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Ray, I looked at some 1974 81 Speedway programs I had and does appear that the supers didn't run a regular points series in 1974. According to the 1973 programs the super division had a low regular car count. It looked like they only 8 or 10 regular drivers that showed up on a weekly basis.

There was around 30 different cars that showed up at the track that year. The points for Mike were listed under car 25. I doubt he drove for anyone else that year.

In the 16th program of the year it listed him with 95 points in 10th place in the supers and in 4th place in the jr. modifieds.

I did find a picture of Dale Reed driving Gene See's car one night in '74 he set 3 tracks records and he won his heat, trophy dash, semi and the a- feature.

The car that Mike drove for Jerry in 1973 was a Edmunds or a Edmunds copy. It was not same car that Doshier and Opperman drove. I not positive but that may have been the same car that Dale Reed drove with a sprint tail section added to it in 1979. I believe the car did have a spring front on it when Dale Reed drove for him. Dale and Jerry hit it off well that year they won alot of races. I worked for Jerry when Dale was driving for him.

There is a picture of Mike standing next to Jerry's car in '73 in the Hutchinson Nationals program but Mike did not drive his car at the nationals in '73. He didn't race the nationals in '74 either (thank God) he was in the pits when the fire happen. I was sitting with my parents in the stands behind the Jack Petty family.

I scared to death of fire to this day and I'm sure that day is what has cause me to be that way.

I was also at 81 Speedway in 1988 when the 16 year kid burn to death in a demolation derby car on the front straightway. It was a very helpless feeling that makes you just sick. Images that never go away.

I'll try to post some more pictures next week and I will take Mike hi for you.

One other thing about Mike that I have learned this year. Is that he makes alot last minute changes to the car and drives Ojar and I crazy is trying to get everything done before we go out for the race and you don't push car back till he's ready. I was freaking out because everyone else was getting pushed off to go out and we were late getting up to push off area and I trying to push the car back out of the pit spot and car won't move and he's got his foot on the brake and won't let us push the car back. I ask Ojar why he did do that when we were late getting up to the push off area and Ojar said he won't let you move car till he's ready no matter what. That 's my brother he has own routine.

I know what you talking about on him changing his mind on doing things to car. You won't go home clean if you work for him at the end of the night.

Tony

Norman told me that Dale Reed drove for him in 1974, Gene had hurt his back or something. After David Moore and Norman split in 1974, Norman had several drivers drive for him. Larry and Nunie Coleman drove the 17 before Mike did.. Norman told me that Dale held aeveral records. The only time that I know of Mike driving the 117 was in Tulsa in 1976. He and Mke Magee had got together at Dewey on Friday night and Mike took quite a ride down the back straight. The 71 was torn up pretty bad, Gene was off doing somethiing so Mike drove the 117 the next night. I think that he ran about 6th in the feature. Do you know any other times that he drove the 117? I think that He is the only person to drive all 3 of Norman's cars.

Looking forward to more of your stories and pictures.

Ray

I had lunch at the "Freeway Cafe" at 4th place and Sheridan in Tulsa today. They had copies of the cartoons that were in the Tulsa Speedway program, Some of the cartoons went back the Dick Colvin era at Tulsa which would be the early to mid 60's. The manager told that a bunch of old men have breakfast there ever week day and put the cartoons up, She did not know who they were. Does anybody out there know who did this? The food was good there.

Ray

I was told several years ago that Jerry Stone and several drivers had coffee etc. at a cafe/restaurant some where there in Tulsa? Can't remember who all the drivers were or where.

Warren Vincent
Cans 4 Kansas Heroes

The manager told me that they have breakfast almost everday of the week at about 8:00AM. I will tryt to go there this week and see who they are.

Ray

Leep at speed

OkC 1972

This was in the last program of the 75 season. I hope that it can be read.Iwas in my garage to get the Karl Vanbeber program so I brought several in and will post pictures in the next few days.

Ray

1975 Emmitt broke Harold Leeps record of feature wins at Tulsa

This was the last program from the 1975 Tulsa season. Mike had clinched the championship over Hershel Thompson who had won it the previous 2 seasons. Mike won the feature on this night.

