Late Models In Downtown Tampa

[ancrdave]

Here's a couple of great shots taken by Larry Harrell at Plant Field, probably around 1976... They ran several shows over about a two year period on Sunday afternoon featuring LM, mods, sprints and flat-track motorcycles... David Rogers won his very first career LM feature at Plant Field on a Sunday afternoon...
In the first picture, the car that naturally stands out is Dave Dunkin's #71 "Blue Goose.".......
The second photo, I believe, shows Terry DeCaire in the lead in the #26...
Those were some fun shows...

[Todd McCreary]

ouch. the stands look mighty thinly populated.

[JackTripper]

I'm more troubled by the guy standing out on the track in turn four.

[Todd McCreary]

I'm more troubled by the guy standing out on the track in turn four.


pfffft. corner workers are a dime a dozen.

besides, there's probably a rut over there could use filling, this being dirt and all.

[ joking, joking ]

[AB195]

I'm more troubled by the guy standing out on the track in turn four.

He's the "hold it down, guys--wave to the crowd(?) and wave" guy.

[mr south 59]

I raced flat track at that track in 1976 one time. I remember it was the only time I was happy about blowing my motor. It was the roughest track I ever race my cycle on. I was glad to not have to finish the night on that track.

Terry DeCarie. Never got to see him race but our kids raced together for years. His son Troy drove for me at the karting world championship one time. I remember at he was trying to keep his streak of 11 years in a row to make the main event. He did make the main that year and had a great shot at winning.

[Bobby Diehl]

Wow!!! Does that bring back the days. I didn't know you raced bikes.

Andrew I rode for Cemoto East (Bultaco's) out of New Jersey. I rode 250 cc Pursangs for a year and had 5 different bikes one for each: Short Track, Flat Tracks Pro indoor(hard tail), Cafe Road Racer, Scrambles, and expermental 4 speed MX Bultaco. I also got the first Astro Bultaco in the country in 1970. Man did that thing fly. We raced all over the South East AMA 5 Star Touring Series. We raced with the likes of Mike Kid, Gary Nixon, Jay Springting, Liston Chaple, Kenny Roberts, and others. I can tell you that the guy Todd thinks is the only one there was is in the dirt zone (no one sat there). That area would kill you with clay balls. Now your right that was one of the roughest track in the country after the Stock Car got done. I eat a lot of hay bales there. The wall was real hard tooooo. But the neatest thing was watching the rides while the racer were getten it on!!!! We also ran at Daytona and Shaye Statium on crushed limestone I think. Now that was as smooth as a baby's butt. One year 159 250cc show up. In 1971 I went Road Racing SCCA and then on to the IMSA GT Series. The rest is bable
Talk to you soon.
Bobby Diehl

[BOB KRUPA]

Track in Downtown Tampa

Is that the same track in 1958?
My father took me to a race track in downtown Tampa in 1958. It was a paved track round a football field.

[ancrdave]

That was Phillips Field... The dirt track (Plant Field) was around the University of Tampa football field...

[mr south 59]

Bobby, those were the days. I ran the Shower of Stars series with all of the guys you have listed. We ran at Barberville, Jax, Hialiea, Ocala, Dade City and many others in Florida. The first time I ever raced against my hero Kenny Roberts was at Ocala. I finished 3rd and he finished 9th. I thought I was "the man."

Our motorcycle club got together with the owner of Ocala and we put a TT track in the middle of the track. There was a pond in the infield between turn 3 and 4. The first person to go in the pond while racing would have the pond named after them.

Does anyone know the name of that pond?

[OLD STYLE RACER 2]

I don't know the name of the pond but I do remember my Dad driving off into it, in about 74 or 75.

[flvideo]

I didn't know you guys were bikers. I raced at a couple Tampa tracks. I can;t remember Which ones. There was a little motorcycle club in Tampa that sponcered them. That was the late 50's and early 60's. I raced a scrambles at a track in Ft. Meade a few times. Sounds like you guys were good. I always had to do it on my own. The only time I had a sponcer was in Ft meade, I was on a 200cc Triumph owned by a dealer. He paid all the expenses. Food, entry fee's and all. That was sweet but it didn't last long enough. I bought a Harley KR to race in Class C competition and and I was never able to race it. I wrecked my road bike and ended my motorcycle racing career. I started riding trials and enduros 2 years later. Amazing what you learn about people you've known for years. Huh Bobby? LOL! Bob...