Back in the saddle, looking at Springfield Raceway and Lee County's Shiverfest

It has been too long and I apologize. The combination of a vacation, large class size where I’m teaching this term, and, seemingly being gone more than I’m home has kept me away from writing. Perhaps it was too long of a vacation, but whatever the case, in the words of Gregg Allman, it’s time to “pull myself together, put on a new face, climb down off the hilltop, get back in the race.”

Four wide - On the opening lap of the fourth late model heat race John Beck (28B), Eric Turner (99T), Rylan Long (18) and Brad Looney (23) took things four-wide at Springfield. - BWJ photo

Two weekends ago I had one of my favorite racing weekends of the season with a trip to Springfield Raceway in Missouri. If you have read Jeff and Tapfan’s works, you are up to date on the action there, and on Jeff’s blog, you have even seen a few of pictures I snapped while at Springfield. I’m going to share a few more thoughts with you and some more pictures as well.
My first-ever trip to Springfield was back in March, and it was that trip that kicked-off this blog. Unfortunately rain moved in and we did not see any features that weekend. Returning in October, the weather was perfect, in the 60s and dry. Once again we were treated with great hospitality and I felt truly welcomed in my return to the track. Thanks to the staff at Springfield for making that happen.

Cool car -If watching this car motor around the track doesn't take some of you back a few years, I don't know what would. Bob Maggard, Sr. wheeled this bomber to a heat race victory and finished fifth in the feature at Springfield. - BWJ photo

A new leader, early - Bill Frye (66) wrestled the lead from Terry Phillips (75) early in the late model main event, but Phillips would come on strong and pull away for the win. - BWJ photo

Being a fall race, it was nice to see that they kept the show moving as well as possible. A couple of wrecks took some extra time to clean, and some drivers weren’t crazy about getting in line the speediest way possible, but overall, I thought the show moved well, ending by 9 p.m., and before the cold night air rolled in.
I came away enjoying the track’s small but mighty wrecker fleet. The primary car movers were two Chevy pick-ups with towing booms mounted in the back. When they would hook up to a car, it would look as if the weight was going to tip them onto their back bumper, but they would motor off with race car in tow no problem, The operators of these trucks were very efficient, on the scene quickly, and had the cars removed fast barring any entanglements or tricky pile-ups. I know of a few places where these trucks would be welcome on a weekly basis as they did a good job.
I really enjoy shooting at Springfield. Protected by light poles and concrete, you can work close to the track and get some nice shots. That is good, because when the racing is as good as it was on this trip, it is nice to have a good view of it. Cars were two, three and even four wide for most of the night – fun to watch for photographers and fans alike. The track stayed racy for the most part, even as the rubber built up. I’ve been there twice and can’t wait to get there a third time as I think the place puts on a good show. Unfortunately I can’t make the Turkey Classic on November 28, but you might be able to. Late models for $2,000-to-win, modifieds for $1,000-to-win plus sport mods and legends will make for a good show. If the place were three or four hours closer, I might get there a little more often, but I can’t wait for their 2010 schedule to come put so I can plan for a trip next year. Give them a try!
That same weekend, I hit Shiverfest in Donnellson on Sunday afternoon. Again, with temps in the 60s things looked promising, but a mess of rain seemed to follow us up from Missouri and set in on the Lee County Speedway as the B mains were taking place. A solid field of over 140 cars was making for a good show, but it wasn’t to be as the elements weren’t going to cooperate. That’s too bad as Shiverfest has become a tradition for several fans and drivers and to not be able to end the year with it doesn’t quite seem right. Still, there were some fast and furious heat races, and the Trick-or-Treating was solid, so all was not lost on this Sunday afternoon.
I can’t recall an October where the weather has messed up so much of the race schedule. We lost a lot of good shows this fall due to the lousy weather. It seems that once the Late Model Nationals tried to start at Knoxville, the rain cranked up and never let anyone get an edge on completing a regularly-scheduled program. That’s too bad as some of our fall shows in this area are some of the best of the year. Let’s hope 2010 is a little drier.