car pooling and meeting friends
 

I am old (63) and a new spectator (3 years) to racing. My problem is that my wife will only go to races once a year which is the 4th of July to watch the fireworks and Bloomington puts on a wonderful show. A friend invited me to my first 3 or 4 races but he no longer attends on a regular bases. At this time when I go to the races I set by myself with no one to talk to. I am not a very outgoing person and find it very hard to strike up a conversation with a total stranger. I remember my first few races I didn

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Welcome Roger!!

Good to see someone new and wanting to attend more races. Our group mainly attends Lawrenceburg but on occasion a few will run over to Bloomington, if you would like to run over to Lawrenceburg sometime we always have room for another. I'm the youngest of our racing group at 33, but the majority are 50+ and very knowledgeable and don't mind sharing their knowledge. If you have any interest you can PM me when you'd like to come and I'll save you a spot and a (insert drink of your choice here).

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

I've been preaching for a long time that our sport is very confusing to newcomers. Roger said it better than I can. I've tried to get announcers to "talk to the new folks", but they don't seem to want to do that.

This thread just sparked an idea, though. Why don't the regulars at each track set up some way to meet newcomers? Tell the announcer what you're doing. Set up a place to meet, and find a place for the newbies to sit near you. You can probably come up with some really good ideas.

Dick.

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Originally Posted by Dick Monahan:
I've been preaching for a long time that our sport is very confusing to newcomers. Roger said it better than I can. I've tried to get announcers to "talk to the new folks", but they don't seem to want to do that.

This thread just sparked an idea, though. Why don't the regulars at each track set up some way to meet newcomers? Tell the announcer what you're doing. Set up a place to meet, and find a place for the newbies to sit near you. You can probably come up with some really good ideas.

Dick.

Excellent idea Dick. We need to make newcomers welcome and spread the knowledge that so many on this board have about open wheel racing. Also, Roger if you see someone wearing IOW logo items don't be shy. Come over and introduce yourself and we will make you feel welcome. Some of the nicest people in the world can be found at the local short tracks all over the place.

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

hey roger i hope you don't mind being in a big family ,because that's what we all are!(even though we dont always agree,just like family)

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Welcome to IOW.com, Roger. I've met many racing friends on account of this great website. I hope you will do the same. Don't be shy. We may seem a little crazy (because we probably are) but we are a friendly bunch.

My home track is the 'burg but I hope to be at Bloomington for at least Sprint week or the Sheldon Kinser Memorial.

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

When I first started attending I felt that the announcers could do a better job but I think that they are so busy that it would be nearly imposable for them to do so. I think the announcers at Bloomington do a wonderful job with the time they have. I did enjoy qualifying just because it gave them a few seconds to talk about the driver. I started wearing headphones so that I can hear the announcers over the sound of the engines however the roar of the engines adds to the enjoyment of race. I guess you can

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Roger you are a new fan here is away to see the drivers.

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

I

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. :rolling
Welcome to the board Roger you have come to the right place to find people that have the same disease that you have. (racing) I am sure by the time the racing season rolls around you will have a long list of new friends to hang out with at the track. Have a good time and the next time you are at the track get a pitpass and walk thru the pits, do not be afraid to walk up to a driver and start a conversation, as with our team I am sure you are welcome.

Jerry,Sarah,Paul and Josh Spencer #66j
www.joshspencer.com

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Originally Posted by 1BIGracefan:
Roger you are a new fan here is away to see the drivers.

Roger , what Kyle meant to say was " you are a new fan ... here is a way to see the drivers ". Kyle talks pretty good but don't write so well ( :O: ) !

You'll meet me at www.talk2drivers.com along with 21 other drivers that Kyle has interviewed. Enjoy !

Paul Gray , "USAC's Oldest Rookie" - USAC Midget # 28

:greenflag: www.paulgray28.com

:Steer < Kyle Hendershot

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

One more poor soul infected with this disease. Roger, once you start traveling to different tracks and going to more and more races, there is no cure....except going to more and more races. Like a buddy of mine that owns a sprint car once said "I've got it bad.":checkered::foxcostanbrough:

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Originally Posted by Dick Monahan:
I've been preaching for a long time that our sport is very confusing to newcomers. Roger said it better than I can. I've tried to get announcers to "talk to the new folks", but they don't seem to want to do that.

