Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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Why would anyone want Wolfgang's autograph? Isn't he the guy that sued the gonads off everyone that ever heard of sprint car racing?

The hopeless desire to outrun Bud Grimm's Fords is 
why central PA became the toughest place to race on 
the planet. Even the KING couldn't run with Casey 
Luna's Fords on a tacky track. It's a crying shame 
that current car owners failed to notice.

Yes he did, but a true sprint car fan would look at what he did for the sport.

Read his book and you will see it from his point of view. Great book by the way. The best so far from Dave Agrabright.

Coming up:

Oct 17th - Ocean Speedway: WOO
Oct 18th - Tulare Thunderbowl:  WOO
Oct 30-31st - Perris Speedway: USAC Bud Oval Nationals

and to think that he would have dropped the lawsuits if TJ would have instituted a safety crew.

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I read the book and it was an excellent read that I highly recommend to every Sprint Car fan. I have never met Doug Wolfgang but after reading the book it's obvious we both know a lot of the same people and have spent time at the same tracks. I'd like to shake his hand, thank him for entertaining us and talk about mutual friends and some of his racing memories from around Minnesota and South Dakota. Maybe someday I'll get a chance to do that.

Stan Meissner (Check out the photo gallery and blog)

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Doug Wolfgang is a sprint car racing legend.....PERIOD. I still have the autographs he gave me as a kid....he was great to kids and his fans and he wasn't that nice to those who raced him......he dusted them....his era in the 29 alone was what makes racing legends........

Brent

When he came to Eldora in April (A few yrs ago) to sign papers. I seen him talking to Ted. I went right up & patted him on the shoulder & ask him how ya doin buddy. A couple yrs after that I called & talked to him for about 45 min. He told me alot of stuff, including what Nodust said. I told him that I did'nt think he would just do what he did without just cause. I have not read the book, But I'd bet that he touched some if not all subjects regarding the situation. To the people that still do not understand, find his # & call him. He will talk to you like he's known you for years. Stan M. you would not be sorry you talked to the man.

Still a class act all-around, Mr Wolfgang is. Always very cordial with my kids and I at the time he was driving. For sure, in the top 10 of all time, in my books.Who wouldn't do what he did.

I would stand in line for another autograph and chance to say thank you and let my boys meet a legend.. seen him up here many time ,class act.. one of the BIG THREE. (steve,sammy and wolf) lawsuit was somthing the sport needed at the time.. made sport better.had gonads to stick with it... just my thoughts...

Forgive and Forget Sport.

Grab your Open Wheels from the 1992-1993 era regarding the wreck and the preceeding lawsuit and the tone from the "In the know" yapping flaps is much different today as now they honor and jock each other to get interviews from the man they once stated would bring the sport down or other unpleasantness.

Someday I might even bury my grudge against Kenny Weld as time heals all wounds. Someday.

Wish there were more individuals involved in Open Wheel / Sprint car racing today with the backbone of DW. Pretty much all todays racers make sprint car racing just a " temp job" to get to NAPCAR land. Lotsa people come and go quickly it seems in sprintcar land these days.No one any smoother on the track and could make something out of nothing go fast as Doug could. As mentioned many times before , in my generation, the Big Three says it all, with lots of other racers trying just as hard along the way. DW is the salt of the earth.

Take Care

Exactly what were these changes that came about because of his lawsuit?

What changed? What is different now, compared to before, that came around as a direct result of his actions?

I know that almost nothing has changed due to Doug's lawsuit. That's the sad part of the whole thing - I think that Doug acknowledges that little, if anything, has changed since his lawsuit.

But it doesn't change the fact that Doug did what he thought was right for him - the fact that those that are running the sport haven't reacted appropriately to his lawsuit (in terms of changes) is an indication of their position on this.

It's not a shot at Doug - nor should it be.....

Chuck.....

It is my own personal opinion that a lot of things have changed since that frightful day in April of 1992. Tracks are better insured and insurance companies have a clearer understanding of the needs of short tracks by far.

