Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

After being laid up all week with a fever hovering between 101 and 105, had alot of time to gather thoughts of all the races I've attended in my life. ( for those of you that don"t know me personally sprints, midgets, and REAL champ cars, along with throwing a spinnerbait at 6:30 in the morning are the things that bring pleasure in my life). Also been thinking of the future of this sport and where it is going.

Been following this sport since I was seven years old, and if my math serves me correct that is 38 years. Can't even estimate the number of races, but remember each track without hesitation. Ascot was a thrill the one and only time I had the pleasure to go there, wow the way they rode that cushion! Devils Bowl for the 1st WoO ( a non-wing show mind you). One of my favorites in Texas was a Place called Buffalo Park, and they didn"t run sprints but Texas Modifieds, and a man named Eldon Dotson was the MAN! Even the Supermodifieds at Sandusky and the one visit to Oswego. Those guys flat get it on! But I am an Indiana boy ( Ohio transplant that is) and here is where I have been since 89' when my 4 years of service was done. As for these hoosier tracks, I truly love everyone of them. Sometimes I would go and to Gas City Friday, Burg Saturday, then Tri-State Sunday, get home at 3 in the morning and be back up at 6 for work. The next weekend it was Bloomington, da' Burg and then all Day fishin. Then there was Paragon, and I've always left that place with a good taste in my mouth. Twin cities has left me with some lasting memories, with the 99 NWWC race being my favorite. Kokomo is really a show stopper and Putnamville, ( opinion only here;; excluding the current state), has had some great shows. And Terre Haute, Man that place means ALOT to me! Gosh I hope THAT bets back to the glory days! But Lawrenceburg has always been home to me and when I think of all the memories, really bogles the mind. My very good friend Tommy Bipes taking one of the worst spills I have ever witnessed. Greg Staab being unbeatable at times, running the bottom. Marvin Deputy always stood out in my mind. Thickstun, Ritter, Huntley, I could go on for two hours. Two names that stand out more than any though, Gaines and Wilkerson. Man I have been blessed more than any Nascrap fan could be in 100 years.

Now with the race track recieving another facelift, many are wondering what the future holds for this Historic place. I will surely miss the old 1/4 mile, and I for one sometimes ain't exactly too keen on change, but I think this change may be one of the best things to come along in awhile.

Last year was a learning experience for me even after being around this stuff 38 years. Never realized how much work it took, but believe me there are better and more profitable ways to make a living. Last year was very draining physically, losing 25 pounds, and when you barely weigh a buck seventy, 25 pounds is alot! Mental strain was at an all time high, but come 7:00 every Saturday it was well worth it. Why? Guess I want this place to be second to none, though it really always has been in my mind. At times this year questions were raised on how things turned out, but I for one could not have been happier with the overall results. From the Gaines/Petty shootout in the early part of the year to the Hoosier Fall Classic all in all a pretty good year, and this being Rudys VERY FIRST YEAR in promoting. Was there any mistakes made? Sure there was. But there are oops in anything and everything we do, hell I still get spinnerbaits hung in trees, but not from a lack of effort.

That is what I am getting at: I see everyday the effort Dave is putting into this and his commitment to making Lawrenceburg the BEST SHOW ON DIRT! And not for just us guys that have always known what real racing is and who real men are, but for sprint car fans that are new to the sport. The man has been working anywhere from 4 to 8 hours a day in the off-season on making things BETTER. and this after a 12 hour shift at the slopes. And I thought I had more energy than anybody. I just want to say to everyone in IOW territory that 100% effort will be and ALWAYS will be put forth into Lawrenceburg and the new 3/8 mile.

I know I am more excited about the coming year than ever before, and can't wait till April.I hope to get around a little more than last year to talk to people, always a pleasure to see Fishburger, Cecil98, and so on. Guys I have this deep feeling that we are going to see some great racing this coming year.

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Thanks for the great post!!! I have some good memories of the burg also. My first memory was sometime in the 80's when I was a kid a sprinter went flipping and landed in the bed of a pick up truck. In you'r post you mentioned thickstun which one was it?

