The World of Sprint Car Racing

My late husband was a sprint car owner for a local driver, Bud Cochran, who won many trophies and they took the car to many races around the country. He was also friends with the late Lou Blaney, who was from our area also. Ralph Quarterson was often hanging out with the guys.

We had a couple local tracks (Tri-City Speedway, Sharon Speedway, Williams Grove, Selinsgrove, Mercer Speedway, etc., etc.) close by so we went all the time. So much fun. I can still remember the smell of ethanol and who could forget going home covered in dust and dirt...haha.
 
Colleen said:
My late husband was a sprint car owner for a local driver, Bud Cochran, who won many trophies and they took the car to many races around the country. He was also friends with the late Lou Blaney, who was from our area also. Ralph Quarterson was often hanging out with the guys.

We had a couple local tracks (Tri-City Speedway, Sharon Speedway, Williams Grove, Selinsgrove, Mercer Speedway, etc., etc.) close by so we went all the time. So much fun. I can still remember the smell of ethanol and who could forget going home covered in dust and dirt...haha.
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Yea - - Not the "cleanest" form of racing. That must be Tri-City in Franklin ? If so, while running with URC we had a Sat. night show there and managed to crash. losing most of the front suspension and our wing. We had a race the following day at Sharon and with our spare wing, axle, and a few borrowed parts from other crews, managed to be ready. If my memory hasn't failed me (this was back in the late eighties) there was a single tree in the parking lot at Sharon. We re-assembled our cat with the help of another crew and made it into the show. Lucky that we had the help as there was only our owner-driver, myself and my 20 year old son that day.

My one and only trip to either of these tracks,
 
DaveA said:
Yea - - Not the "cleanest" form of racing. That must be Tri-City in Franklin ? If so, while running with URC we had a Sat. night show there and managed to crash. losing most of the front suspension and our wing. We had a race the following day at Sharon and with our spare wing, axle, and a few borrowed parts from other crews, managed to be ready. If my memory hasn't failed me (this was back in the late eighties) there was a single tree in the parking lot at Sharon. We re-assembled our cat with the help of another crew and made it into the show. Lucky that we had the help as there was only our owner-driver, myself and my 20 year old son that day.

My one and only trip to either of these tracks,
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Yes, Tri-City was Franklin. We were probably at those races you were at back in the 80's :) Saw a couple drivers go over the bank at Tri-City. Eldora was another track. Been racking my brain to think of some of the others....haha :). Back then, I worked for Quaker State Oil Refining Corp.'s office and Steve Kinser was sponsored by QS. He brought his car to QS and my son, who was 12 or 13 at the time, got his picture taken with Steve and his car. Wow...that was at long time ago!
 
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Colleen said:
Yes, Tri-City was Franklin. We were probably at those races you were at back in the 80's :) Saw a couple drivers go over the bank at Tri-City. Eldora was another track. Been racking my brain to think of some of the others....haha :). Back then, I worked for Quaker State Oil Refining Corp.'s office and Steve Kinser was sponsored by QS. He brought his car to QS and my son, who was 12 or 13 at the time, got his picture taken with Steve and his car. Wow...that was at long time ago!
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My very good friend Gary Elliott has now been sponsored by Quaker State Oils for 50 straight seasons, here in Canada. At age 77 he is still racing a full 23 night series with the Maritime Pro Stock late models, based out of Truro , Nova Scotia. I don't think any other driver, in any type of motor racing can match that record for sponsorship longevity by one company.

Here is a link to Gary Elliott Motorsports website. Gary Elliott Motorsports

During his career he has raced at 47 different tracks, and his current "has never missed a race " record is 878 nights. At one time, he was racing 2 different cars in 2 different series, sometimes racing both cars at the same track on the same day. One Modified, and one All Pro Late Model. He has earned the nick name " The Iron Man " by his dedication to racing. In 2022, he was inducted into the Canadian Motor Sports Hall Of Fame as a life member. Jimb.
 
jimintoronto said:
My very good friend Gary Elliott has now been sponsored by Quaker State Oils for 50 straight seasons, here in Canada. At age 77 he is still racing a full 23 night series with the Maritime Pro Stock late models, based out of Truro , Nova Scotia. I don't think any other driver, in any type of motor racing can match that record for sponsorship longevity by one company.

Here is a link to Gary Elliott Motorsports website. Gary Elliott Motorsports

During his career he has raced at 47 different tracks, and his current "has never missed a race " record is 878 nights. At one time, he was racing 2 different cars in 2 different series, sometimes racing both cars at the same track on the same day. One Modified, and one All Pro Late Model. He has earned the nick name " The Iron Man " by his dedication to racing. In 2022, he was inducted into the Canadian Motor Sports Hall Of Fame as a life member. Jimb.
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Much respect for that man. (y) 🏁
We know how grinding that kind of schedule can be because for a couple of summers, we ran 4 times a week with myself, wife driving and 2 helpers. (the wonder team).
Thursday night, 1/4 high banked pave track.
Friday night, ran 2 divisions on 1/4 mile flat dirt track.
Saturday night 1/3 mile semi banked pave track.
Sunday afternoons... ran 2 divisions again Either 1/3 mile flat dirt (built on a landfill) or 1/2 mile flat dirt track.
We did this while maintaining the race cars, hot rods, and everyday vehicles. Funny... we were considered poor by others, yet, never felt that way. :)
However... this didn't even compare to the insane 1973 Nascar north series that was 5 nights 😱 and included a trip across the border to race in Canada.
By 1976, the schedule dropped back to 4 times a week, but, now included 2 trips to Canada.



transam & race cars.jpg 5 nights.jpg nn1976_1-004.jpg
 

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