Where'd 'Ya Go & How Was The Show?
Grandview Freedom 76 Event - 09/20/141. Which track did you go to? Grandview 76’er
2. Did you attend as a fan? 100% spectator side fan
3. Did you attend as a participant (working on a car, function at the speedway such as an official, photographer, member of the press, staff.)? No – Not press/not photographer… just plunked down my $35 and although I didn’t know it at the time, it was worth every penny.
4. What did you like about the show? _Frantic racing/desperation to try to qualify… intense battles in the heat races, consi’s, Minute Man… and feature. You have to remember to breath every once in a while.
5. What didn't you like about the show? Announcer Jeff Alhum is disconnected from the show. His volume is set to one level – AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE – all night, even when there are no cars on the track and/or when the yellow is out.
6. Will you be going back to this track this season? Probably, but if someone can guarantee me that Jeff Alhum will learn how to adjust his volume to fit the condition he is announcing too, then I’ll change that to "I'll definitely be back."
Night Notes:
I wasn’t going to go. I’ve become a “Regular Show Joe” lately since I can’t stand poorly managed shows that drag out with qualifying events that tend to stretch the show, special dash races that usually aren’t very dashing… lengthy driver introductions, and multiple breaks because… well… it’s a big race and some novice owner or promoter thinks that big races should have a lot of breaks and should drag on just shy of forever…. No thanks.
I couldn’t make up my mind….Grandview - 82 miles each way… Wall - 29 miles each way…. New Egypt - 9 miles each way.) Finally decided on going to Grandview. That being said, this was a spectacular event and I can’t believe how close I came to missing it.
Got there at 4pm (warm ups were at 6pm, first race at 7pm.) Put a blanket down to hold 3 seats ½ way up the stands, just to the right of the starter, but ended up moving over a little and sitting with friends. Went back out to the parking lot and “tailgated” for a while which was really enjoyable. Big crowd... Lot's of hardcore fans, and lots of families too.
Great crowd on hand for the 44th running of the Freedom 76'erFor starters, the fellow that sang God Bless America… (Keith Gerhart (?) – I’m not lying when I tell you that his version of God Bless America "connected" with everyone... It made you think… It stopped you and made you appreciate the moment… the country. What a way to start the show. Not to be over shadowed, but it was followed by one of the most engaging renditions of The National Anthem song by 2 sisters (?) Absolutely outstanding. What a special way to start off a special night!
Over 60 modifieds on hand - Just one division, just one division needed!Everything you’d want in a short track race program. Intense racing, drivers putting it all on the line… Every race had winners and losers… There were those that advanced, and those that didn’t…. And I can guarantee that drivers that didn’t go ballz out every corner of every lap (and who didn’t have just a little bit of luck), never made it to the feature.
Started exactly on time: 7pm. Just one division - Just one division needed. Over 60 modifieds. No start and park’rs... No field fillers. Nobody just riding around… It can’t happen at Grandview… They would be consumed by the herd!
Track conditions perfect all night. Slight routine maintenance at intermission did not slow the show up at all.
No stretch. Everyone hustles at Grandview (track crew, wrecker crews, corner workers, flagger… absolutely had their A game on all night long.) Intermission was just long enough to finish up the victory lane – do some minor track work – bring the cars out onto the track and park them nose to the wall, while driver’s had a quick introduction. (Maybe 30 minutes tops… but it flowed so well, I didn’t even check…) No filler.
The starting field lines up on the homestretch as Rick Laubach leans in to talk shop with Danny Johnson prior to driver introductions.Absolutely frantic action on the track with spots being contested every corner/every lap, throughout the field. 6 heats of 10+ cars, 4 to qualify in each – a C main, a few consi’s, the 20 lap Minute Man “race… a dash., and the field was then set with the best 32 cars and drivers, ready to take the green in the 76er – Leaving a very impressive name of solid runners and proven winners that had to watch from the trailer including: Jerry Higbie Jr., Kevin Hirthler, Meme DeSantis, Mike Gular, Ron Haring Jr., Mike Kellner, Matt Sheppard, Justin Grim, Don Norris Jr., Brian Hirthler, Danny Erb, Tommy Scheetz III, Scott Albert, Danny Creeden, Kyle Borror, Ryan Anderson, Chris Esposito, Dale Hartz, Paul Moyer, Ryan Grim, Mike Laise, Jamie Speers, Bobby Gunther-Walsh, Mario Dinatale, Glenn Owens, Steve Swinehart, Todd Smith, Rusty Smith, Kenny Gilmore, Brian Houseknecht, Jeremy Banos. (That’s 30 cars that didn’t make the show that at any other track, on any night would have been a great complete field!)
Improvements:
1. Track announcer is ridiculously loud all the time. Jeff Alhum seems to have no concept of how loud he is in all sections of the spectator stands when there are no cars on the track. He has some some very informative things to say, however the constant loudness of his voice, and the fact that he is constantly talking is inconsiderate to the audience. He should be as concerned about how he sounds as much as he seems to be about what he is saying. It is impossible to talk to friends in between races, under the yellow, and at intermission. – It is impossible to just enjoy the experience of sitting in the stands on a late summer night… Even when doing the victory lane interviews, the driver was at the right volume (easily understandable, pleasant to listen to) followed by Jeff’s voice – which was twice as loud… totally unnecessary… What a shame. Headphones stayed on pretty much all night because of Jeff's inability to adjust the volume of his voice and/or how close he holds the mic to his mouth to the appropriate level of the conditions he is speaking to. Simple fix - BACK OFF THE MIC - Very disappointing that this has been going on all year, and there has been no improvement.
2. Maybe a few more food venders: (This was actually a good problem to have!) I think that if they could have sold twice as much food (french fries, pizza, etc.,.) if they had a few additional stands or if they had cooked up a bunch of fries/pizza, etc prior to the consi's or maybe even have a few additional stands set up, or maybe a couple of catering trucks to accommodate the additional "hungry" fans. The folks working the stands were hustling, but they were just overwhelmed with the volume of customers.
3. Nothing!
After passing tech along with the other top finishers, event winner Stewart Freisen heads to his trailer for some celebrating with his crew.Cool Down Lap
Thank you to the all of the folks that had anything to do with putting together and executing last night’s show. It shows me that running a short track show can still be done right. (I'm sure some will say that it was a great show because of the big purse $$$ and the event has been run for 44 year's... to which all I can say is go to a regular Saturday night show at Grandview and you'll see how much weekly show is managed carries over to this event. The 76'er just takes it to the next level.)
Grandview just keeps on doing it right. Saturday after Saturday, year after year, and the 2014 Freedom 76 event was outstanding.
$25,000 smackerooo's (plus additional lap money, etc.,.) made the long drive from way up in NY state worth it.
Stew get's interviewed by AARN's Deb SmithAll I can say is Grandview hit it out of the park and I doubt you'll find anyone that was there who feels differently.
Absolutely amazing…. I will be back, and I would encourage anyone that thinks that short track racing is dead to consider going to Grandview a few times next year and see if you don't become a racefan all over again.
In the end, only one trailer drove away with the trophy and the big check!