As I was going through my programs looking for the Karl Vanbeber program I was surprised that I has so many, I had over 100 and that is a conservative guess, I need to sort them some day. I started thinking about the last night of the 75 season and it was a special race. Mike had already won the modified championship. It would be the last night that Norman would race 3 cars and I think that he was glad would probably know. That day all of us new that that night was different, we started the day by going up to Chandler park in West Tulsa to have a lady take pictures of the cars and all of us. she took a lot of pictures before the police came and made us leave, no trucks are aloud in the park. I saw those pictures 1 time and Norman did not get them in his divorce, I do not know where they are today. That night we tried to talk Mike into running with the supers to see how he would do at Tulsa but he wanted to make every race that season in the modifieds, that was a great choice because he would have to start in the back of every race with the supers and in Tulsa I do not think a 6 cyl. would have a chance with the v-8s. I don,t remember how the heats and trophy dash went but all 3 cars made the feature. Mike was the only driver to make the feature in all 28 races that year. The night was taking along time and it was windy and the track was getting dry. Mike had me change the gears a couple times and still wanted to go to higher gear that we did not have. I don't remember the exact ratios, but for a heat at Tulsa with 108" drag tire we would run a 6.08-6.13 then Mike would want to go higher as the track dried. Normally in the feature we would run somewhere around 5.70 to 5.80. that night we went higher and then he wanted to higher and he to borrow a gear from George Armstrong, I remember it was a 5.45. James Warren was driving the 17, he asked me what Mike was running and I told him and he shock his head and said that he a chance that night because that was way to high.Gene in the 117 never went below a 6.03. The feature started and there was a big wreck on the front straight, Don Heath went through the fence in and landed between the track and stands. There were several other cars in the wrecked including the 17 and 117. We ran out to the work area to the 117, the front axle was bent bad and some other bent parts so he parked it. The 17 had the left front bent back some and he said he could race with it.The race was stopped 30-45 minutes while they fixed the fence. The race started and James got to the lead and looked real good, then Mike got to going with that high gear and man he was on a rail, he passed James and took off, then Bill Chilton came up behind the 17 and they Had a good race for several laps and Bill finally got around James and Mike almost lapped them all.. Mike got in the pits and I had to take the very hot set a of gears out so he could return them. That was the last time that Norman would run 3 cars, we all stayed until the lights were turned out.

I have had 4or 5 back surgeries and my left leg doesn't want to move so I have an appt. Friday with the back doctor. Please wish me luck.

Ray

Ray, Our prayers are with you that it is something simple.

I'm taking Triple Flex for my knee and it is 75% better. I was scared to take it until the pharmacist and my heart doctors nurse said it was OK. I actually filed for disability with two heart attacks and a knee that wouldn't let me be on it very long. I have since canceled the disability claim.

Warren Vincent
Cans 4 Kansas Heroes

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE AND I HOPE THAT NEXT YEAR IS BETTER THAN THIS ONE.

LUTHER, HOWIE AND THE OTHERS THAT WE LOST RIP

RAY

ps It looks like I will have another back surjury

We had this site going real good and I was hoping that there are some stories out there that have not been told.

My back is getting worse, the screw from the previous surgery his in the disk space and has to be removed. They tried to do a milogram and could not get the needles through all the scar tissue. I have an appt. with a neurologist on March 3, wish me luck. I have to use a cane to get around.

Ray

Cecil Appel of Automotive Machine Shop in Great Bend, Ks. I used to grind cranks for him years ago after I got out of the service. He is retired and lives up Topeka way. He loved his racing. I remember buying a 750Holly dubble pumper for #16 FORD driven by Dick Hendershot. He was great at tuning the parts on the Holly to run better on small and large tracks. 16 was running a 302 BOSS engine at the time. Attached are a couple photos which include Cecil Appel.

Thoughts and prayers are with you Ray.