I can think of at least five safety devices that are in use today that would have changed the outcome of Doug's accident and he would probably still be racing today.

How many times as a spectator or a competitor have you been to a race and asked to see the insurance policy or questioned the safety procedures? Do you think everyone takes that for granted?

I also think that the fact that we don't race 850hp 1200lb sprint cars with wings on PAVEMENT has probably saved a few lives.

You probably have no concept what-so-ever what this man and his family had to endure. Have you anyone close to you ever been to a burn ward in a hospital? I hope not and I hope you never have to make that trip.

If you are really so incensed by the issue, still to this day, my advice would be to read the book. Maybe you would gain some understanding of who he really is and what his family really went through. If you feel as strongly about your position after finishing the book, then I would respect your opinion and bid you a good day.

Clinton was elected President back in 1992.....haven't we all gotten over that? (that was supposed to be a joke)

I would be happy to send you my copy of Lone Wolf if you promised to send it back. It really is a great story about a great man.

Mark Burch, Lincoln NE

Read the book..Talk to the man. It will change any preconceived notions you may have had of him

I cherish the autographs I have of Doug Wolfgang.

Wow is all i can say. I have had alot of heroes in sprint car racing growing up a few miles away from the Iowa State Fairgrounds and of course 35 miles away from Knoxville. You read in the history of those places and Doug Wolfgang will never be forgotten, he made history there and was at the top of my list as well as many others im sure. You read on these post daily of people bashing Kinser and Swindell and now Wolfie once again. I mean its a tribute to just what a badass racer he was that years after hanging up his helmet after two tragic accidents someone finds it in there heart to talk about him. Like many years ago Hayden Fry said about Iowa Football "When they stop talking about you thats when you have problems". I mean the way I always saw the big 3 was

Kinser- the badass racer, party extrordinair, and grizzly bear tough

Swindell- Quiet, moody, always striving to go faster, and a hell of a driver

Wolfgang- a true outlaw, determined , fast and smooth, yet friendly and a total spokesman for the sport of sprint car racing.

Sprint car racing has changed alot since Wolfie left if you have a problem with his lawsuit ask people like Karl Kinser and Steve and on down the list they understood what he was saying in his lawsuit. When you go to a race and sign the waiver you take for granted the promoter has taken proper safety precations to insure the safety of not only the racers but the fans. I would almost guarentee you that most promoters dot there I's and cross there T's when it comes to policies now along with a bucket load of safety features. Hell at 33 I still ask for Doug's autograph and judging from the line at the Nationals all day long at his book signing alot of others do also. In my understanding Wolfie was gonna let Johnson out of the lawsuit if he provided something similar to the Safety Safari much like the safety crew for NHRA which travels with the racing sanction. Now it doesnt sound to me like he was much worried about himself as other racers also, his carreer was over and he had a family to raise and after sitting in the seat for over 20 years of his life I beleive he deserved every penny.

How many other Knoxville Nationals winners have given away their winning trophy as a wedding gift to an adoring fan? If you needed the shirt of his back all you would have to do is ask, I'll bet on it.

I don't think he ever gets enough credit for his sense of humor, the guy is simply a riot and you rarely see him without a wry smile or silly grin, he gets it! Fifteen minutes under a pop-up canopy during a rainstorm at Knoxvile years ago were maybe the best fifteen minutes I ever spent at that track, thanks to the Wolf. Take It Easy....

Knoxville Raceway history can be broken into two eras...BW (before Wolfgang) and AW (after Wolfgang) Had he not come along when he did, I really think there wouldn't have been a Knoxville Raceway the past 30 years as we know it. His impact was that great.

People can argue about the lawsuit or how Doug conducted himself but there's no denying what he did for Knoxville and Midwest sprint car racing. He was simply the most exciting sprint car driver I ever saw.

If you want his autograph...next weekend Doug will be at Motorsports 2008 in Atlantic City.

He will be having a book review and autograph signing on Friday at 4:00pm and Saturday 2:30 pm.

Thanks, Cheryl, for the info. I'm on my way. Hopefully here will be plenty of books available for sale.