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PUSH TRUCK INFO PAGES
BULLDOG 2004 GRANITE CITY TRIP
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THE FIRST PUSH OF SPEEDWEEKS 2010..VAUGHN ROCKNEY PUSHES OFF LANCE DEWEASE AT OCALA DURING PRACTICE DAYS--(JR photo)
BUD WILLIS PUSHES OFF FRED RAHMER AT OCALA--(JR photo)
FLORIDA PHOTOGRAPHER GENE MARDERNESS SEND ME A COUPLE NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS ABOUT RACING AT THE READING FAIRGROUNDS IN THE EARLY 1950'S..NOTE HOW BIG THE SPECTATOR COUNT WAS..
VICTORY AND REWARD--JOHNNY THOMSON, OF LOWELL, MASS., SPEEDS BY AUSTIN SHAY'S CHECKERED FLAG IN THE TOP PHOTO TO WIN THE 15 MILE FEATURE EVENT OF THE SEASON'S EASTERN AAA INAUGURAL AUTO RACING PROGRAM AT READING FAIRGROUNDS YESTERDAY BEFORE 31,689 EXCITED SPECTATORS..IN PILOTING HIS BLACK OFFENHAUSER TO VICTORY, THOMSON SET A NEW 30-LAP COURSE RECORD OF 13:05.28..IN THE LOWER PHOTO, THOMSON IS REWARDED FOR HIS TRIUMPH AND RECEIVES A GOLD TROPHY HANDED HIM BY SAM NUNIS, LEFT, WHO PROMOTED THE RACES..LOOKING ON, RIGHT IS SAM TRAYLOR, OF ALLENTOWN, OWNER OF THE CAR THOMSON DROVE TO VICTORY.--(Times Staff Photo)
RUTTMAN MITTS CONQUEROR..TROY RUTTMAN, LEFT, WAS THE FIRST TO CONGRATULATE BILL SCHINDLER, IN WHITE HELMET RIGHT, AFTER THE LATTER WON THE 30-LAP FEATURE OF THE AUTO RACING INAUGURAL YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AT THE FAIRGROUNDS..RUTTMAN, CALIFORNIA LEADFOOT, TRAILED SCHINDLER, ONE-LEGGED PILOT FROM NEW YORK EVERY INCH OF THE WAY--BUT NEVER BY MORE THAN THREE CAR LENGTHS..PROMOTER SAM NUNIS, CENTER, COMPLIMENTS BOTH DRIVERS ON THEIR MARVELOUS EXHIBITIONS..THE SEASON'S FIRST SPEED CLASSIC LURED A THRONG OF 28,642 SPECTATORS TO THE HALF-MILE OVAL IN MUHLENBERG TOWNSHIP.--(Times Staff Photo)
In 1996, I along with a dozen or more other sprint car drivers walked around the garage area of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway talking to anyone who would listen as to why each of us was the best choice to fill the seat in their car in the inaugural season of the IRL. We were told by everyone from Tony George on down that this was our series. This was to be a place where this country’s open wheel drivers could reasonably hope to achieve a place on the roster of the open wheel elite. This was to be a place for innovation and talent of this country to be showcased to the world. Well, we all know what happened. Gone are the Menard Buicks, replaced by leased Hondas in cookie cutter cars that are driven in some cases by drivers that other than being able to bring the big bucks with them could not earn a ride in most dirt open wheel series. My concern is, are the World Of Outlaws, the All Star Circuit Of Champions and the other sprint car series far behind. When was the last time a home brew chassis made the starting field? There are now nearly as many rules in these series as there are in NASCAR. All we need now is the “lucky dog” rule to get your lap back and we would about be there. All the equipment is basically the same for those that can afford it. No one makes anything any more as everything is off the shelf. For those of my era, we remember these series starting off pretty much as run whatcha brung series. While most teams are searching for sponsors and financial assistance to keep going, we now have a new tire rule. Anyone with a deal with another company other than Goodyear is out of luck. The regular competitor at the local tracks who has a deal with Hoosier and decides to run a few shows with the Outlaws or All Stars has to buy a half dozen rear tires for a couple of nights of racing. In these economic times this is not something a lot of teams can afford. I realize that these series need the big dollars companies like Goodyear bring with them, but none of these organizations have enough full time travelling teams to put on a show. Fans like to see the locals compete with the big guns and these folks are a big part of the gate. We all understand that this is the time of in car radios, transponders, forty foot haulers and cars wrapped instead of painted. It is just that if dollars are the only concern of the decision makers, then a lot of people will be on the sidelines and in the end there will be more and more empty seats in the stands. The powers that be in sprint car racing should possibly look at the IRL and ponder their past decisions. At every IRL venue fans can buy a general admission ticket, walk in and pretty much choose their seat with a lot of elbow room to spare. They have a rule and an enforcer for everything, including a tire rule. Six or eight household names will not fill the stands week after week for the All Stars and Outlaws either. I hope our sport does not go the way of the IRL or other professional sports where it is available to the very few. This column and our ministry are about the people of our sport. That concern is for the promoters, equipment suppliers, certainly for the teams and fans. Any one of these groups that are ignored in policy making will have a direct effect on the others. Have a great 2010 and one way or another it will be a memorable season. We have the best entertainment by far for the motorsport dollar and we will survive. Happy New Year and God Bless.
This 1968 Culbert Automotive Engineering (CAE) Sprint Car and enclosed trailer was stolen from the locked fenced in yard at Import Specialties 2100 Rosewood Dr. Columbia, SC the evening of October 8, 2009. The race car and equipment was stored inside of a 2007 LA CARGO "FREEDOM" 7x16 foot Enclosed Trailer, Which was also stolen. The Trailer: Serial #5TTBE16277D001946, white in color, equipped with tandem axles, a walk in door on the curb side and a ramp/door on the back, it may have some damage on the right side .
Contact Rich Hoffman at: 803-788-7018 803-799-4401 Email: importspecialtie@bellsouth.net
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