Forum Activity for @dave-fulton

Crate Engines OK'd for Martinsville Late Model Stocks

General

Saw today in the Richmond paper that Martinsville has ok'd crate engines for its big Late Model Stock Car race hoping to increase car count. Two questions from me:

1) What is a Crate Engine? Is this leased from an engine builder, sealed and not tampered with by the team or what?

2) Is allowing the use of crate engines a good thing?

Crate engines allowed for first time in Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300

By: GoDanRiver Staff
Published: September 02, 2011

Crate engines will be permitted to be used for the first time in one of the most prestigious Late Model races in the country, the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300, at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 9.

In addition to the approved Late Model Stock built engines, the GM 88958604 will be permitted. This will be the only crate-type engine allowed for the race.

In the past few years, car count has declined and this move could help bolster the field for the event and lower costs for teams operating on a shoe-string budget. Last year, there were about 80 cars attempting to make the 36-car field.

Obviously the crate engine is an affordable engine package for teams that want to compete at this level and we think it will allow more teams to participate in the most prestigious Late Model Stock Car race of the year, Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell said in a written release. Many of the weekly tracks already have a crate rule in place and we felt it was time we made the move.

Campbell said recently at the Goodyear tire test that Martinsville considered making the move because tracks like South Boston Speedway allowed crate engines to be used in the Late Model fields.

According to NASCAR officials, the crate engines must remain as supplied by the manufacturer. Engine components must not be altered.

Campbell said the crate engines will be policed closely to make sure all rules are followed.

We will make sure the crate motors are legal. NASCAR will have tight inspection processes in place, said Campbell. Violations found in the inspection process for either built engines or crate engines will be handled with the same implications.

NASCAR officials said extensive pre-race inspections will be performed on all engines. All engines will be subject to complete disassembly during post-race inspection, including cars chosen randomly. Penalties for any engine violations may consist of confiscation of parts and/or complete engines and/or disqualification from the event and/or fines and/or suspension.

All engine parts and components, such as, but not limited to, camshaft, rocker arms, valve springs and shims, etc., must remain OEM and conform to the latest General Motors specifications manual for the GM88958604 crate engine.

The complete list of specifications will be attached to the official entry blank for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300.

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

Fooled by one Movie Title, but Anticipate Another

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PKL,

If/when you see it, please report back... Immediately, please... as Ray Melton would say!

Fooled by one Movie Title, but Anticipate Another

General

Thumbing through my Charlotte weekend entertainment section of the paper today, I saw the following headline:

Thunder in Carolina Coming to Charlotte

I thought, "Great," and had thoughts of going to see the old 1960 Rory Calhoun Darlington classic on the big screen again. I was fooled, though. Here's the rest of the release:

Thunder in Carolina coming to Charlotte
The video Thunder in Carolina, which tells the story of the first settlers in Mecklenburg County, is playing Tuesday, Sept. 6, at Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church.

The video is being shown by the Mecklenburg Historical Association Docents, which provides support to all local historic sites through programming assistance, research and consultation. For more information, visit their website at www.meckdec.org .

The movie will be shown at the church, at 101 Sugar Creek Road West, at 11 a.m.

I did, see, also, that the film SENNA is opening here today. While not a stock car flick, I am still looking for good racing movies to see. I hope it will be and will catch it when it makes it to the TV movies.

Here's one review of SENNA, from Minneapolis, if you might be thinking of seeing it.

'Senna'
By COLIN COVERT
Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
COLIN COVERT Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

The Brazilian Formula One champion Ayrton Senna is widely considered the greatest race car driver of all time. Killed in a 1994 crash, he dominated the sport in the 1980s and '90s, becoming the sport's sex symbol and standard bearer. He was also a symbol of national pride in his homeland as it emerged from decades of authoritarian military rule and death squads.

