How Suite it Is!

Both nights in Knoxville we were fortunate to get to watch from the suites over the NSCHoF. One could easily get spoiled if they did this often. There’s nothing like watching a race live and then going inside and seeing a reply when something happens. It’s also pretty cool having a fridge full of your own beverages, your favorite snacks and pizza delivery. It just doesn’t get much better than that.

Both nights were fun but the second night was really the best. We ended up spending the evening with a the family and friends of a couple of Midget drivers and having a blast. It’s one thing to cheer on a favorite driver just because you admire the guy, but it’s another thing entirely to stand right next to his Mom at the time. Especially when something happens to his car.

They were a fun group to hang out with and the night just flew by. When the checkers dropped, we weren’t ready for it to end, and lucky for us, it didn’t have to because we were invited to go over to the campground with our new friends.

A cool May evening, a campfire, some racing stories and a bit of what I’ve labeled “Sprint Car Soap Opera” thrown into the mix were a great way to wrap up our trek to the Sprint Car Capital. It ended up being a pretty late night/early morning but the memories we made are well worth the lack of sleep.

So now here we are, headed home to kids and real life, jobs and bills. No doubt we’ll be looking at the calendar and counting the days until we get to do it again.

Dingus'

Now that I have finally been there, I can honestly say that no trip to Knoxville is truly complete without a trip to the Dingus Lounge.

Located directly across from the public entrance to Knoxville Raceway is a tiny little cinderblock building called the Dingus Lounge. Named after a former owner, stories about The Dingus are legendary. At one time, after a driver won the Knoxville Sprint Nationals, he would sign the wall. Later on, any driver was allowed to sign, and sometime later, the lines between drivers and fans were completely erased and anybody who patronized the place could leave their mark. The only problem now is finding an empty place on which to do so.

The place, quite literally, is completely covered with signatures. Every wall in the bar, hallway, bathrooms is signed. The bar, curtains, portions of the ceiling, light fixtures and even neon sign backs bear the autographs of countless race fans, drivers, crew members and track workers.

Everyone who knows about Knoxville knows about the place. It’s the Cheers of Iowa and I’m guessing that if you’re a regular, owner A.J. knows your name.

After the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and a quick stop under the bleachers for t-shirts and a visit with Mercedes the Malamute, we decided it was time to finally check out the infamous watering hole across the street.


The parking lot was nearly empty, so we weren’t even sure it was open, but lucky for us, it was.

Stepping inside, we must surely have labeled ourselves as true rookies and city slickers as we gawked at the display and started snapping off pictures.

Shortly after we claimed one of the bar’s two indoor tables (I told you it was small!), we were approached by a young man who introduced himself as A.J., the Dingus’ owner. A.J. is an Iowa native who looks like a transplanted California surfer. He’s a dead ringer for Dierks Bentley (the curly-do version) and a super nice guy. He spent a lot of time at our table talking to us about the bar’s history with regard to the signatures and also about how he came to own the bar.

According to A.J., he bought the bar after hearing a rumor that the next door neighbor was going to buy it and tear it down to expand his business. Knowing the history of the place, and, I’m guessing, as a former patron, he couldn’t imagine letting that happen.

We really had a good time at the Dingus, and it was the perfect time of day to go since the crowd was small and it was quiet enough to talk without yelling. Before our visit was over, we felt right at home.

Spring got a great shot of A.J., which we think needs to be framed and hung over the bar. He doesn’t like having his picture taken, but Spring has a way of getting what she wants when it comes to getting her shots.

Time flew by, and soon it was time to head back to the hotel and get all our stuff together for a second night of racing. Before we could go, there were two things we had to do. First, I got A.J.’s permission to stick a WhoWon.com decal to the door of the cooler. Second, we signed the wall, of course! You’ll have to stop in and let us know if the sticker is still there, (or if someone signs it) and see if you can find our autographs next time you go.

Oh, and tell A.J. the girls from Missouri said “Hey.”

Toughness and Tears

For many years now I have been a supporter of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. It is a check that I write and send off with pleasure every year because I appreciate all of the wonderful work that goes on there.

The NSCHoF is a repository for everything Sprint Car related. It is a place rich with historical artifacts, absolutely gorgeous cars, tributes and memorabilia. It is a must-see destination for every racing fan.

For twenty years now, members have been added to the Hall of Fame. These members represent drivers, sponsors, car owners, media and other fine folks who have made a significant contribution to the sport. This year, 13 new members were inducted at a luncheon and ceremony on Saturday afternoon. We had the privilege of attending that luncheon and it was a very enjoyable experience.

