Golden Isles Showdown on the Coast

[Frasson118]

Golden Isles is one cool track to visit. I have been there about 5 times now, and every time, it looks different again. This time was the shortening of the track from 1/2 mile to 4/10th mile. The track stayed real tacky and dustfree on both nights, but looked like it was a lot smoother on Saturday.

This place does NOT screw around (other than the long intermission)... each race rolled out only seconds after the previous one ended, and were under green within 1-1/2 laps of coming out. Yellow flags are held off to the very last second, to keep things going, and with the Raceceiver System, I didn't see ANY arguement over any position in any race.

As for that long intermission... it was for a very good purpose. The track had all the little kids out on the track to go after $500 worth of quarters that they scattered on the front stretch. At least 200 kids are gonna be begging the parents to take them back again this week. We need all the kid involvement in this sport that we can get. VERY good promotional idea, I thought.

The NLMS Series brought at least 46 cars... most of them being very high quality teams. Ivedent Lloyd & Jason Fitzgerald went back and forth several times through at least the first half of the 100 lapper. William Thomas kept getting stronger, as did Johnnie Collins. Towards the end, Lloyd faded just a bit, Collins became a factor, but Thomas was getting stronger each lap, and took the win. Top 5 were Thomas, Fitzgerald, Lloyd, Jeff Hunter and Collins.

I was impressed by Hunter Peacock, who I'd never heard of before. He came from the last row of his B-Main, to finish 2nd, putting him at the back of the A-Main. He came from about 20th at the start, up to 4th at one point before something gave up and was forced to the pits. Great run for an unknown (to me anyways)!!!

One class that was kinda cool (and competetive too) were the TQ Late Models. Picture a cross between a DLM and a Dwarf Car. This looks like a very fun, somewhat affordable division. I saw them once before on asphalt, and wasn't very impressed, but on dirt (where they belong), they were really entertaining.

Each class had pretty full fields, and lots of side-by-side racing. All in all, a very worthwhile trip. If this track was closer to home (3-1/2 hours one way). I would be there a lot more often.

We also partied with a few groups of people in the drive-in parking section of the back stretch. It seems every time I go to GIS, I meet some really cool race fans, and this was no exception. They now have me convinced into skipping a day or 2 at either East Bay, or VSP during Speedweeks, in order to see a Lucas Oil DLM show there in late January. I think the track will be really racey, and should be worth the time & travel.

Special Thanks to AB195, who has the guts to put everything else aside for a weekend at the races. He had all of 5 minutes to decide, and 30 minutes to be packed and ready to go. Nothing like a road trip with a good friend who makes you laugh for all 200 miles each way!

If you've never tried GIS, it IS worth the trip!

[flvideo]

Man Jerry Ray miller had 46 Cars? I know where all the UDLMCS cars have gone. GIS is a neat track to say the least. It is the best clay we raced on last year, UDLMCS. There is next to no dust and it packs good and the late Models get a good grip coming off the turns. Do they still have the little shelf along the out side to get up off the racing surface when you are having trouble? In an interview last year Frankie said his son-in-law came up with that idea. Pretty neat. I am glad you guys had fun. I just can't afford the travel any more. Thanks Bob...

[Frasson118]

Actually, very few were UDLMCS regulars. No Shan Smith, no Nosbisch's, etc...

NOTE: $12,000 TO WIN...!

Here's the Feature finish:

1 22 WILLIAM THOMAS
2 7 JASON FITZGERALD
3 07 IVEDENT LLOYD
4 15 JEFF HENRY
5 5C JOHNNY COLLINS
6 26 DILLION WOOD
7 3K KYLE VANSICKLE
8 99 SKEETER REDMON
9 5W MARK WHITENER
10 47 TYLER IVEY
11 145 JASON DAVIS
12 2 BRANDON DEWITT
13 46 DARRELL PADGETT
14 C2 CALE SIMONS
15 27 BEN FAIRCLOTH
16 12 HUNTER PEACOCK
17 11 STACEY ROBERTS
18 71 BO ALLEN
19 45 TERRY LUMLEY
20 4 JEREMY FAIRCLOTH
21 22C BRETT CARLTON
22 66 CHUCK CHITTY
23 22B BRANDON CAMERON
24 58 SHANE WILLIAMS
25 41 JORDY NIPPER
26 03 RYAN VANSICKLE

Most of these are NLMS Series regulars, with a few that run both.