Asif Kapadia's documentary "Senna" brings him vibrantly to life through archival racing footage, home movies and news reports dating back to his teenage years as a go-kart competitor. There's not an ounce of fat or a wasted shot throughout. The film boasts electrifying sequences from Senna's most important races, including car-mounted mini-camera shots that virtually put viewers in the driver's seat. It finds compelling personal drama in Senna's feud with French champ Alain Prost, his sometime racing team partner, whose cool, calculating approach to driving and political infighting made him the Brazilian's nemesis.

The film charts Senna's rise, rivalries, reign and demise, presenting the man in all his paradoxical glory. He hit more cars in three years than most F1 drivers do over the course of their careers. Yet he was a campaigner for stricter safety regulations. He was born rich but committed to uplifting the poor. He was religiously devout, yet he had a penchant for nubile beauties, including Xuxa, Brazil's gene-splice of Charo and Anna Nicole Smith, guest-starring on her sacrilegiously tacky Christmas TV special. He was humble but not immune to hubris.

He was lucky in a dangerous sport until he wasn't. And above all he had drive.

SENNA

3 stars

Documentary directed by Asif Kapadia

Rating: PG-13 for some language and disturbing sights.

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

Giving the Start Engines Command Ray Melton Style at Darlington

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Billy,

I always particularly loved Ray's parade lap sayings.

Giving the Start Engines Command Ray Melton Style at Darlington

General

With memories this Labor Day weekend of past ones spent at Darlington Raceway, I always remember immortal P.A. announcer Ray Melton giving the command to start engines. If you never heard it, you can still catch it in the 1960 Rory Calhoun film, "Thunder in Carolina." Nobody did it like Ray and I sure do miss it. Here's a reprint of a 2005 column by Tom Higgins about Ray that appeared in That's Racin'.

A Ray Of Color
There should be a requirement made of every corportate executive, screen star or other VIP selected to give the command to start engines at major NASCAR races:

Prior to undertaking the duty, they would have to listen to a tape of the late Ray Melton performing that chore. And then they'd be asked to emulate it as closely as possible.

No one, before or since, has said, shouted or sing-songed "Gentlemen, start your engines" with the flair and gusto that Ray Melton did from the 1950s into the 1980s.

With great exaggeration, Ray, a gravel-voiced former Marine sergeant, prolonged every syllable of "gentlemen" and "engines." Heck, he even turned "start" and "your" into multi-syllable words.

Even now, almost three decades later, I can still hear him at the tracks where he manned the microphone of the public address system: "Gennnnnnn-tulllllll-mennnnnn, star-ttttttt, yo-uuuuuur ennnnnnn-ginesssssss!"

Melton comes to mind this week because the Nextel Cup teams are at Richmond Raceway, among the tracks where this colorful character "performed" earliest and endured the longest.



NASCAR is rich in history, and some of that lore's most amusing tales involve Ray Melton, a native of Virginia's Tidewater and a man with a deep drawl that seems particular to that area.

My favorite of these anecdotes:

Ray was a friend of NASCAR founder-leader Bill France, Sr., and as such was the PA announcer at Daytona International Speedway, which France opened in 1959.

One season in the 1960s the speedway was using International Scout trucks as utility vehicles. France wanted to give the trucks some special publicity during the Firecracker 400 week so he phoned the PA booth with an order to Melton. "Plug the International Scouts," Ray was told.

Melton yammered on and on with no mention of the Scouts. France phoned again. Still no mention.

Finally, an exasperated France sent a high-ranking aide to the PA station above the track with an explicit message: "Mr. France says to plug the International Scouts or else you're fired!"

With stentorian voice, Ray grandly proclaimed, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have with us today a group of International Scouts! Stand up boys so we can give you a hand!"

The faux pas was so humorous that Big Bill France led it slide.

Melton had a passel of favorite sayings--some of them quite corny--that he regularly intoned over PA systems at Bristol, Darlington, Richmond, Rockingham and many other tracks. One of his staples: "And here David Pearson (or whatever driver was on the track at the time) comes off the fourth turn, flat out and belly to the ground like the true champion that he is!"

Ray was proudest, though, of his distinctive version of "Gentlemen, start your engines!" For many years, most tracks simply had the PA announcer give the order before bestowing the honor on VIPs.

