[rebspeedway]

I wanted to touch base with everyone to find out something. Since the track held it's first race in 1956, was there ever a driver that completely dominated over the years with multiple championships?
Reason I ask,...I've been working on a second book since last summer which will be entitled "America's Short Track Hotshots."

I am asking all the short tracks in each state, to submit a name to me. Whichever names come at me the most, I'll reasearch that drivers career, and announce at a later date which driver(s) I'll be painting for your state.

Thanks,
Mark

[lansingsportsrage.com]

Gary Fedewa

[sorrowtim]

Butch Fedawa
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nastyboi

[sorrowtim]

Jim Aldridge
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nastyboi

[sorrowtim]

Steve Utly (sp?) won multiple fig8 titles at spartan
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nastyboi

[sorrowtim]

Did the Flyin Farmer ever win titles at spartan? I know he was a good driver and very popular at multiple michigan tracks. up until a couple years ago, he was still runnin a modified at Owosso. Baby Blue #97
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nastyboi

[rebspeedway]

Folks, This is what I love reading. We can't forget about the history of the short tracks. Keep thinking back. Since Spartan opened her gates in 1956, I'm looking for anyone that has access to some old pics from those days. Short track (especially dirt track) racing is a sport that is purely artistic, and that's why I love painting it as it happened. What turn sets the sun in the evenings at Spartan? At Sumter, it was turns 1 and 2. Moon came up over turn 3. Lots of wrecks over 3. I remember in the 70's. watching the late model '55 and '57 Chevy's soaring off the turn into the black jack oak and pine trees there!

Want to visit Spartan!

Retired Navy. Have a friend named Matt Newcomb in Flynt. Anyone know him?

Mark "Oz" Osborne

[sorrowtim]

Mark,
Please check out the Michigan Winter Water Wonderland site. Every track in the state (closed or open) is listed along with a short history and comment board. I spend hours on this site. I mostly love ghost tracks. Jackson motor speedway is my fav. It was a half mile dirt track until they paved it and turned it into a 3/8 mile in 1956. I actually went to see the track a couple years ago. A man named Bill Tripp owns the property and permission is required to walk the grounds. As I made my way into the entance area to the track, there was nothing but trees and overgrown weeds. Then i came to a clearing in the trees and there it was. The track was still there and it looked so majestic with its big sweeping high banked turns. It was still in pretty good shape considering that the track has been closed since 1979. There are trees growing everywhere, but most of the asphalt remains. i have pictures of the track in its present state, and i have a couple from the early seventies of Dave Mulder in his Baby Blue #97 Chevelle with a checkerd flag in a heat race, and an Austrailian Persuit Race. I also have one of him in side by side action with Edd Todd and Dutch Tailor. Another neat fact about the track is Jackson Motor Speedway is where Harry Melling got his start by sponsering cars. I believe he sponsered some at Kalamazoo too. Anyway, He ended up in Nascar Teamed up with Bill Elliot and his #9 Thunderbird. They spent the next few years just rippin racin apart with all their success. Michigan has produced some of the finest, most talented drivers anywhere, and I urge you to dig as deep as you can into the history and honor every great driver(not just a few.) And most importantly, remember and honer the great dirt and paved battlegrounds where these men were able to shine and become heros. LOL... you got me goin so its your fault im so long winded. Anyway, my name is Tim Sorrow and I am a driver at Spartan Speedway. I may be able to get you some good pics so you can email me at sorrowtim@yahoo.com. also be sure to check out that site i mentioned. Take care. TIM
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nastyboi

[sorrowtim]

Also Mark,
you should get ahold of
dick Decker at the Michigan Motorsports Hall Of Fame. He has or can get any pic you want. Ive spent hours talking to this man and he is a walking history book. Very sweet old man too.
Also, the sun sets in turn 2 at Spartan and it is a big pain in the but sometimes. LOL!
Happy hunting brutha!
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nastyboi

[Mod88]

Mickey Katlin, Nelson Ward from back in the super mod days.
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Bill

[schinde]

Don't forget "Little" Richard Simmons, from the straight six days.

have a good day,

schinde
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Short track racing is more fun than a human being ought to be allowed to have!

[rebspeedway]

To Tim, Bill and Schinde, I can't thank you enough for opening a path for my research. My ultimate plan is to paint as many as two to three drivers from each of the fifty states across America. I realize there are SO many more that would deserve to be painted, but I can only do so many. It took me two and a half years to paint the 115 for my Rebel Speedway book, so this could take a good while too. I will however, mention each states top fifty drivers, from fan polling.

So, fans, drivers and you historians, please keep this thread going and shout out some more names. Remember, I'm looking for drivers that set the state on fire.

Thanks for all your help, Spartan Speedway!!

Mark

[Big Ed]

Joy Fair

I do not know the exact numbers, but he went over a season without a loss in the feature, maybe two. The school bus yellow #1 Dearborn Crankshaft machine definetly dominated Spartan back in the day. I believe on Joy's website it tells of the run he had at Spartan.

Big Ed

[KT]

I can tell you that Bill Massuch, Phil Massuch's dad, won 3 different championships in one year at Spartan with the same car. I don't remember the year but I saw the newspaper clipping of it. Jim Aldrich dominated back in the early 80's. Doug Finley hasn't done to bad. For that matter his brother Jeff Finley has won a few championships.

If you choosing two or three from each state then I would have to nominate Joy Fair, Freddy Campbell and Bob Senneker (man picking three is hard).
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Keith

www.myspace.com/ktfor3

[sweeper]

My uncle, Art Babcock went end over end down the backstretch in 1964. I have pictures when it was all over with. All he did was hurt his back.


sweeper