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Chesterfield Observer
September 28, 2011 Sports Cover Story
Donlavey returns to his Southside roots
By Fred Jeter
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
When W.C. Junie Donlavey was a young man, fresh out of the Navy, he planted a racing seed with tender, loving care on what was then a dirt track in rural Chesterfield.
Then he stepped back to watch it grow. And, oh, how it grew.
Donlavey would go on to be inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007, but hes never forgotten where it all started on Genito Road at whats now known as Southside Speedway.
It was way out in the country back then, he said, his blue eyes twinkling at the distant memory.
On Sept. 16, Southside (called Royall Speedway when Donlavey debuted in the 40s) recognized the legend during Junie Donlavey Tribute Night. Donlavey offered the drivers command before the featured race: Gentlemen, start your engines.
It was a wonderful night I got to talk to so many old friends, said Donlavey, now 87 and living in a retirement community. And, you know, the old track looked great.
Donlavey deserves the title of great grand-daddy of Richmond-area racing. From humble roots, Donlavey saw his Swansboro Motor Co. (based on Old Midlothian Turnpike) snowball from a neighborhood body and fender shop into a national mega-racing industry.
Donlaveys No. 90 cars competed more than 50 years in NASCARs big leagues (Sprint Cup) and even ran at the famed LeMans in France.
His drivers represent a Whos Who of racing: Joe Weatherly, Fred Lorenzon, David Pearson, Ernie Irvan, Benny Parsons, Buddy Baker and Leeroy Yarbrough, to name a few.
His team produced two NASCAR Rookies of the Year, Ken Schrader and Jody Ridley with Ridley behind the wheel for the victorious 1981 Mason Dixon 500 at Dover.
Asked of the whereabouts of that championship trophy, Donlavey said humbly, I think I gave it to a friend.
Three times, 1972-74, Bill Dennis piloted Donlaveys cars to victory in Permatex Sportsman races at Daytona.
After his Southside recognition, Donlavey was gracious enough to offer his time to a mechanically-challenged reporter who didnt know a hubcap from a spark plug. Donlavey, often laughing at himself for his fading memory, was willing to crack open, as best he could, his rich treasure chest of memories.
Reminiscing about all those years can bring out the emotions. At one point, he dabbed at a tear that was rolling down his right cheek.
Donlavey leaves the details about his record book to others. He claimed no knowledge of his extensive biography in Wikipedia, saying that Joe Kelly [a local racing historian and friend] probably wrote it.
He laughs at the notion that his name is all over the Internet a medium he pays no attention to.
Rather than boast of his top-10 finishes and international acclaim, Donlavey prefers speaking of the people the mechanics, pit crews and his legion of fans he met on the circuit. It was never just about the checkered flag with Donlavey.
If you based everything on winning, youll have a lot of bad days, he said. The Good Lord was kind enough to let me understand that.
A busload of friends from his retirement community traveled to the Southside tribute to applaud their gray-haired buddy.
Three women went whod never seen a race in their life and thoroughly enjoyed it, said Ken Ding Bell, one of Donlaveys most loyal friends.
Donlaveys cars raced on the top tier from 1950 until 2002. But its the relationships, not the victories, he recalls most fondly.
I met enough friends to cover 10 lifetimes, he said.
And you know the best part? Hes still making them.
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Junie Donlavey was honored earlier this month during a tribute night at Southside Speedway.
Photo by Ash Daniel/Chesterfield Observer
updated by @dennis-garrett: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
