June 11, 2003 

        This rambling is a little different. Normally I write about the general topic of racing. Today is more from what happened April 25 at Farmer City, Illinois. I am sure that Farmer City is not the only track where this has happened and I doubt it will be the last.

          Friday nite at Farmer City was the first race of the Tri State Challenge. The stands were mostly full, the pits were packed and everyone was ready for a full nite of racing. As the nite went on, through qualifying, heats to semi-features the sky darkened. The fans had one eye on the sky and the other towards the track.

        The modified semi feature lined up. Then the sirens of Farmer City began going off. Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to do. The wind picked up and then everyone starting leaving the bleachers. While the announcer said, we are taking a five-minute intermission to see what is going on. Some people stayed in the bleachers but a lot went to their cars, to listen to the radio reports. So where is safe to go? The bathrooms are not big enough to hold everyone. And if people tried to leave in their cars they would be going towards the storms.

        I feel track promoters should have a weather plan. Give the people someplace to go, even if it is across the street. Have someone with a radio or Doppler on, if the weather seems threatening. Especially big races where would a 1000+ people go? Maybe a school or church, but plans will have to be already in place before the storm. And someone should be smart enough to stop racing so the people can get ready to take action.

        Luckily that nite, Farmer City missed the big storms. But no more then 15 minutes away, Clinton was hit by a tornado.

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June 29, 2003

 Could You Walk Away?

           Have you ever gone to a race and said, “that was my last race.” What makes us say things like that? When everyone knows your just blowing smoke. But maybe your not, what would have to happen to make you quit going to the races.  Something that would upset you enough to stop you from enjoying the sport you grew up with. Could anything cause you to walk away? I have been thinking about that for a while. I personally found a few.

          Some reasons are just temporary causes. Like not having the money to go every weekend. Having to work weekends or nites. Family issues or illnesses. Or just no desire that weekend to go sit at a track to get dirty and freeze off your rear-end. But those reasons change after awhile. What I am talking about, are the things that would make you leave for a season or more…

          Your favorite driver of all time gets ban from your hometrack. They get banned for some really stupid reason. That upsets you, so you write the promoter and tell them you will never be back. So you don’t go back just to spite them and to support your driver.

          The person you always went racing with became ill or passed away. Going racing is depressing without them. Even though you know they would want you to go, it’s just hard. So you stop going and then you lose interest and forget all about racing. Maybe years go by before you decide to go back.

          Something great happens, you get married or have children. The wife would rather stay home and ‘cuddle’, so of course you stay homeJ . Then have children, greatest joy of life. It’s just a fight to get them ready to go. Too much work to carry all the toys, ear protection, and sippy cups. Kinda embarrassed to drive the mini-van to the track too. The racetrack is a thing of the past, until they are grown, maybe.

          Or something else happens. Once a relaxing place, the track becomes a place of stress and pain. It’s no longer fun to go. Things in life just don’t allow racing to be what it use to be. It doesn’t matter why it’s happen, but there is no reason to go and be unhappy. Everyone is unhappy from time to time. It’s also ok to be away from racing. Your friends from the track will understand and miss you and support you while you are away. Because racing people are loyal and supportive. Just don’t talk bad about their driversJ.

          Racing is a great sport and hobby. But life away from racing should always be most important. Health and life are more important then racing.

          So if you don’t see me for a while at the track.  I’m ok. if you want to talk to me I’m on AOL under igoracing23 . You will still be able to read my ramblings.

 

God Bless AMERICA and HAVE a SAFE 4^TH of JULY!!

July 26, 2003
The Crazy Fans  

It is a time of year that people plan for all year. Racers, crews, and fans work for months just to get ready to go. Summer National marathon, 26 races in 27 days. Except this year it was more like, 27 days, 3 ½ rainouts, one rain date, and a bunch of traveling. Four drivers completed the task, Billy Moyer, Billy Drake, Terry English, and Shannon Babb (who was at the last race but didn’t run). Some drivers ran a lot of races, some just the ones close to home.  But all tried to leave a mark on the list of winners. This year Don O’Neal won 8 races after missing the first 3 because of blood clots in his legs. (Glad he is better). Scott Bloomquist last year’s champ only ran 4 races but won all of them. There were 11 different winners. One that sticks out, Billy Faust winning at Calvert City, Kentucky, an underdog beat a stacked field. Then not a big surprise but Brian Birkhofer won Eldora.

