Post a little about you

[jlacey]

39, managed to avoid marriage a few times, no kids that im aware of. Worked 15+ years contracting for different cable companies. Left that field when the money did, build gun ranges for the government now. Grew up in southern Maryland, moved near the city at 23 and spent some time in SW Florida. My uncle announced at our local track (Potomac) so I started going to races with him when i was 10 or so then started working there myself doing odd jobs. Selling tickets, programs, running the score board. Potomac was always Friday nights so Saturdays wed hit a few different tracks with a filming crew we started working with. Hagerstown,Winchester, Silver Spring, Saluda (now VMS), Langley, Old Dominion, Southside, and more i cant think of off the top of my head. Had been to Nascar races b4 as a kid, i liked it but loved dirt racing after the 1st race i saw. Got to see guys like Stuhler, Eckert, Rodney Franklin, Jim Bernheisel, Roy Deese, Booper Bare, Les Hare and others race just about every week. Had STARS races 3 or 4 years straight back then n got to see guys like Larry Moore, Freddy Smith, Davey Johnson, Donnie Moran, Combs, Shaver, Steve Barnett, Billy Hicks, and Bart Hartman was just starting. Then I got to go to the DTWC for the 1st time at Pennsboro and it blew my mind at the amount of drivers and also seeing drivers like Bloomer, Moyer, Boggs and drivers from all over that i had only read about at the time. Had a long stretch between the ages of 23-35 where i didnt get to see many races other than when id have time to visit home and go see a reg show at Potomac. Because of work, $, females, but started to get out to more races and new tracks in the last 4 or 5 years. Came across a bunch of old folders, sketch books i had as a kid all with LM drawings.

Got to see some great races and tracks over the years, some not so great races or tracks but always had fun as long as it was on dirt. Finally made it to Cherokee, Screven, Charlotte and Volusia in the last few years but still need to get to Eldora, FALS and a few others on my bucket list.

[2muchstagger]

48 year old mechanical engineer originally from Benton, KY (home of Terry and Tanner English). Ball and chain dragged me to Obion, TN where I have been since 1995. Grandfather started packing me with him to PIR on Saturday nights in 1978 and I went every weekend I could until Jim Dunn passed away on that awful Sunday afternoon in 1983. I didn't go that Sunday and was glad I wasn't there. Kinda quit following racing after the track closed and didn't really get back into it until 1995 or 1996. I graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1994 and was kinda sick after I started back to know that Lexington was so close to so many great tracks, but anyways. Got my wife into racing by going to PIR and Milan, TN for special events. She became a huge Billy Moyer fan and we started going to Batesville for the Topless for the first time in 1996. Went every year for about 7 or 8. Saw a lot of bad races (and late nights) at The Mistake by the Lake and the wife kinda lost interest. Thru the years, I have been to several races at I-55, Tri-City (IL) and Batesville. I-55 became my favorite track over the years. Absolutely, love going there. PIR became awesome again when Schrader/Sargent/Stewart bought it. I would make my way there several times a year. I hated to see its decline. Unfortunately and sadly enough, with so many tracks around me being closed, I haven't been to a race in a couple of years.

Seen a lot of great drivers thru the years. Larry Moore, Mike Duvall, Jack Boggs, Rodney Combs, and Jerry Inman are some of the ones I remember as a kid. My favorite driver back then was Jeff Purvis. Wished he would have stayed in dirt. Oh, the changes in racing and the costs, I can remember in the late 70's and early 80's everyone showing up with their cars on a flat bed trailer and being pulled by a pickup truck with row after row of tires on racks above the car. Being a 10 year old kid, the talk then, "he must be good, look at how many tires he has". Those were the days.

[jr29]

Fun stuff.

I just turned 36 and just got engaged. It'll be my first marriage and I have no kids. I'm an LTL truck driver and have worked at the same place almost ten years. I'm the guy pulling doubles up and down the interstate. I've live my whole life in the western half of Tennessee, from Memphis to Nashville and several places in between. No one in my immediate family was interested in racing but I somehow got hooked on NASCAR when I was 12 or 13. Stick and ball sports had always been my thing but when I was about 15 I figured out that a guy in my hometown raced stock cars at a north Mississippi dirt track and everything else went to the backburner. I started crewing on his car and even scrapped together a street stock and a kart or two and did a little racing myself during high school. I raced street stocks and karts off and on through my early and mid 20's but I haven't raced anything in almost 10 years. Hopefully that will change within the next few years. I still attend 6-8 races per year as a fan.
I'm also passionate about music and I'm a lifelong St. Louis cardinals fan.

