I used to scan racepapers like 'Gater Racing' and 'Speedsport' (when they were still around) when I was a kid. It waskind of like the Sporting News for baseball with cool photographs, statistics and driver profiles. Adding to the mystique was the black and white print. These magazines held secrets to racing at places I had never been. I got to be there in spirit,get thelow-down on future races at tracks around the countryand I can remember maybe Penn Yan Raceway and the big 75-lapper with $6,000 to win! Or Nazareth Dirt or maybeEl Doraand the King's Royal.

The Winston NASCAR Modifieds would race60-70 times per race year. In one season Geoff Bodine piloted his sled to 55 checkered-flagged finishes in the Winston NASCAR modified division. And talking about winning a lot of championships, I believe the Orange and Black #61 was credited with over 500 featurewins.

It was really great seeing cars from Maine to New York, Virginia to North Carolina and racing in Florida during the Winternationals at the famed New Smyrna Speedway. I remember one of the racing Baldwin Brother's and their car the #7ny.

I saw them race at Stafford Speedway while in the Air Force on one crazy night when two SK-Modifieds had their own version of the Demolition Derby. With both cars badly damaged they limped back to their racing stalls while fans on both sides hurled invectives at each other and the drivers. And they say Bowman Gray is rowdy. Pfffft. I didn't see or even as bad as it could be in the day at East Bay.

I have purchased some of these magazines recently and during the last year and it brings back memories and seeing the new crop of drivers that would go on to win numerous championships and Hall-of-Fame status. Media was a lot less back in the 60s and 70s and so it was like having ESPN in print.

Now with websites out there and tracks having high quality media, racing has come to us in our homes. But do not despair there are ways to enjoy live radio broadcasts and Pay-per-views events which are pretty cool themselves.