1984 at Springfield...

[PRCKartRacer9]

Chargin Charlie said it was the only place that scared him

[Dirt Clod]

CIRF / PRCKart,

Enjoy reading your stories about the IL Fall Nationals mile races. It's amazing to see the big names that came to that race, considering it did not have a sanctioning body behind it. Do either of you have any memories of 1983 when Charlie Schwartz brought his wedge car to the mile? I vaguely remember him needing a small step ladder to get into the car. I remember when he qualified he barely lifted in the corners. Also, did it get dark that year and the race was shortened?

Regarding Little Springfield, I finally got the nerve to walk up those stairs and check out 1st turn tavern. I was afraid the crowd might kick an outsider out. No doubt Lil' Springfield was an awesome track for Sunday night racing.
Thanks for any replies.

[CIRF]

CIRF / PRCKart,

Enjoy reading your stories about the IL Fall Nationals mile races. It's amazing to see the big names that came to that race, considering it did not have a sanctioning body behind it. Do either of you have any memories of 1983 when Charlie Schwartz brought his wedge car to the mile? I vaguely remember him needing a small step ladder to get into the car. I remember when he qualified he barely lifted in the corners. Also, did it get dark that year and the race was shortened?

Regarding Little Springfield, I finally got the nerve to walk up those stairs and check out 1st turn tavern. I was afraid the crowd might kick an outsider out. No doubt Lil' Springfield was an awesome track for Sunday night racing.
Thanks for any replies.

I was at the 1983 race, as well. IIRC Chargin' Charlie said during the pole winner's interview that he'd never raced on a 1 mile dirt track and had no idea when or where to lift getting into turn's #1 & #3 so he said he just didn't lift! LOL! I don't think he did lift but Charlie is the only one that knows for sure.

I don't remember for sure if they called the A-main due to darkness but it would have been a distinct possibility.

[RRRKKK]

No way am I nitpicking, RRRKKK, but actually it was Darren Miller who set the generic dirt late model track record at Springfield 13 years ago, back in 2006. Darren turned a lap of 27.581 seconds which figures out to 130.525 MPH average. In comparison, Sammy Swindell's WoO Sprint Car lap of 24.719 seconds at 145.637 MPH is, on average, a little over 15 MPH faster than Miller's lap and was set 8 years prior to Millers' DLM track record. The Illinois State Police had Sammy on the speed gun at the end of the back straight away running a tick over 177 MPH!! Sammy said he never even thought about lifting his right foot during qualifying from the time he got up to speed on the warm up lap 'till he took the checkers. Ridiculously large testicles!!!!! LOL!

You are right it was Darrin where did I get John?

[RRRKKK]

I was at the 1983 race, as well. IIRC Chargin' Charlie said during the pole winner's interview that he'd never raced on a 1 mile dirt track and had no idea when or where to lift getting into turn's #1 & #3 so he said he just didn't lift! LOL! I don't think he did lift but Charlie is the only one that knows for sure.

I don't remember for sure if they called the A-main due to darkness but it would have been a distinct possibility.

The 1983 race was called for darkness and Charlie was declared the winner think Mike Wallace was second

[Dirt Clod]

Thanks guys for the reliving memories of the 1983 race. I thought the show ran late, into the early evening. Hard to believe that was over 30 years ago. Still amazed the big name drivers that came all that way to run the mile. Those were the days.