[RayCook53fan]

Probably been to a car show or two growing up I'd imagine too huh?

Weekends weren't made for the woods or the lake in either one of our houses.

Ah yes, can't forget the car shows! the F-100 show in Pigeon Forge in particular, as you know.

[macro646]

Awesome Thread...

40 yrs old/Married for 18 years/2 kids 15 and 13. I have been employed for 21 years by a very large paint manufacturer as a outside sales rep. Live in the Augusta GA area.

Grew up in racing, I have been going to tracks since diapers. My uncle is Ed Basey, I helped crew for him from 2000-2008 when he retired. Man those were some really fun times. Go to the races 2 nights about every weekend and then work on the car for 3 nights. I have a very understanding wife. Don't go too many races anymore since Ed retired. Stay busy taking my son to High School Fishing tournaments all around the South.

[JMDraceHD98]

Great reading about everyone.

30 years old, married, no kids from eastern IA. My career is project management for a multi-bank holding company.

Like most my dad and uncle got me into racing at a young age. I can remember many times driving them home way before i have my license...how times have changed. lol Met a few friends riding the school bus in junior high/high school who were into racing and that really got me hooked even more. I grew up cheering for Steve Boley, Gary Webb, Ray Guss Jr, and Brian Birkhofer. I've been lucky enough to have seen races all over the country but nothing beats my favorite Knoxville IA. Typically attend 40+ races a year but have slowed down the last couple years with life being so busy. Although i love traveling to open late model shows i am proud to say i still get to sit every Sunday at my home track with my dad and watch the weekly show. Something i really cherish and hope i can continue to do that for many years.

[dch191]

27 years old from Madisonville, KY. Married with two boys ages 9 and 3. Currently working as a groundsman on a line crew working on power lines. Motocross was (and still is) my first love when it comes to racing. Started racing when I was four and traveled everywhere east of the Mississippi riding and racing up until about 5 years ago when I decided it was time to slow down. The local track I grew up down the road from had a motocross track inside the car track for years so I spent a lot of time watching cars on Friday nights and racing bikes on Saturday. My oldest boy doesn’t care a whole lot about racing but my youngest is like me and will watch almost anything with an engine race. I’m looking forward to getting him into racing himself in another year or two.

The one thing I love more than anything about racing is this. You’ll never meet a better group of people than those you meet at the track. I’ve met more lifelong friends at the track than any other activity or group in life. Yeah we may have disagreements from time to time but at the end of the day I’d say we’d all have one another’s back when it comes down to it. It really is just a big extended family that’s like none other

[pierceFAN]

Im 54 years old...first wife of 28 years died of brain cancer....just got remarried december 14th and honeymooned in Las Vegas...I have 3 children and 4 step children with 3 grand babies the newest arrived one day after my recent wedding...when I was 5... i went to my first race at Kankakee speedway and was hooked ever since...from age 11 to 16 my family ran kankakee speedway...I work in the automotive field with 5 years @ Mercedes and 12 years @ Lexus...I currently work for Dodge...(love the mopar horsepower)...i grew up liking #8 Jim Oconner, he gave me my first ride in a stock car...I then moved accross the street from sportsman driver #7 Denny French and he too became one of my favorites...as i got older I became a Paul Shafer #20th, #36 Roger Long and #32 Bob Pierce fan...after all 3 retired I started Keeping an eye on Dennis Erb but in all reality I kinda lost interest in the sport until Bobby came along...ive been watching him since the kid modz days it was very fun watching him learn and mature...love him or hate him He has Lots of big wins coming...lots...several people on this board dislike me...if they ever met me they probably would change their toon...I have 8 years until I retire...would love to buy a race track...we will see...Happy New year to all....and hope all have good health

[dirty-white-boy]

45 years old. No kids that have come forward with paternity tests. No ex-wives either. Born and raised around dirt tracks and still follow it. Been to 179 tracks and counting(not all are dirt tracks). I love hearing the stories and reliving my stories to anyone that will listen. I am into Drag Racing, NASCAR and Supercross but there is something about the noise & smells and the cars sideways that keeps me interested in Dirt Late Models.

