[aXe]

Originally Posted by Joe Kidd I dare you to say Mike Hunt as fast as you can three times in a row. :action-smiley-049:

:censor:
LOL!!!!:checkered:

[Rex W.]

Mike Hunt Mike Hunt Mike Hunt............That wasn't so bad LOL

[petey]

Sorry the quality is not that great

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWiKmyzDJx8

[Pat O'Connor Fan]

Originally Posted by racefan20 You gotta be $h!ttin me!!!! Thats the dumbest statement I've heard on here in a long time.

I know I should keep my nose (and my keyboard) the hell out of this one, but I just had to agree with Hoover on this one. I had a response to dfish's "Jack Slash understands the ins and outs in ways that Tim Clauson never could and never will" all typed up yesterday, but resisted. I succumbed to temptation now.
Remember the old Samuel Johnson "Tis better to remain silent .................. " quote when you think about jumping on a guy like Tim who has "been there, done that".

Okay, folks...

First, one guy stated an opinion on his own website, and all of a sudden it is a flamewar with aspersions being cast and motives questioned here. What the hell is wrong with this forum that a man's opinion given somewhere else threatens someone to the degree that people start insulting each other?

For the record, I know Sean Buckley and Tim Clauson very well. Sean I've known for 10 years, Tim, for over 20. To compare the two in terms of knowledge and passion for the sport of sprint and midget racing is ludicrous. Both are die hard fans of our beloved past time, and both have a better understand of what is going on than most. While I do not agree with Sean completely here, he has a right to his opinion. I think the thing that stuck in his craw so much about the night was the $65 pit pass. That is a ridiculous amount of money to spend to get into the area where they work on the cars. Anyone who says otherwise is motivated by greed, or insanity. I've been saying it for the past couple years, that this race has become more like a Hollywood Premiere than an actual auto racing event.

Do I like the Turkey Night Grand Prix appearing on pavement? Not really. I would much rather see it run at Perris Auto Speedway or some reasonable facsimile. Alas, this race is too much of a money maker for it EVER to be moved. And make no mistake, people. The promoters and organizers of this event are all about that.

However, that all said, I wish to say how thoroughly pleased I was that Dave Darland won the 67th running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix. We teased him in victory lane that he had run them all, but the truth is, the guy has been trying to win this race for a very long time. When it moved to pavement permanently, the odds became longer, as we all know Dave is not exactly a pavement specialist. But Kelly Drake and the boys gave Dave the perfect race car, and he won the race going away. Good for Dave! It was a very popular victory by a very popular driver. I know I couldn't be happier for him.

As for the rest of the racing, I found the battle from 2nd to 5th to be very enjoyable all race long. Tim Clauson is right, the slide jobs and the cross overs between some of the best midget racers of the past decade were fantastic. There was only a short period of time before the first (and only) caution that things got spread out and no racing was to be found. But, once they bunched up and started going at it, it was a full on knock down, drag out war for 2nd - 5th. They went green flag over the final 58 laps and the action was constant! I really enjoyed that.

But, I digress...Bottom line is, I just don't understand why some people on this board are so threatened by the opinions of others. It's like this place is some sort of alternate universe or something, where common sense, and most importantly, common courtesy is thrown out the window anytime a debate starts. Why? We all love this sport. What are we fighting about?

And finally, I know for a fact that Sean Buckley would never say that he "knows the ins and outs" more than Tim Clauson ever could. Sean is a pretty humble guy, and doesn't think he is any better than anyone else. He just does what he does. These words should not be attributed to him in the slightest. Because, that's complete and utter nonsense. Both Sean and Tim have been positive contributors to this sport, more so than most. Each deserve a certain amount of courtesy and respect for their efforts. PERIOD.

DM - "That's all I have to say about that" - Tom Hanks, 'Forrest Gump'

[Chris Nunn]

Im inclined to agree with Buckley...what happened to the good old days of people racing because they want to...not just to step into a Sprint Car or Midget just for a year until Nascrap or some other asphalt series picks them up. I always thought Dirt was for racing? Or was I mislead somewhere.

[Eagle14]

I think we all have lost sight of one thing very very important regardless of opinions, thoughts, facts and rumors. Everyone wants to see sprint car racing achieve more. Kinda like when you send someone off to college, you want to see them achieve, but you still want to hold on to the kill switch.... just in case they stray. It is the exact concept in racing.... regardless of the sanctioning body, the promoter, or whoever else. Look how far this sport has came, and that has came at a cost to all, fans, teams, owners, EVERYONE. So...lets take a step back at reality for a second... regardless of who posts what and their views.... we are in a evolving sport....regardless if we like, it hate it, or need it. I respect everyones views on here who has something remotely intelligent to say... and the witty comments as well. Just step back... look and see what the sport is... what it was.... and then what it will be... because that is reality.... Thats all.

"Momma said them was my special shoes...they could take me anywhere." Forrect Gump

[Dwight Clock]

Originally Posted by Chris Nunn Im inclined to agree with Buckley...what happened to the good old days of people racing because they want to...not just to step into a Sprint Car or Midget just for a year until Nascrap or some other asphalt series picks them up. I always thought Dirt was for racing? Or was I mislead somewhere.

When people raced simply because they wanted to, Chris, they could invest a few hundred in a car and go racing. Now it is many thousands of dollars and you spend a weeks pay to compete one night between tires, fuel for both the hauler and race car, pit passes, etc. Not many want to do that. Also, I guarantee that if the NASCAR opportunities were available back then those drivers would have jumped just as fast. Why not? You're a millionaire within a couple of years even if you're a backmarker. Finally, while there are many more dirt ovals in this country (799 to 245 paved ovals as of the end of 2004 per Alan Brown's Speedway Directory) the fact that there are 245 paved ovals shows that many racers and fans enjoy that type of racing.

[Kirk Spridgeon]

Dean, I pretty much agree with everything you had to say. That's pretty entertaining in itself, at least for Mr. Clauson. haha

I will say that this topic was started by Buckley, so I can only conclude that he wanted a debate such as this one, of course without the flamings and jokes about a funny name.

Chris - why else would all these guys go to California on Thanksgiving other than wanting to race? That's why all those guys who were "picked up" return for that one. And I can tell you that guys like Kahne, Clauson, Wise, and Santos will keep running it until they win it. It's that kind of race. Actually, the funny part I've always found about those who get "picked up" and actually make it are the ones who would have been more than happy racing sprint cars and midgets forever. So pardon them for doing just that, even if it brings a few people into the stands that may not be the most seasoned or knowledgeable...

[Chris Nunn]

As someone that was part of a family that scraped the bottom of the barrel for sponsorship dollars and almost couldnt eat because we had to race...I tend to lean towards the weekend racer rather than the racer that wants to just race for a couple of years and then leave the sport to go to Nascar...I just hate pavement that much..sorry. And I did feel sorry for the Shumans, and the Gardners that didnt get to race in a race that they should have been in. Is it their fault that they prefer dirt over pavement. Im bowing out of this debate, I dont have near enough experience in this field to warrant a good argument.