Hey I havent been on here in awhile well basically cause nothing ever changes. As far I as I can remember we did race last saturday. Its now friday morning and I stopped in to look at pics and points and read alittle. But wait, six days later and no pics? No points? Nothing new? Anyways I was read through the blogs....I need a good laugh before I start my day! I can honestly say that there are tons of good points on here. But guys and gals let be real...NOBODY oh I am sorry no wait I did mean NOBDOY who needs to read these are actually reading them. I know its a great way to vent and hope to get through but after all that has been said on here has anything changed? Hell come on I even through money out there and nothing from nobody. So to everyone who does write ideas on here I have one good wish for you......if P-ville doesnt want to listen I hope other tracks are reading this and useing your ideas. Atleast this way they will be put to use or atleast considered.

I did read a post by DLOW or something like that about what happened last saturday night. From the bottom of my heart thank you for the nice words. But an even BIGGER THANK YOU!! goes out to Bobby Leland for letting me drive his car. It did give me a big push into second place in the points. There is still some sportsman there at the track however it isnt much more than the Sportsman Division LOL. Sorry guys but its true, I would love to see the sportsman class make a huge comeback but it isnt gonna happen. Once again Thank you to Bobby Leland and his crew for helping us out big time last week.

Now for another piece of news and a thank you. I will be driving this week in a car supplied to us by Rocky Nails. I lot of guys dont like Rocky but you know beside Big Joe, Rocky has always volunteered to help out when I have been in a bind. I want to thank Rocky for the help and the ride this weekend. And to Rocky I cant wait to race against you in the dirt(legally lol) at Raceway 7 next week. Deals between 9-11 Racing and Rocky Nails.....hum has the world come to an end? Lets just say two guys that put up with any shit are stronger than one and teaming together well we will just have to wait and see. Rocky again thanks bud.

As for everyone else well the next two days are gonna be big and some decisions are going to be made here in the next couple of days. We will see what happeneds next.

I guess there really isnt a right or wrong answer to this one. However, I was going and watching racing at P-ville in tha late 80's when I was still on dirt. I started racing there in 95. I think a better way for me to answer this would be by classes lol. Back in the days of me watching, I think one of my favorite Sportsman Drivers would be Dan Fults. In the present I would have to say I enjoyed watching Chuck Phillips run his sportsman car. In the Trophy Stock back in the day I like the O'Donnells.  Then (and I know I will get slack over this one) I would have to say it was Josh Nysnik. In the current day Tom Herns, he is new still and very hungry. Factory four when it first started I would have to say Bob Boyd. Nowadays Mr. Hayes has a lot of votes. Now for probally the toughest class. Big Dog figure 8. Let me just put the list on here lol. I have really enjoyed watching The Marvins, The Marchs' Chad, and I always enjoyed watching Tim Pierce(RIP) and Rob Raab in his big old Caddy. Way to many drivers to try and think about.

GREAT question Drew.  I've been going to Painesville Speedway for as long as I can remember.  As a kid, my brother and I would play Figure 8 with our hotwheels CONSTANTLY.  We would even melt our model cars with a candle to make them look smashed.  Growing up in Grand River you had racecars everywhere you went, so I guess it was engrained in me at a very early age.  When I was in high school I always took a new girlfriend on a date to the track within our first 2 or 3 weeks of going out.  If she loved it I would keep her around.  It wasn't soon after high school that I had my first Figure 8 car and the rest is history.

As far as influences and favorite drivers go, the list would be impressive.  As a youngster, I was a huge fan of #01 Kyle Matteson.  He was always charging thru the pack and fighting for the lead by the end of the race.  I still have a button with a picture of him and his car that I wore every week in the early '80s.  As I got older I really started to become a fan of Herb Reynolds, #93.  He was a very competetive driver who always managed to do a lot with a little.  In my opinion, Herb was one of the most exciting drivers to watch.  I am fortunate to have bought the car, that I currently race, off of him a number of years ago.  The list wouldn't be right if I didn't say that Joe March, THE #21, hasn't been a huge influence on Figure 8 drivers, including myself.  Joe March... What else can you say?  Once I began racing, I would say that by watching, and trying to stay with, both of the Marvin Brothers was a experience in and of itself.  Both of them could wheel ANYTHING that you put them in.  TRUST ME.  I take a lot of pride in the fact that I had, or still have, the opportunity to have raced with most of these drivers.  This list would go on, but I'm just posting a blog, not writing a book.  I believe that I learned from some of the best in the 'School of Hard Knocks'.

