why or how did you become a fan?

ISF · 7/16/10, 12:42 AM

I guess my story is about the same as most. My Dad began taking me to Fairbury American Legion Speedway back when I was very young and one of the divisions they ran were called "rail cars". They ran stock cars and modified stock cars as well but I loved those rail cars which were really super modifieds.The guys that won most of the rail car features drove sprint cars but there were a bunch of true super modifieds, too. Some of the guys who raced every week were Norman "Bubby" Jones, Larry "Boom-Boom" Cannon in Unc Blacker's B4, Larry's brother Steve, Jerry Camfield, Jack Tyne, Hersh Jenkins and once in a while Jerry Blundy would show up in addition to a bunch of guys I have forgotten. A guy by the name of Swede Galiaerte (spelling) was the flagman and he would green flag the rail car trophy dash standing in the middle of the track and the cars would pass him on both sides. I heard he got his legs broken as a result and stayed in the flagstand after that.

dave · 7/16/10, 10:20 AM

Listening to the 500 on the radio 1947. Rose and Holland going at it for the next couple years. My mother noticed that was about the only thing that interested me. So she took me to race or two around Crawfordsville then to the 500 in 1952. I've missed two because of surgerys since then.

Charles Nungester · 7/16/10, 10:28 AM

Somehow some way it all started with Mugavin and hot rods before I was born. Him My uncle and dad knew each other in school John built some hot rods then got into racing, I think they lost track of each other but all stayed motorheads for awhile or forever.

Dad started taking me back in the early 70s to the burg. I was one of the brats running around the stage and playing race car on the grandstand with hot wheels. The racers kinda hooked me.

Wilkerson, Milburn, Krebs, Gaines and many others put on shows you can't believe often switching from a sprint to a LM or midget and running more than one class.

Durring school instead of hanging out, cruising or getting in trouble. Id rather be at the track on Saturday nights.

Still am!

SpfldMile · 7/16/10, 10:44 AM

My dad started taking me to Springfield Speedway since before I can remember. The midgets were a highlight. He was a Mel Kenyon fan, so I became one. I remember meeting him in the pits and getting his autograph. I just stood there in complete awe. Started going to the mile at about age 5. I love the mile, and miss Joe's place.

Gee2 · 7/16/10, 10:58 AM

It seems we all have a common denominator here in our dads took us... The Old Man use to take me to Paragon Speedway, use to see the Shields boys, Chuck Amati, Bob Kinser. I loved the All Stars back in the day.. Kevin Huntley, Frankie Kerr, Kelly Kinser. I was hooked and havent stopped. Me and some buddys back in the early 90's would hit it everyweekend. My kids come along and slowed things down a bit but I still try to hit atleast one or two races a month. I know non wings are better racing and I love to watch them but its hard for me to get away from the wings because thats what I grew up watching and how I fell in love with the sport.

SteveD · 7/16/10, 11:09 AM

Me ole' Pappy had me behind a lawnmower as soon as I could handle it and one day the muffler blew out and the rest is history. First time at Bloomington Sheldon was running figure 8's and Bob and Dick were sharing half pints.

3Cfan · 7/16/10, 11:29 AM

When I was younger, I would sometimes go watch at Tri-State Speedway. Early memories of sprints and late models. Tommy Helfrich in his ultra fast late model. Then in early 80's, my friend Mark Cummins went sprint car racing, and I would go to the track with him. His first feature win came in his 7th night racing. That stands out to me. Then after several track championships, he gave way to son Kyle, who went out and won a sprint feature on his 4th night in a sprintcar. Unbelievable!!! The many people Ive met in the pits, and the willingness of teams willing to help when you need it sold me on this sport. The Racing Family as I like to say, and I still enjoy being a part of it. So I always pull for the Cummins family owned 3C.

