My guess Dave is this will probably be read by the second floor crew in Daytona in the next day or two at the most. Now Im not saying they read my stuff, but that our site is monitored by that bldg on International Speedway Blvd. and im not talking about the Dog Track either..
Grandstand people
Back around the turn of the century folks were just getting entertained by this horseless carraige that was going around smoking and popping off at the rear on occasion. But then two guys had one in the same town and over a glass of that foamy stuff sold at the tavern a wager was made as to who had the quickest or fastest motorized carraige.
So the date and time was set to meet at a fairly smooth field for this display of speed. Word got out and a small group of interested and some curious individuals lined the area . Over on one end a couple wagered on who the winner would be. So this could very well be the first grandstand crowd.
Over a period of time some real motorheads got to souping up these tiller steered contraptions and the race is on.
Next thing you know the crowd is growing and control becomes mandatory,and this starts to be a paying business, Crowds are put in proper places for viewing and hopefully where they will be safe,somewhat,from the motorcars.
As speed get steadly faster a better area is needed to run these trials,word gets out and bigger racing facilitys are born. Wood tracks seem to be the best for all involved and spectators have covered grandstands. Money is collected from patrons and the sport grows.
Cars get faster and crowds get larger and promoters get fatter. Next thing you know someone sends a challenge across the big pond and the Brits and French come with their speedsters,hench the international race is born.
People came to see a stanley Steemer outrun a Horseless carraige. Across the pond came those long nosed Bentlys and Ducenburgs and many others and a bigger stadium was born. Stadium seats were growing and pockets were buldging.
On comes the war and that slowed the racing till after 1945.
Then the troops come home and the race is on . Moonshine boys played in pastures drawing spectators and a few short dirt tracks were born.
Then racing was off and running, A few old guys started some series mostly in the south. Fans were begging for more racing and these promotors were wearing bigger pants for a reason .
Old Man France decided that beach racing was not big enough so he brought s trip of swampland and built a track in Daytona. Wonder where he got the idea from? Darlington was started 10 years before and it was packed every time a race was held and it was paved and mile and half long.
Daytona came out at 2 1/2 miles and stands galore. Fans came in droves. Big Bill stood up on top of the stands and smiled, more tracks were being built by France ,Smith and others. The big show was in high gear,fans demanded more and more seats were built . Racing was big business,Win on Sun Sell on Monday. You could tell a chevy from a Ford or Mopar. Drivers were popular and on one day when a president visited daytona a fight broke out and all was on TV now racing is big screen material.
Then a change in power was in the works and along came the change in cars. Attendence is in high gear and the cars are flying.
Next thing you know the cars start looking the same and motors are being strangled with restrictor plates. And a grand son took over nascar.
Slowely the grip on the cars got tighter and a new kit car come to play,they called it C.O.t. for some reason. Now fans were mouthing and some were not happy on the general layout. A crunch in the economey showed its head about this time and fans were failing to show in the numbers. The big tracks were hit hardest but if you look at the short tracks they seem to be booming on any weekend nite. The little guy is still racing and fans are still there.
The superspeedways are killing their selves with their greed and lack of working with the teams.
Today did you happen to look at the stands at Indy?? Seat choice was yours for the taking,I dont see the current system lasting very long at this rate.
The stands are the lifeline to the series lasting and without revenue to cover costs the sponsors will slowely disippear and if you race then you will be back in the pasture again racing .
But some small groups are filling their stands weekly at D I R T tracks and that should tell you something
we are going bsck to our roots to race. Its how each of us started on the small bullrings and fans setting on the dirt and some still in the trees ,and guess the stands are still full. A little dirt is good for you but kissing dirty bricks just aint healthy.
The moral here is if you love racing it is up to us to keep our sport rocking.
Support your local grandstands and the cars will support you.
Racers Reunion started withonly a 100 or so happy racers remembering the good ole days, now we are over 9000 strong just in stock car site only. wonder if anyone has noticed us in certain places.
-------------------------------------- JUST REMEMBER YOUR ROOTS------------------------------------------
Great way to start a vacation "W"
looks looks like my wish came true---------------------- Y E A-- for-- Y O U
There is a lot of traffic on internet about the city re-opening the track, Wonder if they wasting time and air writing this or it will actually happen. It looks like mother nature was protecting it somewhat with over growth but that washout looked serious on the track, But it may be a rebitrth yet..
Did you listen to the radio broadcast from Saugus Speedway? It is the whole show from practice to final flag.. be sure to have a tissue at hand......................memories
Some go out and buy an old body to recreate something you remember from the good ole days (Im guilty of that) but I found one of the Bones that lived through the Ghost era.
There was a to do on the forum about it and I stumbled and fell over this piece of work.
This car started in the early 70s and ran till its closing and then well here is some back up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU6h7l6G5t4
The Plymouth was build around 1960 and is on a 1956 Plymouth Chassis. It ran for a few years as a 56 Plymouth before it was in an accident so it was rebuilt as with the 65 Plymouth body. This is a very famous car in the LA racing scene and was a regular at Saugus Speedway. The car still has a plaque on the dash saying "Saugus Speedway NASCAR Sportsman Main Event Winner". Since we purchased the car we have found a bunch of 8 MM film of the car at Saugus Speedway, Riverside International Speedway and Ontario. The 1972 Riverside film has several laps with the Foster Plymouth leading the race and also has when it blew up the rear end to go out of the race. We have attached a couple of YouTube videos of the car as well as some vintage pictures.
The 1st video is from the 1972 Riverside Permatex 200 which the car was on the pole for.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU6h7l6G5t4
The 2nd video is a practice session at Saugus Speedway around 1972.
Now if you still interested here is the car today and yes its for sale
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1965-Plymouth-Race-Car-Permatex-Riverside-Hemi-Wild-Bill-Foster-Saugus-Speedway-/230830250540?pt=Race_Cars_Not_Street_Legal_&hash=item35be8e1a2c#v4-39
TMC, I couldnt find nothing better to write about. He was the hottest thing I saw --but thats Just my opinion
And for an after thought, How many drivers you ever seen kiss the finish line on a dirt track?? True when you do anything after a dirt race it seems like dirt dust is involved,ya know!!
At least one person hasnt been brainwashed yet into romancing a red brick, Yup the little cutie that could be called Jimmie (with an E ) cause its spelled correctly for a lil Lady --she just aint kissing the road ! !
I too tried watching it but to no avail, I think a trip to Lowes with my better half over rode Indy. BUT the best part was with Dale Earnhardt Jr rising to the top of the leader board in points. True others are close behind but it is a far cry from previous years. There may be a chance for him yet this year because consistency is the key to the winning.. He has won a race and been in the hunt almost every time at the finish. I know others say pooh on Jr,you remember they did his dad that way too back at the beginning of his bumpercar start.
Another that gets talked down is Kyle Busch, one day he will be the head man on the stage but thats another story because Jr may just beat him there.
This is all I saw worth talking about,other than the Duck breaking down on cuz . Maybe he needs to get Allstate insurance for coverage ------------------------------- Memories!