I start a new job Monday morning at midnight and work until 0800. To think I was contemplating disability a couple of months ago. It is amazing what taking Triple Flex will do for your joints. I will still be able to help with cleaning buildings some at night. I'm also going to check into transporting cars from a local dealer to his other dealerships here in Kansas. So as I look around there are so many of you that are worse off. I'm so thankful for the health that I do have, albeit I'm not in perfect health by no means.

Warren Vincent
Cans 4 Kansas Heroes

I worked the midnight shift for 11 years and loved it. I stayed on it when I could have gone to the day shift. The only trouble with it is that you cannot get your sleeping habits back to normal. We said that you do not get used to midnights you just tolerated them. Good Luck I have some friends here in Tulsa that are retired that work part time moving cars for car rental firms and they really like it. Sure would like to her some racing stories.

Ray

Here a question, did any of the other NCRA tracks back in the 70's,Ks.,Tx.,Okla. have an uprising/protest by racers ever??????.

Just curious , Lawton Speedway had one and it lasted a brief one week protest back in the mid 70's I believe, Mike (pokeyokie) help me out with the year???.

Remember it well, going to the track and lots of racers parked out on Bishop Rd. and Bishop School Parking lot on the way to the track and trying to get folks to not come to the races and turn around and do something else that Sat. night and protesting over getting more payout for the racers.

I believe I was 10 or so yrs. old back then and that night a lot protested but also a lot of guys ran , they just went around the south way to the Speedway and went in the south gate of the race track, later in time heard Lanny called a lot of them and told them of the south or back way to the Lawton Speedway.

I believe Lanny got more Pub out of it and it really made TV and Newspapers leading up to the Sat. night protest and made his grandstands fill up with folks just out of curiousity , as the electronic and news media was not as quickly accessible then and you just had to go out and see for yourself.

I have seen races rained out to many times to list and winded out WoO in the 90's (Had to feel for Shane Carson on that one) High wind 60+ MPH, who'd a thunk it!!!.

Participated in a race called because of no electricity Echo Ranch Raceway Ada , Okla. in 1989, drunk driver slammed into a pole on the highway on his way to the track.

Was at a race at I-44 Speedway Mini Sprint Reg. night show and was called because of a fight , numerous participants in the melee and OKC Police told Promoter that the show was over for the night and the races were called.

And almost seen a full fledged protested out back in the 70's but just did not quite work and that was just my first enlightenment of that you will NEVER get all the racers to agree on the same thing. I think it is almost impossible.

Fixing to kick off the 24th season of Race Car Ownership, gosh??? just wonder what awaits.LOL

J.D.

I remember a protest at Salina Speedway but it was only a few who started running somwhere else and attempted to take spectators with them. Didn't seem to affect much. The incident up at Belleville during a two day show I recall thousands of beer cans thrown onto the track by angry fans. As I recall the fair board were attempting to lump the announced purse into two nights. Ks. Troopers were called in fearing a riot. Bless Salina Speedway promotor Jim Gile for having a meeting with them and getting the show going ahead after explaining to them why the racers were upset. Of course the next day the papers reported how the racers caused the whole uprising. Talk of races being stopped. I remember running at Salt Hawk and a red came out because a herd of cows wandered onto the back stretch. Another night I was assisting flagging at the Topeka Fairgrounds and we had to stop a race because a drunk female climbed the fence and started walking down the front stretch waving her purse and cussing at her husband who was in the race. If I remember right, she had found out about a little fling he was having with a neighbor girl.

That is classic stuff there, an ol girl climbs the fence to retaliate against the husband who has been runnin around on her, seen races stopped for a Rabbit on the track at Lawton Speedway back in the early 80's and also dang near seen 2 Dogs get ran over by a Sprint Car at SFS back in 06 I believe , they were hiding under the stage in the infield in front of the grandstands and when they started hot lapping the Sprinters , the roar sent them running and several sprinters about hit one of them, those dogs were running for their lives.

But a drunk female climbing the fence and running on the track , now that one is quite impressive. lol

I think it was 1977 the modified drivers were upset over track conditions and refused to run their feature or something like that and the Hugh Finnerty the promoter suspended all the modified races for 2 weeks. Alan Kieth you probably know more about this than I could you tell us more.

Ray