Once at Richmond the drivers flipped their ignition switches before Ray could give the command. Through the roar of the engines he could be heard shouting, "Cut them off! Cut them off! I haven't said it yet!"

Ray remained angered about his missed cue throughout the race. After the race was over he keyed his microphone and apologized that his command to start the show couldn't be heard. "For all of you who came to the track today just to hear my words, here goes again," he said. "Gennnnnnn-tulllllll-mennnnnnn, star-ttttttt yo-uuuuuur ennnnnnn-ginesssssss!"

As Melton's career and life were winding down, he wrote a letter to the president of the National Motorsports Press Association, ostensibly to extol the reasons that an announcing associate should be inducted into the group's Stock Car Racing Hall Of Fame at Darlington. "Modesty," read the last sentence, "prevents the writer from listing his own qualifications."

Ray Melton was a good guy and a fine man, but modesty wasn't one of his characteristics. Why, the cars he drove usually had "NASCAR's Chief Announcer" emblazoned on the sides.

Ray hasn't yet made it into the NMPA hall of fame. However, if a category ever is created for NASCAR's colorful characters, he should be among the first inductees.

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

NASCAR Drivers White House Bound / UPDATE.... Several Decline Invitation

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see update

NASCAR Drivers White House Bound / UPDATE.... Several Decline Invitation

General

Those who know me well, especially my wife, will tell you it is not my nature to readily apologize, but I owe The White House an apology. I looked at the official White House web site and read the release as they had posted it. The White House release made no mention of the number of championships won by Jimmie Johnson. That was added by the Associated Press writer who moved the release nationally. Don't know who that writer or DC copydesk jockey may be, but they were the one who doesn't listen to DW, not The President. So, in all fairness, the sucking noise you hear is me preparing to apologize. Here is the ORIGINAL release as posted by The White House Press Secretary:

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release September 01, 2011 President Obama to Honor NASCAR Champion at the White House

WASHINGTON On Wednesday, September 7, President Obama will welcome Jimmie Johnson and other 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers to the White House to honor Jimmie Johnsons NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship. The President will also recognize the efforts by Jimmie Johnson and NASCAR to give back to their community as part of their visit, continuing the tradition begun by President Obama of honoring athletes and sports teams for their efforts on and off the field.

And, Tim, that photo you mention of the #43 was priceless. My old friend, the late writer and statistician par excellence, Gene Granger of Spartanburg made that original White House venture and always considered it the pinnacle of his sports writing career. He said you just had to be there to feel the electricity of our sport finally getting that kind of recognition.

NASCAR Drivers White House Bound / UPDATE.... Several Decline Invitation

General

NASCAR stars say no disrespect for Obama

By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) -- Four NASCAR stars will take a pass on meeting President Obama at the White House.

It doesn't have anything to do with politics.

When word got out that Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards wouldn't be going to the White House next Wednesday, it sparked plenty of chatter on talk shows and social media networks. There was speculation the four were making some sort of protest about Obama's policies on behalf of a generally conservative sport.

Nonsense, insisted Biffle, who said he has to go to a two-day retreat in Minnesota for 3M, the major sponsor of his No. 16 car. The event has been scheduled for months and will be attended by clients from around the world.

"I saw some comments that we rejected the invitation," Biffle said Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. "To me, that's not what we did. Rejecting means, `No, I don't want to go. I'm not going to go. You can't make me go.' That's rejecting. Having a conflict and not being able to participate is something different."

Stewart also had a scheduling conflict, though he declined to go into details.

"Trust me, if we could be there, we'd definitely be there," he said. "I've always viewed it as an honor just to get an invitation to go. I've enjoyed every trip every time I've gone there. I've learned more and more about it. And it's pretty cool feeling to be with most powerful man in the world. That's not an invitation we take lightly."

Eight other drivers who made last year's Cup playoff, including five-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson, plan to be there along with NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France.