Whatever happened to the Bedenbaugh brothers? Haven't heard from either all year.

[Andy S]

What a great weekend! There aren't many things more fun than a long road-trip to go and see something sporting that you've always wanted to see. That's made me want to plan something similar myself now...

[Jane]

Jerry - would it be ok with you if I post your thread at Florida Dirt Track News or you post it. Go to www.floridadirttracknews.com but I would love to have it on my site also if it is ok with you.

Thanks
Jane

[Stgbean54]

Pretty neat

How Jerry can talk to the folks sitting around him and still keep up with the racing.

[Frasson118]

It's not much Jane, but you are welcomed to it!

Andy... nothing like a road trip. lots of fun meeting new people, seeing racers you've only read about, noticing all the things that have changed since the last visit.... it is priceless!

[Jane]

Thanks Jerry, I put it on our message board at Florida Dirt Track News. You are a sweetheart, I owe you a hug for that one. Hope to see you Saturday.

Jane

[Frasson118]

Anytime Jane. I really enjoy writing down some of my racetrack experiences, and deep down, I hope that it will encourage other fans to try a new place, or venture out on a road trip themselves.

I tried doing the Karnac story-writing deal like you do, but I just didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. It's a LOT of work learning all the names, the spelling of those names, keeping track of line-ups, results, post-race protests, etc.... I found out I had a hell of a lot more fun, just being a FAN.

People like yourself, don't get near the credit that they should. Some look it it like "Cool, free passes into the races".... they don't understand how much of a JOB it really is. You don't get the option of looking at the weather and deciding not to bother that night... you HAVE to be there, no matter how much you know you are wasting your time.

So, I guess what I'm saying is, I really enjoy the places I go, and the people I meet. So, if it helps you in any way at all, you are always welcomed to my ramblings.

Hope to see you on Saturday (and Friday is not yet out of the question either!)

[Andy S]

I tried doing the Karnac story-writing deal like you do, but I just didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. It's a LOT of work learning all the names, the spelling of those names, keeping track of line-ups, results, post-race protests, etc.... I found out I had a hell of a lot more fun, just being a FAN.

People like yourself, don't get near the credit that they should. Some look it it like "Cool, free passes into the races".... they don't understand how much of a JOB it really is. You don't get the option of looking at the weather and deciding not to bother that night... you HAVE to be there, no matter how much you know you are wasting your time.

That's one of the great unspoken truths about working in a sport you love that I think many people share but hate to admit...

I worked for my local semi-professional soccer team back in the UK, the one I'd supported since I was a little kid, and took on a number of roles for them from writing the matchday program to being the equipment guy to helping prepare the field to writing all the match reports for the local and national press right up to in the end joining the coaching staff. It was incredible to get such behind the scenes access, get to know the players, have some incredible experiences, and generally get privileged access to the sport I'd loved for years.

But by the same token it took nearly all the fun out of it for that period, and I don't think it ever recovered. You *had* to be there every week, no excuses. You got dragged into every petty argument and if you disagreed with anyone you were seen to have forgotten what it was like to be a fan. Worst of all you suddenly became aware of all the internal politics involved in every single sport in the world that most fans have no idea are going on in the background.

I guess the moral of the story is to beware of getting what you wish for! Being involved with any sport gives you incredible highs and some memorable experiences, but you have to be ready to handle all the other stuff you'll suddenly see for the first time once you cross that line!

[flraceguy]

That's one of the great unspoken truths about working in a sport you love that I think many people share but hate to admit...

