Name that driver...

openwheelracer · Admin/Mod/Eyewitness

Name that driver...

Date: Tue Jan 25 18:41:21 2005

i can't tell who that is...i think it's against the rules for me to vote....i even know what track is was at....that's the day i ran across the track with the 'javaline' over my head!!!!!!!!!! damn those barrowed parts!!!!! it would have been a SPECTACULAR VICORY!!!!!!!!!!!!

M.O.T.

rowe24 · Full Fender Bender! BGNN/PASS/ACT Moderator

I know.............But I'am not saying yet!

openwheelracer · Admin/Mod/Eyewitness

Now, now M.O.T, your right that would be cheating. I still havent decided what was more fun, the racing, or the camping. Which included watching the driver in question, ride a shopping cart across a finish line that was lit on fire.

Date: Tue Jan 25 22:54:55 2005

The shopping cart racing was great. But the best part of the weekend was watching those N.Y. boys try to figure out how that 34 car was so fast on the outside.

rowe24 · Full Fender Bender! BGNN/PASS/ACT Moderator

That would have to be Mr. and Mrs. little bundle of joy Tucker Jr. Sure looks like the fence from Oswego and my guess is that it is the Race Of Champions!

bratmaster · Administrator

Since the openwheelracer has already headed out for a long day of "bringing home the bacon", I will only say that yes, you have answered this question. I know that he wanted to personally share some thoughts on this race, but I didn't want you to wonder if you had it right, FFB!

Please indulge me anyway, I can't help it! This race, The Oswego Speedway, Race of Champions 2001 had to be one of my favorite racing experiences in, aahhh, my 29+ years....yeah right!

I had the opportunity to share this day with the team and knew for a fact that it was going to be Tucker and Zane Zeiner side by side for the checker. The exhiliration in fact, did not dissappear with the outcome. Although dissappointed, we all knew that Tucker ran his heart out (as always), and his passion for racing, and ability to adapt to a virtually "unseen" track did not go unnoticed. In fact we had about 100 local Oswego fans in our section begging us to have Tucker return the following year. It was an unexpected mechanical failure that kept him from the win.

We had lots of fans, family, and I think maybe even the driver himself stop by for a quick comment in this thread. Only shows ya' how much your presence on the asphalt is missed there Tuck!

I know there were lots of you that attended this race, and I would love to keep this thread going so that we can share the memories!

Wooopah!

openwheelracer · Admin/Mod/Eyewitness

Yes, it was quite the journey up to, and back from "wego". The "Brat" still has flashbacks about the fog on the Mass pike. There is just something about walking across Jim Shampine drive and through the frontstretch gate to go into the infield at the "Steel Palace" that just gives you the "willies" no matter how many times you have been there. The OL "34" and driver were really workin that day, after starting 27th and making a pass for 3rd with 15 laps still to go, a couple $$ part gave up the ghost and it was not to be. As mentioned in a previous post the camping was a blast, the racing was awesome, and of course no trip to Oswego is complete with out a visit to the "FIRST TURN INN". There is (scary enough) more to the story, as the team continued on from Oswego over to Lee for the Octoberfest. The openwheeler had to bow out from that part of the trip ( never bring your "brat" with you if your goin racin) so Rmf, or anyone else who continued on, and wants to share some of there "memories" go right ahead and do so.

real modified fan · "Flashback"

Since I was a part of this Oswego weekend, I guess I can share a little bit about the trip across country from "Wego" to Lee. As Wheeler has shared with us, it was an eventful weekend. Once the race was over and we finished licking our wounds we spent an hour or two going over wouldas, couldas and shouldas. Tuck went over to the payout window and collected his small share of the purse that day, even though we "shoulda" been collecting the winner's share. So we loaded up the car and the trailer and got the wagon train on the road. We estimated we had an eight hour ride to Lee. It actually turned into a fourteen hour drive - up and down the mountains, sometimes the same mountain two or three times. We made a few pit stops along the way to feed the horses and the riders. When we finally realized we were going in the wrong direction, we stopped at a gas station and begged for directions. We all learned one valuable thing from this "cross country" trip, DON'T ever let a man by the name of "EGGS" be your point man with a road map. After getting directions at the station, "Eggs" was demoted and had to ride in the back of the wagon train. He was not allowed to lead the wagons any more, or to have any input on travel direction. From that point on we made good time and arrived at Lee with time to spare. It was a cold rainy day, we stood around for a few hours (as track promoters always make you do), only to learn that the race would be postponed. All in all it was a good weekend. We had a lot of fun. I call it the weekend of "Wouldas, Couldas and Shouldas". RMF

WhelenModifiedTour · WMT Moderator

Well , Well . I have been hearing about this post for quite some time now . FINALLY I get to respond .

