"Live" from our Southwestern Swing

[Geerhead55]

Originally Posted by BobOrme

I've spent a lot of hours in that "big" tower in recent years.

I've watched it rain quite a bit a few times. One year Bob Frey was there doing a piece for his Sportsman show at the divisional event, and there was a three hour rain delay. That was the most entertaining rain delay I've ever experienced! Bob did three straight hours of stand-up comedy. Not only is he one of the best drag racing announcers in the history of the sport, he's also one of the funniest people I've ever met.

I've seen racing delayed due to wind at Thunder Valley. I've seen that happen a few times at the Texas Motorplex too. The wind sure can blow in Texas and Oklahoma!

I was there the night Shelley Howard destroyed her TAD (and a gate) at a turnoff in the shutdown area. That was a very scary crash, but she walked away from it unhurt.

Heaven help you if race day activities end at the same time as a Sooner home football game ends. That little 4-mile stretch of highway 9 to I-35 can take 45 minutes to traverse when it is full of Sooner football fans.

I happen to really like the smaller drag strips like Thunder Valley. The experience, at least for me, is more intimate and friendly than it is at most larger (national event) tracks. Way too many of the smaller tracks have been closing in recent years, and that is very troubling for both racers and fans. When I see decent car counts at smaller tracks for divisional events, I can only smile. You folks really are the backbone of this sport. Your continued participation and support is greatly appreciated!

Bob,,, I hear you and agree that way too many tracks have closed in recent times, especially the smaller ones,, but all is not lost! Out here in Washington state, 2 men got together and put the resources, equipment and man power up to build a brand new multi-use facility. They were able to navigate all the permit and redtape processes and hit the ground running this past spring, and have transformed a stump ladened multi level piece of property into what promises to be a top notch racetrack for racers and fans to enjoy for many years to come. The road race course is already "booked" of the available 2012 dates, and I'm sure the dragstrip isn't too far behind.
Try this link: www.ridgemotorsportspark.com
Danny Durham