Around the Track with Jalopy Jack
Well as the TV proved there was racing somewhere this weekend. The tube attested live racing from 3 locations. There was no where for me to go to catch a live race and Thankfully, Wall Stadium thru in the towel early enough to save me a wasted trip. The closest track I know of to actually race is a track that tries harder then any I know and therefore, deserved to get the show in. I hope the car count and the crowd count was worth it. It’s one of my favorite tracks and one that I’d go to often if circumstances were a lot different. I’m referring to Lincoln Speedway.
The Modifieds that regularly race at Wall Stadium are getting a long time off. The last race for those cars was 5/23. The next race for the Wall Modifieds is 7/4. The show from 6/13 for the open tour-type Modifieds has found a rain date and that’ll be Saturday night 8/8. Also that night will be the must see at Wall TQ Midgets. I’m sure there’ll be at least 3 other divisions racing that night. This coming Saturday 6/27 is known as “Full Fender Night”. The Modifieds and the Sportsmen will not be there, all other regular divisions are. The main event is the Late Models. Their feature race is 100 laps. I’m expecting a fuel stop at the 50 lap mark.
I’ve been wondering where a full field of Late Models would come from. I’ve been told by a good source that there have been enough inquiries for the Spec Tire that’ll be sold that night that indicates a decent field to be there. The last time any sort of Late Model activity took place at Wall was the NASCAR Busch North Series, which’s now known as Camping World East, back about 6 or 7 years ago. The cars did take to the track but the actual race was rained out. I was not there for it but heard mixed reactions to how those cars were getting around the track. The Late Models that’ll take part in this Saturday’s race are the type that already race weekly at such tracks as Riverhead, Mahoning Valley and Sundance Vacations Speedways. I’d normally say that the Late Models will be a welcome diversion to our weekly racing entertainment, but right now any racing show that we can get done in good weather will be more then welcome. Hope to see you at Wall Saturday night.
I enjoyed the race from Sears Point, oops; there I go again with the old school names. OK, with the program, Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. This is one of my favorite tracks on the Cup circuit. And if Tony Stewart had to be beat I’m glad it was by Kasey Kahne. Kahne, like Tony, believes in the short tracks and puts his money and well being where his mouth is. The rest of these Cup guys with the exception of course of Ken Schrader only takes parts in short track events when everybody else does. I know the talking heads seem to be feeling sorry for Kahne everyone of those late race restarts because that meant having Stewart along side again. After a couple of these it looked apparent to me that Stewart just didn’t have the stuff Kasey had when it was needed. As a matter of fact I wouldn’t have been surprised to see Marcus Ambrose take Tony for second. I’ve been high on Ambrose since that Nationwide race on the road course in Montreal.
I guess you’d expect me to comment at the double file restart policy. I have to admit it’s pretty cool. However, I hope you all realize that it’s a gimmick. It’s a gimmick along the lines of the Lucky Dog. It looks like these double file restarts are an answer to the empty seats. I thought the Lucky Dog thing was kind of ridiculous for a road course. But I can’t believe that the Daytona 500 would be settled with double file restarts with a handful of laps left. Perhaps this is a good time to remind people of what the common procedure has been on short track thru most of our history. Because so many different clubs, associations and different tracks seem to have their own system these days. Double file restarts are used the first half of the race. Single file restarts are used the second half of the race. By the “letter of the law” these are supposed to be what’s known as taped restarts. In other words, if there’re lapped cars involved they’re supposed to be in the lineup. So if there’re 2 lapped cars between first and second they’re supposed to line up behind the leader and in front of second place. I must admit this is something I never liked. But it’s OK if the lapped cars are gentlemen and move over at the green flag so second place can have a shot at the leader. I wonder how many fans are aware of the correct procedure these days. I thought I’d put it in there as a reminder.
Catching up on racing news, or should I really say rumors, is the one about Formula One Grand Prix. Now if you’re wondering if I watched that too, let’s just say that sometimes I try but not too hard. The best in the world? I’m one who believes that 99% of the time no matter how good the talent, there’re at least a 1,000 out there who’re just as good but not getting that lucky break. Everybody knows the higher level, the competition, the more the money gets you there. As for yesterday’s race from Silverstone, is 20 cars so good these days? Same number as the Indy Racing League had in Iowa. The Indy Racing League’s recovering from their suicide split. Bob’s 20 Formula One cars at Silverstone so great that they can be thinking the incredible? Somebody wants to split Grand Prix into 2 groups? Perhaps one of these groups doesn’t want fans to watch anymore? Perhaps those “poor souls” who only spend $500 on caviar when they attend a Grand Prix race are considered in the way?
