Semi-OT--Lawd, I wish I could put up a picture of this...

[skypigeon]

Unfortunately, I have no way to do it. No camera on me at the time I saw this. Was tempted to run back into Dillons (what they call Kroger stores in Kansas)and grab a disposable, then I remembered I have no web space for posting such things. So you'll have to do with my faux-Sid Collins "Color Radio" description.

In the parking lot of the Dillons on Santa Fe Street, Olathe, Kansas, on a clear night lit by crescent moon and the shine of streetlight, roughly 6 p.m. Veterans Day 2002, sat a tawdry tan-colored Oldsmobile.

The Olds was 50's vintage. It looked like a '57 Chevy on acid. Chrome everywhere--bumpers, hood, side panels, trunk.

What was stunning about it was, this car was NOT reconditioned. Somehow, it had survived 45-50 years in drivable form. The color was dull from soaking in five decades of sunlight. The passenger-side window was a cracked, jagged mess, held together only by maybe a bit of Super Glue; how else to explain being smashed as it was and still in one piece? I didn't have the nerve to get close enough to look at the interior.

There was no model name on the car. It just said OLDSMOBILE across the front of the hood. Any guesses what nameplate this tank had? What I wouldn't have given to see it--and hear it--pull out of the parking lot.

[roach]

Did it look like this?

1956 Olds 88

[skypigeon]

Nope, not quite. It's close. The one I saw had a LOT more chrome, and tail fins. And, across the front was just the word "OLDSMOBILE" in very narrow "rocket" letters. Later version of the same model, maybe?

[Taxpayer]

Try this site, it might have been a 1958 model.
www.oldoldz.com

BTW, since you are in the Olathe area, do you ever get up to Bonner Springs to see the old cars at Wagners? It is at the intersection of K7 & K32. That's the business that now inhabits the old Ford dealership. They've got a website of their current wares also.
www.wagnersclassiccars.com

[Racewriter]

Probably a '58. That was the year they put the chrome on with a trowel.

Taxpayer, I was just by Wagner's last week...

[Taxpayer]

RW, did you buy anything?

Or did you just drool over some of the merchandise like me?

[GrandView]

Sounds like a '58.
http://www.bluemoongear.com/ArchCarP...dsSup884dr.jpg

[Racewriter]

Originally posted by Taxpayer:
<STRONG>RW, did you buy anything?

Or did you just drool over some of the merchandise like me? </STRONG>

That's pretty much it, Taxpayer...

[skypigeon]

BINGO! '58 Olds Super 88... although it looked a lot lower to the ground than these pictures (but then, Olathe being the low-rider capital of the Midwest... ) Grandview and Taxpayer nail it.

By the way, Taxpayer, thanks for the tip about Wagners. Haven't been to Bonner Springs in years (married life can suck that way); didn't even realize the Ford dealership was gone. Sounds like a great excuse for a roadtrip!

[Racewriter]

Originally posted by skypigeon:
<STRONG>BINGO! '58 Olds Super 88... although it looked a lot lower to the ground than these pictures (but then, Olathe being the low-rider capital of the Midwest... ) Grandview and Taxpayer nail it.

By the way, Taxpayer, thanks for the tip about Wagners. Haven't been to Bonner Springs in years (married life can suck that way); didn't even realize the Ford dealership was gone. Sounds like a great excuse for a roadtrip!</STRONG>

The Ford dealership just moved a mile or so north on Highway 7 into a new place, it's not gone. Incidentally, if you're into slot cars, there's a slot car raceway just a block west of Wagner's.

[skypigeon]

Thanks for that tip as well, RW--my stepson would love to see something like that. I sense a male-bonding excursion to Bonner in the near-future.

Seeing Bonner Springs is a rockthrow from KS Speedway, have you heard about anything else related to racing popping up there? It's a nice town (especially for Wyandotte County)in almost the perfect location for such things...

[crashcourse]

I know where K7 is but not sure about 32--It must be south of I70.

I live in Manhattan there pigeon and the only thing I've heard is there expanding the speedway by 1500 seats before the IRL race (1st turn) and the Winston is rumored to be a possibility in 2004.

