Is the grass greener on the other side of the fence......

Is the grass greener on the other side of the fence???
Race fans, drivers, car owners and interested parties, I pose this question to you.
Since, the Whitecaps took over the lease at Berlin Raceway(they did not "buy" the racetrack), the criticism, negativity and constant bitching has rained down on the recent management.
And yes, I too have been disappointed with some decisions.
However, I take that up with management.
Not behind a fictitious name on a message board.
When I post, I leave my name.
When I send an email, I leave my name.
But I also, have complimented them on some decisions and the improvements that have been made.
I am a passionate race fan, like so many of you.
I watch it.
I read about it.
I study it.
I talk about it.
I too care about it.
I am not here to take sides on any "issue" regarding Berlin Raceway, past or present.
I only ask, you ask your self................
Is the grass really greener on the other side of the fence?
I relate my recent experience.
This past Tuesday, myself and another race fan traveled 5 hours to watch a mid week special late model race.
Exhibit A
Pit passes:
Non-team members $75
Late models $55
Limited late models $50
Sportsman $50
Berlin is $25, team member or not
The Boyne is $35, and a 3 day is $75
Exhibit B:
Posted at the pit gate, "Absolutely no carry-ins. If caught $500 fine"
Berlin allows coolers.
Exhibit C:
The 3 classes of cars that ran all looked alike.
Template body stock cars.
The difference?
late models have slicks.
limited lates have treaded tires and about 100 less horsepower
Midwest sportsman, treaded tires and shorter wheelbase.
I hear the same whining at Berlin.
But I can tell the difference, between a Berlin late model, super stock, pro stock and 4 cylinder.
Exhibit D:
Tickets were $26
A special at Berlin like the Boyne?
$18
A 2-day ticket is $28
Exhibit E:
5 races for my $26
And 1 of them, the last chance race was held 2 HOURS before the first race at 5pm in the afternoon.
The feature races started at 7pm
When has Berlin run a last chance race at 5pm?
Exhibit F:
Track safety
For the pictures see my blog:
http://schmoe84.blogspot.com/
It was during the last chance race, there was a wreck in turn 4 between 2 cars.
A car on it's side driver window down, pinned against the wall, by the another car, a leaking fuel cell, a fire breaks out.
The car right side up, the driver scrambles out.
The car on its side, the driver has to climb out through the passenger side window and is helped over the pit fence by his mother.
Track safety fight the flames with fire extinguishers.
As 3 city fire trucks sit in the pits, not manned, not ready and not moving.
The fire is thankfully put out, with no serious injuries.
The car with the lesser damage, does drive away.
As for the other car, it is flipped on its roof on the track.
Not wanting a flame up, when they tow the charred remains of the other car away, the track PA announcer pages the fireman to man their truck, so they can be on the scene of the accident, in case of a flare up.
Paged not once, but TWICE, to report to their vehicles.
After the 2nd page, they emerge from the hospitality tent where NASCAR drivers are holding an autograph session, dressed in shorts and t-shirts.
They put on their turnout gear and stand the ready in case they are needed.
Read about the driver in the fire here:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=773773
Exhibit G:
Concessions were comparable
12 oz can of beer was $4.50, only Miller
Exhibit H:
Purse
I asked a car owner of a limited late model,
"What does it pay to win?"
The answer "We don't know. Sometimes it's $300, other times it could be $800"
I said, "Is there a guaranteed purse?"
The answer "No. It depends on the crowd. The promoter pays on a percentage and no one knows what that is"
And he continued "We don't race here for the money"
I said, "Berlin pays $1600 to win for late models and $425 to start"
Reply, "That's a great payout"
By the way, the car count was:
Late models 42
Limited lates 20
Midwest 14
I don't bring these up, to pick on Slinger Speedway.
It is a neat little 1/4 mile highbanked track, just north od Milwaukee.
http://www.slingersuperspeedway.com/
We'll be back next year.
It was a great race as Matt Kenseth won his 4th Miller Light Nationals, Kyle Busch was 4th.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=773082
With hundreds of short tracks having been closed all over the country.
Rumors swirling about the Historic Milwaukee Mile being shut down.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=771750
Nascar truck driver Rick Crawford wants to reopen Montgomery Motor Speedway, and neighbors are fighting back
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/SPORTS/807160360/1002/sports
As I drove the 5 hours back home in the wee hours of the morning.
Two thoughts kept coming back to me.
"Is the grass really greener on the other side of the fence"
and
"We don't race here for the money"
I'll see you at the track.
Joe Ruch