But each race had 2 things in common, the best drivers and the best fans. No other sport would drive all night to work all day to race part of the night just to drive some more. And the fans would follow, to just watch more racing.  The drivers and crews get rewarded for their efforts with money and pride. But the fans, they spend a lot of their own money to get stories to tell others. The fans who go to all the races are a special group or a bunch of crazies (verdict is still out). It’s amazing how many people go to all 26 races. All the work they have to do. From packing to securing their home to planning where to go and getting everything running and working, it must take months. It seems like lots of work just for races but that’s why the fans are so important.  

I bet all the drivers, crews, and fans are still sleeping since getting home from Oakshade.  

Congrats to Billy Moyer and Team on the 2003 championship

Also

Congrats to Don O’Neal and Team on winning 8 races 

We at www.Midwestdirttrackfacts.com send our condolences to the family and friends of Corey Haney. And to the driver involved. God Bless.

July 17, 2004 

“Don’t Turn Out the Lights” 

            After the weather this past week, the last place I would want the lights to go out would had to been at the racetrack. Tuesday’s tornadoes and wind damage would make anyone a little nervous. Fortunately no one was killed or seriously injured.  

            Last Friday night, When the modified feature went under caution we figured it would go back green soon. Luckily the green wasn’t seen and neither was anything else. The entire town of Farmer City went dark. Darkness except for the distant lighting. The lighting the accompanied the storm that rained out Kankakee. After about 10 or 15 minutes the lights slowly came back on. Then the night continued and finished without problem. But for a while we wondered if something was going to happen. OK maybe not WE- I did. But I worry a lot (so I’m told).  

            I guess it must be the season for weather problems. Most local tracks have had more then their fair share of rainouts. And look at the Summer Nationals, its either been Rain or Don O’Neal winning each night. Its just rain, it could be worse, hopefully it isn't. 

            We’ve all been at the track when the officials turn the lights out; mostly cause its time to stop drinking. It’s different when there are cars on the track. Just shows you cant miss a race; you will never know when something kind of crazy will happen!
 * Stay Safe * 

~Stay tuned in, I feel another rambling coming soon~

Friday the 13^th of May.

             Just when people thought I was out of things to say, out comes the first rambling of 2005…

             So last week, May 5-6 I traveled to Kankakee Speedway. I must say the track and fast. In fact the only thing wrong was it was REALLY dark in the porta potties and the beer was a little expensive. The nite was not bad. The 37 modifieds put on a dandy show for $1300 to win with Chad Kinder winning the purse. I was happy to see a fire truck and an ambulance in the infield, just in case. Fortunately they were only needed once and I think the driver was OK, just knocked the wind out of him.

             The one thing I did notice was how many young children were running around. And by the end of the nite, they were all asleep. I do wonder why parents bring the kids to something so loud and dirty. The kids would rather run and play then sit and watch cars go around in circles. Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy children and watching them play and have fun. But I watched the parents and they seemed worn out having to carry them around, then feed them, then take them to the bathroom, and so on. Some nites the kids are more fun to watch then the races. But I am sure some parents wonder by the end of the nite, “why did we bring them”. I’m not anti kids at the track. I just noticed a lot of wore out children carried by worn out parents. 

            Well now that I’ve upset half my readers, hopefully next week, Ill have a new interview. Have a safe week!!!

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 Unlike last year when I did an interview with an announcer, this season I have an interview with a late model driver. I think you will find some similarities between one of my favorite drivers and maybe one of your drivers or even yourself. And since some people don’t think I know what I’m doing, I have some serious racing related questions.

    This interview is with Joey Potter, from east central Missouri. Who won his 1^st feature in May of this year. He has only been racing a late model since this season started.

1. Who are you? “My name is Joey Potter, I am 24 and I was born on October 12th 1980.”

2. Where do you race? “I race a late model at Fulton Missouri for points, Grain Valley, Lebanon, Montgomery City, California, Lucas Oil speedway, and Tri-City a few times a year.”

3. What would you like to race? “We hope to start running with a traveling series here in the next couple years if we get the backing we need.”

