With yard mowing completed yesterday, causing me to miss last night's Gas City action, and just back from Bob Evans this a.m., I now consider the +'s and -'s for a long drive up to GC tonight. Hmmm, think I'll postpone that decision for awhile. Weather not looking too favorable at the moment, considering a 50 buck petrol expenditure if I go. Meanwhile, looking back at the Lawrenceburg events:

+ The highlight for me was getting to visit with Bill Gardner Thurs. night. Though he was enjoying the action he said it just wasn't the same and he misses the greasy hands and busted knuckles from his days wrenching on Brian's 8H. Hope you all got to see him. He looked good, had a strong handshake, his old mischevious grin, and is the greatest example I personally know for the "Don't ever give up" urgings of Jim Valvano. Quite inspirational is our boy Bill. :thumb He's been through more than I knew about, but he seems to be on the way back. Keep those prayers for Bill and the others with medical problems on your schedules.

+ Also got to see racegal (Susan) and her sister (shame on me for still not knowing her name), though much too briefly. Susan looks much better without the cast. Looks plenty good either way, as does Sis. What in the world happened to Dave? j/k

+ Nice visit with Charles Bressert, father of IOW member Bob. Went to school (grades 1 through 4) with Charlie many years ago (60 maybe) and hadn't seen him since I moved away. Wish I looked as young as he does.

+ Joe Burdette (Brett's Dad) offered to let me wheel his mini-sprint. What's it mean when he has his fingers crossed behind his back? Oh well, not sure I wanted to be AMSA version of James Hylton anyway.

+ I thought car counts were great but had hoped for larger crowds. Not that the crowds were bad, just less than I expected. Excellent attendance in Section "A" however. Didn't get to visit with Pat O'Connor Fan at all as he arrived after racing commenced and left during down times. Hope the 'Burg made a few bucks.

- Hate to see 2 of the 3 Cory Kruseman rides upside down the very first night, but happy that Cory passed all the DCH tests and was released with nothihng more serious than aches and bruises. This guy should get some kind of award for his "all the way from California" support of ISW.

- Hoped for more success for Chad Boespflug and Grandad Bob. They're still figuring out the new track. Ditto for Brett Burdette and Dad Joe.

+ Nice progress for my boy Kyle Robbins. Got in lots of laps on night 1, winning his NQ race, then running well in his heat and the "B" though missing the featch. Night 2 he hit his qualy much better and made the feature through his heat.

- Had hoped that friend Kimb might make it down from Indy. Have to catchup with her at the SC event at IRP.

One last note, let it be known that the depravity of the Section "A" denizons has been greatly overstated and exaggerated.......well, there is that one grey headed guy who requires occasional head slaps, but the rest.......choirboy types every one of 'em.

GC go or no go.....still trying to decide. :checkered:

Fishburger check your PM. I just sent you one. Bob

I havent noticed this posted anywhere yet, (havent been near a computer much the last few days) But I'd like to add in an attaboy for USAC taking 4 cars out of the last chance qualifiers instead of the usual 2.

Can anyone explain to me why they even have lcq why not just run all cars?
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Thats what I don't get? A EVENT doesnt send drivers home. It has multiple consis and sometimes a driver going from D to C to B and occationally the A from that far back is a event unto themselves.

Still, I say don't change sprintweek, It's great. I do however miss the old CRA midwest tour. Seems less and less every year attend sprintweek.

Marv, Great overview. I think Racegal's sister's name was Debbie. If Im wrong, Slap this greying guy upside the head.

Section A. They need more security up there! More trouble makers than a inner city street corner!

Have fun I might make Kamp

My first ever visit to L'Burg was a great one. Got to see some faces I've seen a few times this year, catch up with some others from around Oh. Pa. and New York and Aussie Wayne from Sidney:O: and meet some new ones as well.

As for the track and facility it is just top notch. Wish my dad could have been there to see it. I kept telling people that it reminded me of a little Paducah or a bigger Pevely. Maybe even a little Bristol when it had dirt on it.

I thought the action on the track was better the first night with the first two heats displaying two grooves of racing and free for all battle for the transfer. Pretty pumped (the whole crowd was I think) to see Ballou pulling off his high side acrobatics as he denied Levi a transfer to the featch on Wed. Bummer to see him and JRS pop tires late in the race. That just killed me in the fantasy leauge.

Thurs. lunch at the Argosy casino across the road was great. A meal with The Eckert boys and AERO provided for some great conversation and plenty of laughs.

Think I see what Nungester was saying about the 50/50 gals at L'Burg. That one girl named Brooke was a looker. After I bought tix from her on Thurs. she said that she saw me looking at her on Wed. Guess my urban cowboy hat stuck out.:wink

I'll definitely have to make plans on coming back again.

A couple more:

+ Previous post reminds me that I enjoyed meeting petey and Flatrightrear for the first time. Corey, and here I thought that was me she was looking at. Way to rain on my parade.

+ Good to see Kevin Studley at the 'Burg, especially since he didn't try to run me down on his quad like he did at Eldora. :wink New track had him chasing the setup also. Said he had never run anything quite like it.

? Wondering if Drew Pollock, driver of the #5 AMSA mini-sprint is the same guy who along with brother Aaron used to wheel USAC midgets. Has to be one and the same. Didn't get a chance to visit his pit.

+ Good to see old pal Greg Staab back in USAC togs, even if only on a race by race basis.

? Nothing against the flagman employed, but wonder why Tom Wilson didn't get the Lawrenceburg gig. He lives here fer cryin' out loud. Could have saved USAC some gas expense dough.

- My pick to win ISW championship, BOBBALOU, having rotten luck. Tire down (left rear??) while leading Wed. night and struggling the next two nights to even make the show. He'll be back up front soon.

? Speaking of "tires down", there seemed to be several. This due to black dry slickie burning them down (left rear??), stones coming to the surface, or what?

Just more drivel on a rain out night from a guy needing to get a life. Got to choose between Cincy Reds game and NASCAR in 10 minutes. Now, is that sad or what?

-

Marv: She told me that she thought I looked like Kenny Chesney with that hat on. Wish she could have partied with us later that night.:wink

I guess this is just a matter of opinion because to me - it's just like two C's if you will. Either way they all race their butt off to make the race no matter what you call them. I saw some great gassin' it up in those qualifying races to try to make the show. That's what it's all about - making the BIG SHOW! Love it! Love it!

Marv, It was great talking with you and many others! I had many highlights for the evening... As I posted in another thread... That long road for me to get healthy again... was shorten Thursday night.

As for random thoughts... Lawrenceburg dirt clods don't taste very good, but it sure is cool to get blasted with them. :kookoo