Opinions on Ultimate Challenge
 

I've had a pretty bad year as far as getting out to many sprint and midget shows this year. I've got a wild hair about making a run to Oskaloosa Tues. night for the Ultimate Challenge and maybe hitting Knoxville for Wed. night of the Nationals. I was just wondering what you guys that have been there thought of it and if it will be better or worse this year with the USAC sanction? Thanks.

Re: Opinions on Ultimate Challenge
 

Osky is a great show no time trials they draw and run the sprint bandit format which makes for a great show this is what they did last year which was the first year of usac sanction so I hope it is the same this year but the winner's pay has been cut to $15000 from the $30,000 they had paid out from the first year.If you are heading that way they have also booked the usac sprints at knoxville on sunday night before osky on tuesday night.

Re: Opinions on Ultimate Challenge
 

Last year's race was a MAN-sized cushion at the very top of the track. It was thrilling in many aspects. I'd say the event has had as many sterling years as disappointing ones. Certainly at that track, a car with "the hookup" can just take off and hide (Benic, most years), and make mincemeat of the competition, but the sanction won't harm or alter the event from last year.
Get up as high in the stands as possible, because if you view the race from the infield, you will see 75% less of the action than you'd want to. Heats can be genuinely thrilling if you watch the mid-to-back of the field, as there are usually many "worlds-colliding" tussles taking place between a non-wing specialist, and a guy with wing-mounts atop his cage trying to make some hay in his only topless action of the year. Often, the complete unfamiliarity with the other guy means both guys will take it into the turns looking for the same real estate, and your knees will buckle a time or ten seeing how contact is (hopefully) narrowly avoided.
And, of course, if you can make it to the Front Row Challenge, it can be said with unqualified certainty that there is positively no infield that even comes close to the Osky Monday Night experience.

Re: Opinions on Ultimate Challenge
 

I wasn't there, but I'm pretty sure Osky had a USAC sanction last year. Am I wrong?

Re: Opinions on Ultimate Challenge
 

Wednesday night head South West of Osky and go to the Arnie Knepper Memorial race at Belle-Clair Speedway, Belleville Illinois. Its as "Bullring" as you can get,and the fair is on as well which adds to the atmosphere there.

Re: Opinions on Ultimate Challenge
 

Southwest????

Re: Opinions on Ultimate Challenge
 

Southeast!!! What was I thinking!

Re: Opinions on Ultimate Challenge
 

I'll be there from Saturday to Saturday. The best race in the 15 years I have been going to the Nationals was the Ultimate Challenge won by Dick Gaines. It is the closest finish I have ever seen. The flagman was staying at the same motel and at breakfast the morning after the race I ask him if he agreed with the finish. He said at the front of the flag stand Chappel was ahead and at the rear of the flagstand Gaines was ahead. It was that close.

If you have never been to the Nationals then Wednesday and Thursday are the days to attend. You will not be disappointed.

Re: Opinions on Ultimate Challenge
 

Well it used to be the one night stand for 30 grand. Now it's the one night stand for 15 grand. Who care's it's one hellva show.The night before is good as well. The front row challenge is a different kind of line up It's gooood!!!:31:

Re: Opinions on Ultimate Challenge
 

30 years to the night that his dad beat Opperman at Knoxville in much the same fashion. Cool stuff.