Thought I'd share the R & R experience with everyone.



Howdy Racefans!!!!

Racin & Rockin IV is now in the history books, and we can pleasantly say, again, that it was a huge success!!! What a night!!! There is no way I can mention every single person that helped make it a success, because so many people work so hard to make it run as smoothly as it does. It is a group effort, fans, drivers, staff, crew members, sponsors, everyone has a hand in it. It is selfless actions, and a drive to accomplish this common good for our sport, that motivates all these people to do this. And then to be able to stand back, and watch it all come together, like the well oiled machine that it is, is easily one of my favorite moments of the racing season. I thank everyone involved!!!

I can't give every detail of the night, but I would like to at least share some of the moments that still stick out in my mind this Monday morning.

The smell of cooking pig coming from the pit area. The wind was out of the West, and sitting in the grandstands, about feature time, everyone could smell it!! So yummy!!!!

The final feature of the night saw 24 Mods take the track. The sound of that many awesome machines lighting up the Springport night was a sight to behold. The side by side racing throughout the field in the feature is something no fan there will soon forget.

The look on Chad Decker's face as he was exiting his car in victory lane after winning his first ever feature event in his rookie season!!!! His two young children running over to him on the track and jumping into his arms, as they just watched their Dad win his first feature!! The emotion that flowed from this gentleman as he thanked the crowd, hugged his kids (and me too!!), and showed the honest respect he had for this event, his new fans that cheered him, and local short track racing as a whole. What a class act he was on this night, and every night. Great job Chad, the long drive there was worth it in the end, wasn't it???

Rowdy Edson Rowley stinking up the Pony portion of the show!!! Man is that guy good!!! 13 feature wins at both tracks this season, leading the points at both also. After staying up all night to repair it from Friday, I think he got it right!!!

The tug-o-war contest at the start of night was a great way for me to let out a lot of one liners I had been saving up, plus a lot of fun for the fans to watch the drivers try and PULL through TIGHT conditions.!!!! Last one, sorry!!.

Standing on the stage handing out all the contingency awards. So, so many of them. This is one of the things that makes this event so special. From the smallest, to the largest, it doesn't matter. Everyone loves to hear their name called, and make their way to the stage.

The trophies. Jan Hunyady, Dan Loughan, and Master Blaster have done it again. Every year they make these unique trophies that are unlike anything else you have ever seen. No matter how much money you may win, you will NEVER, EVER receive a better trophy, than you do when you win a Racin & Rockin Feature. Don't believe me?? Go ask anyone that has one, I know I'm right!!! Just take a look at the faces of Edson Rowley, Jack Koone Jr., Chad Decker, and Leroy Ellis as they stand there with them in their hands!!! Too cool.

Matt Schindewolf and the Basement Dawgs kicking out the tunes all night long. Man, they are good!!! Lots of people dancing, eating, bench racing, reviewing the night, eating jello shots, hanging out making new friends. This is always one of my favorite times. Once I'm done with the contingency awards, I go out with the crowd, sit down in my lawn chair with my wife, and everyone else gathers round and the party begins. Jason Parish, Ronnie Jr (he had a buzz!!), Dennis O'Neil, the Pastorino's (Stud), Davenport's, Andy "Floppy" Sands, The Govnah, wives of the Dawgs, Chad and his kids, and everyone else that shared a story, a drink, some food, and a great time, I'll never forget cha!!!

Two bummers. The crowd count, and the Big One. I'd love to see more people in the grandstands for this event, but it wasn't real bad, definitely over our regular Saturday average. The huge wreck on lap 1 of the Pure Stock feature was very scary. We seen the undercarriage of the #63 driven by Jeremy Lutz. Absolutely destroyed his car, and took out fast qualifier Spencer Drake. The #103 was pretty bad too. And feature winner Chad Decker probably should of been in the middle of this, but made an outstanding move to stay out of it, and ended up in victory lane.

Finally, the kids. Jan Hunyady made up 3 packages to give away to 3 very lucky kids. This package included a new basketball, a MP3 player, a McDonalds gift card, candy galore, a Springport t-shirt, 5 bucks for food at the concessions, and, best of all, a trophy, just like the fast qualifiers. That said #1 fan, Racin & Rockin, and the date. This trophy was once an actual piston, kind of heavy, and ohhh so cool. I wish I had the talent to share with you the expression on all 3 of these kids face when I got to give this package to them!!!! I get a little emotional just remembering it folks. To me, THIS is what events like this is all about. I will never forget how cool these kids thought winning this package was. Jan, YOU are awesome!!! Thank you for allowing me to be the guy to give those away.

That's the word from The "IN" Crowd!!!!

Indeed it was worth the drive. Oh yeah Hey Dick Im in the in crowd now!

Big Ed:

I wasn't sure where to post this so..I'm posting it under your column

I just wanted to say it was awesome to see all those Modifies out on the track...I was sooooooo glad to have transponders...and all the other classes on the track was just as awesome too. I did want to say thank you for introducing me to the wonderful Jan (Dynochick) (can't remember how to spell the last name ) but it was a great pleasure to finally meet her. I just wish I could of spent more time chatting but we were busy up in the tower.

I also would like to say thank you to everyone who participated in making this event happen...

As far as the Pure stock feature race goes...OMG...couldn't believe it...Jeremy Lutz hit the wall (just past the flagstand) so hard that the track guys were picking up pieces of concrete...honestly...he broke some of the wall because of hitting so hard. I was glad to see he was walking around afterwards. The other 2 cars looked pretty bad as well but the drivers again also were walking around afterwards...

Well, that's about it from me...thanks for a wonderful night to all the fans that did show up...the fans that didn't show up "it's your loss"

Take care all,

Caroline
Scorer
Spartan/Springport Motor Speedway

cograt chad...your getting the car dialed right in.....keep it up bud

I'm thinking that Big Ed just about has the night covered in his article here, it was indeed a great time.

The many that come together to help put this event on are truly special, and show it in their efforts and their work prior to, and the night of, Racin' and Rockin'.

And, so much behind the scenes needs to occur to make this come off like it does. Hours of effort by so many to create the trophies, to develop the contingency awards, to prepare the food and get it ready to be served, to create the venue itself to put the event on. To keep the records of the what's and where's and who's of the contingency awards is an undertaking in and of itself.

If I try to list everyone's names here that helped put this event on, I will fail miserably and miss someone, but I will at least try.

Dan and Deb Loughan
Big Ed and Linda Inloes
Rhiannon Schindewolf DeShais and her hubby Matthew DeShais
Mary Schindewolf
Jill Ott
Jan Hunyady
Judy Lemon and D&L Concrete
Dave and Dora Howe
Jim Barker
Doug and Caroline Allen
Jim Leasure
Don Dettinger
Chad Decker
Angelwhisperer (Sarah)
Perry and Shawn Davenport
Brian and Kim Roes and Top Notch Driving Academy
Wayne and Jennifer Haughton and Performance Vinyl
Bob Cantine
Paul Warner
Andy Smith
Brian Barden
the rest of the Dawgs
.........and so many, many more, I said I would fail miserably, and know I have forgotten some, my notes are at home, I am in my office and probably should wait, but I just feel the need to get the thanks out there.

I am just now starting to "get back on my feet" again, and starting to work on some other things I have had to sideline for a little while, one of the major things being my car, I'll hopefully be back on the track this Friday. (I'm seriously jone'sing to get back behind the wheel).

Dissection of this event will be occuring over the next few days as I re-think all phases of it, but more than anything else,

I sincerely hope all enjoyed this night of racing, and had some fun afterwards. If that was the end result, it was all worth it.

have a good day,

schinde