"Regardless of political views, when (president of the United States) sends an invite and wants to honor you at the White House, you accept," Johnson wrote on Twitter, accompanied by a hash tag with the word "respect." He added that some fans had complained about him accepting an invitation from Obama.

Biffle and Stewart pointed out they've been to the White House several times, meeting both former President George W. Bush and Obama, who was inaugurated in 2009.

"I've been there since he's been in office," Biffle said. "I've got a handshake picture with the president and I in the bookcase in my office, right behind my desk."

Stewart said he wasn't "going to put anybody under the bus by talking about" his conflicting plans, but insisted it was something he couldn't break or change. Otherwise, he would have been at the White House.

"Every time I go, I learn more about each room," Stewart said. "If you get the chance, you should go. It's really worth it."

Jeff Burton is among the drivers who will be meeting with the Democratic president, even though he's thought to harbor future political ambitions as a Republican.

This isn't about politics, Burton said.

"I worked really hard to free up my schedule when I got the invitation because, to me, it's important for the president of the United States to invite NASCAR to come so he can honor us," he said. "I mean, that's really what this is. A lot of people have turned this around like we're going to honor the president. The president asked us to come to honor us. That's a hell off a compliment for our sport and us as individual drivers and teams."

Harvick said it's a tough time of year to find some spare time in his already crowded schedule. The Washington visit was scheduled three days before the race at Richmond, Va., that will set the 12-driver field competing for the Sprint Cup championship.

"Most everything we do is scheduled months in advance," Harvick said. "I have been to the White House before and it's an honor just to go the White House and be in the Oval Office and on the premises at the White House. I understand the honor. Just with everything we have going on right now, there is no way to reschedule the things we have going next week."

Such as?

"I don't think that is anyone's business," Harvick said. "It is just a bad week for us."

Some media outlets reported that Kurt Busch wouldn't be going to the White House, either. Not so. His team rescheduled an important photo shoot for next year's merchandise and marketing campaigns, a session that must be done by the end of the month to get everything ready before the team heads to Daytona for the start of the 2012 season.

"All along, it was my intention to go," Busch said. "Who's going to turn down an opportunity to go to the White House? For me, it's an honor and a privilege. I have met both Bush and Obama. To be a Chase driver and go to the White House, that's an important visit. You might not make the Chase every year and miss out on those opportunities."

Burton said all the debate about NASCAR's visit to the White House symbolizes a larger divide within the country.

"Ten years ago, after 9-11, this country was unified. This country was together," he said. "Today, we're sitting here talking as if someone, for political reasons, is going or not going to the White House. And we wonder why this country is in trouble. We can point the finger and blame all the people in Washington. Well, maybe we need to look in the damn mirror a little bit. Really. It's our country.".................................................................................................................................................

ORIGINAL POST

Jeeze... like everything else coming out of Washington, this is wrong. If the White House listened to DW, they'd know Jimmie Johnson is "5-Time", not "4-Time."Maybe they'll inviteKyle Busch to take a hot lap down Pennsylvania Avenue, though!

Sept 1, 1:36 PM EDT


Obama to welcome NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson next week



WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama plans to welcome Jimmie Johnson and other NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers to the White House next Wednesday.

Johnson has won a record-setting four consecutive NASCAR championships.

The White House says Obama will continue his tradition of lauding athletes and sports teams for their efforts both on and off the field. He plans to recognize Johnson and NASCAR for giving back to their communities.

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

Reds Kagle Obituary

General

It was mentioned on the "Racing Through History" show Tuesday night that the great one legged competitor Reds Kagle had passed. Here is the obituary:

Mr. Richard "Reds" Henry Kagle

April 20, 1932 - August 29, 2011

Obituary for Mr. Richard "Reds" Henry Kagle

On Monday, August 29, 2011 of Lanham, MD passed away with his loving wife Diane by his side. Devoted father to Anita Segale, Barbara(John) Dodd, Richard Kagle, Jr., Kenny(Dawn) Kagle and devoted stepfather to Mark(Mindy) Potter, Lisa(Matt) Meadows, Richard Potter, Krystal(Billy) Axline, Jason(Amanda) Axline; grandfather of 19 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren, and his little companion PEANUT. A viewing will be held at GASCHS FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 4739 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, MD on Monday, September 5 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 pm and Tuesday, September 6 from 10 to 12 noon with the service to begin at noon. Interment Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Brentwood, MD.