Berlin Raceway Stats

Did You Know?
* Scott Thomas was the 86th driver to win a late model feature at Berlin raceway, 1965-present
* Scott & Tom Thomas are the 3rd set of brothers to win late model feature races at Berlin. The other brothers are Rich, Bob & Terry Senneker and Bob & Tim Curry
* Scott won his first feature after 9 years, 165 late model starts. But that is not the longest non-winning streak.
* Scott Presley won his first late model feature after 15 years of trying. Started in 1968 and won his first feature 4/23/1983.
* Dave Stehouwer won his first late model feature after 11 years of trying. Started in 1975 and won his first feature 8/9/1986. Then went 18 years before winning his 2nd feature 6/5/2004
* May 31 has produced 4 first time late model feature winners at Berlin.
May 31, 1975 – Bob Sensiba
May 31, 1986 – Mike Garvey
May 31, 1997 – Ken Warner
May 31, 2008 – Scott Thomas
All exactly 11 years apart. So who will win their first late model feature May 31, 2019?

That SOB Meeuwsen.....

First, I want to congratulate Scott Thomas on winning his first late model feature at Berlin. Nobody deserves it better than Scott. He not only is a first-class driver, but a first-class person as well. Scott is a true ambassador for stock car racing, representing the sport, Berlin and his sponsors in a professional manner. Everyone driver could take a lesson from Scott on how to treat fans and promote your sponsors. It’s a great feeling to see good things happen to good people. And Scott is good people. He not only shared his victory with his family but his long time crew chief Rob Sloma as well; as the two of them took a victory lap with the checkered flag, the “old school” way with Rob riding with Scott. Plus he took victory lane photos with some of his fans sharing the moment in unselfish manner.
A class move by a class person.
The legendary short track driver, Dick Trickle has often stated, “To finish first, you must first finish”. Make no mistake, Scott earned his win. Scott deserved this win.
While Scott celebrated, Tom limped home with a wrecked race car.
He was dumped.
Taken out.
Drove through.
However, you want to call it, he was wrecked from behind coming to the checkers by Ross Meeuwsen. Ross never attempted to pass. Ross never attempted to lift. He flat took him out. End of story.
A classless move by a classless person.
Yes, Ross is a “hard-charger”. But Ross cannot control his race car. In four weeks of racing this year at Berlin he has spun his car three times. In the past two seasons he has not competed the full year at Berlin, sitting out suspensions for rules infractions. That's PC for "cheating". He has a history of “hard charging” when he ran in the other divisions in years past, as other drivers can testify. Tom did not retaliate. He could have, but chose not too. He SHOULD have, but he chose not too.
A class move by class person.
This is why I am proud to say I am a Scott Thomas and Tom Thomas fan.

Schmoe Knows......San Antonio???

I suggest getting a beverage this is going to take a while.

My lovely bride was attending a conference in San Antonio and suggest, I come at the end of the week so we may have a few days and celebrate our wedding anniversary.
Shame on you if you forgot to get a card......like I did.
It's been 7 years....I think.

Day 1:

I flew Northwest Airlines from Grand Rapids to Detroit Metro.
Metro has the best men's restrooms, hands down.
Or is it pants down?
There is hook to hang your jacket and a little bar that flips down so you can hang your bag on it.
Plus it's nice and wide to set your USA Today as you finish each section.
And yes I kept my "stance" to a minimum.

Why is there a wiener dog on a leash walking through the airport?
Are the new breed of seeing eye dog?

No more peanuts on a flight.
Instead, you may purchase a third of a container of Pringles for $2 or a snack box for $5.
I did take the complimentary Pepsi.

The first night we stayed at the Hyatt.
Pricey, let me put it this way.
On the entertainment center/wetbar/dresser stood 2 bottles of warm Aquafina (that's water), each with a price tag of $5. They sit on a weighted platform, so that if they are MOVED, your room get's charged.

The first night we go to the Riverwalk for supper looking for authentic Mexican food.
We find a nice place, table for two along the river. Our server is Alonzo. Now if you've seen me, I'm kinda pale. Alonzo made me look like had a tan, and his fake Mexican accent didn't fool any of us. It seemed like the longer, the accent would waiver between Mexican and Italian and sometimes go away altogether. Were not real sure, but I think his real name is Fred.

We take a riverboat tour at night.
Very nice.
The boat carries 43 life jackets on board.