Well, the question was 'who was your favorite driver?'  For me this was easy... This guy epitomised SHOWMAN on and off the track.  He was the first to wave to the kids from his famous 'White Whale', and sign an autograph for a fan without rushing you thru.  To this day, I still have a 1984 Painesville Speedway program with his autograph in it.  I don't even have to look at it because I have it memorized.  It reads "To Chad, Good Luck and God Bless, Augie 'The Dog' Landsmann.

 

 

Well, well, well first things first just so everyone gets it right my last name is Rabbitts not Roberts oops I am so sorry Old School 88. And if by chance I am wrong well it isnt the first mistake I have made. Now besides that I am not here to rant and rave about anything however I have been pretty quit so i dont get a suspension letter in the mail or when I show up on Saturday. SO with that being said I will leave my opinions of the track to myself. Although many know what they are. I will say this I love racing at p-ville. I have said that many times before. But you know even the most loyal of dogs will turn around and bite you after too much abuse. I am gonna sit back and look at a few of the blogs and leave all my comments here instead of each one.

 

DANIELLE---Thank you for the support and you did put alot of time into the whole tire thing. However, it is written in the rules and as far as that goes the tires are legal. I am not sure I know who you are but you must be there a lot to know some of the actions. As for what happened in the pits....well then next week when it was brought up in conversations, all I heard was "you should have told us about it last week"! Well I can say that I went to a few people over it and nobody wanted to listen. NO SENSE ON CRYIG OVER SPILLED MILK. What is done is done. Please stop me this weekend and introduce yourself so I know who you are. I go out into the stands ever week to say hi to people and thank thenm for coming out to support us. AND LASTLY IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT BUILDING A CAR YOU LET ME KNOWi WILL HELP YOU AND WE WILL COVER YOU.

DREW CASE----I really agree with your last blog. I know we really dont know each other but what you said is true. I know most weeks I have no chance of winning the feature however I am getting better with each week. I am also very thankful to put it on the dolly every week and not have it loaded by a tow truck. People ask me with all my experience why am I in a compact car. Its simple and it kind goes with your blog. I dont have to spend a butt load of money every week to race and I have fun in that class. At this stage in my life I just wanna have fun racing. I have nothing left to prove.

BLUE EYES----You sound like a loyal fan and I hope you show up at the cook out, In fact I encourage more of you to come. Hell I even invite the HATERS., mostly becuase I would like to know why. Of course on line and in message boards the HATERS all like to run thier mouths.

CHUCK SADAR AND RON KAHLAR----You guys have some great points. I do believe that the track needs to listen more and read more. But lets sit back and look at something. If the track did really read this do you think that some of this would still be up there. I mean if you happened to stumble across this site, looking for a new track to come to visit would you want to? As much as everyone down cuts everything from driver to track officials to track owners and even the track itsef, would you come to the track if you were searching for a track? I wouldnt either guys. I would love to have more special races. i would love to have more advertising. i would love to have more prize money(well in my class any prize money is more money lol). You know guys I built my Mustang to get into a rear wheel drive car again. I moved to Street Stock 8 full times to get my timing back. All in high hopes of going back into Heavyweight 8 next year. Now who even knows what is going on? But guys keep reading becuase I am gonna have a surprise at the end of this and then we will see how reads this and who is serius about P-ville Speedway.  Guys you have my respect and I hope that I can race against both of you next year.

BO HAYES--- I have no personal problems with Bo however there are alot of questions about him that even Bo can answer. We have had our ups and downs but all raceers do. Bo was one of the first to congratulate me in 06 when I beat him for the championship. He was at my car before I even got out of it.

CHAD TEKAVIC----Once again I have no personal problems with Chad. I have raced against Chad. I have been "team mates" with him as well. Even with his recent actions I still have respect for him. However I think that has changed in his eyes. I can and will live with that. Everyone who knows me, knows I will speak what is on my mind and say my opinions. The fun part is that we had the same opinion basically except for the discipline. But that was out of our hands and the tracks discussion wether it be right or wrong. Chad as well as what I said to Ron and Chuck, if P-ville is still around next year and I am still there i look forward to racing with and against you again, bud.