I think all ‘big time’ car racing is dying a slow death and we should enjoy it while we can. The costs are out of control and I don’t think we can ever reel them back in. I met one of my best friends right here on the 4m about 20 years ago! I do miss the “old 4m”. I miss Pennsboro. I miss Challenger Raceway in Pa (that track was awesome). I miss races that brought EVERY top driver together to battle it out. While I didn’t agree with Leebo much I still miss him. I miss Jack Boggs. I miss seeing Rayburn swingarm cars on the track. I got to witness Ray Cook come from the Bmain to win the ShowMe and a race at East Bay, pretty cool stuff. I wish Terry Casey would have went to victory lane at East Bay that year and punched Josh Richards in the face, just saying. I often wonder how many races Jeff Purvis would have won had he stuck with it. I miss seeing real promoters, Cody is the only real promoter in the sport right now in my opinion. I miss Brian Birkhofer’s enthusiasm he brought to the sport. While I am not a fan I am impressed at how Bobby Pierce can abuse a car yet run it up front. I am still trying to figure out where the money comes from to keep Dennis Erb on the road all these years.

I am a Self-proclaimed Bloomquist nut-hanger. Always had a fascination with the man and his way of thinking, the way he markets himself, his work ethic, all in way of life and driving style. There was something about seeing that #18 for the first time at Pennsboro that year and his long hair in the wind out of the back of his helmet that created the bromance. I wish he would bring the 18 back for good. My favorite memory will always be seeing him come from about 17th to win at the first race at Charlotte. The part many don’t know is that he started that race about 500lbs light since they did not weigh the cars before, the crew bolted the weight on during the halfway stop. The smirk on his face in victory lane says it all. Like him or not, he is the face of the sport and it would be boring without him.

[billetbirdcage]

[b]The part many don’t know is that he started that race about 500lbs light since they did not weigh the cars before, the crew bolted the weight on during the halfway stop. The smirk on his face in victory lane says it all. Like him or not, he is the face of the sport and it would be boring without him. [b/]

Was that the race where at the drivers meeting, the promoter was explaining the fuel/pit stop and said you could do anything (maybe except change tires, don't remember the story now) and Scott raised hand as asked "anything?" The promoter answers yes anything but the tire change. Scott: "OK, just wanting to make sure".

I had been told the story years ago but never heard or remember what track it was at, but I knew he was light for the first 50 laps and got to the lead and at the fuel stop put enough weight on to make weight.

[nlhenry55]

63 years old, Born in Swainsboro Ga, Live in East Dublin Ga. Started working in my brothers cabinet shop at 14 and have been involved in all phases of cabinet trade every since. As of now i am a project superintendt for Indiana based Kitchen Cabinet Specialists, We install cabinets in multifamily housing. Married, have 2 sons& 2 step daughters and 5 amazing grand children, 2 girls& 3 boys and one on the way. My brother Bobby Henry built Swainsboro Raceway in 1964 & thats how i got involved in racing. He was a very talented motorcycle flat track racer & won several track championships throughout Georgia. I followed in his footsteps & started racing in 1974 in Ga& South Carolina. I countinued racing until 1979 & hung it up. I started attending stockcar racing at Swainsboro & 441 speedway in Dublin & i was hooked. There was a driver from Soperton Ga named Jimmy Sharpe that was dominate at both tracks, He had a large fan base & he was & still is a helluva wheel man. Later on in The mid 90s we became friends & i helped out on his team when Ray Millers national late model series began. I gave that up later so i could be involved with my sons school sports. I hardly get to races any more, probaly 2 or 3 a year because of my job. On the road for 3 to 6 weeks at a time & when i get a break i all i want to do is nothing. Still love it & my favorites are Davenport, Overton, Madden & Travis Pennington. Also locally Jimmy Sharpe Jr & Tyler Mimbs are who i try to keep track of. All goes well this old man is retiring at end of 2019 & then i can catch up on attending some races.

[dirty-white-boy]

I never heard about the driver meeting. It was a 75 lap race not 100.

[PRCKartRacer9]

32. Married. 3 daughters. Born and raised central Ohio. Grew up going to Lakeville, Buckeye, Mansfield, R&R, Amish Hilltop, Muskingum, Crooksville, Pennsboro, Mineral Wells. Been to Eldora, I-79, and Attica. Pennsboro was my favorite. Dad and I were in victory lane in 90 when Boggs won which made the cover of Mid American. Started racing a Chevette when I was 14 and did that for 6 years at Lakeville, Buckeye, Muskingum, and Crooksville Got away from racing for about 10 years and then bought a kart. Have since bought my wife one as well as my oldest daughter. Travel for work doing ceramic refractory. Danny Dean is my all time favorite because dad worked on his cars and that got me started. Donnie is my second. Bart 3rd

