[Jerry Shaw]

I left a little early because I was really looking forward to this. Racing at the Action Track, on a Sunday afternoon. Just like the old days. Even though it was still late morning, the sun was already serving notice that today was going to be a hot one. When I arrived, the first thing that grabbed my attention was the way the teams were pitted. Due to the storm that rolled through earlier that morning, the teams were set up behind the large open grandstand and in the gravel parking lot normally used for motor home parking. The pits were teeming with activity. Both from race teams doing their final preparations and fans walking about, getting a closer look at the race cars. I definitely had to go there, but that would have to wait, because I had somewhere I needed to go. There was pressing business that I had to tend to, first.

After buying my ticket for the covered grandstand and talking to a few friends, I headed towards the infield tunnel. I saw a line of people waiting to enter. They were looking down the entrance ramp at something. Most looked like they were in no hurry to head down into the tunnel. Once I got over there, I saw why. There was water in the tunnel. And a fair amount, by the looks of it, too. When I went down the ramp, by the lack of smell of what was in there, it was obvious that it was just a bunch of runoff from last night’s storm. So I sat back on the incline, took my socks off, put my shoes back on and towards the infield I went. A little water is never enough to deter any self-respecting Hautian, anyway. It was about mid-ankle deep and was kind of cold. When I got to the top of the ramp, the first thing I noticed was that there were quite a few people that were already here and that had waded their way in, just as I had. As I walked around the outside of the infield, in the same direction that the race cars go, I noticed people hanging out in groups of different sizes, some firing up their grills, others playing Frisbee or football catch and even more just talking and telling stories with their families and friends. I stopped and talked to several people and they all had one thing in common. They were glad that they were here and looking forward to getting to see a day race. After walking the circuit two complete times, it really stood out that I didn’t hear even one person complaining about the track looking like it wasn’t going to be ready anytime soon, the fact that they had wet feet or anything, for that matter. This was inspiring to me. But then, it dawned on me. Crybabies or complainers don’t wade through ankle-deep water to get to anything. I was amongst and had spent the last 45 minutes or so visiting with the more intrepid of the race fans that had showed up at the Terre Haute Action Track, today. And for that, I felt lucky. Being in good company made it all the more special when I stopped for a moment to reflect, at the section of backstretch fence that many of you saw in the picture posted last week, taken when me and my brothers were kids. And dad was young and strong. That was a great era and those were great times and for a few minutes, I was that age, again. I did see something that is better today, than it was back then, though. There is now a port-o-potty fifty foot away from where we used to sit. That sure as hell would have been nice, back then. It would be a lot better than being a little kid, walking all the way across that infield to stand in line to use that terrible, nasty bathroom, right below the announcers’ booth. Going over there was not among my fond childhood memories. So, I headed back across the infield, through the tunnel moat and back up the ramp feeling glad that I had made it a point to go there first.

Next, I headed towards the makeshift pits. It was even more bustling than it was an hour earlier. The time was drawing near that the cars would be needed on the track to wheel pack. And there were even more fans milling around the area, now. I walked around for a while, just taking it all in, just like I was a kid in the infield, in the early 70’s, watching it all happen through that infield fence, by the old pits. And it was easy look at it from that perspective, since I had been that age in a very real way, just a few minutes earlier. And it was really obvious that this is the part of the sport that has been lost and was so very important, during the Golden Age of this track. The fans proximity and interaction with the drivers, cars and race teams. And it just so happens, that on the way out of the pits, I stopped to talk to my friend Tim and heard from him that some of the drivers and teams were enjoying this opportunity to be close to the young fans, almost as much as the kids that were walking around the pits were. So, it’s not lost on them, just the powers that be and others that just don’t want to bother with it. Hopefully, some of the USAC brass picked up on this. If they didn’t, then they missed out on one of the real takeaways of this day.