7/16/10, 12:42 AM	#11 Re: why or how did you become a fan?
ISF Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 3,127	I guess my story is about the same as most. My Dad began taking me to Fairbury American Legion Speedway back when I was very young and one of the divisions they ran were called "rail cars". They ran stock cars and modified stock cars as well but I loved those rail cars which were really super modifieds.The guys that won most of the rail car features drove sprint cars but there were a bunch of true super modifieds, too. Some of the guys who raced every week were Norman "Bubby" Jones, Larry "Boom-Boom" Cannon in Unc Blacker's B4, Larry's brother Steve, Jerry Camfield, Jack Tyne, Hersh Jenkins and once in a while Jerry Blundy would show up in addition to a bunch of guys I have forgotten. A guy by the name of Swede Galiaerte (spelling) was the flagman and he would green flag the rail car trophy dash standing in the middle of the track and the cars would pass him on both sides. I heard he got his legs broken as a result and stayed in the flagstand after that. __________________ Silver Crown Championship Dirt Cars properly driven on a one mile dirt track are classic poetry in motion. Using that analogy, Jack Hewitt is one of the greatest poets of all time. _________________________________________________ Last edited by ISF; 7/16/10 at 12:44 AM.

7/16/10, 10:28 AM	#13 Re: why or how did you become a fan?
Charles Nungester Senior Member Race Count This Year: 6 Race Count Last Year: 14 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 22,195	Somehow some way it all started with Mugavin and hot rods before I was born. Him My uncle and dad knew each other in school John built some hot rods then got into racing, I think they lost track of each other but all stayed motorheads for awhile or forever. Dad started taking me back in the early 70s to the burg. I was one of the brats running around the stage and playing race car on the grandstand with hot wheels. The racers kinda hooked me. Wilkerson, Milburn, Krebs, Gaines and many others put on shows you can't believe often switching from a sprint to a LM or midget and running more than one class. Durring school instead of hanging out, cruising or getting in trouble. Id rather be at the track on Saturday nights. Still am! __________________ Charles Nungester

7/16/10, 10:44 AM	#14 Re: why or how did you become a fan?
SpfldMile Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,347	My dad started taking me to Springfield Speedway since before I can remember. The midgets were a highlight. He was a Mel Kenyon fan, so I became one. I remember meeting him in the pits and getting his autograph. I just stood there in complete awe. Started going to the mile at about age 5. I love the mile, and miss Joe's place. __________________ For those about to rock, we salute you.

7/16/10, 10:20 AM	#12 Re: why or how did you become a fan?
dave Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 99	Listening to the 500 on the radio 1947. Rose and Holland going at it for the next couple years. My mother noticed that was about the only thing that interested me. So she took me to race or two around Crawfordsville then to the 500 in 1952. I've missed two because of surgerys since then.

7/16/10, 10:58 AM	#15 Re: why or how did you become a fan?
Gee2 Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 228	It seems we all have a common denominator here in our dads took us... The Old Man use to take me to Paragon Speedway, use to see the Shields boys, Chuck Amati, Bob Kinser. I loved the All Stars back in the day.. Kevin Huntley, Frankie Kerr, Kelly Kinser. I was hooked and havent stopped. Me and some buddys back in the early 90's would hit it everyweekend. My kids come along and slowed things down a bit but I still try to hit atleast one or two races a month. I know non wings are better racing and I love to watch them but its hard for me to get away from the wings because thats what I grew up watching and how I fell in love with the sport.

7/16/10, 11:09 AM	#16 Re: why or how did you become a fan?
SteveD Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 232	Me ole' Pappy had me behind a lawnmower as soon as I could handle it and one day the muffler blew out and the rest is history. First time at Bloomington Sheldon was running figure 8's and Bob and Dick were sharing half pints.

7/16/10, 11:29 AM	#17 Re: why or how did you become a fan?
3Cfan Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 577	When I was younger, I would sometimes go watch at Tri-State Speedway. Early memories of sprints and late models. Tommy Helfrich in his ultra fast late model. Then in early 80's, my friend Mark Cummins went sprint car racing, and I would go to the track with him. His first feature win came in his 7th night racing. That stands out to me. Then after several track championships, he gave way to son Kyle, who went out and won a sprint feature on his 4th night in a sprintcar. Unbelievable!!! The many people Ive met in the pits, and the willingness of teams willing to help when you need it sold me on this sport. The Racing Family as I like to say, and I still enjoy being a part of it. So I always pull for the Cummins family owned 3C.