The lore of The World 100

[BTExpress]

I understand the tradition and the significance of the race, but what motivates the majority of race teams to go every year knowing the chances of even qualifying are slim. Do most of the teams view it as a mini vacation to be able to compete against the best, or do they really feel they have a shot?.....I would compare The World to the Knoxville Nationals as far as the same mentality of attracting teams from around the country who will be lucky if they can even make the starting grid....I am assuming it costs most teams "a few bucks" with tires, fuel for the haulers, hotel expenses and food to feed the crew, before they even fire up the engine.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

I understand the tradition and the significance of the race, but what motivates the majority of race teams to go every year knowing the chances of even qualifying are slim. Do most of the teams view it as a mini vacation to be able to compete against the best, or do they really feel they have a shot?.....I would compare The World to the Knoxville Nationals as far as the same mentality of attracting teams from around the country who will be lucky if they can even make the starting grid....I am assuming it costs most teams "a few bucks" with tires, fuel for the haulers, hotel expenses and food to feed the crew, before they even fire up the engine.

To make that field is something to be proud of for a weekend warrior. Saying you made the North South just doesnt hold the same weight 10 years from now.

The few bucks just went up quite a bit this year.

[Krooser]

Like Mastersbilt racer sez it's the thrill of the hunt.

I ran the old IMCA 'Florida Series' in '87 knowing I had a snowballs chance in hell of winning with my claimer motor against the open motors allowed for the series. But a top five finish on a bumpy, ice slick track at Lake City made it all worth while.

And you don't get better unless you race against the bestest and fastest....

[Cardirt0]

Like Mastersbilt racer sez it's the thrill of the hunt.

I ran the old IMCA 'Florida Series' in '87 knowing I had a snowballs chance in hell of winning with my claimer motor against the open motors allowed for the series. But a top five finish on a bumpy, ice slick track at Lake City made it all worth while.

And you don't get better unless you race against the bestest and fastest....

Its not that you lost .. Its Who you lost too..If you make the field you can all way say.. I ran against the best.. Its not were you ended up its you raced on the same track..A TRUE Winner is not all was the one that won its the one that Tried too win (may had no change too win) But did his best...If there is only 1 car running the race there is NO winner..

[Krooser]

I like the way you think....

[Cardirt0]

I like the way you think....

Its Like this If you have too win too have fans ..Lots of drivers would have no fans .. So why do so meany drivers have so meany fans.. That dont win a lot of races..Maybe they Like the way you race and when you do win .. You dont make there day but you made there year...I know a lot of fans that say ,, was in the Pits and the big name driver sign my hat and turn a way and was gone .. And then the stopped at the small time driver pit and the driver spends a 1/2 hour speaking too you.. hes Glad you stopped by .. he now has a new fan,, You will scream your A$$ of for him when he does good and be sad when he dont...He Loves his 1 fan more then the big name driver cares for them all...That True RACING...Thats why they are called Fans Win or LOSE they are your FAN..

[CIRF]

I used to have a VHS video of the history of the World Hundred I bought at a racing trade show in Daytona way back in the mid 1980's. The World had been in existence for a decade or so when the tape was made. At one point on the tape there is footage of Earl at the World weekend's initial drivers meeting. He said, and I quote, "if you make this race you're somebody, don't forget that". At the time I had only attended maybe 1 or 2 Worlds but was enamored with the spectacle of the whole thing and Earls words would obviously stick with me to this very day. It was the only really big dirt late model races I'd been to at that time and it lived up to all the hype and expectations that I had at that time.

A friend of mine who I helped out with his racing operation was a multi-time FALS dirt late model track champion back in the 1980's through the early 2000's once told me while we were having a beer or two that there were two of his racing accomplishments that shine brighter than all the others, and there were many. Beating Billy Moyer in a UMP Summernationals A-main event and transferring into the World Hundred A-main 3 times and running top 10 in the World A-main.

I believe there is no other dirt late model race that has holds the romance and lore of the World Hundred. No matter what dirt late model race that comes along the World will always hold the most importance to the fans and the competitors, alike.

[Cardirt0]

CIRF -----YEP !!!!!! Just too make the Show/What other race can say that... I am a big Erb fan Him winning the Dream was so cool.... NOW I want him too win the WORLD...

[CIRF]

Its Like this If you have too win too have fans ..Lots of drivers would have no fans .. So why do so meany drivers have so meany fans.. That dont win a lot of races..Maybe they Like the way you race and when you do win .. You dont make there day but you made there year...I know a lot of fans that say ,, was in the Pits and the big name driver sign my hat and turn a way and was gone .. And then the stopped at the small time driver pit and the driver spends a 1/2 hour speaking too you.. hes Glad you stopped by .. he now has a new fan,, You will scream your A$$ of for him when he does good and be sad when he dont...He Loves his 1 fan more then the big name driver cares for them all...That True RACING...Thats why they are called Fans Win or LOSE they are your FAN..