Now for some reason OLD SCHOOL 88 wants to jump on the HATER bandwagon, first of all I could care less. Love me or hate me you are obviously paying attention to me so its your choice. As far as my car being slow, well it isnt a front wheel drive car that I just want to jump into and run. I have said above I built the car for some seat time and get me back into things. Like I said as well I have nothing to prove to myself so please tell me what I have to prove to you. Our Mustang was built from the ground up and it is 100 percent legal. To me that is more important. I am sitting 3rd in points a few points out of 2nd. I have one two heats this year. I mentioned that to show my next point..when I won the championship in 06 I only won 2 heat races and one feature. Proving you dont always have to be first to be on top. I am sure there are other drivers that will agree with that statement. So like me, love me or hate me it doesnt matter cause you are still watching me.

LASTLY----There has been alot of ideas and special races thrown out there. Some how like I said I feel they are falling on deaf ears. So here it is. I have a great idea for a race. It would be open to any legal compact car from any track. This would hopefully bring in some new cars and fans. I have to run an IRON MAN RACE. Wether it is in the X or oval. Every driver pays an entry fee to race it with a great pay off. I am even willing to start the pot off with $100. Which is Double of what the entry fee would be. If this was to go down I know I can get drives to come in from Raceway 7(my home away from home) and a few other tracks. Or if we do it on the friday night show I can get guys from Lorain. I have pitched the idea to drivers from both tracks and they show interest. So will deaf ears finally hear or against is it a waste to try. I hope someone is listening.

 

We here at 9-11 Racing are having a cookout on July 13,2008. It is a sunday afternoon starting at 2pm. We are having this as a time for racers together and share stories and just have a fun day. We will have food, horseshoes, fun and more. Me and Bij Joe are supplying the food and pop. All we ask is that you bring chips or a side or maybe even a desert(mmm desert). Sorry had a fat guy moment there. It is at Big Joes house in Eastlake. It is a BYOB and please remember kids will be there. We need a head count so if you want to come let me or Big Joe know ASAP. Hope to see you guys there.

In the past few days people have been coming to me and asking.....:you always have so much to say why are you so quiet on the tracks site, have you no Loyalty any more". First off nobody should ever question my Loyalty, if anyone really knows me they know that is what I am all about. I stated at P-ville way back in 95. I was there and raced with alot of these guys when they were rookies. Ask some of them, like Chad, Luke, Jay and the list goes on. I built a car this year that I can ONLY run at P-ville. Yes I have talked to other tracks to run it on a special occassion basis but it is a straight up P-ville car. But I am not Loyal? I think some people get upset becuase I say what is on my mind and I speak the truth. For the last three years I have seen a track I love go down hill and its rolling faster and faster every week. Painesville has become the fat kid from our childhood days. It is the last to get picked in the racing game. Suggestions dont seem to work! Our voices dont seem to work! The fans(or lack of) voices dont seem to matter. As of late I have been going to other tracks on my free time and I dont see the same things at other tracks as I do at Painesville. Track officials are just that at other places they arent working on drivers cars or selling them cars. They are there do to a job and the friendships arent an option at the track or with track dealings.

As far as some of the other things I have seen. Yes it is true that some tracks run fees differently. Like at Raceway 7 the compacts do NOT pay a fee to race, plus they get a free general admission ticket or a $10 discount on a second pits pass. On top of all that they pay the top 3 at the end of the night. Blue Eyes you must have been there cause I read your message. Other tracks dont charge to get the compacts in either.

I have plenty of ideas on track improvement and special races but if it just falls on dead ears(like in the past) why bother. If someone actually listened I would take time to sit down, plan them out and even make sure they went down. I have over twenty years of racing under my belt and I have seen some wacky, fun and safe races. I would love to promote some of them.

The heart beat is still there but it is very very slow and fading. I am willing to help out even though I have been told by some people in management 'if you arent happy here, then find somewhere else to race". Well guys you have told that to alot of otheres and guess what they pass your track every week to race somewhere else and I am still here. SO please start listening to those that are still around!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Bill Rabbitts #11SS

9-11 Racing

Racing To Remember Those Lives Lost!!!!!!!

Hey Painesville Speedway... Are you reading all of these comments being submitted by your patrons?  Man, I hope so...