This is a BAD LOSS for all of racing. I saw John many times through the years, but I never actually conversed with him until social media came along. Wish I'd known him earlier. Shared many photos with him and he even asked if he could use one of mine in his book. Sad day.
Bill was a good one. Went looking for any photos but I only found this one. Taken 6-2-85 at Riverside. Looks like the car was skinned as a Pontiac for 1985. Hershel's was also (#04). RIP Bill...
I can remember a Busch car sponsored by Swisher Sweets (little cigars - I had to look it up). Do not know the year, driver or anything else - surely someone here will know...
This show reminded me of the three dozen otherARCA (MARC) shows I witnessed in the sixties and seventies. Good racing. I was amazed to see Winchester again - they have made some improvements since I last was there. (I'm also glad to see it is still in operation when so many others aren't. - Dayton, New Bremen, just to name a few...)
It would have been nice to see ol' Kenny win it though !
It'll probably be Kyle. Got to have different winners each week so we have 43 folks in the Chase. For sure Larson will get one sometime this year as well as the "other #3" Rookie - and Boyer, Gordon, Tony, Matt, etc. I'll begin to think something is fishy if Her Highness wins one...
I am so glad Tim was elected into the Hall of Fame. Truly, a well deserved honor. Tim and Frances spent a wonderful evening with the Hornets Nest Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America many years ago, as guest speakers at one of the monthly meetings. Everyone was very impressed with them. Tim was already ill, and fighting his battle well, and Frances was the glue that kept it all together. It was amazing looking at all of the memorabilia they brought (no doubt, from the "garage"), and one of my cherished racing mementos is a book I bought, titled Tim Flock, Race Driver. It is a fantastic history of the man, and of the racing he was part of. The author is listed as Larry Fielden. I have no idea if it is still available, or if it is even the autobiography noted in the Observer article, but some internet research should yield some results.
I never visited "The Garage" - didn't know it existed until I read this post. I guess I'll add it to MY Bucket List, too. Thanks for posting this, Dave.
$ 500K ? I didn't see this one sold, either in person or on TV. (Attended the auction on Thursday only). I think the price is low, considering what the other "Charity" cars went for. A 1957 Continental (Lot 3001) donated to Loma Linda Hospital in California fetched $700,000.00 - and, although it was a nice car, Brad's car has much more collector appeal. Interesting....
I met Felix one time - is was after the second or third Charlotte Checkers home hockey game at the old Independence Arena. Hockey had just started, and I was part of the group attempting to start up a Booster Club to support our new team. I did a between period radio spot with Sam Smith, plugging the Booster Club, and I made a statement during the interview that we had "First Class" ownership with our new Charlotte team. ( We did - I've worked with many low and NO class ownership's in my time...). Felix heard the radio spot, and came looking for me. He had Richard Petty in tow ! Now, THAT was an interesting meeting ! Felix was really a nice guy and the Booster Club always had good relations with the owners during the time Felix was involved with the team. I fully understand why he is successful. Thank you for reporting on this - I've been gone from Charlotte for fifteen years and it's good to know some of the people I knew then are still active in day to day activities there.
What is really cool about "old time" ARCA is that there are still many of the drivers lurking around. I have been contacted by three of them that are here on Racer's Reunion - "You have any photos of me ??" Of course, I've forwarded on what I had. The other cool thing is when a son/daughter or grandson/granddaughter asks if you have any photos or info on a deceased relative. I always try to help them out or point them to someone who might be able to help.
I am SO glad I kept that shoe box full of 35MM negatives from 40-50 years ago.....
ARCA and dirt - been together for ever. Sure hope they continue to carry on the tradition of these previous races. It's a pity most of the tracks shown below are long gone now - All but the Big E.
Ron Fike, Gene Crittenden, and Bob Thomas wait to qualify at Northern Kentucky Speedway
Ralph Latham and Andy Hampton ready to qualify at Eldora. (Sure looked different back then...)
Jim Clark qualifies on the Springfield, Ohio, Fairgrounds Track.
The GREAT Benny Parsons goes out to qualify at K.I.R. (Kentucky International Raceway, in Florence, KY.)
Tom Bowsher, in #1, Gary Weinbroer in # 89 and Jim Malloy in # 26 at Tri County Speedway (Later became Queen City speedway.)
Hope everyone enjoys these.
