Forum: SCRAFAN.COM Forum (go)
Moderators: ljennings

From the WayBack Machine:

Allan Heath, Billy Cantrell, Nick Valenta, Handsome Bobby, Billy Garrett

(Ascot Park and Carrell Speedway in the '50s and '60s)

the best I've seen personaly,character ,skill and integrity..................... Cory Kruseman ,Richard Griffin , Rip Williams,Steve Kinser,Ricky Gaunt

Name your favorite drivers...

my favorite all time are

Red Mullican

Al Pombo

Dean Thompson

Nick Resino

best modern day sprint car drivers wang or non have to be

Steve Kinser

Sammy Swindel

Doug Wolfgang

Lealand McSpadden

and you have to include BK

Been looking and looking at this thread and I just can't do it, no way. How would I do it, by era, before cages, after cages, 50's,60's etc? So I'm going to pick..

The craziest ..Allen Heath, I remember him in the early sixties (63)shaking his hook in the air like a madman and doing a hot lap after a win at Ascot. A honourable mention to Eddie Worth in this category..

Most disliked by other drivers..Rich Volger, with Foyt coming in a distant, but strong second.

Best liked by other drivers, Could be Jack and Leland. They sure like each other a lot.LOL

Fastest and youngest at Indy Boat and Yeley. Couldn't help myself there..LOL

Best right cross.. Parnelli Jones...

Any additions?

Oh! one more for living a dream....Gil Mahoney AKA, leadfoot.

Kenny

Lealand and JW Hunt.

"You never knew when or where Hunt would appear, but when he did he would always spice up the racing by offering a little extra to sweeten the purse. I remember one particular night at Silver Dollar Speedway, when the CRA non-winged tour was in town for a Gold Cup support race. Lealand McSpadden had set quick time, but flipped in his heat race, ringing his bell and severely damaging the car. J. W. stepped up to the infield reporter's microphone and offered to add $1000 to the winner's purse if McSpadden could come back through the B main and win the main event! The offer met with roars of approal from the crowd. Looking a little shaky in a car that wasn't quite right, Lealand proceeded to run away with the B. A few minutes later, with the car now set up for the always-tacky Chico track, he won the main event to a standing ovation, and a beaming Hunt was there to greet McSpadden on the victory stand!"

That was a very interesting post Kenny. Most disliked by other drivers - Rich Vogler. Never new that. As for Wirth, I have heard a few wild stories about him.

"When the green flag drops the bullshit stops" - The 
Great GP

Loved to watch Vogler race. At the Copper Classic he ran all 4 divisions at times. Rich's nickname was "Mad Dog" because of the way he raced every single minute of every single race including trophy dashes, heats, semi's, it didn't matter, he had to win them all. He scared the you know what out of many a competitor and they weren't to keen about the way he would run them for a trophy or one more spot in a heat race, he was the original intimidater.

One story is that he used to drive all the way across Indiana to this guys garage (it was his story, I forgot his name) and just hang out. One day he diecided to ask him why he drove all that way just to hang out at the shop. Rich said, "well, you guys will talk to me".

Kenny

From the Really WayBack Machine:

Rex Mays, Ted Horn, Kelly Petillo, Emil Andres, Floyd Roberts

(Legion Ascot at Soto & Valley in El Sereno in the '30s)

Rex Mays in the Bowes Seal Fast Special at Langhorne, PA, in '47.

They don't make 'em like that anymore.

Since I have so many current drivers as friend I hate to not include them but I am going to to my Ascot Days to pick mine.

1. The Ripper You just have to appreciate the desire in someone to always want to do his personal best! I now have now his and Becky's kids to root for! On a personal note, a great family man as well! In todays world it is great to see such a tight knit family!

2. Steve "Joes been a fan since... he knows the rest of the quote!" Ostling! I just have the upmost respect for Steve and his racing career as well! Even though I poke fun every once in awhile here it is because I consider him and his wife close friends!

3. Dennis Rodriguez (I remember him in the stands as a little whipper snapper saying he was going to be a driver when he grew up!) Of course I never believed it was going happen but man am I glad I was wrong!

4. Walt Kennedy he was my guy from a distance when he raced. Back at Ascot I never got to know any of the drivers like I do now. I honestly never cared who on because I was just so excited about the awesome racing I was witnessing every night but I always rooted for Walt Kennedy!

5. Brad Doty/Jack Hewitt both of them I highly respected. Most have heard my story of Jack calling me while at work talking to me about my clear arm guards. I will always cherish that moment! Brad is as class an act as you will ever find! Both have an enthusiasm for sprint car racing that it is just contagious to be around them!

Sincerely,

Joe

PS. There are so many more but these are the ones that stand out from Ascot to me!

RADROBINLB

In no Particular order

Kevin Kierce

Brent Camarillo

Austin Mero

Cory Kruseman

Rip Williams

I gotta say this,.....

The thought that my name is sharing this thread with the likes of my heroes, Bub, Oskie, Lealand, Hertibese,(he was my dads favorite) The Unsers, Roger ward, Walt Kennedy, The Shoe, Stve O, my buddy Tricky Ricky, Tony Jones, Danny Sheridan, Rip, Brad Doty, etc etc.. WOW!!

Realising the thrilles that these drivers have givin me as a fan and a driver and to think that I have offered that excitement up for a few of you..... Rest assured that the day the good lord comes and tells me its time to go,.. I will have a smile on my face.

I see a few of you Mentioned Billy and Chad, but what about Speed?

I cant believe no one mention Kenny Irwin Jr and there is so many to mention, East coast won alot races in the day Smokey Snelbaker i have so many but i'll stop here

San Diego's Best

Raj, absolutely right about the Bowles Spl. They do not make 'em like that anymore. That hand -formed alum body (Quinn Epperly?) is art unlike todays plastic. Looking at the tail tank (no bladder or bumper), sprint car racing obviously was not the contact sport it unfortunately has become.

The 18th anniversary of Rich's passing will be this Monday 7/21. I remember this because Billy Boat was on his way to winning a CRA main that same night (7/21/1990) at Ascot in the Fite/Madden #15. We went to the winner's circle afterwards to congratulate Billy and his crew on winning the main when we found out about Rich. It's hard to believe that it's been that long.

My favourite T shirt is SCRA's LEGENDS OF THE WEST. It has great illistrations of Bobby Hogle in the Morales bro #1, Billy Wilkerson in the #2, Jimmy Osky in the #1, Dean Thompson in the #1 Shaver, Bubby Jones, Brad Noffsinger, Ron Shuman, Lealand McSpadden, and Richard Griffin on it. Who couldn't pick any of those guy's, except the young guys? LOL

It's my shirt of choice to wear at ALL CRA/USAC events.

Sounds like a pretty bitchin' shirt! Where can I buy one?

This is one of the SCRA shirts that they had the first year? after USAC came and stayed. Ron was still trying to hold it together somehow and I bought the shirt and SCRA stickers from him off the web site. I sent him a email at the beginning of the next year and asked if he had any left over because it's such a fine shirt. I think he might have had other things on his mind as he never answered..ya think..LOL It was made by Arizona sports shirts, Fruit of the loom, and great color and detail.. a really boss shirt man.

Kenny