Hey Andy S

[Edm]

You guys better be careful of Andy. He is British, so he probably has a background as a soccer hooligan. I expect to see him with his face all painted up and leading a riot in the Speedworld stands. Those guys are EXACTLY the kind of fans we need over here to spice things up.

In 1995 at Dam Neck Va we trained with a group of British SAS soldiers. I was a member a well trained unit Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Company (FAST CO). The SAS put us to shame, trained harder then anyone we have ever seen and they partied even harder. Great group of guys.

[Andy S]

You guys better be careful of Andy. He is British, so he probably has a background as a soccer hooligan.

Well, I have a background as a soccer player if that's close enough? I did bring one of my mates from England to OSW that fitted the bill a little more, with arms covered in Union Jack, bulldog and Leeds United tattoos. He had the time of his life, especially when he realized he could sit watching the races with a beer in his hand and that there was a constant stream of cold beers available at the track. Drinking beer at sporting events isn't that common in the UK these days, so unsurprisingly all my friends I've taken to the races here seem to enjoy that part of the night!

[flraceguy]

Well, I have a background as a soccer player if that's close enough? I did bring one of my mates from England to OSW that fitted the bill a little more, with arms covered in Union Jack, bulldog and Leeds United tattoos. He had the time of his life, especially when he realized he could sit watching the races with a beer in his hand and that there was a constant stream of cold beers available at the track. Drinking beer at sporting events isn't that common in the UK these days, so unsurprisingly all my friends I've taken to the races here seem to enjoy that part of the night!

Don't forget in these days of political correctness, those beers are now termed "alternative beverages"... LOL... So come on out and see us after the races and we will have a few alternative beverages together...

Speaking of races, I can't wait for Friday at OSW and Saturday at NSS... Having withdrawal symptoms this week.. Hmmm that means I need to go and work on a racecar and engine today to eliminate those fits...

[Andy S]

Don't forget in these days of political correctness, those beers are now termed "alternative beverages"...

After an evening of beers and sitting out in the Florida heat my friend was definitely 'differently sober' by the time we got him home...

[flraceguy]

After an evening of beers and sitting out in the Florida heat my friend was definitely 'differently sober' by the time we got him home...

oh come now... Don't tell me that the football man was toasted off his arse.... That would mean that he needs a couple more.... LOL

[Andy S]

oh come now... Don't tell me that the football man was toasted off his arse.... That would mean that he needs a couple more.... LOL

The beer he was fine with - he can drink more than anyone I've ever met in my life - but the sun during the day and the heat at night took its toll on the poor guy! I still remember him coming over for my wedding, getting way too much sun on his bald head the day before, and looking like a cooked lobster in all my wedding photos!

[Todd McCreary]

(rarely seen over here, but incredible to watch - single-geared alcohol-burning 500cc singles in superlight frames and with no brakes racing on 300yd dirt ovals)

say what?

anybody who wants to watch circle track dirt bikes knows where to get their fix.

http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/

sad too say, it looks like Sammy Sweet may have given up on his come back. his web site is down and the last time i looked at it he hadn't made an update in months.
http://www.sammysweetracing.com/



And for the record....I only hate one person on here.....well, maybe two...no...make that thr..FOUR!.....four people that I can't stand to...oops....five.....five peo.......oh hell.

SIX! you forgot me.



but those brake lights on the strictly stocks help with knowing when the drivers are getting back on the gas.

even if i put brake lights on my car, it would only confuse you. i use both at the same time.



I still remember him coming over for my wedding, getting way too much sun on his bald head the day before, and looking like a cooked lobster in all my wedding photos!

that's something you need to warn all of your poofta English visitors about. we're at a much more southern latitude here and they're going to sunburn much more quickly than they would back home.

heck, i've had friends from up north come down and pull the same stunt. they go and lay out on the beach for two hours the first day they come down here, then they can't figure out why the rest of their vacation sucks....

[Todd McCreary]

My whole experience in the UK is on flat circuits

Auburndale is pretty flat.

[Andy S]

(rarely seen over here, but incredible to watch - single-geared alcohol-burning 500cc singles in superlight frames and with no brakes racing on 300yd dirt ovals)

say what?

It's this type of speedway:



The US has produced some of the best riders in the world, such as Billy Hammill, Greg Hancock and former World Champion Bruce Penhall, but they're mainly Californians and most of the tracks are out there. Those bikes are incredible things to see (and to smell with the fuel they burn) and can accelerate as fast as any race car other than on a drag strip. Only problem is that if you want to stop in a hurry the only option is to fall off the back and hold on the bike. Exciting racing though, with four of those things on track and bumping each other down the straights and even in the corners.

even if i put brake lights on my car, it would only confuse you. i use both at the same time.

I was confused enough when I (think I) saw you racing at Auburndale and you were up on two wheels every time around the 3rd and 4th turns!

[Frasson118]

"So come on out and see us after the races and we will have a few alternative beverages together... "



At least he didn't offer to have alternative lifestyles with you!

[Winger]

Welcome to Karnac Andy. As you can tell, we can have fun and not be too serious. The flat track motorcycles do race in the US but I haven't seen them in Florida much. I believe they raced at Ocala once last year. They also race inside on ice hockey rinks occasionally. Studded tires and no brakes. I came from up north and most of the "local" motorcycle racing was done by clubs.

[Andy S]

Thanks, Winger. I think it's my background in *that* speedway that makes me enjoy the Sprint cars so much when I get the chance to see them. My brother used to ride those bikes so I learned a lot about them, and even once drove from New Jersey to Indianapolis just to watch them race because it was the closest track to me!

I'm sure I'll be fine on Karnac if I can manage one thing - not letting my wife catch me looking at the cars for sale in the classified ads again! That didn't go down too well...

[Todd McCreary]

not letting my wife catch me looking at the cars for sale in the classified ads again!

much cheaper just to rent a ride.


I was confused enough when I (think I) saw you racing at Auburndale and you were up on two wheels every time around the 3rd and 4th turns!

red v6 Probe running with the V8 Bombers this year? yeah, that was me.

the LR was coming off the ground mostly because the RR was blowing brake fluid all over the place. this would put all of the rear braking on the LR ... which has no weight on it. the LR tire would lock up and start hopping. makes the car a hand full.

i've fixed the RR but i think somebody told me i was still locking the LR a little bit on corner entry.

as far as "two wheels" goes, i have no idea what you're talking about.

[Frasson118]

When I was a teenager racing Flat Track bikes, one of the tracks also featured the Speedway bikes that you pictured above. I'm here to say that they are extremely fun to watch, and must be a huge thrill to ride. They are, in effect, the 2-wheeled version of a Sprint car... direct drive (push started), single gear, NO brakes, no suspension. They only go one speed.... WIDE OPEN.

Where I raced, there were classes from the 80cc bikes up to the 750cc bikes, but when the Speedway division hit the track, everyone else stopped what they were doing to watch the Speedway guys run. The tools got put down, the concession stand line disappeared.... nobody wanted to miss this class on the track.

Out in California, the hot tip is to bring your own little sheet of plexiglass with a handle mounted in the back to shield your face from the large amount of dirt that was sure to be thrown in your direction. Without the shield, you could only watch them coming and going, but right in front of you, you were gonna be pelted by a spray of dirt and mud.

Truly one of the cooooolest forms of Motorsports I've ever seen (and I've seen a few different types!)

[Frasson118]

This reminds me of the old Ascot Speedway in Calif., where the Non-winged Sprint cars would "back in" to the corners like this...