One of the goals of the Hall of Fame is to ensure that we preserve the history of our sport and each year, new members are added in the historical category.

These members are very special because even though they have been gone for many years, it is important that their legacy is not forgotten. I love that other Hall of Fame members accept the honor on behalf of these heroes, and even though they never knew them, there is still so much reverence and respect for the contribution that they made.

The ceremony honored several living legends as well, and each one was incredibly humbled to be chosen. Being in the room and listening to the biographies of these men, seeing their photographs, hearing their words of acceptance was truly the highlight of the weekend for me.

I could have listened to those stories for hours on end and been completely transfixed, especially when they were told by Dave Argabright. Dave has such a gift for fords and is an excellent storyteller. He gets right to your heart with his colorful descriptions of the racing careers and contributions of the recipients, as he speaks of their bravery and courage.

More than a few tears were shed by the new inductees and I found that very touching. Here were these tough-guy racers who are suddenly speechless with emotion when they step onto the stage. What an incredibly memorable day it was for me, and for everyone in that room.

These are the 2009 inductees to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame:
Allan Brown, National Speedway Directory
Jim Chini, Photographer
Jack Elam, Chassis Builder
Lee Elkins, Car Owner
Jac Haudenschild, Driver
Jackie Holmes, Driver
Tommy Nicholson, USAC Official
Lee Osborne, Driver/Car Builder
Cavino “Kelly” Petillo, Driver
Roger Rager, Driver
Fred Rahmer, Driver
Louis Senter, Equipment Manufacturer
Rip Williams, Driver

Knockin’ Around Knoxville

The best thing about multi-night race events is that you get time to hang out and explore the area around the track if you want to. We like to make the best of these little trips because they are often the only thing we do that resembles and actual vacation.

Knoxville is a great town in which to knock around. We got up pretty early Saturday morning and drove until we saw our first yard sale sign. It was pretty small as far as yard sales go, but it was worth stopping for. You know you are at a yard sale in Knoxville when you see an autographed Mark Kinser diecast and a used rear Sprint Car tire!

We hit up a couple more garage/yard sales before going in search of breakfast.

That quest led us to the town square and a local farmers market. Spread out beneath the huge old trees in the shadow of the courthouse was a selection of flowers, crafts, goat milk soap, plants and a mouth-watering array of baked goods. The most difficult task of the morning was choosing only one breakfast item! I settled on a cinnamon roll while Spring enjoyed a blueberry muffin.

Even better than this wonderful display of Americana were the people behind the tables. There is something special about people who work with their hands, whether they create soap, knead bread or nurture plants from seed to fruition. There is a quiet pride in that work and almost always, a story to tell, whether it’s about sourdough bread starter gone bad or kids who have moved away, no one is a stranger when you sell your wares on the town square.

On a tip from a sweet woman named Maxine, who is rumored to be the town’s best baker, we made our way across town to the Marion County Park which was hosting a Pioneer Days event. The park is home to several buildings which have been moved there from all over Iowa to create a little village.

The first building we entered was a small train station from the town of Bussey. Here we met Chuck, a World War II vet who was acting as host of the station and the displays inside. While Chuck seemed to enjoy his role as station master, it was obvious that his real passion was for a display case full of airplane models that had been assembled by his son.

Front and center was a B-26 Bomber, which was the kind of plane in which Chuck worked as a tail gunner during the war. He told us that his plane was shot down and he had to parachute to safety. Once on the ground, he was captured by the Germans and held as a prisoner of war until the war was over.

Chuck is a treasure and a delight. He shared with us about his imprisonment, being forced to march for endless miles and about he and his fellow prisoners were strafed by friendly fire after their capture. He seemed almost grateful for the questions we asked, as if it was nice to be able to tell the stories to a new and enraptured audience. His countenance told of hardship at the hands of the enemy, and pride in being second in four generations of family military service. We later found a display in the museum dedicated to Chuck and his family, which was really special.

The whole corner of the museum that was dedicated to service members made me feel humbled, and somewhat nostalgic for a time when young men took for granted that military service of some kind was a part of their future, and when the rest of our country stood behind them. When sacrifices were made and citizens gladly went without so that “our boys” would have what they needed to defeat the enemy.

Before we moved on, we thanked Chuck for his and his family’s service to our country. Men like him are living legacies that we are losing with ever-increasing speed. I hope that Chuck gets the chance to tell his stories many more times to a whole lot of enthralled listeners in the years to come.

Ironically, after we left Chuck, the sound of fighter jets caught our attention and we looked overhead to see Air Force One, escorted by three fighters, roaring overhead. Again I was reminded of the sharp contrast between the Greatest Generation and my own.

