Post by bobsnyderphoto on Aug 20, 2009 2:18:22 GMT -5
For Immediate Release
West End Fair Nationals 5
Bob Snyder
Media Contact
bobsnyderphoto@enter.net
As the entry lists fill up and race teams make last minute preparations for the upcoming August 27 West End Fair Nationals the same scene was being played on on hot August nights half a century ago but things were very different.
Racecars were buiult and maintained in garages and barns in back of the house. The cars were built from scratch from junkyard parts instead of being bought in a box. The Fairs of yesteryear were the place to showcase the drivers and builders talents just as the West End Fair National will do today.
A winning and competitive racecar could be built for a couple hundred dollars as compared to the nearly $100,000 for a winning modified stock car today. Motors were basicly off the street with a few modifications and even by the late 60’s a professionally built big block Chevy still could be hard for about $5,000 a far cry from the $45,000 + plus price tag today. Big car racing has totally priced itself out of the picture for most people thus the growing trend to small car racing.
Scoring was done by hand while now the electronic transponder systems have taken over. Pit boards have been replaced byt in car radios and raceceivers.
Drivers wore open faced helmets and t-shirts while now they are wrapped in full face helmets and nomex clothing.
Probably some of the best technology is in the tires which evolved from the skinny hard rubber to the wider, low profile, multi compound tires of today.
A major change change from 50 years ago is in the cost. Ironicly the cars are not going that much faster then they did in the past compared to all the monrey that is being spent to go fast.
The most important change has been in the drivers. 50 years ago women were unheard of in the sport other then to present the tropheys in victory lane. Women were looked upon as a taboo and not even allowed in the pits until about 1970. That is when Nazareth Speedway promoter had a bright idea. Along with the drivers pit pass Jerrry always gave two ladies passes for the granstands. Jerrry decided to let women in the pits. What a brilliant idea as now Jerry no longer had to give out two free passes but in fact had the ladies buying pit passes. In a few years women were commonplace in the pits and were soon to become a force to be reckoned with on the racetrack. Now days, especialy in small car racing, women are every bit as competitive as their male counterparts.
One thing that has stayed the same is the competiton is fierce on the track and sometimes tempers do flare and spill over into the pits. Sometimes punches fly but a half hour later over a couple beers all is forgotten and everyone is back to being friends.
Thursday August 27 is less then a week away and the competition will be fierce under the lights at the West End Fair Nationals. The best Micro-Sprint, Stage One Modified, and Slingshot drivers in the sport will race to visit victory lane in this first ever event with the sights, sounds, and smells of the West End Fair as their background. Only 4 drivers will claim the laurels in victory lane but every driver that competes will be a winner in this history making event. The racers you see at West End will be the “Heros” you will be talking about in the future. Whether you are on the race track or in the grandstands this is the event of the 2009 racing you do not want to miss. See you at the West End Fair Nationals promoted by Borgers Speedway.
For further information and entry lists go to www.westendfairnationals.com
West End Fair Nationals 5
Bob Snyder
Media Contact
bobsnyderphoto@enter.net
As the entry lists fill up and race teams make last minute preparations for the upcoming August 27 West End Fair Nationals the same scene was being played on on hot August nights half a century ago but things were very different.
Racecars were buiult and maintained in garages and barns in back of the house. The cars were built from scratch from junkyard parts instead of being bought in a box. The Fairs of yesteryear were the place to showcase the drivers and builders talents just as the West End Fair National will do today.
A winning and competitive racecar could be built for a couple hundred dollars as compared to the nearly $100,000 for a winning modified stock car today. Motors were basicly off the street with a few modifications and even by the late 60’s a professionally built big block Chevy still could be hard for about $5,000 a far cry from the $45,000 + plus price tag today. Big car racing has totally priced itself out of the picture for most people thus the growing trend to small car racing.
Scoring was done by hand while now the electronic transponder systems have taken over. Pit boards have been replaced byt in car radios and raceceivers.
Drivers wore open faced helmets and t-shirts while now they are wrapped in full face helmets and nomex clothing.
Probably some of the best technology is in the tires which evolved from the skinny hard rubber to the wider, low profile, multi compound tires of today.
A major change change from 50 years ago is in the cost. Ironicly the cars are not going that much faster then they did in the past compared to all the monrey that is being spent to go fast.
The most important change has been in the drivers. 50 years ago women were unheard of in the sport other then to present the tropheys in victory lane. Women were looked upon as a taboo and not even allowed in the pits until about 1970. That is when Nazareth Speedway promoter had a bright idea. Along with the drivers pit pass Jerrry always gave two ladies passes for the granstands. Jerrry decided to let women in the pits. What a brilliant idea as now Jerry no longer had to give out two free passes but in fact had the ladies buying pit passes. In a few years women were commonplace in the pits and were soon to become a force to be reckoned with on the racetrack. Now days, especialy in small car racing, women are every bit as competitive as their male counterparts.
One thing that has stayed the same is the competiton is fierce on the track and sometimes tempers do flare and spill over into the pits. Sometimes punches fly but a half hour later over a couple beers all is forgotten and everyone is back to being friends.
Thursday August 27 is less then a week away and the competition will be fierce under the lights at the West End Fair Nationals. The best Micro-Sprint, Stage One Modified, and Slingshot drivers in the sport will race to visit victory lane in this first ever event with the sights, sounds, and smells of the West End Fair as their background. Only 4 drivers will claim the laurels in victory lane but every driver that competes will be a winner in this history making event. The racers you see at West End will be the “Heros” you will be talking about in the future. Whether you are on the race track or in the grandstands this is the event of the 2009 racing you do not want to miss. See you at the West End Fair Nationals promoted by Borgers Speedway.
For further information and entry lists go to www.westendfairnationals.com