High winds and wings

[RiffRaf67]

Allstars postponed last night as an approaching thunderstorm brought high winds to the track in Lawton OK. I've been to events where wind was an issue but never canceled. Always hear someone chime in and say, and last night was no exception, hey, just take the wings off and go racing.
Anyone here ever seen this happen, where winged sprints actually shed thier wings to race?

[CIRF]

Allstars postponed last night as an approaching thunderstorm brought high winds to the track in Lawton OK. I've been to events where wind was an issue but never canceled. Always hear someone chime in and say, and last night was no exception, hey, just take the wings off and go racing.
Anyone here ever seen this happen, where winged sprints actually shed thier wings to race?

I personally have never heard of that happening. I'm not old enough to have been around for the earlier wing days when wings were just getting a foothold in sprint car racing so it may have happened back in the day. The cars are so wing/wingless specific these days I'm not sure it would even be feasible.

The closest I personally have seen to the scenario that you point out was at a track not far from Lake Okeechobee in Florida. Thundercross Park or something like that was the name of the place. It was a 3 night event and the last night was a scheduled non sanctioned winged event but they encouraged everyone who was set up to do so to put a wing on. I was in Jack Hewitt's pit that night. When the A-main was over on the second night we got the wing off of the top of the trailer and the process of changing the car over to a winger began. I had to head for Daytona that night so I couldn't stick around to see how many of the wingless guys put the wing on. Jack and Dave Darland were the only two I remember for sure that put the wing on. I'm sure there was more but I don't remember exactly how many or who.

I know that's a lot of gibber that has little to do with your original question but this instance was the first thing to come to mind.

You've got my curiosity tweaked now and I'll make a call or two and see if anyone remembers a situation like you asked about exists.

[RiffRaf67]

Always seems to get mentioned in the stands, which is my side of the track, but never have I heard of it actually happening. IF it were to ever have happened, I'd expect it was with die-hard racers like those you mentioned, hewitt, darland, etc that came there to race, conditions be danged.

[CIRF]

Always seems to get mentioned in the stands, which is my side of the track, but never have I heard of it actually happening. IF it were to ever have happened, I'd expect it was with die-hard racers like those you mentioned, hewitt, darland, etc that came there to race, conditions be danged.

You got that right, Riff.

Actually Jack won a few WoO's winged sprint car races back in the day and won a pile of All Star Circuit of Champions races with the wing on. Those were the days when Jack was driving the #63 winged 410 car for Bob Hampshire. I'm not positive but I believe Jack had the record for most ASCoC wins for a while until Dale Blaney or Joey Saldana came along. I watched Jack win an ASCoC race at Kankakee, Illinois and it was a SHOW!

I don't know if Double D won any winged races but I'd not be surprised if he did. Dave Darland and his wife Brenda have to be two of the nicest people I've ever had an opportunity to hang with.

[Late_Model_Mark]

I have been to races that were winded out a number of times. Even been to a lot of races that got called or ended early due to fog. The fog came in from the Pacific Ocean many a time.


Late Model Mark
TST Announcer

[CIRF]

I have been to races that were winded out a number of times. Even been to a lot of races that got called or ended early due to fog. The fog came in from the Pacific Ocean many a time.


Late Model Mark
TST Announcer

Mark, were the races that were winded out winged sprint car races? It's obvious the winged sprint cars would be the most vulnerable to high winds.

Speaking of fog, I was at Volusia Speedway Park one night many years ago during February Speedweeks. This took place during the time that the 1/2 mile at Volusia was paved and they had built the 1/3 mile dirt track just off of turn 4 of the paved 1/2 mile. It was one of those humid winter evenings in Florida and without warning the fog rolled in just before the dirt late model A-main. They had Tony Izzo Jr. come out and take some hot laps to get a handle on whether it was going to be safe to race the A-main. Tony pulled in and told them he wouldn't advise them to race. It was so foggy that night that you could barely make out the silhouette of Izzo's car on the backstretch. Track management determined there had been sufficient races completed to deem the night of racing a full show so they were not going to honor rain/fog checks. Needless to say there were a bunch of very pissed off race fans in the stands but I believe it was the right call. At least the part about it being unsafe to race.

Here's the real kick in the ass. I remember getting 1/2 mile east (no more than a mile) of the track on Rt. 40 on my way back to Daytona and it was crystal clear!! LOL! Hey, some nights you eat the bear! Other nights the bear eats you!

[Late_Model_Mark]

There were 3 races that got canned by wind.

In 1972 at a NHRA Division 7 race at Bonneville Raceway in Utah, Friday got winded out by a huge and super windy sandstorm. The race was in the great drag racing movie about Jim Dunn, Funny Car Summer.

