The REAL ROC (for us oldtimers)

[boB]

Tiny,

I just saw some mention that TS was not allowed to compete in the Race of Champions at Oswego this year by team owner Joe Gibbs. The article stated that Ken Shrader did run in that race, but that Tony only made an appearance and autograph session for the fans.
Sooo, I guess they still run the ROC, but it is no where near as big an event as we old timers remember it to be.

And Martinsville is not on the 2003 schedule for the Mods!!
How can this be? Damn, remember when the season started at Martinsville in April and finished there in October?
Drivers like Bugsey, Flemke, DeSarro, Hendrick, Geoff Bodine, Jerry Cook, Charlie J, Rene Charland, Worley and of course the nine time NASCAR Champion, Richie Evans, plus all the other greats that put rubber down on that beautiful 1/2 mile oval in Virginia.

I have to wonder what some of the Winston Cup only, newer type fans would have felt if they had been fortunate enough to have seen those drivers race?
If they like Earnhardt, what would they have thought of the way those guys could come through traffic, passing cars where ever they overtook them without any of this current bump and run crap? Just flat outrunning the competition.

How about Geoff in the Dick Armstrong #1? Wasn't there something like 50 wins in just one season for that team?
And how many years did the Championship trophy go to Rome, NY? For over a decade it seemed as though if Richie didn't win it, Jerry Cook did.

Golly, 'nough of this reminiscence type stuff; I guess we were lucky to have been around before racing became the big business, sports entertainment event which it is today.

No modified shows at Martinsville? Who'd have ever believed it?

On another subject; I've been trying some nature shots using my long lens; still have a few exposures on the roll, but I'll let you know how they come out.
We had a shiny shinned hawk in the back yard on Thanksgiving morning, feeding on the starlings which frequent our feeders. Took a bunch of shots. If they come out I'll send them to you; get a professional opinion.

 

[Windsor377]

Originally posted by boB
Tiny,

And Martinsville is not on the 2003 schedule for the Mods!!

What the %&#@ is that all about?

 

[PettyBenson]

WOW Why in the world would the Mods not race at the Ville. Thats the place where they get the most attenison

 

[Tiny]

small correction: The Mod season started the last Sunday in March (not April) at Martinsville. I've spent many weekend freezeing my but off in the endfield there shooting pictures of the mods. The season ended the last Sunday on October at Martinsville. The Sportsman cars (later BGN) were on the race bill with the Mods on those weekends.
The WC ran the third weekend in April (usually with the Sportsman cars) and the third weekend in September (usually with the MODS). I covered WC in sept. at Martinsville and WC at Charlotte in October.
BTW. Whats with the scegule this year. Martinsville always came the third weekend in Sept., then 'Dega, then Charlotte the first weekend in October. Now they got Charlotte then Martinsville after Charlotte in October now.

 

[boB]

Yep, and only two shows at NHIS and I don't think there's any live TV for the division either. It would almost seem as if NASCAR was trying to kill the very division which was the basis for all its success.

I'll see if I can find a copy of the schedule and either post it or a link to it.

I lost all the exposures on that roll of film I told you about; grandson opened the camera and pulled the roll out. Good thing it's illegal to kill grandkids; I still considered it for a few minutes.