I'm not real big on change either but I bet they new track will be a good one.

Nick Johnson

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Was just down there checking it out and as it's off limits, All I could see was from outside and over at Competition Karting, Rebar is being put up all around 1/2 and the backstraight, they are still raising 3/4 but they seem to have a flat area marked off for the Drive thru scale house. Those stands in 1/2 are gonna be elevated 4 ft over the wall with the top of them probably about the BIG A level of the main grandstand.

Im excited about it. The old Quarter holds many great memories but all too often I seemed to be dissapointed (Not last year) But as I heard one person say early last year, That was the same show as last year and the year before, ect.

Now there have been some exciting nights in recent years, Drake splitting a pair coming off four to win a televised event a few years ago. Even last years last ten foot pass by Levi to win. Just often in didn't happen to be side by side sprint racing as I remember from the old days. Either the top was fast and a runaway or it was slick huggy pole. I crave a little of both at the same time :)

Dave, Props to you, The crews working down there and wishing you a great 2008. Lets get enough attendance to fill two of them grandstands!!!!!!!!

Go Burg
Chuck:thumb

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Im sure it was Leon. I've been attending races for about the same amount of time as him and I don't remember Jeff running the burg much. Of course I didn't get liberated to visit a bunch of other tracks till the mid 80s.

Chuck, who remembers one year for the championship Leon won a Brand new Nance Chassis for the 22 thickstun team.

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

I believe you might be right Chuck, it could have been Leon. Was it the red #22.

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Yeah, Leon ran the 22 then drove for Hoffman for a year or so. First guy I ever seen flatfoot the whole track non winged back in about 88 in the #69

Rodney Ritter, Randy Kinser, Kelly Kinser, Shields Boys, Bowling, Bipes, Ricky Hound Dog Hood, Andy Stapp, Troy Link, Bob Kinser, Denny Martini, Staab, Pup, Brisky, Amati, Kenny Jacobs breaking his own record every year at the HFC,that was the late 80s.

Chuck, wondering how in the heck it's been 25 years since the album Thriller came out? (Not a endorsement) It was just huge my Sr. Year of HS.

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

If it was Leon that flipped into the Back of a pick-up I missed it. Alot of spills I do remember though. Like I had posted earlier Tom Bipes wreck in turns one and two was SCARY! Everything tore up, leg pinned under car, etc. Tom has told me many times that after the wreck he had brain swelling to the point surgery was discussed. Wreck hurt him worse than the one at Bloomington that broke his neck

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Yeah, Seen Andy Stapp and Tommy Bipes both go through the fence in one. I remember Troy Link flipping off 3-4 and landing on their own pickup truck. Remember Jeff Gordon driving the backup Stropahl 20 at the HFC and Flying off three, Not once but twice and hauling back through the pits scaring the bejesus out of everyone
Some nasty ones, I even remember a car flipping high enough to take down the lights that ran 20ft above 3

Chuck, who thinks the most spectacular one with no injuries was Rodney Ritter in the Red 20 nance that went the length of the back straight and somewhat down the pit road. Probably 20 flips in some variation or another.

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

I'm not sure who it was that flipped into the truck but it was just the first vivid memory at LB

as for asking about which thickstun it was. Jeff drove my dads car in the early eighties and I thought it might been him in his car.

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

I Thought It Was Bipes That Went Into The Truck. My Most Memorable Moment At The Burg Is Carrying The 1975 Championship Trophy Off The Track. I Was One Proud 9 Year Old Kid. Cecil, I Do Remember Your Ride Off Three And Mike Windblad's (white 7x) Ride Down The Front Chute In The 80's. One Thing You Won't See This Year Is Guys Running Off The Track Because Their Pissed...lol

