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

I apologise to all for allowing Charlie Kammerzell champ sprint #1 to even get out on to the Racing surface. My hands were tied. His position was to be the oldest race car driver to compete at SFS (Fairgrounds Speedway) and still is.

How do you tell a racer that still has the desire that the time has come...no matter what age. Charlie Kammerzell has realised his Glory years at Taft Stadium, but at age 80, Charlie still has the desire and tenacity (balls) to get on the track. It is also great to see Earnest Jennings take the Green Flag after all these years.

How many other Tracks have you ever witnessed any driver(s) with such compassion for their sport. Althogh they may not be competitive, they are out there. I really have never seen where these Mentors really get in the way of the competion. At least these Old Bastards know how to "hold their line".

I think it is great that the older drivers still wish to come out and drive. I know that some of the greatest times that I have had in racing was when I was able to race with my dad, Who by the way raced cars in Albuquerque till the year he passed a way. Some of the younger drivers should take note and listen to some of the wisdom of the older drivers.

Charlie was a rookie of the year in 1955 I think, maybe at Taft Stadium. Through the years as time and money has allowed, he has gone back out there to give it one more try. We ALL get old someday if we're lucky. He's 80 years old, and his sprinter still lights off when the push truck makes a shove. It's a long hard road just to get a car there, let alone do it again and again over the course of 55+ years.

Long after this season is over, if there are ten points to make about 2009, Kammerzell's feat will be noted.

Since there will ALWAYS be a slow guy out there somewhere, might as well appreciate what he is trying to do. A race against time itself and to see just which one of the old dogs is the LAST in the yard.

He was in the way in his prime and is now DANGEROUS!!!!! If he wants to be around be an owner. To be in racing is to compete. There is nothing there to compete with. I know one day (mabey now) i'll be done but I hope some or all of the friends I have say......"your done"

This wasn't just a "slow guy." This was someone I could've out-run on foot. Lapped every two laps is well below slow. There were racers out there trying to win a championship, but that pales in comparison to the safety issues. We've discussed the use of black and blue/yellow flags on this board for a few weeks now. This was a time when the black should have been thrown. There was a time when I was a pretty decent basketball player, but I don't belong out there any more. Time steals it from all of us. If we're not smart enough to recongize it on our own, then someone needs to do it for us. In this case, it's the guy in the flag stand, if not the one at the pit gate. It's not cute or admirable; it's a little sad.

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

I guess thats why there is a vintage car group, so the pioneers from the past can enjoy some of the things that most people read about now. And drive at their own speed with a bunch of guys that enjoy the desire to go fast in their own way just the same, and not take away from the hard charging drivers trying to win a race or a championship.

I am not trying to be disrespectful just trying to be honest....

Randy

 Randy       

       DIRT TRACKIN
"When it's wet slide it in"

Yes, that is pretty much the idea, as well as seeing the old cars and drivers once again.

It does amaze me however how many of the slower drivers wish to mix it up regardless of the newer option. There will always be a slower guy out there.

Kenny I couldn't have said it as well as you did. That was my concerne also. SAFETY!! I cringed as I waited to see if someone might slip up on him going 3 times the speed and launch into space. I know he held a good line but still, the others are going so much faster. Standing back toward the back straight watching em come at you, you get a good feeling for how really fast they going into turn 3. I know the track was slick but some of em were still hot foot'n it into 3 pretty good.