I worked for my local semi-professional soccer team back in the UK, the one I'd supported since I was a little kid, and took on a number of roles for them from writing the matchday program to being the equipment guy to helping prepare the field to writing all the match reports for the local and national press right up to in the end joining the coaching staff. It was incredible to get such behind the scenes access, get to know the players, have some incredible experiences, and generally get privileged access to the sport I'd loved for years.

But by the same token it took nearly all the fun out of it for that period, and I don't think it ever recovered. You *had* to be there every week, no excuses. You got dragged into every petty argument and if you disagreed with anyone you were seen to have forgotten what it was like to be a fan. Worst of all you suddenly became aware of all the internal politics involved in every single sport in the world that most fans have no idea are going on in the background.

I guess the moral of the story is to beware of getting what you wish for! Being involved with any sport gives you incredible highs and some memorable experiences, but you have to be ready to handle all the other stuff you'll suddenly see for the first time once you cross that line!

Andy..

You couldn't be more right in that respect than you know.. This is exceptionally correct in a sport like racing, where there is so much prep work, cost, soap operas, whining, complaining, and then you have to deal with track owners, officials, cost versus reality, etc. etc.. But this is short track racing and there is nothing like it... The feeling of running a good race, or a good practice for that matter.... the feeling of putting someone new in a race car and seeing their faces light up like a two year old at Christmas, or the face of a fan, whether new or old, when they see a race, a driver, or something that they especially like... Hell you can't forget the face of a driver or a team member when they have a good race after they have had an especially rough time of it... OR just the normal generosity of racers in general....

Have a great day all..

[Andy S]

That's the thing with it all, Duane - despite how it changed the way I saw sport forever I'm not sure I'd change anything about if because of some of the experiences it gave me, from the times we won our league after 9 months of sheer hard work and emotion to bizarre things like being in a bus being given a police escort through a town whose team we'd just beaten in a cup competition! It changed the way I saw the sport forever and gave me a unique insight, but I saw plenty of people who got the glimpse into the sport that they dreamed of and it horrified them. Many it scared off forever.

But you're right about the rewards. Just the other day a player I worked with well over a decade ago tracked me down on Facebook just to say hello and tell me how much fun it was working together back then. It made me feel incredibly humble that not only did he remember me but looked me up to tell me!

That's why I appreciated meeting all you guys the other night at NSS - I'll be honest and say that just hanging out with you all got me back into that feeling of being involved with a sport again that I've missed so much since I moved over here. Now if I can just persuade the wife that a stock car would be an ideal Xmas present...

[Jane]

Actually writing does take time and you have to train yourself to really watch the race and not get to involved and miss something. I have had several people tell me that they would like to write but they forget what they are doing when something happens and that does not work plus it takes time to write a race story. You can't just sit down and pound it out in 30 minutes like some people think. It doesn't work that way, it takes time to write a good race story and good notes but I really did enjoy your lowdown on Golden Isles. I really wanted to go but money stopped me but thanks for letting me use it on my dirt website. You do a good job Jerry.

Thanks again - Jane

[AB195]

Man Jerry Ray miller had 46 Cars? I know where all the UDLMCS cars have gone. GIS is a neat track to say the least. It is the best clay we raced on last year, UDLMCS. There is next to no dust and it packs good and the late Models get a good grip coming off the turns. Do they still have the little shelf along the out side to get up off the racing surface when you are having trouble? In an interview last year Frankie said his son-in-law came up with that idea. Pretty neat. I am glad you guys had fun. I just can't afford the travel any more. Thanks Bob...

Bob, that little shelf that you are referring to.....here is how it is now.
This Raceway started out years ago as a 5/8 miler, only to have a 4 foot high guardrail placed along the inside of the 5/8 miler throughout the turns and backstretch, thus becomming the outside wall, which then made it a 1/2 mile.
Now.....tadaaa....
Another stretch of 4 foot high guardrail 48' feet on the inside of that 1/2 miler, all the way around, including the cement frontstretch wall, now the outside retaining wall, has now made it a 4/10th miler, with dirt stacked above it evenly, only open in turn one for the exit/onramp area.

So, nobody is going onto that "shelf", unless they climb a guardrail wall. Hope that helps somewhat.