In 70 at my favorite race track ever, Lions Drag Strip, it was October when the Southern California "Santa Ana" winds were prevalent. It was borderline all day for this Funny Car show, they decided to run just to the 1/8mi. instead of the full quarter, after 2 pairs it kicked in more and it was called.

Then in the late 80's at the NHRA World Finals at Pomona Raceway again in late October, Friday was canned due to winds, after the races were called for the day, shortly thereafter the wind died down but it was way to late in the day to continue with Pomona's tight curfew.

The fog, got fogged out at Ascot. At Lions they used to call some of the shows the "duel in the dew" as the track was about a mile from the Pacific and the moisture would roll in especially in June when it was called June gloom. There was a handful of shows interrupted or called due to fog.

There were 2 fog outs that came from the same track. The first fog out was in 1968 at Orange County International Raceway for the huge Manufacturers Funny Car Championships. The fog rolled in for driver/team introductions at 5:00pm. All 32 cars were on the track parked front end first toward the guardrails with the drivers standing next to their cars. 1st time ever I recall spotlights from the tower highlighted each driver. There was a sold out, standing room only crowd of 22,000 on hand. Right at 6:00pm. the first of 3 glorious rounds was set to go with the absolute best in the business ready to go and the fog came from the nearby ocean and you could not see the track at all. The traffic jam to get out was rough. We went back the next day for the race.

Another fog out at O.C.I.R was the 81 Manufacturers Funny Car meet , fog rolled in once again just as round 1 was to begin. The traffic jam getting out took over 2 hours, they completed the race the following Saturday.



Late Model Mark
TST Announcer

[over4T]

Been to a few that got blown out and a few that got fogged out but only one that got grasshoppered out. It was at the 1/2 mile paved Mesa Marin Speedway outside Bakersfield mid or late 1970s. A Winston West Nascar race when the little varmints hit the track in full Kamikaze force gooing up the windshields so badly it was zero visibility for the competitors, Radiators were clogged and the women in the grandstands were shreiking with the green bugs in their hair.

I thought it was kind of funny until it was time to get out of there and remembered it was one of the few times the wife and I went their in one of my roadsters. We were about 20 miles south before the barrage of bugs ended and a long day cleaning the car when we got home. It was also the last time she would go to Bakersfield in an open car.

[CIRF]

You guys out there in California have seen stuff on a regular basis us flat-lander's can only imagine! Especially the grass hopper invasion. Great stuff from both you guys! My paltry tails of Florida in February are an embarrassment.

I wanna' ask both of you guys if you've ever experienced, or heard of, serious fog at Ventura. In addition to having been there the one time back in 2012 I've watched a bunch of live internet broadcasts from there and never have seen even a trace of fog. Maybe it's just the luck of the draw but I would have thought if Naylor periodically had problems with fog we'd have at least heard about it but I never have.

[over4T]

When I moved west to Ventura in 1960 they ran an ugly show of junkers, mostly consisted of '49 to about '54 Fords, Chevies, etc., on a much flatter and ill prepared track for a couple of years till the place closed till the '70s brought in the Speedway motorcycles on Wednesday nights. They were part of a very successful group that ran several nights a week around southern California. Between those and the current Ventura I can only remember one evening of the Speedway bikes that had much fog.

For some reason that area seldom got very heavy fog yet the Oxnard/ Port Hueneme, only about 5 miles further south, got much heavier fog on occasion. I do, however,recall at least one time surfing off the point/pier area in front of the speedway when I couldn't see the shore while only, maybe, a quarter mile out. It was kind of surreal riding waves in that stuff. Santa Maria Speedway though, almost exactly 100 miles north, was regularly blitzed with fog.

P.S. Remember well the fog Mark alluded to at Lion's Drag Strip. Ran a F Stocker there in '65 that was undefeated. Loved the AHRA rules that made the 318 Dodge competitive there.

[CIRF]

For some reason that area seldom got very heavy fog yet the Oxnard/ Port Hueneme, only about 5 miles further south, got much heavier fog on occasion. I do, however, recall at least one time surfing off the point/pier area in front of the speedway when I couldn't see the shore while only, maybe, a quarter mile out. It was kind of surreal riding waves in that stuff. Santa Maria Speedway though, almost exactly 100 miles north, was regularly blitzed with fog.

P.S. Remember well the fog Mark alluded to at Lion's Drag Strip. Ran a F Stocker there in '65 that was undefeated. Loved the AHRA rules that made the 318 Dodge competitive there.