My first memory of the weekend would be a STUPID one . After spotting "Homebase" ( the camper ) I decided my car could just drive straight there . Here is a hint - Never take a 1987 Trans-Am four wheeling . With a few shoves I finally reached my destination . After hearing of the # 34's dominance in practice I was beginning to feel the confindence the entire team was experiencing .We talked racing over a few Budweisers and decided it was time to visit the First Turn .

Now incase you have never been to Oswego Speedway the First Turn is a bar located on the track property ( what a country ) . A note to the owners - Perhaps the National Anthem should not be in a jukebox when we come to town . I lost track of how many times we played it . I would guess it was pretty close to the number of shots we had . Needless to say we closed the bar . Although I do not remeber alot more than that from the bar , I do remember that Tour driver Tony Ferrante was there .

From the First Turn it was back to the campground . We loaded our pockets with beers at homebase and decided to go wandering. Believe me we gave a whole new definition to stagger .Again if you have never been to Oswego, that track is located atop a VERY long hill .Add a few wagons and shopping carts and you have some very interesting racing .Needless to say the pilot of car #34 could not pass up the chance to compete in another "division".

One thing that is just a little different about shopping carts and modifieds is YOU CAN NOT STEER . And here they light the finish line on fire . I don't really remeber Driver 34's finishes, but I do remember it was a BLAST.

Sometime after that most of the team headed off for some R&R at homebase. But those who know me know I am a late nighter . Driver 34 and I decided to make a few more rounds . We spent some time with a few members of another team trying to empty their cooler .Some time around here I was almost kidnapped by a couple campground cuties ( well I was drunk ) . Somehow I decided it was better to stay at the track and declined the offer . Now that is DEDICATION ( or stupidity).

Race day and we are PUMPED UP . I do not recall exactly what happened but we got wrecked in heat race . We had to run the consi and made the race through it . We started WAY in the back for the feature . Now I was not there for practice so I did not know just how fast we were , boy did I learn quick .Honestly you would have thought the 34 and the car of Zane Zeiner were running nitrous . Those two made a charge that is undescribable.Honestly at times passing 3 cars or more at once .It was UNBELIVEABLE. Driver 34 was around 4th place with several laps to go . We began to dream of victory lane and started tasting champagne .

Well anyone that has ever been involved in this sport knows this - it aint over till the checkered flag drops . Suddenlly there was a wreck , the break we wanted to really have a shot at the win .When I saw the car go by 100% intact I was relieved . Then it all came crashing down . With no headset on i was unware the car was running but would go nowhere.The throttle linkage had boken , game over . Heartbroken we talked about what could have been and went to work .

We were not done yet . The next day we were to race at Lee USA Speedway . By virtue of being a past champion we had a guaranteed starting spot for the Oktoberfest race . We changed rears and shocks on the car and got it set-up. You should have seen the look on those NY boys faces . They had no clue what we were doing , they thought we were running the Tour Mod race also. We finished up fast enough to find seats in the stands and watch the Race of Champions . Now someone made a point about fans . Trust me driver 34 was as popular as ANY driver in those stands , he definitely made alot of fans with is performance.

Race over and we are off to New Hampshire and the Lee Usa Speedway . Now this is where I have some problems . You see I happen to know the infamous "Eggs" who messed up the trip . You see what "Eggs" did not realize is that we were looking for Rt.7 Vermont , and followed Rt.7 New York . It was a mistake any slightly hungover race chaser would make .Anyway we got directions and found our way to the track. We arrived to a cold damp racetrack , but still had hope of racing that day . Unfortunately the weather never co-operated an the event was cancelled . It was a long trip for nothing . Although we did get to see some show off kid crash a nice BMW into the fronstretch wall .Way to go hotshoes.

All in all the weekend was a great trip. We experienced the highs and lows of racing , the carnival like atmosphere of the campground , and made some new fans in the process .

I am still waiting untill Driver 34 cleans the moth balls off the car and we give it one more shot at Oswego . That place owes all that made the trip that weekend a TROPHY and some champange . So Driver 34 if you hear about this or read this .

CLEAN 'ER UP AND LETS GO RACING .

-- Edited by WhelenModifiedTour at 20:17, 2005-06-15

-- Edited by WhelenModifiedTour at 20:18, 2005-06-15