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Bipes flipping through the fence between 1 and 2(really nasty). It was Leon who flipped in the back of a pick-up. What about the nite Skylar Hinkle flipped down the front stretch, I was scoring at the Burg at that time, we thought the worst had happened that nite. We stopped racing for the nite after that flip. The big "rivalry" between Staab and Thickstun who would win every week. Dont ever forget about, probably the nicest guys to every race at the Burg, Danny Milburn. I sure do miss him. Others you forgot to mention, Gary Gray, Joe Miller, Allan Barr, The Rice's, Mickey Smith, and Larry Bland. I'm probably leaving a bunch out. I don't remember Leon Thickstun driving for Hoffman, I remember him driving the Law Bros 77. Jeff Thickstun drove there on ocasions in the Bayless 17.
I look forward to driving my LM at the "New" Burg making it the fastest 3/8 track in the country. Can't wait go racing it should be intresting. What about the nite Jack Hewitt punched out Sammy Swindell after the HFC.

Jeff Simonton

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Jeff thickstun also drove Denny Johnson's #15 car there a few times.

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Chuck don't know you but I've beengoing to the burg since the mid 80's. Remember vividly the flip in turn 3, car was higher than light pole. Also remember Gordon's first night at the burg. parked it in turn 4 infield if I recall correctly. Just seeing the the names brought back alot of memories.

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

The Past, seems like ancient history!
http://www.stevehardin.com/lawrenceburg/LBURG6.JPG
http://www.stevehardin.com/lawrenceburg/LBURG31.JPG
Thanks to SteveHardin.com
More of the old falling apart Lawrenceburg
http://www.stevehardin.com/htm/lawrenceburg.htm

I miss the old rusted out Pee troughs:D

Jim Keeker's wild ride was one of the worst I have seen. He started flipping before the flagstand and did not stop until hiiting the fence well into turn 1.

Check out some old L'burg Cover scans I sent this Guy
http://www.progcovers.com
The Yellow 1980 program is from the Cecil98 era.:respect:

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Keith
If you want to relive some history looks like the pit accomodations haven't changed. Nice photos.

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

When naming names, Im always gonna forget some (Not because they weren't memerable. Of course I remember Bland in the black duece and Danny Milburn who over the years raced a little bit of everything. I even remember a pure stock named the Blue Mule with two horseshoes on the rear quarter :)

That night Hewitt decked Sammy was full well desereved, Sammy never did run the Burg again. That was the year of the USA-WOO split and Sammy was cherry picking including Ohio Speedweek

I remember clearly Larry Bland comming off four on a wheelie, setting it down about five feet from the wall and watching the car become a zig zag from the impact.

Indiana's Andy Hillenburg drove for Hoffman also but I believe that first year Rob was Chief. Leon did most of it. *I could be wrong*

We always talk about the good old days but ten years from now, Todays races are the good old days. Yeah there have been greats and sold out houses in all era's :)

Chuck, feeling a Marv Fish moment coming on :)

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

I believe you might be right Chuck, it could have been Leon. Was it the red #22....fishnman

Chuck and Dave, Jeff Thickstun ran weekly at the burg beginning in either '81 or '82, when I had the track (can't remember exactly). He and his dad both drove red #22's. About the only difference in the appearance of the cars was, Jeff's tail tank didn't have the head rest molded into it and Jeffs car had an aluminum windshield (old style) for lack of something better to call it. I have an old video of Jeff racing in that car at the burg during my tenure .

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

My childhood days saw drivers like Ross Smith, Tommy Mattlin, Wayne Wolf, Roy Robbins, Stan Bowman, Calvin Gilstrap, Jim Cushman, Jim Bob Luebbert, Dick Gaines, Mike Smith, Mike Johnson, Bud Detmer, Frankie Mack, Joe Pflum, Gil Hess, Larry & Steve Cannon, Bill Teegarden (yes, in a sprinter), Sheldon Kinser (Brewer Cadillac#14) Hugh Randell, and CECIL Beavers (hint, hint:O:). All of these guys ran sprinters (or sprint coup/modifieds as they were called) at the Burg fairly regularly at one point in time during the 60's. The 60's was a transition period where the old openwheel modified coups evolved into sprint cars. I remember when the Detmers (Bud and Dale) switched from the old chopped down coup body to a sprint car body on their modified. There are a lot more but that is all I can think of off the top of my head right now.

