Sunshine speedway today

[Jimmy McKinley]

Talkin' 'bout the Figure-8/Thunder Car/Street Stocks...

Ringheisen/Miller in the Mad Hatter Muffler cars...Grynewicz in the Century Plumbing 40...ALL of the Meyers - Denny, Charlie, J.R., and probably many more - with Elmer Sieffert (sp?) in the A-11...Ray Woosley in the 92...Bill Madlock ran there a coupla times coming over from Golden Gate I think...I remember 30+ Figure-8 cars for a 15-lap feature...

Yeah, Cope musta sailed 100 yards-plus...rumor was he was on the juice coming outta two, got on the button, and the throttle hung open.

The Governor's Cup race was only held once at St. Pete, in 1979, I believe, and that was the year Fenton won it. There was no Governor's Cup race in '80, and then from '81-'83 it was back at Tampa. No Cup again from '84 to '87, then it returned in '88 at New Smyrna.
The Triple Crown thing was kinda started in '82. Friday night was the Florida 200 at Golden Gate, then the Gulf Coast Classic at St. Pete on Saturday night, and then the Coca-Cola 200 at Bradenton on Sunday afternoon (which we won with Childers that year). After Tampa closed in '83, it went to a Bradenton-St. Pete-Bradenton show for '84 and '85, with Friday only being a 50-lapper. Then after that, it kinda moved around I believe, to Orlando, Lakeland, Auburndale, St. Pete, and Bradenton. We didn't run too many of them shows in the late '80s because the Triple Crown became part of the NASCAR All-American Challenge Series (same thing as All-Pro back then), and we were running those wild outlaw-type bodies. We weren't NASCAR-legal...LOL

[flvideo]

Yeah Jimmy now that you mention it I do remember the Gulf Coast Classic. Maybe I've gotten that and the Gov Cup mixed in my memory, which isn't very reliable any more. I had forgotten ringhausen, and Grynewich ans seifert.
We'll never see those days agin unfortunately. What # was your car Jimmy?
Thanks Bob.............

[Old Sunshine Fan]

Here's Another One

Don't forget Lester Sloan (36)... boy did he show up with a nice/well built car every year... and it kept it pretty cleaned up all year... I remember the year he showed up with a "Short Rear End"... the rear bumper was almost under the rear windshield... (they almost flipped out over it, but he was within the rules at that time)...(he just had less a$$end to get through the intersection). I think it was about the same time he won the World Championship in Islip, NY.
Also, the flying postman (Fiegel)

[Jim Fenton]

Couldn't agree more with McKinley, OSF and others above. Lots of great memories at that place. For me personally, it was mostly my involvement with the Tornado and Late Model classes.

However, as those have alluded to above, SS was also deep in Figure Eight history.

Here is a promo put out in 1971 with a shot of the very first figure eight race put on at the beginning of the season in March, 1964.



Speaking of Lester Sloan, here is a page out of the 1971 Sunshine Speedway Yearbook dedicated to his World Figure 8 Championship won in Islip, NY, in 1970.



Here is a related Cap's Auto Parts & Machine, Inc., ad from the same time noting his accomplishment.

[Jim Fenton]

Don't forget the first SS Figure 8 World Champion

Don't forget SS had two Figure 8 World Champions.

Before Lester won it in 1970, Aaron Collar won it in 1969 -

[Trash Inturn4]

OSF you bring up old memories of Figure 8 racing at Sunshine in the late 60's and early 70's. You are right about Lester's equipment,also remember him having great motors. The top driver has to be Dan "NO GUTS NO GLORLY" Daughtry from his era. Dan was the man to beat in the black and white 45 sponsored by the Showboat Lounge. Dan had plenty of worthy challengers including Butch Johnston, Denny Myer,Aaron Collier, Tom Brown, Lester Sloan, Elmer Siefert and C.S Oaks. How about the battle between Bill Miller and the Meyers. Sure miss the sound of those straight sixes down the straightaways. Remember the switch to big tires and V-8's hurt the side by side racing.

[Rick Anges]

I'll never forget the first time I went to Sunshine for Figure 8 fifty lapper and over 25 cars I believe lined up for the feature.

Out of all the tracks I have been to in Florida (dirt and asphalt) I have never seen the competion and racing levels raised to such a high intesnsity as at that little 1/4 mile.

I sure do miss my trips over the Skyway to Sunshine "Action" Speedway.

[flvideo]

dou recoginize any one?

See if you know any one here. Excuse the quality, they are grabbed from a 20 year old video. Thanks Bob..........

[flvideo]

Heres a few more. Can you guess what year and what show? Bob.......

[flvideo]

Here are some more of same program. Bob..........

[Jimmy McKinley]

Might be a little after we stoped running there...but I'd bet that that's Grynewicz's #40 in that first pic in the background, and Clyde Cole towed in from Bradenton in the red #7 Camaro. That black #5 is one of the former Mad Hatter cars, and it's probably Robbie Powell, I believe. I'd guess the show is the Figure-8 Winternationals.

What do I win? LOL

[flvideo]

You got a lot of them Jimmy. The pic on the end is John Lavale and Bill Miller is with him. That #5 is Bill Miller I think. You got the show right. 1989 Winternational Figure Eight Championships. That yellow #41 I think is Grynewicz's son or son in law. The #41 was DQ'd in tech and the #28 was a guy from Islip NY. What car was Robbie Powells, I can't remember? Bob...

[gequip]

the 28 is Roger Maynor from n.y. so is the 41 that was Tommy Kraft from n.y. too the world championship is now held in Indianapolis it's a 3 hr figure 8 race with no rules on car construction or motor some very fast cars

[racer42]

Sunshine

The #41 Is Not Related To #40 Of Paul Grynewicz. He Was From Ny. And He Got Screwed With The Dq. If You Go Through Inspection Before The Race And The Officials Approve Everything How Can It Be Wrong After The Race.

[flvideo]

I realize now the #41 wasn't related to Paul. I think his kid was #44. I didn't remember the DQ till I got the old master tape out. I remember now that you say, there was some complaining about it. By the nature of the beast when I work a track I have to stay out of those things in a neutral position. When I get time I will go into my old masters and look for more Sunshine stuff. I taped there quite a bit over the years. Thanks Bob...........