Quote:
Originally Posted by 65 Push Truck
First race I went to was at the Princeton IN fairgrounds. They raced "late models". 50's and 60's Fords and Chevys. Then a guy named Tommy Helfrich showed up in a Camaro that was bad fast and upped the ante for everyone. I saw my first sprint car race at TSS with Buckwheat Gates and Dick Gaines in the 70's. My dad never went to the races but my older brother would take me. Occasionally we would slip out of Sunday night church early and go to TSS. Ronmil you remember when Dick Snyder hit the light pole in turn 3 at Princeton and the lights went out till like 2am? We stayed until the races were over like 3 or 4am. Think my brother got in big trouble for that one. Ha ha
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Yes, I remember that, and also the terrible night that two of Jim Scales' mechanics were killed when the steering broke on Lucas' (his first name escapes me) believe it may have been Bill, hemi powered Barracuda and he went airborne, completely clearing the stage. The mechanics were in turn one with their backs toward the oncoming airborne car. Lucas was from Washington, IN. That was in 1974. The Princeton track was scary fast, and was spongy in turn one where a spring ran under it. Fast Freddie Gerteirsen and W. T. Harris were always quick at that track. I believe some of the stock cars ran big block Chevies that were as big as 596 cu in. One hundred eighty degree exhaust headers were in vogue then, and the cars didn't sound like V8's with that configuration. Interesting era, but I as I think back, it is a wonder that a lot more serious accidents didn't happen there.