4. Why the number 94? “I use the number 94 because I am the 4th generation racer in my family, my great granddad used 94,my grandfather used 94 he is now deceased, and my father bill potter used the number 94.I use it to keep the tradition going and in memory of my grandfather who passed 2 yrs ago, he never missed a race of mine.”

5. Does anyone else in your family race? “I have a few members in my family that race besides me both of my older brothers race, my dad raced, as well as my granddad, great granddad, my uncle and my dads cousin. “

6. What are your goals? “My goals as a race car driver are to one day be a champion with one of the traveling series and build cars. Racing is my life, heart and soul besides my family. My passion for it could not get any bigger, I want to race with the big dogs so bad, I think about it all the time.”

7. Who are your racing idols? “My racing heroes are of course my grandfather and my dad. My dad has had great success in any car he has been in. My uncle Donnie potter is also a hero of mine; he raced the NDRA late model circuit and had over 300 career wins. My dad most of all though, he knows his way around a car, I am privileged to have him in my corner. Our racing operation is a family deal; we build our own motors and everything. My pit crew is made up of my brothers and a close friend I had in school, my father is my setup man.”

8. What sponsors do you have? “My sponsors are made up of myself, my older brother Greg, my dads trucking company B&B trucking, Humphrey Designs, Rayburn Race Cars, and Fulton Graphics and Printing.

8. Where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years? “In five years I would like to be traveling with a series or circuit, in ten years hopefully I would have been a champion with a big series.”

9. What is your favorite track or type of track? “My favorite track would have to be Bloomington, Indian. I love the small bullring tracks that you have to drive and test your skills on. I would like to race as many tracks as I can this season and just gain as much experience and respect as I can, just kind of get ready for the big leagues..”

So now for the other questions 

10. What is your status? “I am divorced”
11. Boxers or briefs? “I hate boxers, nothing worse then them crawling up, so yes I am a briefs man.”
12. Do you have any superstitions? “Don’t have any superstitions as of yet.”
13.  What is something most people don’t know about you? “Most people dint know that I wanted to be a football coach when I got out of school.”

So Big thanks to Joey on a “real” interview!!

 **Also if anyone wants to help sponsor Joey, please contact me at Ouch13@yahoo.com or on AOL IM igoracing23.

He is going to run in Missouri and hopefully Illinois, or wherever he can get enough money to go.

20

FOR THE FANS

June 11, 2005

Are you an annoying fan? Now I have been to a lot of races and I have seen A LOT of cheering fans. But there are a few that are just plain annoying. There should be a book on proper fan etiquette.  The book would include all the dos and don’ts at the racetrack. I have gotten some ideas to start our book…

 ~ A definite DO, be at the track 2 hours early on a normal nite and 5 hours early on a Summernational or other big race nite.

*  A big DO NOT, put blankets down for two people that take up 14 seats. (Unless you want to fight)

 ~ Do buy as much food and drink to feed a small army.

 * But don’t leave all the garbage on others seats.

~ Please wear all the racing gear you have.

*   Please wash that gear at least once a season!

 ~ Yell and scream and cheer on your drivers.

*  But don’t yell and scream profanities at my drivers Unless you want to fight.

 ~ Stand up near the end of a race or during good parts.

*   Don’t push others down if they are standing

 ~ Cheer the drivers.

*   Not just the one who wins or is leading the racing.  Its annoying listening to someone who just cheers for the one leading especially when they get passed and they start cheering for that driver.

 ~ When something happens that upsets you go and kick the dirt.

*   Don’t bounce your legs to make it feel like an earthquake for me. Above all when I need to go to the bathroom but I don’t want to miss this race.

 ~ Go to the pits and meet the drivers and teams.

*   When talking to the drivers don’t criticize them, unless you want to fight.

 ~ Have a fun nite at the track

*   But DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE!

 Don’t know if you annoy people? If you have people looking at you repeatedly, you are likely starting to bug them. My guess would be you have broken a good fan Rule. Remember most fans just want to sit and watch racing, they don’t want to have to deal with people that are rude and annoying..

 PLEASE FANS DON’T LET FRIENDS BE ANNOYING FANS!

THANK YOU!