[Gasman fan 50]

USAC hired one camera to tape both nights. So, it looks like they will sale the thing! My friend, CGJ was a no show! Clayton had throttle problems. It is a big half mile! Man with 4 races a year this sucks. Very good crowd. Not as large as the first wing show. That was standing room only 22 years ago and we were better off $$$ wise. I just wonder if there someone willing to make this a big paying event! Sprints and midgets.:Steer By the way no dust. One lane though. As I expected tire ware was a problem.
Joe

I just wish somebody would post the results of the A Main.

[JstAbvVMC]

Midget A-main Johnny Rodriguez, Scott Perovich, Shane Golobic ??? and the John Sarale ?? Only 4 or 5 midgets finished the race, but J-Rod and Stubby Scotty put on a hell of a side by side pass after pass one high one low dual that had the fans screaming

[JstAbvVMC]

Sprint A-Main Tim Kaeding, Jesse Hocket(SP), Brent Keading, Kevin Swindell. The track took rubber and the race was great. I wouldn't say that it was one groove Hockett checked out at first and then TK moved around and found some rubber low, Swindell got into it for awhile but counld keep up with TK and Hockett. Hockett came back and nearly passed TK back before a yellow moved him back. Hockett had showed his hand with two laps left TK did not let him try that move again.

The top three were on slicks at the end, but it was a really good race and the stands and pits were packed.

And for you Indiana guys that complain about ticket prices!! Pit Pass member was $30 non was $45 (I think) and a grand stand seat was $25......Last week Hanford was $45 and no member discount period....

[Gasman fan 50]

The track wasn't wide enough for side by side sprint car racing. They tried their best but popping tires or dust which is worse? It took a slide job on the restart green to win. Hocket had a seven second lead before the end. 7 seconds on a half mile!:respect:
18 midgets they were poping tires
32 sprints they were poping tires

This is why Brent Keading would never run against the Outlaws there! The tire bill for a 3 day show.
NARC had to cut the laps down with the wings, because of the tires not lasting. Tim K. passed by dad by doing the Steve Kent slide job. Putting the left front on the berm weight change to the rear. . Dad was telling Tim his tires were shot. The last 5 laps during the yellows for tires. Clayton was the the show but throttle sticking. Was wondering why his rotors were cherry red. Lots of sparks!:crying:

Superduke is right about the wide tires. Do think the racing would be better and the tracks would hold up better.

Joe

[sprinter25]

Originally Posted by aussiemidgetfan is this another case of track owners not believing in water?

In a word, no.

Almost all of the times that we raced at Calistoga in the 1990's until 2002, it was a tire-eating monster. Since they only race there 3 or 4 times a year now, and they haven't added clay/dirt to the surface is over 20 years, it's just likely that it was a normal Calistoga surface. And the track is at a California State Fairground, so racing isn't a priority to the Fairgrounds.

If, as the gasman50 fan says, the track was a tire eater last night, that's too bad, since the fans deserved to see a better race than that.....

[JstAbvVMC]

Well I guess I was at another race track last night. I saw the same Calistoga I saw when I first went there in 1977. Was there passing last night, Yes. Was there tire ware and a track that took rubber, yes same as always. Was it a one lane race track, No. Was it a race track that required some skill and thought by the driver where to race and and required him to save his equipment, yes. Did a slide job WIN the race on a restart, like this years Knoxville Nationals, No. On that restart TK found away to get off four hard at the green and he was able to run down Hockett which resulted in the turn one slidejob, but when Hockett passed Tim Kaeding back a few laps later (with a side by side two lane pass in three and four) he got the same run off the bottom to lead by a couple of car lenths, then the yellow light came out and and TK got his spot back. with two laps to go TK moved to the bottom effectively taking Hockett's new line away. We all new Hockett was done once TK saw the move and he wasn't gone let it happen again, smart racer.

Now, on the last two yelows did I see daddy BK pull up from forth spot to along side his son TK while rollin down the back strait and motion for him to stay on the bottom, which he did, Yes. Not saying cheating at all kind of smart team work I think. If that was a one lane, no passing, two laps to go race, I'm not sure why BK would have done that.

I guess I see things a little brighter. Calistoga has never changed, love or hate it was the same old Stooga. USAC and the fairboard (Mike Kenny) took a heck of a chance hoping this deal would go well, I for one think it did. I give USAC and the Hunt's credit, sorry guys but I gotta call it as I see it. They hoped for 40 sprint cars and 24 midgets. They got 36 and 20 not bad considering there are not that many dirt midgets in CA. The grandstands were full as was the pit area. I have'nt see that anywhere in Nor Cal in years.

One last thought, I was in the infield down in three and four. From there I could not see one and two. But, we knew when there was a pass for the lead in one and two because we could hear the fans in the stands SREAMING. And that was over the race car noise (I know mullers but still). So, I think from what I heard from the fans in the stands, and later when they walked the pits with all the little kids, I'm not the only one that thought it was a good night.

Call me silly, but I gess I look for the positive things and I don't just highlight the negative. Enough of this I'm going back to Stoga tonight and I gotta get going.

[SUPERDUKE]

Originally Posted by Gasman fan 50 The track wasn't wide enough for side by side sprint car racing. They tried their best but popping tires or dust which is worse? It took a slide job on the restart green to win. Hocket had a seven second lead before the end. 7 seconds on a half mile!:respect: 18 midgets they were poping tires 32 sprints they were poping tires This is why Brent Keading would never run against the Outlaws there! The tire bill for a 3 day show. NARC had to cut the laps down with the wings, because of the tires not lasting. Tim K. passed by dad by doing the Steve Kent slide job. Putting the left front on the berm weight change to the rear. . Dad was telling Tim his tires were shot. The last 5 laps during the yellows for tires. Clayton was the the show but throttle sticking. Was wondering why his rotors were cherry red. Lots of sparks!:crying: Superduke is right about the wide tires. Do think the racing would be better and the tracks would hold up better. Joe

FOR SURE WITH 360 CI 11 TO 1 ENGINES!:applaud::checkered: