[Indy1808]

Does anybody remember the (non-sanctioned)Fall Nationals they used to have at Terre Haute? Thoughts of it ran thru my mind as I sat in the stands at Terre Haute this weekend. I can remember those races with wings the first night and sprint cars the next night. There were 40-50 cars with several putting wings on and turning around and taking them off the next night. Then with the day in between the night there were all kinds of meet n greet sessions with the teams, book signings, vendors with memorabilia, t-shirt trailers and many other assorted day activities. It was some great Fall racing & activities all weekend at this great, historical facility, rich in racing tradition and history. I miss that kind of marketing and independent promotion here.

[David Nearpass]

Seems Jerry Olson was the promoter ???
David Nearpass

[Indy1808]

So you do remember? I believe you are correct.
I know that is where I got my autograghed photo and met/talked with Gary Bettenhauusen.
It would be great if HARF could get behind something like this for next year. I would hope the fairboard would welcome that kind of activity. It would be a great way to wrap up the season with everyone, I mean everyone involved. Of course, before the critics come at me, easier said than done.

[brian2h]

in 97 we ran wing and non wing on friday night heats and a dash hewitt won the wing and i won the non wing.funny story as we were both on the podiam getting interviewed hewitt told them(as far as im concerned brian hayden won the only real race here tonight) lol wing fans did not c the humor.

[Morgan7m]

Great idea and the group of guys I sat with both nights this past weekend at Terre Haute, were discussing the very same idea. I told them the stories about the good old days when the THAT Group brought in for two nights, 360 nonwing, 360 wing, 410 nonwing as well as 410 wing cars. Pits were basically full and the stands and infield were also. This was fantastic racing and had an atmosphere similar to the Knoxville Nationals. It was fun for the fans to watch the 4 different divisions, including what most Hoosiers think are the dreaded wing cars. If I remember correctly, Frankie Kerr was running both the 410 wing and 410 nonwing divisions in the McBride / Schoff cars and won the nonwing feature. It is fun for teams with two cars or the teams that will go to the effort to swap their cars from wing to nonwing after each race. This was the only time that my family brought two cars to a event running both the 360 nonwing and 410 nonwing classes. We started on the front row of both features but could not win either, but we had a great time stepping up with a very small crew to take on this major task. Personally, I would love to see this type of "BIG" event again at Terre Haute and attempt to bring seperate cars for at least 2 and possibly 3 different divisions. Thats the fun of remembering the "good old day's" and wishing we could get back to those type of events. I'm all for it and would love to participate in it.
Ray Morgan
Terre Haute

[JJMooney]

I moved to the Midwest in ’94 so my record-keeping for Terre Haute starts then. I want to say the first multi-class October event was in ’93 under the lights with the All-Stars and a few other unsactioned wing and non-wing classes.

Here’s what I had written down from ’94-00. My records were a little spotty…

’94 and ’95 October events at the Terre Haute Action Track were promoted by Gerry Olson and were U.S. Dirt Nationals events:

1994 U.S. DIRT NATIONALS
10/15/94: WoO W410 – Steve Kinser
10/15/94: Unsanctioned NW410 – Frankie Kerr
10/15/94: Unsanctioned NW360? - ? (Not sure, but I seem to remember this division there too). May have had Wing 360’s as well. It was a loooong night.

1995 U.S. DIRT NATIONALS
10/13/95: Unsanctioned NW410 – Kevin Thomas? (Pretty sure I left due to the late night – Don’t quote me on the winner).
10/14/95: WoO W410– Mark Kinser

’96 and ’97 October events at the Terre Haute Action Track were promoted by Bill Hopton and were called the T.H.A.T. Nationals:

1996 T.H.A.T. NATIONALS
10/5/96: USAC Midgets – Tony Elliott
10/5/96: USAC Silver Crown – Jack Hewitt (Silver Crown Challenge – I want to say this was an invitational only event – top ten in points maybe?)
10/5/96: USAC Sprints – Jack Hewitt
10/5/96: Unsanctioned W360 – Larry Pinnegar III
10/5/96: Unsanctioned W410 – Donnie Beechler

1997 T.H.A.T. NATIONALS
10/3/97: Qualifying, heats and dashes only
10/4/97: USAC Midgets – Jack Hewitt
10/4/97: USAC Sprints – Jack Hewitt
10/4/97: Unsanctioned W410 – Leonard Lee

In 2000 Gerry Olson was back with his U.S. Dirt Nationals:

2000 U.S. DIRT NATIONALS
10/13/00: Unsanctioned NW410 – Kevin Thomas (Cheaters event – no wings-no other rules)
10/13/00: ASCS W360 – Wayne Johnson
10/13/00: Unsanctioned W410 – Brad Furr
10/14/00: Unsanctioned NW410 - Jon Stanbrough
10/14/00: WoO Gumount Series W410 - Jason Myers
10/14/00: ASCS W360 - Jason Johnson

[B99]

Olson had the US Dirt Nationals at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in 1992 I believe

He also ran the Clabber Girl Terre Haute National Open as well

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[cowboyhar69]

I know Dave Darland won the non wing 410 one year...I think his first ride in the HAR 69...I'm thinking that was in 1995 as he started running the 69 full time in USAC in 1996.

I believe it was in '96 my 5yo son and I went to the Friday/Saturday THAT Nationals. They also had a carnival set up, along with giving rides in the bed of "Bigfoot" Monster truck, which of course we had to try....
That was a great weekend, but pretty damn cold if I remember correctly.

[Indy1808]

Ooops! I stand corrected.
I found the picture here at work.
As you can see it was in 2000 when NAMARS ran the HUT 100 here where its supposed to be. Still, I remembered going to almost all the FALL/DIRT/THAT Nationals. There were some cold ones but there were some nice sunny ones too. The crowds came out day and night but it also didn't cost you alot. I remember goodtimes taking my son also. Events like that are what keeps the future interested in our sport. We need that now more than ever, IMHO.