By Howie Zechner
Being older than dirt, I've been to my fair share of Speedway Legends events. Some were so-so, and others were excellent, but none were ever as well attended or organized as the one held this year at Industry Racing.
Lots of phone calls and planning really paid off. Unless ill or dealing with distance issues, everyone we contacted said, "Yes, count me in." In fact, they were as excited about attending as we were about the promotion.
Kelly Inman went over the top by making specially designed "Legends and Heroes" plaques for all who participated. The artwork was nice, and they were mounted on custom wood backing, making them keepsakes that all will cherish and display. All participants who confirmed prior to its printing had their picture in the program. They, along with others not listed in the program, were introduced by track announcer Terry Clanton, and some of them chose to be interviewed.
A special Legends and Heroes area with 20 tables and 50 chairs was set up in the courtyard. It was filled to capacity. It's a little difficult to give an accurate count of those present as many never filled out any paperwork, but I can confirm that 32 were pre-registered. A partial list of attendees includes Barry Briggs, Bill Cody, Billy Gray, Bobbi Hunter, Bobby Schwartz, Bryce Eikelberger, Dean York, Denny Scopellite, Doug Nicol, Dubb Ferrell, Ernie Aragon, Gene "The Dancing Machine," Greg Hancock, Jan Ballard, Keith Chrisco, Margo King, Mike Lupo (thanks for the wonderful Maely bike display, Mike), Mike Reed, Pam Bennett, Pat "Hollywood" Hawley, Randy Blevins, Rick Miller, Rob Morrison, Ron Preston, Ryan Evans, Sammy Tanner, Steve Lucero, Terry Clanton, and Tommy Burba. My apologies to those I forgot to mention, but as Bob Cratchit said to Scrooge, "It shall not be repeated. I was making rather merry, sir."
So how did it all go? Did those in attendance like it? Well, to say they loved it would not be an exaggeration. It was crowded beyond belief, and at one point, there was a long line as everyone patiently waited to say hello, have their picture taken, and get an autograph. Prepared individuals brought books, magazines, helmets, photos, and other memorabilia to be signed.
Were there any issues? Only minor ones. The most serious incident occurred when Barry Briggs got run over by an exuberant fan in her wheelchair. Thankfully, it was a minor incident and did nothing to impact the evening of the four-time World Individual Speedway Champion.
The other issue was with our own timeframe. On paper, Industry had allocated the meet and greet to run between 6:45 and 7:30 p.m. Well, we should have doubled that time. In reality, when the racing started at 7:30, the Legends area was still going full tilt. It wasn't just the general public; even racers formed their own small groups and were bench racing with glee and remembrance. Once caught in this time bubble, it was hard to get out. I personally missed half of the night's racing because they were already running event 18 by the time I entered the Thunderbowl.
So there you go. Another night with more twists and turns than when Alice fell through the rabbit hole. Those who were there know. Those who weren't don't need to because it's only then that you'll find Wonderland is to come and experience it firsthand.
See all 100 pictures from the July 1, 2023, Legends and Heroes Night on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=speedwayzar&set=a.64378355562....
Our next race at Industry will be the Bruce Flanders, Ugly Hawaiian Shirt night on Wednesday, July 12. Hope to see you then.