This thread just sparked an idea, though. Why don't the regulars at each track set up some way to meet newcomers? Tell the announcer what you're doing. Set up a place to meet, and find a place for the newbies to sit near you. You can probably come up with some really good ideas.

Dick.

Dick, that is a great idea. I'll talk to Jiggs about setting that up at Gas City.:thumb And welcome to the board, Roger!:applaud::thumb

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Roger,

Take a look at the webpage I will link to below. It was written a few years ago by Rich Chesavage, who among others worked with JJ Yeley for quite awhile I believe. It is a very good read for the new or casual fan wanting to know more about the cars themselves.

http://www.scrafan.com/column/rich/rich01.html

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Originally Posted by Joe Snyder:
Roger,

Take a look at the webpage I will link to below. It was written a few years ago by Rich Chesavage, who among others worked with JJ Yeley for quite awhile I believe. It is a very good read for the new or casual fan wanting to know more about the cars themselves.

http://www.scrafan.com/column/rich/rich01.html

that is a good read...i like this part the most....

"Wings

I suppose this would be the logical time to talk about wings and why they make a car faster. But I don

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Some great ideas here. However, I have to disagree with your first statement. The one about being old (63). Tonight at East Bay they had a contest for the oldest fan in the grandstand. The guy in front of me thought he had it won easily at age 78, and started to go to the announcer's booth. Came right back when they announced that they already had someone there who was 82. I am convinced that racing keeps us young (I am only 62). Anyway, welcome to the board. Once again, there are some absolutely great ideas in this thread. Perhaps we should spend some time this winter thinking about how to connect more, how to help new fans appreciate the sport, car pooling, etc. We have a bunch of people on this board who have really good ideas, and I am sure we could come up with some more good ones if we try.

Frank Daigh

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

When i go to a new track i will try to find a old timer like myself to pick there brain about the track. I find they will fill you in who is who and who they don't like lol . Randy Smith

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Roger, good that you posted this.

Now, my advice is to got to Bloomington and sit between John Hoover and Jerry Shaw. You will learn a lot, especially new words, believe it or not.:D

Then on Saturday, go to Lawrenceburg and sit between either Gregg Sauer and Marv Fish, or he is isn't walking around, Rich Hollmeyer. You will learn more new words and maybe a few German swear words too. :D

And at both places ignore that guy with the gray/white beard with the notebook. :thumb

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Roger,

Mr Burton is being humble:) I'm sure that Danny would certainy be willing to help in providing information.

The notebook that he is referring to is actually a brown paper bag and orange crayon:rolling

Hey, Welcome to the Board.

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Now, my advice is to got to Bloomington and sit between John Hoover and Jerry Shaw. You will learn a lot, especially new words, believe it or not.

:shoutOMG Danny, wouldn't that be considered cruel and inhuman punishment?:rolling

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Roger welcome to the greatest family you will ever know. Openwheel fans are some of the best around and any tru fan will always help out a newcomer understand this sport we love so much. I am 29 and luckily been infected with this addiction for many many years. Infact, (I was introduced to racing at a very young age. My first race was the Indy 500 in 1978 (although I don't remember it cause I was born in the first half of that year). But since then I have grown up in a racing family who were diehard fans and now have lucked into meeting some of the people I have idiolized for year.

Don't be affraid to walk up to someone and introduce yourself to them if they are wearing iow appearal. I went to Ft. Wayne in 2004 just to get Gary Bettenhausen's autograph and ended up meeting a great group of people there with a car of their own the first night. They told me to come by their pits the next night and we talked and shot the bull and come to find out after I told them I was dirtywhiteboy on midgetmadness.com they (for some very strange reason) liked me even more and now I have a group of friends that are teaching me about indoor and pavement racing and have put me on their indoor pit crew. I can't thank Corson/Savage racing enough for that.

If you can do it, one night get a pit pass and go in the pits and watch what these guys do to the cars and see that side of racing. it makes you appreciate what they do on a nightly basis even more. If there is a break in the action just kindly walk up and ask them some questions and explain to them why you are there. They'll talk to you. they may not give you team or trade secrets but they'll help you along.

Again welcome to best addiction a person could ever have.

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Originally Posted by dirtywhiteboy:
Roger welcome to the greatest family you will ever know. Openwheel fans are some of the best around and any tru fan will always help out a newcomer understand this sport we love so much. I am 29 and luckily been infected with this addiction for many many years. Infact, (I was introduced to racing at a very young age. My first race was the Indy 500 in 1978 (although I don't remember it cause I was born in the first half of that year). But since then I have grown up in a racing family who were diehard fans and now have lucked into meeting some of the people I have idiolized for year.