PS...if any of you old guys can add to this list from the late 50's thru the 60's, have at it! I need to have my memory jarred!

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Leon Thickston still has a sprint car, it runs weekly at Paragon and is driven by Steve Rone of Bloomington. Last year Steve won the track championship at Paragon. Rest in peace Jeff.

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Cecil,we Ran Down There From Time To Time In The 60's But Our Driver Wasn't As Known As Some Of Those Guys (don Hewitt).

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

you would know about weekly at paragon:doh::icon_smile_blackeye

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Chris, did Don drive your grandma's blue #19? I do remember when Dick Gaines drove that car! But, most people remember Dick for driving Dizz's yellow #70. I had forgotten about Don Hewitt.

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Yea, He Drove The Blue #19. After He Got Out Of It George Harbour Got In It. He Did A Great Job For Us. Don Was Good If You Could Keep Him Out Of Gramps Cooler......lol

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Yeah, I heard that!:rolling

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Really like to keep a group of us Burg Fans together for chat, discussion over at www.queencitymotorsports.com. Not to take away from IOW at all but it's more local and doesn't seem like were overruning the board and as a way to keep in touch. Keith truelly has some amazing links such as earlier in this thread and lots of info on the Burg.

Chuck

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

As I have been reading the posts and seeing all the names, it makes me realize how time slips away. Then I think about my 9 year old son, and what a huge fan he has become. Hell, I will never forget at a USAC show at Eldora at the ripe old age of 6 he was explaining to a couple next to us how time trials work, who advances out of the heats, the B main and so on. Then I see the names that have come up in the posts that were some of my heroes, and now the names of Stanbrough, Clayton, Cottle, Darland, etc are the names he will remember 25 years from now. Damn proud of him, he Knows what real racing is and who real men are! :foxcostanbrough: :briscoe: :hoffman:

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

I think we'll be ok here, Chuck. H$ll, look all the Stenhouse stuff on here recently. Plus, if all this Lawrenceburg talk foments someones curiosity and gets him to grab the wife and kids and head to the Burg this spring, all the better. Right? :)

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

A few more names from the 'Burg past:

Bill Dugger - Replaced Wayne Wolfe in the Chrysler powered #55

Bob Papoy

Mike Johnson - He was very good. He, Bowman, and Hess put on some great shows in the ealry 60's. Was later to take over Paragon.

Wayne Woodmansee

Audie Schwartz & Chick Hale - First guys I recall running wings. Didn't like 'em much then either. :wink

Bob Fuqua - Local (Osgood, IN) guy lost his life here.

Hugh Randall - Beautiful #25 sprinter out of Louisville. Killed in '62 at Langhorne driving relief for Bob Mathouser in the Vargo Offy.

Martin Kosat - Burned badly at the Little 500 one year.

Bobby Adamson (PA), Junior Morgan, and Wayne McGuire (KY) were not regulars here but often showed up for the big events and often taking home much of the bounty.

Carl Williams from K.C. - teamed with Dick Gaines in Dizz Wilson cars for awhile. Had a beautiful wife. Killed on a motorcycle as I recall.

I'll have to give this topic some thought. May recall a few more.

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Anyone remember the twin 100 lap feature for Sprints and Late models. Dad said he stood in victory lane after the second race many times and the track was still so tacky it would try and suck your shoes off.

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Fish, I remember Papoy and Wayne Mcguire but, Wayne Woodmansee was before my time. He had been injured at the race bowl and out of racing back in the mid to late 50's. I saw Wayne a couple of years ago in a local pub here. We talked for quite a while. He used to race with my dad. He was 84 and doing very well health-wise at that time. I don't remember Audie Schwartz running "regularly" at the Burg. I know he made an occasional appearance. He bought the Black #5 Oakie Drout sprinter that Ross Smith drove to the championship down at the Burg. I saw him in it up at Eldora circa 1968. I was down there the night Fuqua died. I remember seeing Hugh Randall in a pale yellow car down there. I thought it had a red #80 on it but, it could've been #25 (loooong time ago!). It was one of the first cars down there with a sprint car style body on it. Mike Johnson drove a white dodge powered sprint car with a red #60 on it. Jim Bob drove that car after Mike moved on.