Hey Gary, a driver that is one of the biggest names in dirt racing EVER fits your description almost to a T. Mr. Jack Hewitt always treated his fans as you described. I spent some time with Jack just this past Saturday night at Du Quoin after the Silver Crown race there. He's been pretty much retired (and beat up) since 2002 but was the same friendly, personable and jovial guy he was back in the days that we'd go to the pits to see him when he was winning a dozen or more races a year, qualified for the '98 Indy 500 and when he won all 4 or the 4 Crown Nationals!!

As you describe, there were hundreds, maybe even thousands of us fans that lived and died with how he ran in any particular race. Sometimes when he'd be running up front towards the end of a race we'd get such a knot in our stomach I'd think to myself how can I be this wrapped up in the outcome of an event which I have no financial stake. Reason? Because he was one of us and made you feel as if he was one of us every time we talked to him!

What you're saying is pretty much spot on but it's not always just the little guy that appreciates their fans, Ol' Jack always did, and does to this day.

[Cardirt0]

CIRF--- Have spoke too him more the one ..and you are right.. he was a Fan driver..If you ran in to him on the street And you say JACK he stop and shoot the Bull with you even if he had too be some were..You would think you been friends with him for years...He was Good for Dirt racing for Shour....

[chupp n bloomer fan]

Hey Gary, a driver that is one of the biggest names in dirt racing EVER fits your description almost to a T. Mr. Jack Hewitt always treated his fans as you described. I spent some time with Jack just this past Saturday night at Du Quoin after the Silver Crown race there. He's been pretty much retired (and beat up) since 2002 but was the same friendly, personable and jovial guy he was back in the days that we'd go to the pits to see him when he was winning a dozen or more races a year, qualified for the '98 Indy 500 and when he won all 4 or the 4 Crown Nationals!!

As you describe, there were hundreds, maybe even thousands of us fans that lived and died with how he ran in any particular race. Sometimes when he'd be running up front towards the end of a race we'd get such a knot in our stomach I'd think to myself how can I be this wrapped up in the outcome of an event which I have no financial stake. Reason? Because he was one of us and made you feel as if he was one of us every time we talked to him!

What you're saying is pretty much spot on but it's not always just the little guy that appreciates their fans, Ol' Jack always did, and does to this day.

Jack and his demeanor, just one of a kind. And in a good way.

Who was your buddy CIRF, Doug McCammon? 92 I think he was. He ran pretty good at the Big E.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

There is nothing like the start of the first heat Saturday. Kills me I'm not going, but I gotta work Friday night, then Sunday night. Don't see my kids as it is, so I'm just not going.

[CIRF]

Jack and his demeanor, just one of a kind. And in a good way.

We had Pole Day garage passes at Indy back in 1998. Jack had just put the #18 PDM car in the show and he, his wife Jody and son Cody were hanging out at the #18 garage. Naturally we were hanging around there as well. My wife made the comment pointing out the size crowd there was at the #18 garage as opposed to other garage area's. Guys like pole sitter Billy Boat, former winners of the 500 Arie Luyendyk and Buddy Lazier and eventual winner in '98 Kenny Brack had a fraction of the crowd around their garages compared to the crowd milling around Jack & Jody and the #18 garage. Jack was like a kid in a candy store and talked to everyone. Here was a guy that had won dozens of high profile races, was one of the legitimate tough guys of the sport so ecstatic and happy that he could hardly contain himself and sincerely wanted to share his joy with every one of us there at the #18 garage area. We literally saw grown men tear up a bit in that scene. We were fan's and friends prior to that day but that whole experience solidified how we would feel about the man from that day forward to this minute.

Jack told me personally that when he was voted into the USAC Hall of Fame by the fans it means far, far more to him than if he'd been voted in by the selection committee. He wears that fact like a huge badge of honor!

Who was your buddy CIRF

Good ol' number 49.

[CIRF]

There is nothing like the start of the first heat Saturday. Kills me I'm not going, but I gotta work Friday night, then Sunday night. Don't see my kids as it is, so I'm just not going.

cnbf, I feel for you, buddy! Due to business obligations it's beginning to look as if we're not going to be able to make it to the 4 Crown Nationals over at Eldora and it's going to slowly kill me not being there if it turns out we can't go.

You're to be commended for putting your kids first! The World will probably always be there but the kids grow up only once, and fast, too!

[Cardirt0]

My dad all was worked so much.. he say going fishing.. want to go he say ... I did not ..But I know he had time too fish or be with me... So he could do both if i went with him...So i went...Not a big fisher man... Miss them days now..All was make time for your Kids...CIRF--- last time I was at the 500 was the year Savage was killed i think 1972 or 73 Seen him hit the wall know he was dead.. then people on pit roll hurt and i think one was kill by fire truck going the wrong way...I think that was a tue race lots of rain...Was going to school in Ind. then...I had the run of the race track my best friend back then dad was the head Pit S..Had a pass too it all...Them were the days...