I have to chime in on this. Great thread. I was a regular at Tri County speedway in those days and Redwine had weekly large crowds and car counts. His 1000 to win races brought cars from four or five states. this is where I first saw Ed Howe. He was in a plain old green car and blew everyone off the track. Who is this guy? Then here comes Senneker from Dor Michigan and he is tough to be.YIKES Now for Earl at the big E. Redwine was amazed at the 4000 to win, but Earl was always the first to test the waters with new ideas. Remember all of that very well. As a side note, I could have strangled Redwine when he black topped his track. I do not know what he was thinking, even at that time.
The World grew in stature asap as everyone knows Earl added a thousand a year which Tony is still doing today. Problem is it should be more like 5Gs a year in this day and age. LOL
Paid $9000 in 1976 and the guy that won it in 76 won a heat in 1977 but was a DNS for the feature.Hughes blew up coming to the checkers in the heat.Kenimer and Snooks went 1-2 in that feature. Could have had a NGA podium that year, but alas it was not meant to be.
At that time Charlie Hughes was one of top runners in the country Charlie Hughes Doug kenimer snooks Billy Thomas and a lot of others would be at the old Boyd's speedway on Friday night imagine what that was like then at Rome on Sunday night.
Traditionally the winners share for the World would go up $1000 every year, not sure if that is still the case. One year (I think it was '83) JW Hunt put an extra $10,000 on it himself.
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