Don't be affraid to walk up to someone and introduce yourself to them if they are wearing iow appearal. I went to Ft. Wayne in 2004 just to get Gary Bettenhausen's autograph and ended up meeting a great group of people there with a car of their own the first night. They told me to come by their pits the next night and we talked and shot the bull and come to find out after I told them I was dirtywhiteboy on midgetmadness.com they (for some very strange reason) liked me even more and now I have a group of friends that are teaching me about indoor and pavement racing and have put me on their indoor pit crew. I can't thank Corson/Savage racing enough for that.

If you can do it, one night get a pit pass and go in the pits and watch what these guys do to the cars and see that side of racing. it makes you appreciate what they do on a nightly basis even more. If there is a break in the action just kindly walk up and ask them some questions and explain to them why you are there. They'll talk to you. they may not give you team or trade secrets but they'll help you along.

Again welcome to best addiction a person could ever have.

From Jim Morrison
Roger, Welcome to the Wonderful World of Auto Racing. You'll develop many friendships here. I did.

As far as track announcers, I agree with both of your observations, more can be done to help the new fan and most are so busy just reading off the next lineup they have very little time to educate.

When I started going to the races -- back in the day when a USAC sprint or midget show did not need support divisions to help pay the bills -- announcers like Bob Forbes and Bill Donella did an excellent job of informing someone new about racing. It also helped that I started going with a veteran fan, but it was the announcers who filled in many details. Of course, with practice, qualifying, four heats, a consi and a feature, they had plenty of time to fill. I remember an interview with Pancho Carterabout the position drivers put their hands on a steering wheel and learned he did it differently for dirt and for pavement. (Pavement was a traditional 10 and 2 while dirt was something like 8 and noon.) As a photographer, I rarely get to hear today's announcers as they don't put loud speakers in the turns pointed so we can hear so I cannont speak as to the quality of many of them. (Sometimes I don't even know who was fast quaifier until the racing is over for the evening and I check the stats.) I also think that one of the worst things to happen in racing is that the cars -- at most tracks -- no longer pit in the infields where fans can observe what the drivers and crews are doing. (It also made it easier for announcers to interview drivers.) Whlie use of the new enclosed trailers and insurance frequently have been cited as the reasons -- and it probably is to some extent -- I frequently have wondered if it was just there was not enough room for all of the cars from all of the divisions so none were allowed.

Anyway, welcome to Indiana Open Wheel.

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

IMO, Roger, your flirting with two things (Open-wheel racing and IOW) that are just as addictive as cigarettes or morphine. It'll seem cool at first, but then one day you'll find yourself sitting at your computer screen, at 2 am, totally riveted, as someone in California or Arizona phones in their description a race that they're watching to some else, as they describe it to you and about a hundred other addicts, just like you.

My advice: Turn the other direction and run like the wind, before it's too late:rolling

Seriously, though, welcome to IOW.

Jerry

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Originally Posted by Jerry Shaw:
IMO, Roger, your flirting with two things (Open-wheel racing and IOW) that are just as addictive as cigarettes or morphine. It'll seem cool at first, but then one day you'll find yourself sitting at your computer screen, at 2 am, totally riveted, as someone in California or Arizona phones in their description a race that they're watching to some else, as they describe it to you and about a hundred other addicts, just like you.

My advice: Turn the other direction and run like the wind, before it's too late:rolling

Seriously, though, welcome to IOW.

Jerry

I think back to the money we have spent and wish I had turned my back and ran like the wind, then I think of all the memories and am glad I put my face to the wind in good times and bad.

Jerry #66j
www.joshspencer.com

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

[QUOTE=Roger Macy;27399]I am old (63) and a new spectator (3 years) to racing. My problem is that my wife will only go to races once a year which is the 4th of July to watch the fireworks and Bloomington puts on a wonderful show. A friend invited me to my first 3 or 4 races but he no longer attends on a regular bases. At this time when I go to the races I set by myself with no one to talk to. I am not a very outgoing person and find it very hard to strike up a conversation with a total stranger. I remember my first few races I didn