Could this be anymore boring the 4 cars got quickly spread around the course instead of 20 cars? And as for how I watched this, well, it was 3 live races on Sunday and I used the middle of the Grand Prix to go out and do my errands. I only gave it that much play because I respect the history of Silverstone. I’ll tell you one thing that’ll help and that’s some good old car numbers. Not that the system of numbers being handed out was ever original, but please, they think they’re so above it that they don’t even have to number the cars anymore. That’s the biggest turn off as far as I’m concerned. I also got to get a kick out of when the F.I.A. come up with “cost saving rules”. If you couldn’t afford the $30 million to field a team for the season, you’re not going to be able to afford the $21 million to field the team for the season. And have you ever wondered why they never race an oval?
Any racing circuit worth it’s purse money in the USA with the exception of Sprint Cars has at least tried a road course sometime in their history. But the stuck ups in Formula One will go to their graves trying to prove that road racing’s truly superior. Like I said last week and having the upmost respect for motorcycle racing, I have respect for road racing which I proved yesterday and watching Sonoma. But the majority of world class road racing people just refuse to ever, ever, see it that way. If I had gotten my dose of live racing this past weekend I’d never have had this much to say about it. So the challenge is there for the road racing boys from Jalopy Jack. Let’s leave it at that. WOOOOOOOOO, even the Enduro guys gave a road course a try, in the middle of January yet. OK, now let’s leave it at that!
Something that has been bugging me thru all these years I’ve been interested in racing, is the description of distance between cars during the race and especially, at the finish. Now like it or not or admit it or not, auto racing on the ovals comes to us on the tail of horse racing. Until the Midgets came along and got popular in the 1930’s and with the exception of the old board tracks which wound up very temporary in nature, all ovals were dirt tracks that were formally, or in most cases still used for horse racing. The very first years of oval track auto racing was actually put on by the same officials who ran the horse races. They did their best to adopt the conditions of the racing rules from horses to cars.
Now when talking about the length of distance between horses, there’s the expression “nose-to-tail”. This would mean one length between horses. If there’s a proper amount of space between the runners it would usually be referred to as a length and a half. If there’s enough room between the horses to fit another horse, then it’d be a 2 length lead. Now we need to get more technical here. If one horse’s challenging another or they’re side by side there’s common ways to relate this in race horse jargon. If one horse’s challenging another and his head’s along the hind-quarters, then that’s 3/4 of a length. If the horse’s head is along side the rider it’d be a half length. If the horse’s head is along side the neck the lead is a neck. If the first horses whole head’s in front of the second horse’s nose, then the margin’s a head. And if it’s any closer then that and there’s still a lead that lead or win is by a nose. But the way a lot of riders describe the distance between cars whether they’re chasing or up close battling, I just don’t know what they mean. If we can relate the horse jargon to car language maybe I can help everybody to relate. If one car’s leading another by 2 lanes, a lot of these guys will say one length. How can they say one length when you can fit another car between them? Nose-to-tail with cars would mean the second cars front bumper’s right up against the first cars rear bumper. That would be referred to as “nose-to-tail or one car length”. If there’s a bit of space between the bumpers I’d call it an open length. If the second car’s challenging the first car and his front bumper’s even with a trunk or rear wheel, that’ll be 3/4 of a length. I got something more original for that but you’ll have to give me the mic to find that out. If the second cars front bumper’s even with a front door, or the case of no doors even with the driver, that’s a half length. If it’s closer then that but they’re not quite even, you can say the lead’s by a wheel or by a hood, depending on what kind of cars we’re racing. And if it’s closer then that and we want to get technical, you can say the winning margin’s by a fender or even closer by a bumper or a nose. Got it?
But the way it’s described when a rider says “wins by a bumper”, you don’t know if he means by the front or rear bumper. When he says half a length, you don’t know if he means side by side or an actual length and a half between them. Sounds like I’m talking really close racing here folks. That’s the type of racing I hope we all see this coming weekend, no matter where it is.
Before closing, I’d like to do just a little bit of an update on “The People’s Champion” and “The People’s Driver”, both reigning and original. The original “People’s Driver”, Richard Petey has been racing in Factory Stocks and Enduros at Wall and plans on having his Late Model there this Saturday. The original “People’s Champion”, Vern McLaughlin III is racing Outlaw Stocks at New Egypt and is off to a good start thus far this year and plans on racing in the next 4 Cylinder Enduro at Wall on 7/11. The reigning “People’s Champion”, Mike Tidaback has been sticking with his 3/4 Midget. And the reigning “People’s Driver” will debut a new Monte Carlo and an upcoming Enduro really soon and it’ll also be at Wall 7/11. I’m referring to Bill Stockert. His highlights so far this season was at Big Diamond where he started 40th and just missed finishing in the top 10. More on these 4 individuals as we progress thru the season. And it’s more of the season I want to see this coming weekend as the weather’s better which should better get, better. Don’t forget my hotline WLAR [We Love Auto Racing] at 718-707-1052 whether you’re reading or listening, until next time. Keeping the fans in the stands and the cars on the track, this has been Jalopy Jack.