[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by TroubleTurnThree

I've been to Loudon, yes. Last year was the first time, actually; we sat way up in turn three next to the biggest Ryan Newman fan I've ever met. I'm torn about going this September. I would love to, but the traffic (as you know much better then me) is so horrendous...we went maybe 200 yards in two hours, argh!

You think the traffic is bad now, you should have seen it after the first Indy race. I thought I was going to have a panic attack. Small-town Loudon just wasn't equipped for the traffic.

The trick for Cup is to get there early ... and I mean early. I used to be in the stands by 7:00 a.m. Gave me plenty of time to shop for souvenirs before the crowds came in. I also had pit passes the last two times I went, so that was a fun place to be to kill time. The other trick is never, ever park on the grounds. Going North, if you go past the forced right onto grounds, there are parking areas on the left. I had a pass, but if you get there early enough, they'll let you in. It'll cost $20-30, but it's well worth it. The lot I parked in still sends me a pass. If they do it for September, I'll mail it to you.

Originally Posted by TroubleTurnThree

Have you ever been to Whip City Speedway in Westfield, MA? I finally have a Saturday off (next Saturday) and am thinking about going. I used to go to Riverside Park Speedway and Stafford Springs; have great memories of those tracks.

Don't recall Whip City, but I have fond memories of Riverside and Stafford. The guy I was dating at the time worked on a Modified Team. I was at Riverside just about every Saturday night. Of course, that was quite a few years ago. Back in the days of Jeff Fuller, Reggie Regerio. Steve Park actually drove our Modified for one season before he went to Cup. I think they had heat races, Street Stocks, and Modifieds. I had a ball and miss it. We only won one race, but that's more than some drivers can say!

Now THAT was in it for the show!

Talk about rambling ...

[TroubleTurnThree]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Don't recall Whip City, but I have fond memories of Riverside and Stafford. The guy I was dating at the time worked on a Modified Team. I was at Riverside just about every Saturday night. Of course, that was quite a few years ago. Back in the days of Jeff Fuller, Reggie Regerio. Steve Park actually drove our Modified for one season before he went to Cup. I think they had heat races, Street Stocks, and Modifieds. I had a ball and miss it. We only won one race, but that's more than some drivers can say!

Oh what fond memories you must have! That is exciting. The closest I ever got to any of those guys was getting Bob Polverari's autograph at Stafford. I remember those drivers, though; plus Mike Stefanik, poor Ritchie Evans, Jeff Bodine (was it Jeff who raced at Riverside?)

I remember the guy in the stands who wouldn't stand up for the National Anthem, and the insults that were hurled at him every Saturday. Don't know why I remember that, it just stands out vividly.

And I remember the first time I went to Six Flags and was near the river and realized I was standing where the track used to be. My heart broke.

It's amazing the hold that track has on my childhood memories...

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by TroubleTurnThree

Oh what fond memories you must have! That is exciting. The closest I ever got to any of those guys was getting Bob Polverari's autograph at Stafford. I remember those drivers, though; plus Mike Stefanik, poor Ritchie Evans, Jeff Bodine (was it Jeff who raced at Riverside?)

Oh, yes Stefanik ... remember him well. Ritchie Evans was killed just before I started going to the races. Those were the good ol' days. Real racing, no hype, drivers were approachable. We'd all gather at the bar/restaurant afterwards. Most were down-home folks, but some thought of themselves as super-stars. I can't for the life of me remember who drove our Modified before Steve Park came on board.