We've experienced a similar scenario in Florida during February as you describe with Oxnard having more frequent problems with fog as opposed to Ventura Fairgrounds. In Florida we've seen conditions where you can be driving along with visibility being crystal clear and drive into a wall of fog that will last maybe a couple of miles then drive out of it in a matter of 40' or 50'. And I'm talking fog so dense that you literally can't see beyond 10' or 15' in front of the car. Surreal is a good adjective for those conditions.

I don't remember ever attending an AHRA event. I'm sure I have back in my drag racing days but none come to mind. I'll say this. Any sanction that can produce a situation where a 318 is competitive has to be creative and with a well thought out format! I say that to in no way disparage either the sanction or the 318!

[Late_Model_Mark]

What was interesting about Ventura, it's location and proximity to the ocean and the hills had an effect on the lack of fog. Some places along the west coast ocean are like a vacuum, sucking in the moisture and fog, Ventura was not one of them unlike other locales in the state.

The Mrs. and I were hardcore addicted "sand duners" at Pismo Beach. (Actually the Oceano San Duse Off Road Park) The fog would sock in the place yet a few miles away it would be sunny and nice.

A couple of trips to Bakersfield for the March Meet the "tule" fog was intense, had huge pile ups on Hwy 99.



Late Model Mark
TST Announcer

[CIRF]

What was interesting about Ventura, it's location and proximity to the ocean and the hills had an effect on the lack of fog. Some places along the west coast ocean are like a vacuum, sucking in the moisture and fog, Ventura was not one of them unlike other locales in the state.

The Mrs. and I were hardcore addicted "sand duners" at Pismo Beach. (Actually the Oceano San Duse Off Road Park) The fog would sock in the place yet a few miles away it would be sunny and nice.

A couple of trips to Bakersfield for the March Meet the "tule" fog was intense, had huge pile ups on Hwy 99.



Late Model Mark
TST Announcer

Mark, expand on the "sand duners" just a bit. Being an Illinois clod hopper I'm unclear on the meaning of that particular California colloquialism.

Your mention of fog causing huge pileups jogged my memory of hearing/reading about horrendous and massive crashes in Cali. It doesn't seem to happen as much in later years, or they're just not getting the publicity they once did.

[Late_Model_Mark]

Out in California there are 3 locations with Sand Dune recreational riding.

My favorite was what we called Pismo Beach, but was actually located in Oceano. You could camp on the beach and go off roading 24 hrs in the sand dunes. I started on a ATC 90, then a ATC 110, had a Honda Odyessey, then a Honda ATC 185. The progression kept going with a ATC 200x, then a 3-wheeler that about killed me, a tricked out 250cc 2 stroke. We finally ended up with more sane and manageable Honda 400ex Quadrunners that we poured bank into and tricked them out. My wife was an amazing rider who could run with "any" of the boys and would work over most of 'em at the sanctioned sand drags or the evening mayhem on Competition Hill.

Another gem was the Glamis Sand Dune area in Southeast California near the town of Brawley. That place was seasonal as the big time of year was late fall and winter cuz it gets 110 plus in the summer. Thanksgiving weekend is unreal.

Another locale was not far from Las Vegas and near the small town of Baker, it is called Dumont Dunes. Place was fun but too hot in the summer.

Another place on the West Coast was the Oregon National Sand Dune preserve near Florence. It is next to the ocean and very pretty but has a lot of environmental restrictions but fun. Also had a High-Jumper Dune Buggy with a built 2180 VW engine with a nice Zenith carb up top.


CIRF, if you want to get a small grip on Glamis and it's huge crowds and wild and fast equipment, check out this on YouTube. "Glamis Thanksgiving 2014 Official Video HD"

Nightime riding in the Dunes is a incredible experience. Sold my nice Toy Hauler and all my toys when I moved to Alabama, miss it but I am too old these days to ride like I did.


LMM

[CIRF]

Mark, that Glamis vid is quite enlightening and entertaining. There are some bad ass vehicles driven by some bad ass people!!

I'm always struck by just how cool of a place Cali is. Take away the politics and the cost of living and you have a veritable sundry paradise of weather, places to go and things to do and see. Very sad it's been, for the most part, ruined.

While on business out in Laverne, California (very near the LA County Fairgrounds) I struck up a conversation with a lady who was in upper management of the firm I was visiting and she was/is around 12 years older than myself. She told me she was born and raised near LA and other than her time spent away at college had lived there her entire life. She would have been in high school during the early to mid 1970's. She said there was no better place to grow up in those days than SoCal but things went into the crapper starting in the '80's and have steadily gotten worse ever since. She said when she retires she was going to happily leave Cali to get away from the urban BS and out of control cost of living.