As posted on the Maryland Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame Website :

This is a very sad time for everyone who has had an attachment to auto racing in the Mid-Atlantic region. Reds is a much loved and respected racer. Reds did it all. He was an outstanding driver, car owner, mentor and crew chief. He won several track and state championships as a driver. He owned the famous number 8 modifieds that Johnny Roberts drove to many feature wins in 1964 and 1965. Bobby Allison asked Reds to mentor Davey Allison at the beginning of Davey's career. Reds was crew chief for Clifford Allsion. In addition, Reds founded Monster Racing at Dover.

Reds Kagle-Lanham, Md Westport S Champ 1955; Beltsville LMS Champ 1971, '72, '73, '75; Old Domonion LMS Champ 1972, '73, '74, '75

From Old Dominion Speedway PR:


Reds Kagle, one of only two 5-time track champions at the famed 3/8 mile oval, passed away on Monday, August 29th. Kagle, who had hundreds of wins up and down the East Coast during his career, passed away quietly after a brief illness.
Born on April 20, 1932, Kagle began competing in the Grand National Division (now Sprint Cup) in 1954, competing in one event that season. Sixty-four entries started that event, and Kagle came home 17th driving a Studebaker. His purse for that day was $175.00. His career continued until 1961, when he competed in just 3 events that season. His Grand National career totals included 25 starts, 3 top 5s, and 9 top 10s. 1958 was his best season as a driver, finishing in the top 5 twice and scoring 7 top 10s in 14 events.
But Kagle will better be remembered as one of the best there ever was on the short tracks, battling legends like Roy Hendrick, Jack Bland, and Bobby Ballentine on his way to several wins and track championships throughout his storied career.

2 Photos from The Beltsville Speedway Page of MD Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame Site:

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

Wendell Scott vs. Willy T. Ribbs - Willy in the News Today

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Goals are accomplished and demons fought in varying ways. We are privileged to have on this site as a new member Ann Bland Salster, daughter of the famed racing announcer and broadcaster, Sammy Bland, who announced when Wendell was racing. She has just posted a few historic pictures from back in the day and will post more. Look at this brief recap of how the newspaper in Amelia, VA was founded by Ann with the encouragement of her father, Sammy during a time of racial unrest in her town/county:

The Amelia Bulletin Monitor is a weekly newspaper in Amelia County, Virginia, founded in 1973. Prior to its founding, the county had been without a newspaper since the 1940s, when the Amelia Gazette shut down. The Monitor, as the current paper is known, was founded by Ann B. Morris (now Ann B. Salster), who is still the paper's owner and publisher.

In 1973, Morris had recently moved to the county with her husband, Sam Morris, whose family owned a local hardware store and had lived in the county for several generations. At the time, some affluent white citizens of the county were founding Amelia Academy, a private school. The enterprise was seen as a movement against the integration of public schools, which had happened in Amelia County during the late 1960s. The county had considered shutting down its public schools rather than integrating them, as neighboring Prince Edward County had done. But some influential Amelia people said it was not "the Christian thing to do." So, the schools were integrated. Morris felt that Amelia Academy was not a positive undertaking for the county, and called her father to tell him about it. Her father (Sammy Bland) told her to write a letter to the local newspaper. She told him there was no local paper, and he responded: "Start one." Morris was the editor and publisher until 1990, when her second husband, Mike Salster, became editor. Ann Salster remained as publisher. Mike Salster was an award-winning veteran of daily newspapers, including The Columbus Dispatch in Columbus, Ohio. He left the paper to work for the Virginia state government in 2005, and Assistant Editor Wayne Russell, who had worked at the paper since 1981, became editor. He is still in that position.