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Ron we met at a few tracks last year during USAC Indiana sprint weeks. We need to get together on Friday and carpool to Bloomington. (I am retired so I can leave early) We could meet in Patoka or at the Oakland City's Denny's. Which route do you travel to Bloomington? I have a 2006 Dodge Caravan if you want to ride with me. I have room 3 to 4 more racefan. Also maybe getting together traveling to MSCS races.
You can PM me David Lynch, Patoka

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Originally Posted by ronmil:
Roger,

I attend Bloomington Speedway nearly every Friday night. My wife comes with me sometimes when her schedule permits, but I make the drive from Evansville by myself most of the time. I will be 69 in March and certainly don't think I'm old. My mother was still coming to Bloomington Speedway at the age of ninety-five. She passed away in April 2001, just 4 1/2 months short of her ninety-sixth birthday, but attended thirty-eight races in 2000, the last being a USAC sprint-midget double header at Winchester on Oct. 22, 2000.
I usually sit near the turn one area if I can find a place for my lawn chair. Hope to meet you this coming season.

This post says it all. :respect: You are always welcome at our pit. :respect:

Josh Spencer #66j
www.joshspencer.com

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Unfortunately Roger, the disease only gets worse, with no hope for recovery or cure. I have been afflicted for more than 40 years.

About fourteen years ago I thought I found a way help reduce the rising costs associated with the disease. I built a pushtruck, thinking if I could get a free pit pass and maybe even get paid enough to cover the cost of my gas to get to and from the track, I would have outsmarted all of the other people I knew who were afflicted.

So much for what appeared to be a good, sound financial plan to deal with the affliction. I have since gone through four pushtrucks, even with the free pit pass and gas money, they have resulted in a net loss of over $50,000 in fourteen years. I have travelled all over the country to feed the need.

Can I stop?....NO :kookoo
Do I want to stop?.....NO :kookoo
Is there ever hope to stop?....NO :kookoo

Have I always had the best seat in the house?.....NO
(There was that one time I couldn't see well when I got stuck in the pits.)

Would I trade any minute of it for a set of golf clubs?...NO

Have I enjoyed almost every minute of it and met a lot of really good people and developed lasting friendships?...ABSOLUTELY. :thumb

How would I sum up my experiences with the disease?.....PRICELESS! :applaud:

Joe Chambers
Official Push Trucks

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

With gas the way it is we should be starting a car pool with all of us fans.

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Roger, one thing to try is to put aside your shyness [not always easy, I know] and get to know the people sitting around you. I've travelled for a living most of my life and visited dirt tracks around the country alone. I've yet to meet a fan at a sprint race that wasn't friendly and somewhat knowledgeable. Many remain friends to this day so a trip to a far away track really isn't "alone" anymore.
My wife, not a race fan, sometimes asks why I go to a race alone. I tell her that I'll know people there. That's usually true but if not I
just meet new people with the same addiction.
I met my long time buddy and travel partner Pete on the CB radio[remember them?] in 1973 lost, trying to find Eldora. Now I can't get him to shut up! LOL. Besides, he continues to enlighten me with his lefty ********. See you all April 5th.
:hoffman:

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

My deal is similar to Roger's... except I live around St. Louis

My wife will go occasionally and I've got buds that are into dirt racing, but primarily late models around St. Louis.

When I drive to Terre Haute or Haubstadt, I don't mind the drive by myself but it would be cool to know some guys at the track. So any of you who go regularly to Haubstadt or Terre Haute, I'd be interesting in meeting some fellow IOW'ers

Re: car pooling and meeting friends
 

Originally Posted by RichH:
Roger, one thing to try is to put aside your shyness [not always easy, I know] and get to know the people sitting around you. I've travelled for a living most of my life and visited dirt tracks around the country alone. I've yet to meet a fan at a sprint race that wasn't friendly and somewhat knowledgeable. Many remain friends to this day so a trip to a far away track really isn't "alone" anymore.
My wife, not a race fan, sometimes asks why I go to a race alone. I tell her that I'll know people there. That's usually true but if not I
just meet new people with the same addiction.
I met my long time buddy and travel partner Pete on the CB radio[remember them?] in 1973 lost, trying to find Eldora. Now I can't get him to shut up! LOL. Besides, he continues to enlighten me with his lefty ********. See you all April 5th.
:hoffman:

And when Pete and I are both around, you're outnumbered. :D

Seriously, I could care less what my racing friends' ******** are and vice versa, I'm sure. We enjoy what we have in common, a love/addiction for this silly exercise of chasing races and admiring some very talented people.