Lastly, I went to the grandstand and took my seat and was joined by friends Danny, Ben and Paul. And got to meet another longtime IOW poster, Ken. It was great to see the Big Cars roll out onto the track and make their first appearance. Qualifying was even half-way decent. From there it went down hill and deteriorated into a complete disaster, quickly and completely. The details of which have been well documented and whose veracity have not been challenged. So, I’m not going to get into that. And the only explanation I can think of for a riot not breaking out when they announced that the race was finally cancelled is that despite the fact that there would be no feature, most of the fans had a good time, up until that point. And their first reaction wasn’t to get mad, but to feel bad for the drivers. I got a little post-debacle chuckle, right after the drivers had gotten out of their cars, in front of the grandstand. The first fan that I heard yelling wasn’t mad at anything. He was yelling “Hey, Dave” trying to get Dave Darland to wave back at him.

All I’m going to say is that this is a legendary race track that deserves to be treated with respect. You’re not going to blow into town, the day before a race or the morning of a race and do track prep that will do this place justice. Especially when it hasn’t been raced on, in a while. Those that have tried to do this in the past, have been humiliated and made to look like incompetent fools. Last year, O’Connor and Sargent were beginning preparations early in the week, preceding a race day. The same applies for many promoters in the past who have hosted epic events. A few were totally a result of getting help from Mother Nature, but most were a result of doing the work and not trying to shortcut the process. And I don’t want to hear that doing a day race isn’t possible, because Mike King’s first race was a day race and Robert Ballou and Jesse Hockett went out and waged a classic war, all the way to the very end.

There were circumstances, one leading to another, that set this event up to possibly be a real memorable one. But that didn’t happen, due to a lack of preparation. Hopefully, those that ran this event were embarrassed enough by the final result of their efforts, that they are itching for the chance to redeem themselves by really hitting one out of the park, come Sprint Week. It may be their last chance to do so.

Jerry

[Pat O'Connor Fan]

well done, Jerry

[IndyBound]

Ditto Jerry, I always enjoy reading what you have to say. Thank you!

Patti

[racephoto1]

Well said. Also this event will be memorable, but for all the wrong reasons.

[openwheelKT]

That pretty much sums the day up for me too Jerry. Disappointing, but a great day with my family in the infield. I’ve never sat in the infield before, really enjoyed it. There were many others enjoying the day as well. I saw you walking around the infield (you were heading to the other end after we made the fun trudge through the water tunnel) so I figured you were doing some reminiscing.

[cowboyhar69]

Well said, Jerry. Even though the day didn't go as planned, for me it sure beat the hell out of just staying home doing nothing.

Tim Wolffrum aka Cowboy

[jim goerge]

Jerry I like Patti have enjoyed your writeings. Ever think bout writeing a book about them? I;d buy it

[Ovalmeister]

That was awesome Jerry, I felt like a kid again at Terre Haute waiting for GB, Pancho, Big, Sheldon and others to start hotlapping.
We must have crossed paths a thousand times....
David.

[ISF]

Very well said Jerry.

It was great talkin' some front engine open wheel racing with you, Dan and the guys up in the granstands. I'm from hardcore dirt late model country and don't often get to chew the fat with guys that know a whole lot more about the sprint, midget and Silver Crown scene than I know. Where I'm from the average race fan consider IMCA style modifieds open wheel cars. Not that I'm demeaning the dirt lates in any way.

As badly as things went Sunday, if at all possible, I will be at Terre Haute for all future non wing sprint, midget or Silver Crown racing. It's just not in me to boycott a track or genre of cars because of an occasional bad experience.

If I were USAC and wanted to run a day show, anywhere, I would talk to Sarge and either get an itinerary from him as to when and how to prepare for a day show or better yet hire his track prep people to manage the procedure. I have yet to see any appreciable amount of dust at Springfield for either the Silver Crown cars or the ARCA cars or at Du Quoin prior to the lights being installed or for the Labor Day ARCA show and we have seen temps in the triple digits more than once at Du Quoin. I've seen those places rubber down due to too many laps by other divisions but never much dust.

And once again it was great meeting and BSing with you guys Sunday.

[jerrydt]

Always enjoy reading your posts. Jerry from Cali,spoke with you a few times last summer will be back next year.