[chupp n bloomer fan]

32. Married. 3 daughters. Born and raised central Ohio. Grew up going to Lakeville, Buckeye, Mansfield, R&R, Amish Hilltop, Muskingum, Crooksville, Pennsboro, Mineral Wells. Been to Eldora, I-79, and Attica. Pennsboro was my favorite. Dad and I were in victory lane in 90 when Boggs won which made the cover of Mid American. Started racing a Chevette when I was 14 and did that for 6 years at Lakeville, Buckeye, Muskingum, and Crooksville Got away from racing for about 10 years and then bought a kart. Have since bought my wife one as well as my oldest daughter. Travel for work doing ceramic refractory. Danny Dean is my all time favorite because dad worked on his cars and that got me started. Donnie is my second. Bart 3rd

Towards the end of Danny’s career he was in a nice modified at Sharon. This is before Sharon had fully caught up
on the modified stuff. He was the class of the field. White car, blue 67. Just smoked them. Him and Barry Jacobs would come up and run when Sharon had an off night special.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

A nice #31 car too, last name Farmer, not sure where he was from. Black and purple 31 I think, beautiful stuff.

[golddirt]

58 years of age two marriages now in a great relationship. Born and raised in Illinois for 42 years, raised up for fourteen around blandinsville Illinois. Been in Stateline Indiana since 2002. First race attended was in Burlington Iowa cheering for Jim Heap. I used to hit at least 3 races a week but hit around ten a year now. Union taper/painter for 37 years

[Tek2747]

45 yrs old living in Mansfield Ohio. It was awesome to finally have dirt back in Mansfield. When I first moved here from Plainfield Ill in 89 Mansfield was dirt and when that went away it sucked. I grew up at Santa Fe Speedway in Hinsdale Ill and loved dirt racing. At 14 I started working there. My dad was a track official and I started as the scoreboard operator. In late 88 my dad who for worked for GM found out they were closing the GM plant there. We moved in June of 89. While living in Illinois my dad and I traveled a little Hales corner, Kankakee, Sycamore, Lasalle and Grundy county when Santa Fe wasn't racing. I admit I knew nothing about Eldora and the world 100 until we moved to Ohio. We attended our 1st world 100 in 89 and haven't missed one since. I have 2 daughters 23 and 21 who try to attend the races with me as much as possible they also love Eldora. For Christmas they got me a awesome gift a hand painted sign of the last remaining sign of Santa Fe that was still standing I believe the original was on top of a garage or something that you can see from the interstate. They know my love for racing. Now I travel mostly in Ohio or 3 hrs from my house. Last yr I did finally make it back to Lasalle and fairbury and plan on going back next yr. I did make it to Arizona for the wild west shoot out and will be back. Been to east bay once. My goal is to one day follow the whole summer nationals but with work that wont be for a while. I love dirt racing and love to travel.

Pretty neat story. When I was 14 years old in the early 2000's we lived near Ray Marler's son. He got my Dad and I jobs at I-55 Raceway in the infield concession stand. We made food and watched the races all night long on weekends through the summer. Really good memories working there. Loved watching Ed Dixon.

[NY DIRT]

my mother told me I was walking at 2 months, talking at 6 months, hit my first grand slam home run at 9 months and ran a 100 yard dash in less the 10 seconds at the age of 2.

She says I am the best there is, best there was, and best there will ever be.

But my problem is, I am 74 years old and I still do not know what I want to be when I grow up.

[Bubstr]

I'm 75 and have been going to races or wrenching on them since 1950. In the 80s I got into showing and breeding dogs, with some success. It was a wife deal. Building a dog is like building a car, except it takes 5 years to replace a camshaft. I always went to watch and keep up with what was going on with the late models till now. My health has me on a very short leash now, called an oxygen hose. I have met a lot of good people at races and really miss them. I was a Nam Vet from 64 to 68 USN Fighter Squadron VF101 Grim Reapers.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

I'm 75 and have been going to races or wrenching on them since 1950. In the 80s I got into showing and breeding dogs, with some success. It was a wife deal. Building a dog is like building a car, except it takes 5 years to replace a camshaft. I always went to watch and keep up with what was going on with the late models till now. My health has me on a very short leash now, called an oxygen hose. I have met a lot of good people at races and really miss them. I was a Nam Vet from 64 to 68 USN Fighter Squadron VF101 Grim Reapers.

May not agree on much, but thanks for your service. Were you a pilot? What kinda dogs did ya breed?