Favorite Springfield Memory

ThrowbackRacingTeam · 8/15/13, 2:08 PM

One of mine as a kid was running up the LONG staircase to get in the grandstand and seeing the beautiful Leader Card #7 driven by Gary Bettenhausen in 1987! That is my all time favorite race car.

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miledirt · 8/15/13, 3:19 PM

The year Jack Hewitt won and dominated the division that year

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SpfldMile · 8/15/13, 3:59 PM

Pancho Carter passing Bobby Olivero in turn 4 of lap 100, riding the cushion, and winning by a nose in 1980.

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mr nobody · 8/15/13, 4:18 PM

I've been going there for many years but I have to say that last year watching Fike win after following his career for over a decade and a half is a memory I will never forget. That only slightly eclipses 2001 when Jack Hewitt signed autographs after the race.

dirtnonwingfan · 8/15/13, 5:58 PM

Jan Opperman had a bad day. He timed badly, worked his way to the front, and his car gave out. Afterwards in the pits, a young girl approached him. Despite the day he had, he remembered that he had talked to her over a year ago at the Missouri state fairgrounds, picked her up, gave her a hug, posed for pictures and talked to her for a while. She adores him to this day. This is how legends are made.

jim goerge · 8/15/13, 6:13 PM

The real Dream WoO and dirt champ cars and Danny Smith sweeping with both his cars # 18

kart31rac · 8/15/13, 9:33 PM

Watching Al Unser in the early 70's run the johnning lighting cars, no cages and rooster tails flyin. And in the later 70's watcing Pancho down the stright away flapping his arms like a chicken before he went into the corner. Guess to keep them from cramping up, but it was classic. I will be there on sat. Hope my buddy Chris Urish can get a win. Nothin better than Champ Cars on the mile.

ThrowbackRacingTeam · 8/16/13, 9:30 AM

Another of mine was watching Steve Chassey run a tall cushion in turns 3&4 for the entire 100 laps in 1988 to victory. My favorite sight in motor sports is the champ cars on a cushion at Springfield.

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SpfldMile · 8/16/13, 11:37 AM

I've talked to the guys that prep the track a couple of times in the past month. I let them know how much us fans would love to see a cushion during the race. With the cool temperatures, I don't see why they couldn't make it happen. I don't know how much it sunk in, but it never hurts to ask. Hoping for a great day tomorrow.

Dick Monahan · 8/16/13, 9:34 PM

As much as I like the dirt cars, my favorite memories are of the night before midget races at Little Springfield.

8/15/13, 3:59 PM	#3
SpfldMile Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,312	Pancho Carter passing Bobby Olivero in turn 4 of lap 100, riding the cushion, and winning by a nose in 1980. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ For those about to rock, we salute you. _________________________________________________ Last edited by SpfldMile; 8/15/13 at 10:31 PM.

8/16/13, 11:37 AM	#9 Re: Favorite Springfield Memory
SpfldMile Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,312	I've talked to the guys that prep the track a couple of times in the past month. I let them know how much us fans would love to see a cushion during the race. With the cool temperatures, I don't see why they couldn't make it happen. I don't know how much it sunk in, but it never hurts to ask. Hoping for a great day tomorrow. __________________ For those about to rock, we salute you.

8/15/13, 2:08 PM	#1 Favorite Springfield Memory
ThrowbackRacingTeam Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 961	One of mine as a kid was running up the LONG staircase to get in the grandstand and seeing the beautiful Leader Card #7 driven by Gary Bettenhausen in 1987! That is my all time favorite race car. Posted via Mobile Device

8/15/13, 3:19 PM	#2
miledirt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,823	The year Jack Hewitt won and dominated the division that year Posted via Mobile Device

8/15/13, 9:33 PM	#7 Re: Favorite Springfield Memory
kart31rac Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 323	Watching Al Unser in the early 70's run the johnning lighting cars, no cages and rooster tails flyin. And in the later 70's watcing Pancho down the stright away flapping his arms like a chicken before he went into the corner. Guess to keep them from cramping up, but it was classic. I will be there on sat. Hope my buddy Chris Urish can get a win. Nothin better than Champ Cars on the mile.