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

I've been around this sport for some time now also been lucky enough to do this for a living and traveled the country working on sprint cars and I always had people ask about certain drivers and tracks from Calif, such tracks as Ascot, West Capitol, Calistoga, Hanford, Chico, Baylands, Tulare, Placerville all these and more tracks people from back east from mid west all heard of but never seen and would like to, Wow and the drivers we've had and some great one's at that and still do man where do I start, Maybe I shouldn't start and let people from this site name the greats from the past to present. Just want to say we are lucky to have seen and still see great sprint car racing in California

Gary Patterson for sure was a great driver. Tracks - I haven't been to Silver Dollar but would like to one day. The best that I have been to would be the PAS, hands down. It is very fan friendly, modern, clean, a great track announcer in Scott D., as well as two very good track reporters and probably most important it has a family environment. The Kazarian family works very hard to make all of these things happen for the fans. The track is also awesome. I like Tulare alot and of course Calistoga (its been a long time since I was there), the old San Jose Speedway on Tully Road, West Capital with JPM as the promoters and Victorville with a couple of very good open comp shows this year. Victorville is very racy, but the fairground's needs to get with the program and upgrade their PA system. Other drivers Nick Rescino, Johnny Brazil, Howard Kaeding, Johnny Anderson and Jimmy Sills. All of these drivers I would consider to be great drivers. BTW Johnny Anderson should be in the Sprint Car Hall of Fame. It really is an insult to the man and the west coast that he has not been recognized for his great career.

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

gurney

sills

green

van connett

andretta

anderson

mcmahon

opperman

boyd

the list could go on forever

You forgot great crew chiefs in this paragraph! lol I can name a few of them also. Sean Becker has 2 working for him in the 2sb! lol I remember asking RBrown at Tulare, how many drivers he crewed for and I think the number was over 35. And the 35 plus drivers he crewed for were great/good drivers... I'm sure having a good crew chief helped.

My favorite at west capital was Mike Wasina! The battle with Wasina and Wally Baker - the young and old - both were good. My favorite World of Outlaws driver Brad Doty. Gary Patterson, he was the best!

Tripcrwn you have go to get out to Silver Dollar one of these weekends- maybe Gold Cup in September?

I have been to many of the dirt tracks in California and they all have something different to offer!

I have been to Chico, Quincy, Placerville, Antioch, Placerville, Ocean (Watsonville), Petaluma,

Calistoga, Hanford, Tulare, and Bakersfield I still have not been to Victorville, Ventura, Santa Maria,

and Perris. I am sure there are other dirt tracks I have missed.

As a young girl I went to Baylands and San Jose speedway quite often and I really miss these tracks! When I drive by these tracks I am a little sad to know that these tracks didn't need to close and could still be racing today! I would have loved to seen West Capital, but it closed when I was just a baby. I wish I would have gone to Ascot, but it closed before I had the chance to get to Southern California.

As far as great drivers there are too many to name! I find it hard to pick my favorite race track because each one is soo different and has its goods and bads. My top 5 (that are still racing) are: Tulare, Chico, Placerville, Petaluma, and Calistoga!

If you had to pick your top track and top driver in California who would it be? It could be past or present

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

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

best tracks (remember I'm a SoCal guy)

1.Ventura (the commotion on the ocean)

2.the PAS

3.Silver dollar

4.Tulare

5.Oildale (when they run midgets)

drivers luv and respect them all

ROB

I have to agree with you and moose thier are so many more from so cal also Dino,Oskie, and nor cal Boyd, Jimmy Gordon, Bradway.Hortons and many many more this could fun and bring back alot of memories

sckelly, not this year for the Gold Cup due to the USAC Calistoga double header. I relocated to Southern California many years ago and to stay another weekend up north would break the bank. We have been anxiously waiting for the Lou Vermeil Classic to see the traditional sprint cars of USAC/CRA on the historic and fast 1/2 mile. I do remember the Gold Cup @ West Capital when they ran the track's 1/2 mile. BTW the Labor Day week is shaping up as a great one with the Johnny Key @ Ocean and the two USAC shows (with sprints and midgets) and then the Gold Cup @ Silver Dollar. What more could a race fan want. Almost forgot Fred Hunt, one of my home town favorites from Tracy who ran at Stockton's 99 Speedway (I know it was asphalt, but I was young then). Hunt was a former NARC Champion and then later at 99.

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

best tracks--- ascot (the last one) calistoga(pre wing) baylands san jose (fairgrounds) vallejo(#1) calistoga(pro wing)silver dollar west capital san jose(tully rd) ventura tulare---ocean (watsonville)is earning allot of respect from allot of people with all the improvements of the track and quality of racing i have never been to the pass but hope to soon------drivers --wow i cant even Begin to list them i have been around nor call dirt tracks for 49 years and there are way to many stand out drivers from this area to even start and id hate to leave someone out just go to the hammer-down web site and look at the list of winners from just calistoga and that will put things in perspective for ya---- http://www.hammerdownusa.com/calistoga.htm ------- http://www.hammerdownusa.com/Calistogacareerwins.htm -----allso folowing the winners list is a history of calistoga starting in 1937 and is a must read for any sprint car fan

Robert Bond    San Jose Ca

What about Brent K. Chuck Miller was fast.

Throttle Down!

another must read memories page for nor call race fans ----- http://www.lokent.com/hardtops.html

Robert Bond    San Jose Ca

one of the most unique places to watch sprint cars is from the pits in p-ville above turn 4. hands down my favorite place to watch a race from

Yeah thats my favourite spot also might of stood right next to you last nite

We really are so fortunate to have such GREAT sprint car racing here in Califronia. Since I was a boy I can remember sprint car racing being one bad ass sport. Here in California some of my favorite memories are that at Baylands. Everything about that place rocked. Walking in was cool, I was young and small, and the front straight wall was pretty tall and all you could see when you walked in from my eye level was the top of the wings dancing as wheel packing took place. I loved that picture. Then they started selling those wooden sprint cars! And of course the food, all those options, who couldnt find something to eat? And then how this track was always fast. Always. Even with the rut down in one and two. That place I was able to see alot of my heros race. I still remember the first time I got to see Cris Eash race, in that yellow 17G ride. That place has to rank number one to me cause of the competition that would show up on any given night. Racers liked racing at that place. And when the drags where going, the best place was at the top, it was like you had two tickets that night lol.