We go up in the Tower of America's.
San Antonio version of the space needle.

We bring the "yellow" trolley back to the hotel.
The driver has the trolley on 2 wheels and the other hand on the horn warning the pedestrians he is coming through. I notice his computer says "behind schedule 2 minutes".
Were making up time.
At the next stop, I see "ahead of schedule, 5 minutes"
As the passengers get their breath he announces we will waiting at this stop for 5 minutes.

For relaxation before we retire for the evening, we adjourn to the pool outside, on the roof, which is the 12th floor.
If I ever wear a Speedo like that.....anyone has the right to shoot me.
Also, how do grasshoppers get 12 stories high?
They kept jumping in the pool.
I've seen "A Bug's Life" many times, and Hopper and his gang always seem to be flying close tot he ground, not a cruising height of 12 stories.

Day 2:

We drive around Fort Sam Houston.
We drive around Lackland Air Force Base.

We have hotwings at Hooters on the Riverwalk.
Nothing says, Happy Anniversary, like a Hooters.

We made a trip to the Mercado Market (Mexican indoor flea market).
As we park, I teach my bride to parallel park.

The next couple of nights we are staying at the Holiday Inn.
We get a newly remodeled room because we our members of the "Priority Club".
We also get a bag of snacks.
A bottle of water, snack crackers and a assortment of candy.
Using Northwest Airlines and Hyatt math, I figure this is worth at least $12.
The new courtesy wake up call at the Holiday Inn, are construction workers directly above your room promptly at 8am.
Their new motto should be; "Holiday Inn, Sleeping In? My ass!!"

Day 3:

A day trip to Corpus Christi.
First we need a car wash.
Apparently, all crows and crackles (those are birds) also sleep at the Holiday Inn.
We'll in the trees, outside the Holiday Inn.
And I guess they don't sleep, ALL the time.
Because our silver Ford Focus, is now spotted with bird poo.
We need the washer fluid just see out the window.

The Rockin RV Park.
Is it REALLY "rockin" when all that is left are 3 abandoned run down trailers?

We take a drive out on Padre Island.
There we see the locals fishing.
One cowboy, because he had his cowboy boots and hat on; fully clothed walked out into the waves up to his arm pits, cast his pole out. The proceeded to walk back in and stick it into a piece of pvc, that acts as his pole holder.

We take a tour of the USS Lexington.
It is a retired aircraft carrier.
Very interesting and well worth the money.
Scenes from the movie "Pearl Harbor" were filmed there.

We enjoy appetizers at Landry's on the Corpus Christi Beach.
The best stuffed mushrooms, I have ever had.
No relation to Tom Landry.
I asked.

Day 4:

We fly home.
As I look out my window over the wing I ask myself, "why is there duct tape on the wing"
Maybe I should have bought the snack box.

The Best Idea I have Ever Seen at a Racetrack....

The Best Idea I have Ever Seen at a Racetrack....

No, not a wet t-shirt contest.

Ok, 2nd best idea.

An all-you-can-eat-buffet at a racetrack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MMMMM, open-face-club-sandwich.

That is just way to cool.

Humpy is the best.

Wonder if those seats are single seats, or the bench kind?

Henry "Butch" Miller

For a great interview with one of the best short track drivers ever, see the link below.
He will give his opinion on:
The COT
ASA
The old days
The best cheat
Cup with Travis Carter
Down at the bottom, click on "Play in Pop up"
http://realracinusa.com/racelog/?p=129
The pictures of the red car in the 1978 Port City House car that put Butch on the map and Port City Racing.
He won the Late Model track championship at Berlin in 1978.
Nice red shoes Butch.
Classy.
The white ASA car above was in 1985, driving for Leroy Throop with crew chief Kevin Hamlin and the beginning of his dominance in ASA, ARTGO or any short track race in the country.
Butch has won so much, he doesn't remember when and where.
The first ASA race he is talking about that he won, he says was at "Fort Wayne".
Is wrong.
It actually was the ASA race in Hartford, the "Strawberry Blossom 100".
Butch may not remember, but I do.
I wonder who the other 2 cup teams he had a choice of driving for?

Me and Scott Riggs

Schmoe: Psst - Scott, who don't you like racing with?
Scott: Um........ah....................um.........................well..................
Schmoe: The Busch brothers?
Scott: Yes! No, give and take and the rookies, Reutiman and Ragan.
Schmoe: Where's your son?