Forum: Oklahomatidbits.com General Forum (go)
Moderators:  /  David Smith Jr

Just have to say nice job by the Oklahoman the last couple of weeks.  On this forum there has been a lot of negative things said about the coverage of the racing in Oklahoma by the paper, but the last couple of weeks there have been some really nice articles written.   One being the two stories about Marcus Jackson and his sucessful transplant and also the awesome story about Harold Leep Jr. and the tribute that was done at the State Fair Speedway last Friday by his son Jeff.  Just my two cents but thought it should be mentioned. 

Yeah, if I heard correctly the guy is being fed information. But irregardless, yes it has been better.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

Doesn't matter, both of you just look at the pictures anyway.

The best thing you can do is email Mike Sherman, the sports editor, and tell him how much you appreciate and enjoy the coverage. His email address is [email protected]. Mike, like most sports editors, typically hears nothing but complaints so a pat on the back will go a long way towards affirming his decision to cover dirt track racing.

The young reporter assigned to cover racing is Ray Martin, an OU student and a very bright guy. I do not know anything about Ray's background in racing, but I can assure you that he will put forth a great effort in doing his job.

"I'd pay $15 to watch a sprint car sit still."

I contacted Ray on facebook today and he seems like a real good kid. I offered him to come and hang out at the races if he wanted to know what he was writing about and he said that he might take up my offer sometime. He also told me to let him know if I have any ideas, so if anyone does just let me know and I'll message him.

That's a great offer. Insight in the one thing that all fans want and few get. A lot of people who follow the sport would love to know the inner-workings of pit strategy, drivers helping each other and a myriad of other things.

I think it would be interesting for him to talk about the technical expertise in setting up a race car. I read in Steve Smith's old sprint car book that sprint cars have something like 1,000 moving parts and 10,000 possible combinations. Too often, the mentality among most people is that we're just a bunch of hayseeds that are content to sit out there and watch cars run around a dirt oval. It takes a lot of brains and know-how to set up a car the right way.

Beyond that, I would love for guys like Steve Smith, Danny, Tony Anderson etc., those that have truly been around for a while and competed at a high level, to talk about what it takes to be good in the driver's seat ... natural feel, mechanical knowledge, track knowledge, experience, reflexes, etc.

"I'd pay $15 to watch a sprint car sit still."

It would be beneficial if he could just hang around a team all week and go to the races with them and even lend a hand in the pits. Maybe just scrape some mud and see what it's like to maintain and race a car. Kind of a week in the life of a racer artical.First hand experience. Maybe write about what all happened during the week of preparation. Then all the stuff that goes on at the track throughout the night.

I've offered Mr. Sherman and Mr. Martin pictures to put with articles that they run on Friday's, and have for the last couple of years. In fact, I might see a photographer from the Oklahoman maybe once a year at SFS. Heck, I'd like to have Mr. Martin come down and spend alittle time on the infield with me to get alittle differnet perspective of racing up close......really close!!!!!!

These are great guys, keep them coming. I'm going to send all of these to him on Friday because I really don't want to pester him two days in a row. If anyone else has any ideas just let me know. I don't understand why they won't take your pics Mike, sounds like an ego thing to me.

PS: Don't forget my pics Friday!!!!!

Your pics? What, you sitting in the stands doing nothing?

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

Nah he has been getting trained on the 4-wheeler. If he keeps doing a good job, I might let him try "THE" golf cart someday.

yeah i thought it has been much better too. much better than the poor crap before it. and much more than anyone else is doing - so its nice for the track to be gettin some coverage again.

i wish there was a way for all drivers to get to mention their sponsors. seriously if you were a business owner without much interest in racing - it would be low on the list of advertising opportunities. the paper prob cant do much about that. but the track could. seriously - recognizing only the winners is keepin the money up front.

i think each class should get a few opportunites throughout the year to come out in a line of the front str8 like ascs and introduce themselves and their sponsors. especially the guys lower in points need to be able to mention their sponsors..

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

We've discussed this before, but track announcers tend to wait too long to introduce the line-up for each race. By the time the announcer gets to rows four and five, they either don't get to mention the last few cars or they throw them in very quickly. It would be great for driver identification and sponsor recognition if we could get the field of cars announced to the fans well before the engines rev for the start of the race. Are the car sponsors mentioned in the program?

The best model for announcing sponsors at dirt track races is Johnny Gibson with the World of Outlaws. There is rarely a time when one of those cars rolls out on the track and that he doesn't quickly reel off all of the sponsors -- and some of those cars have 5-10.

"I'd pay $15 to watch a sprint car sit still."

Does this track announcer ever go into the pits before races to meet the drivers, owners, and/or sponsors? That'd help with what your talking about Kenny. I know John Brooks used to be there early every week and stop by to talk, if only for a couple of minutes. He familiarized himself with everyone so he could do his job better. Also, I agree that he could start going thru the lineups even during intermission, as the information on lineups is coming in.

Lets keep the ideas coming. This is getting good.

Boy, having an excuse to go to the pits and gather information sounds like a labor of love to me. That's the sort of thing most fans would kill for. I know from our work at OU that the things we view as mundane, the normal fan loves because it represents uncommon access. It would be great to have that kind of description over the PA -- sponsor info, car updates (dropped in a new motor, etc), driver info (what other tracks are they running). I'm there pretty much every Friday night and have picked up a few things over several years, but it's hard to be an educated fan. For instance, a few of you were talking about "puffing" a motor earlier this week. I deduced that it's a measuring device to determine cubic inches, but how does it work? I am an oddball in that I love racing and yet don't change my own oil, so even the basic stuff fascinates me. And one thing I have always appreciated is this -- you can ask a dumb or simple question around racers and even though they may snicker when you walk away, they are willing to explain things and usually seem impressed that you took the time to ask.

"I'd pay $15 to watch a sprint car sit still."

Right on !!!! That's the kind of stuff I'm talking about.

The pictures of me taking off my OK tidbits sticker on my wing haha. No they are the pictures of the night I blew my motor. He's the only one that has any. I bottomed out every shock rubber on the thing so I know there have to be some good pictures.

Yeah so not only do I have to sit out, I also get to push the 87 car up there because they don't have a fourwheeler. At least I don't have to push him back to often since he gets the old 2 yellow rule.

Brian does go down to the pits and talk to people. He's a very cool and personable guy. I think he's getting to be a good announcer with age. Its just like driving, it takes practice.

Kenny, feel free to come down anytime and ask any question you want. Dad is really good at explaining stuff, and I could try. You can even bring out your 6 year old within and sit in the car (just don't press any buttons or it might take off into orbit haha).

"Irregardless" isn't a word.

It's not HOW fast you go, but how you GO fast.

www.myspace.com/bucky65c

I agree on Brian. I think he already does a nice job and is improving with age.

"I'd pay $15 to watch a sprint car sit still."

No, but it is in my world and that is the only world that matters.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com