Original Message

My dad and I always got to Shangri-La early.  I loved watching the warmups, catching up with friends before the races (or setting up when I was helping out in the pits), and one of my favorite things from when I was little until the track closed was looking over the back of the "careful or you'll fall through" grandstands to see which cars were pulling in at the pit gate, which haulers, which new cars or invaders... It was necessary.  I hated getting there late (by late I meant after warmups started).  The great thing about that track was that the modifieds were arrayed on the inner oval, and everyone had their space (Richie Evans was always in the first turn end of the pits, Spencer in the fourth turn, etc).  It was the best time ever. 

For example, I recall one time when a dump truck showed up with a Modified in the bed.  It was owned by Bob Stevens and driven by Harry Ely, an older straight up Pinto when most cars were offset Troyers or RE.  It was a throwback.  Eventually he upgraded equipment (to a couple of Dolin chassis), haulers (old school bus) and drivers (Ed Conoran as opposed to Scary Harry, who earned his nickname by his unique line around the track - hug the inside on the straights, then head to the outside of the turns. Yes really!).