Besides the museum and the train station, there were antique cars, old tractors, remote controlled planes and several other buildings to explore. Inside one of those buildings, the coach house, is where I met Helen, who makes hand-braided rugs. She is a true craftswoman.

Helen accepts donations of old woolen clothes and recycles them by cutting the pieces into strips and then braiding them into rugs. The one she was working on when we met her is done in hues of purple ranging from deep plum to lavender and everything in between and is the most beautiful rug I have ever seen.

I have always had an affinity for quilts and braided rugs, and the colors spoke to me of my Grandmother. Though she’s been gone a few years now, it was almost as if she was standing there admiring it along with me, caught up in the rich textures and blends, the twists and turns of that rug.

Before we left, I gave Helen a deposit for that rug and we exchanged information. Despite the fact that it matches absolutely nothing in our home, I know for certain that the rug was made especially for me.

Friday Nights Were Made for Racing

Cloudless blue skies, temperatures in the seventies and only the slightest hint of a breeze. Weekends like this were custom-designed for racing. The city of Knoxville, Iowa must have a deal with the weatherman because it was like that for the whole weekend.

We rolled into town Friday afternoon and hit the ground running. A guided tour of the recently finished second floor of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum, a peek in at the suites and some time in the gift shop got things off to a great start. All around us were guys who have already or were about to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and a sense of anticipation hung in the air.

The second floor of the NSCHoF houses the actual Hall of Fame area where each inductee’s plaque is on display. Walking among the display is a trip through time chronicles the history of Sprint Car racing.

The racing on Friday was very good, but I was surprised at the low car count and the small crowd. For an event billed as “Nationals,” one would assume that there would be enough cars to make at least a few teams sweat about the possibility of not making the feature. In fact, on both nights, the Winged Sprints outnumbered the Midgets, so it kind of makes a person wonder what was going on. We’ve had more cars at local POWRi events back home than they did at this USAC-sanctioned weekend.

Small car counts aside, the competition was still fierce. Drivers come to win, no matter the number of opponents they face.

Everything went well until the closing laps of the Midget A Main. With just two laps to go, tragedy struck and when Chad McDaniel flipped and was then hit by Davey Ray. It happened so fast that Ray literally no where to go, and was himself injured in the crash.

With both ambulances headed to the hospital, there was nothing to do but wait, so I worked on updating the WhoWon.com Facebook page as best I could without giving details. I just kept thinking about MdDaniel’s family and friends and how awful it would be for them to read about the crash on the internet before getting the news from a loved one.

Seeing that accident, we knew it wasn’t good, but it wasn’t until the next morning that our worst fears were confirmed. Chad did not survive the crash, and left behind a wife and two small children. My heart breaks for this young man’s family and I know there will be some difficult days ahead.

There is a lot to be said for the racing community with regard to this tragedy though. Right away people stepped in to help. The 50/50 for Saturday was dedicated to Chad’s family. Drivers, team owners, the Hall of Fame and countless fans made donations to assist his family.

The final two laps were eventually run, but it was a subdued winner who stood in victory lane that night, at once happy about the win, but also concerned for his fellow driver.

We will continue to remember Chad McDaniel’s family in our prayers and hope that they continue to receive assistance and support from those around them.

The Bottom Line

My current ringtone for general callers right now is "Sweet Thing" by Keith Urban, which is probably a little weird since very few calls are from my husband for whom the ringtone would be the most appropriate. I just happen to like the song and so I use it for almost everyone, even race folks who might happen to need me.

Late yesterday afternoon Keith started singing and I picked up to find my local promoter and friend on the other end of the line. She was in a bind and was hoping I could help. As it turns out, the track is hosting a big Late Model race this weekend, and the young lady who usually sings the National Anthem can't be there. Do I know anyone who can sing and really knock one out of the park? I think on it a minute, tell her I will call her back, and get to work.

Before long, I'm on Facebook messaging a friend who has a fantastic voice, used to sing at our church and has a band that plays locally on the weekends. I also leave him a voice mail just to be on the safe side. Within the hour, I get a call back, explain the situation, and get things rolling.

A call back to the promoter, an exchange of information, and a relieved "thank you" and the task is complete. A sense of satisfaction fills my heart and I once again reflect on how much I love being involved in the racing community. See, the story here is more than just me making a phone call to do someone a favor, because before I did that, this person had helped me. The weekend before, I hosted a benefit for a friend who had a serious skiing accident back in February. My local track donated a basket that included a hat, a t-shirt and a gift certificate for a five-lap ride along, as well as some other goodies. They even donated a roll of fifty-fifty tickets for us to sell to raffle off the baskets.

