welcome Linda... I think the Suggs family knows how much I like them they are a breath of fresh air in the racing community never unapproachable never pissy always have a smile (and snacks lol!!)

anyways I could go on all day about them I think Gary hit it right on the head in the heat race interview.

Hope to see the Suggs family car in winner circle for GSC very soon.

Amanda Joseph & The Boyz

(LOSER)