by: Johnny Mallonee
Back in heck, I dont know how long ago it was, but it was a long time ago maybe in 1950 or so, I can remember playing out by the shop where Dad kept his car. On the side, there was an old car what kind I cant remember; it was something Dad wanted for parts, but it was my race car. I drove many a race in that car because it did have a seat in it, so it was right down my alley. I was even awakened a time or two by Mom after dreaming a little too long and falling asleep in it.
Every once in a while I would break out of car racing and grab my trusty trike I had stored out there and run a few races with it. I had the back tires notched so when I threw it into a corner it would really throw dirt . Man I loved that trike, especially when the neighborhood guys would come around; thats when we would really get down to racing, sand lot kids style. We wouldnt go far, I remember, because there were boundaries applied to each of us and if they were broken it was more than boundaries that were worn on your rear. We would race down the road and through the ditch and over to the next yard where the winner was always declared.
The only thing that broke up our routine was when Dad would open the shop and work on his car, or roll it out for someone else to pull theirs in for whatever reason. Thats when we kids got to wash it and wash it we did. We rubbed it from that bolt that stuck out on the front bumper to the bend in the rear bumper that always seemed to have dirt stuck in it from the week before. The special treat was being one of the ones that got selected to get inside and clean. Just think you were sitting in a real live racecar. Yup, it had one seat and a can behind the driver we were told not to mess with. After looking at photos of Dads old cars, it was his gas tank. Also, there was a battery there and if you happened to rub up against it while in there, next week that spot would be ragged in your jeans.
On Fridays, it was special treat time because it was fired up and taken out on the short road we lived on, to test and tune. I guess that was what they were doing because it would fly down the road then stop and everyone would try to get onto the motor it seemed, to touch something or turn something. After that, the other car that was always there would get the same treatment. But for some reason it always seemed like Dads car was louder, so maybe louder is faster.
After loading up our stuff, the cars were hooked to the back of Dads pickup and everyone piled in for the trip to the track. The two cars went together to the track and always parked side-by-side too. I remember Mom telling us kids that if we strayed out of this little compound, we were in deep trouble. I didnt care because I could see better from the top of Dads truck anyway. You know, come to think of it, he had the shiniest truck top there, thanks to my bottom side.
It was always dusty at the track, so on the way home there was also a special treat; the river was only a mile or two from the track and we all bailed off into that shallow spot for some good old-time river fun and a little washing to go along with it.
Then the next stop, most times, was at a local ice cream parlor, where they made the best Hot Dogs you ever ate. I can still taste those giant wieners stuffed into a bun with mustard and onions and always a slice of pickle on the side. Yum-yum! If things went well at the track, as most often they did, we got a special drink a big ol Nugrape soft drink; man, that grape drink was out of this world.
Back at the house, everyone helped unload the truck and racecar because it was a major player in our lifestyle. Afterwards, Mom and Dad would go out under the shade trees and sit in the swings or lay in the hammock, while I hurried and reran the race at least 4 times in my car out by the shop.
Dad and His Car
To grow up in a racing family was a gift from God that todays kids can only dream of. They go and have to stay out in the infield, or worse, sit in the stands and never get to experience the true love of racing. Oh, and the side trips that only Dirt Track Racing can offer. Just think of going swimming after the race in the local creek or river down the road. Never would that happen today or stopping at the ice cream or hot dog shop for a big old juicy Hot Dog piled with onions and mustard and that awesome pickle! Im talking of something that happened 55 years ago and I can still taste that today. No air conditioning, but the thrill of hanging your hand out the window and feeling the wind. Todays kids sit in that seat, with widows rolled up tight and a hand held game stuck in their face. We older racing kids led a life that others today can only dream about after they read it in a story or a senior citizen tells of his experience back in the day.
Today, I have my grand kids around me because my 2 kids live on each side of the house, so when the car cranks up in the shop out back, I have all the help I need and then some, to get ready to go racing. Only one of the boys shows a real interest in racing but thats alright. There are about five others on the street here that are in love with the old car, so students I have. Its harder at the track too, because of restrictions, but we try to park where if they have to stay in the infield, we are up against the fence for them.
Going to a race track today you will see a change in the wind. If you try NASCAR, it will break you unless you are kin to a millionaire. Your local short tracks, at least the ones around home here, are trying to survive this drought in the economy without raising prices out of sight. The way of the dollar today has sure changed from when I grew up. Dad and Mom could take a dollar and make it into $14.92 it seemed like, and oh yeah, my Dad was a heck of a man, but he just couldnt carry groceries like I can. You see, I can carry over $100.00 into the house at one time, whereas I remember him struggling to carry $15.00 worth of groceries in, in about three trips.
Another of my recollections of the way it was back when Racing was Real so you see, my Saturday Night Hero is none other than my DAD.
So I think each one of us can relate to this story and each of yall have at least one story buried in your mind about back in the day. So crank your body up and remember what happened years ago.
Tim the story I wrote " Could this be better than setting next to the fence was wrote about your life " True I added events to it to fill the void but key points in your life are definitely in there, Now the rest of yall write your racing life..
updated by @johnny-mallonee: 08/05/18 06:02:01PM
