Favorite Springfield Memory
 

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

The year Jack Hewitt won and dominated the division that year

Posted via Mobile Device

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

Re: Favorite Springfield Memory
 

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.

Re: Favorite Springfield Memory
 

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.

Re: Favorite Springfield Memory
 

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

Re: Favorite Springfield Memory
 

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.

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.

Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Favorite Springfield Memory
 

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.

Re: Favorite Springfield Memory
 

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

Looks like they lost the keys to the water truck again

Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Favorite Springfield Memory
 

Wow

I used to go every year just to remind myself I was alive! That Ferris Wheel spinning outside the first turn, along with all the sights and sounds of both racing and the state fair.

but like everything, they screwed it up by thinking they just need to unlock the gate

My favorite memory was standing at the inside rail at end of front straight and seeing the tires of the midgets all stretched out from spinng so fast. Looked like they were twice their normal height and half their width! I sure do miss how the sport was back in the 90s.

Posted via Mobile Device

Making a memory now, standing at the guardrail between. Turn 1&2. Been going to the mile dirt tracks for 30 years never been this close to them at full song. Usually I'm working on one, but this cool.

Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Favorite Springfield Memory
 

I am still trying to get used to not seeing the "Blue 56" car with Dave Darland at the wheel. It was a standard in champ cars.
I remember standing in the number 1 turn watching Steve Chassey break the track record in the Genesee Beer Wagon.

I miss seeing Rich Vogler work his way up in the Louis Seymour 29. I miss Johnny Parsons coming from wayyyyyyyyy back in almost any car he drove.
I miss the Jo ol car with Larry Dickson and Gary B in the Delrose-Holt car. I miss watching Roger Rager.

But I like watching the Dave Darland, Tracy Hines, Swansons and the beautiful blue with the gold leaf #90 out of PA, #21 of Brian Tyler and many others.

Just being at a fairgrounds dirt champ race helps you put your year into perspective...its good karma....not much is better.