That, my friends, is what giving back to the community is all about, and it's just one instance of one track helping out someone who needed a hand. They didn't have to do it, but they did, and I know for a fact it's not the first time, and it won't be the last, nor are they the only track to do this kind of thing. There is a constant stream of announcements from tracks who support charities and have fundraisers for injured drivers or sick children and for every one of those tracks, there are tons of you fans who donate to those endeavors.

Working for WhoWon.com these past nine years has been wonderful for me, and it has opened doors that I never would have imagined. I am humbled and grateful that I get to be a part - even a very small part - of something so big and so much fun. It's a job that, could I afford to, I would do for free because it means that much to me. Unfortunatley, for too many people, the sport of racing, just like professional baseball, football and hockey, is all about money. It's a selfish endeavor that over time can cause those involved to lose focus of why they got into it in the first place.

It reminds me of a scene from one of my favorite movies, The Rookie with Dennis Quaid. In the movie, Quaid's character, Jimmy Morris has been living the not-so-glamorous life of AA baseball for several weeks and is contemplating giving up his dream to go back home to a real job so he can support his family. He wanders across the hotel parking lot to watch a little league game in progress, where a young outfielder sees him, tips his hat and offers up an awkward grin. Morris is reminded of his childhood, and the passion he felt for the game even then, and he ends up staying on the road, and later being called up to the Big Show.

Sometimes I wonder if we could all use our Jimmy Morris moment when it comes to racing. Maybe we need to be reminded of the days of open trailers and patched tires, when racing was about the race and not about remembering to recite a litany of sponsor thank yous in victory lane. Maybe it's time we all got back to the basics by supporting our local tracks in every way possible, whether we do that by attending not just special events but weekly races as well. Or maybe by volunteering to do something that needs to be done or fix something that needs to be fixed rather than just complaining about it week after week via message boards and Facebook.

What comes around goes around, and there are too many tracks closing for us to just stand by and do nothing. Much has been written about what promoters should or could do better or differently, and I hope they pay attention. In the same light, we as fans have a responsibility as well. We need to stick together, support our local tracks and drivers, and encourage the next generation to do the same.

The bottom line is, money is an important factor when it comes to racing, and to life, but it's not the most important thing by a long stretch. Giving of ourselves, and supporting what we love is what really matters.

Hotlaps: Socially Speaking

With all the rain outs this past weekend I was given the opportunity to sit back, relax and think about where we are as a sport in terms of internet utilization. As everyone knows I run searchmotorsports.com – The Everything Motorsports Search Engine. My staff spends most everyday uploading websites consisting of drivers, teams, sponsors, advertisers and everything in between. I had taken for granted that our sport had ventured into the information age until this past weekend when we launched our facebook pages.

Facebook is an internet medium enabling anyone with internet access to build a page with pictures, information and preferences to share with friends, family and a little social networking. We published our pages (facebook search - Rob Chassis or SearchMotorsports.com) with literally no expectations. The motorsports community floored our entire staff. Within a week we have amassed over four hundred and fifty facebook friends. We had no idea of the scope of motorsports enthusiasts on facebook. Our friend numbers were scrolling like a gas pump. It was a strange and surprising sensation.

We finally gathered our senses and began analyzing our facebook friend list. About sixty percent of our friends are involved in Sprint Car racing in some capacity. We have Drivers, Teams, Crew Members as well as some of the best Sprint Car tracks in the country (and Australia). I personally was in shock. I did not realize how advanced our sport is compared to most modern spectator sports.

I have found facebook pages with real time race updates (I still prefer hoseheads radio), action pictures and during race interviews. Websites like hoseheads.com, facebook.com and searchmotorsports.com are making the world a smaller place bringing all aspects of our sport just a key stroke away.

I would personally like to say thank you to everyone who is helping us build our database. You are truly motorsports internet pioneers. I encourage everyone to visit the facebook or twitter page of your favorite motorsports icon. You may find out some new information or connect with old friends sharing the same passions as you. When you are searching facebook, feel free to drop us a line - search Rob Chassis or SearchMotorsports.com. We would like to hear your opinions, gripes or just drop by to say hay.

Don’t forget to visit our website, http://www.searchmotorsports.com/. Our database is growing everyday. We just uploaded our ten millionth website. If for some reason you are not listed, please send your URL to submit@searchmotorsports.com. We will have you listed within twenty-four hours.

Until next time
Rob Chassis