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

:checkered:

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

I remember the 100 lappers, Shane. The last one I saw, Ross Smith won the sprint car race. Sheldon Kinser led most of the race in Brewer's red #14 Cadillac powered car but lost a driveline and Ross went on to win it in the Black #5 Oakie Drout Spl. Paid a $1000 back then. Big Bucks!!!

Earl Smith, Bruce Gould and Ross Smith were the hot dogs in the stockers back then. Ross did double duty every week. You would get hit in the chest with big clods of mud during the feature back then!!

PS..Shane, I remember watching your dad race a white Pontiac late model with an orange #57 on it out at Tri-County Speedway when it first opened in 1968. I was in Jr. High.

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Well Here's Some Of The 70's Bunch...bob Kinser, Dick Gaines, Calvin Gilstrap, Johnny Krebs, Tom And Larry Goad, Bob Christian, Ron Dorsett, Marvin Deputy, Alan Barr, Nick Naber, Tom Brummet, Mike Johnson, Bernie Grabiel, Bob Papoy, Danny Smith, Kerry Norris, Mike Blake, Ron Ennis,randy Kinser,tony Solaminto, Leon Thickstun, Larry Miller, Danny Milburn And Dean Gummer.....can Anyone Add To This List ?

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Wilkerson

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Well, I've learned that Cecil is younger than me, but then there are a lot of people on this board that are younger than me. :O:

How about Orval Yeadon? Didn't he run over there? Bobby Black? No one mentioned Jay Wyatt yet? Mr. Staab?

Cecil and Marv named most of the guys I can recall. If I had a favorite it would have been Roy Robbins, from Louisville, KY.

Re: Lawrenceburg, Past, Present, Future
 

Kerry Norris? Man, I'm so old that I remember when his dad, Dave Norris, was scaring the bejeebers out of me running with the modifieds/sprints in a little yellow midget. Dave was right up there with Aldo Andretti, Ralph Liguori, and Larry Kirkpatrick in the "thrill a lap" club. Bud Holmes from Indianapolis was a driver who later took over the promoting chores (only 1 year, I think) and nearly ruined the place forever. Don Nordhorn, super nice guy, was another good one who come over from Evansville quite often before he started running with USAC. I see him once in awhile at the Eldora 4 Crown. Going back a bit further (early 60's???), I remember a "Wild Bill" Saylee who missed the feetch on a late season Sunday afternoon race on the half-mile. Soooo, he and his cohorts pushed his car out on the track at the flagstand just as the field was coming through turn 4. I don't think he ever ran there again.

Now skip to the next post if you're a stock car hater. But, I have to tell you there was some great racing back in the 60's & 70's, ("Popcorn, get those classic cars out here"). Previously mentioned John Mugavin, Earl Smith, Bruce Gould, and Ross Smith along with Chuck McWilliams, Rodney Combs, Billy Teegarden, Baldy McLaren, Don Lamb, Denny Harris (Jeff's dad), Larry Moore, Whitey Freeman and others were exciting to watch.

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I'd forgotten Dave. :headbang Marv, you'll be glad to know that Dave and his wife spend most of their time in Florida now. He called me about a year ago, just to talk. It was a treat. Kerry works on that old truck of mine whenever it needs his attention.

I just remembered an old modified #96 with a Studebaker engine, as I recall. Seems like the driver's name was Schmidt? Who can help? This would have been the early 60's.

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chuck, i left butch out on pupose. i thought he might come on here and raise hell..:rolling. he also drove the old #19

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Funny that you mention Popcorn Marv, Dad use to say my older brother and sister thought the last words of the National Anthem were "come on Popcorn get those cars on the track"

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Popcorn was also the track electrician. He was the master of "Jerry-rigging" and finally was electrocuted down at the Burg. My dad also hit him with his race car but, he survived that one.