Ive heard a lot of good things about the odessa track i think it is about 30 miles east of KC on 70 (the I70 track I think they call it.) anyway I've never been there but other then the drag strip in topeka--nothing else racing related is soon on the horizon

[Whosyer-Sparkplug]

I don't recall Sid ever referring to anything as it appearing to be on acid...

[skypigeon]

Originally posted by Whosyer-Sparkplug:
<STRONG>I don't recall Sid ever referring to anything as it appearing to be on acid... </STRONG>

Like I said, a faux-Sid Collins Color Radio description.

[Whosyer-Sparkplug]

<quote>Like I said, a faux-Sid Collins Color Radio description.</quote>

What? you dind't see me winkin' at you?

[roach]

skypigeon:

The reason my first response to you was the '56 Olds 88, was because this is the car I took my driver's license exam in! Got gigged for "left foot braking". ( the engine I had was better suited for the strip than it was for the street)

jcr

[skypigeon]

Originally posted by Whosyer-Sparkplug:
<STRONG><quote>Like I said, a faux-Sid Collins Color Radio description.</quote>

What? you dind't see me winkin' at you?
</STRONG>

I seen ya winkin', didn't ya catch my big-a$$ed grin?

Seriously--I still remember bits and pieces of Sid's broadcasts from the early to mid 70's when I was in single digits. There will never be another like him. Arguably, there can never be another like him; modern radio has no time for poetry.

[Whosyer-Sparkplug]

Well by the early-70's I was in my second teer of double digits and grew up listening to Sid. When I was in single digits I remember race car drivers being described as or compared to fearless gladiators and Jet fighter pilots.

Last year I made arrangements for somebody to tape the radio broadcast of the race so I could listen to it while I watched the tape... not the same as Sid but better than the TV commentary. I use to take a Radio to the track with me until Paul Page took over and it (the radio) became excess baggage.

How's that?

[ November 19, 2002: Message edited by: Whosyer-Sparkplug ]

[skypigeon]

Cool!

[Racewriter]

Originally posted by skypigeon:
<STRONG>
Seeing Bonner Springs is a rockthrow from KS Speedway, have you heard about anything else related to racing popping up there? It's a nice town (especially for Wyandotte County)in almost the perfect location for such things...</STRONG>

Pigeon, I haven't heard anything, but honestly, the racing world is pretty well taken care of in KC already. You've got Lakeside Speedway 5 miles north of Kansas Speedway. I-70 Speedway is over in Odessa, Adrian Speedway is 30 miles south, and Winston Speedway 30 miles north.

Needs for race parts are taken care of by Midwest Motorsports, Day Automotive, Snow Chassis, and Fred's Racing Enterprises. I hear there's a NASKART facility in Johnson County, too. There are a few racing-themed bars around town - I think there's even one called the Talladega Bar and Grill.

Bonner is home to Tom Charles, one of the best Modified drivers in the country, with over 320 wins to his credit. I've traded a little paint with Tom, and he's as good as they come...

[skypigeon]

NASCART is in Olathe, near the corner of Santa Fe and Mur-Len--my wife wanted to take my stepson over there for his birthday, but the cost of it was, uh, not in our budget. (That and he'd just turned 10; I don't think it was quite what she thought.)

We've also got a bar in town called "The Brickyard," NASCAR-themed. It's a "private club" under Kansas' liquor-by-the-drink laws, and the owner allegedly tried to exclude some potential customers of Hispanic heritage and got into trouble.

Been to I-70 before--not a bad facility. Have heard of the others; the trick is finding time and scratch to go and still keep the old lady happy. (Better hope she doesn't read this board. I'm not supposed to call her that... )

[Racewriter]

Pigeon, I forgot to mention -

There are persistent rumors of a new pavement track being built near the intersections of Missouri 210 and 291, between Independence and Liberty. I drive by that intersection 2-3 times a week and haven't seen anything, but if the proposed site is on the east side more than a 1/4 mile, I wouldn't. A couple of websites to keep you up on the local racing scene:
www.racinboys.com is the site for Scott Traylor's racing radio show, from 8-9 AM Saturdays on 810 AM.
www.inthepits.net is the site for "In the Pits with John and Junior," a show out of Topeka that also covers KC area racing. I was the third member of the show until the last show of the season, three weeks ago. Since I'm moving to Shawnee, I won't be able to be a regular next year.

Both sites have some good news sections, photos, and message boards.