Forum Activity for @tim-leeming

Book Review - Driven to the Past

Stock Car Racing History

Hey Steve, thanks. I love to read and I especially love to read racing memories.

Almirola in Petty #43

General

So, does the 43 have a good sponsor? Or did Jack Rousch screw that up too?

Elkin Speedway - Opening Race 1947

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

What a wonderful trip down memory (history) lane. Thanks for sharing.

. We don't just tell folks we're going back to our roots.....we're going there. How's that for a tag line?

-RacersReunion® OUTREACH

That is probably one of the best "tag lines" ever manufactured. I like that. I like it even more because it's true and to the point. Many things have been accomplished by the good folks here at Racers Reunion and I can only see more and more coming about as time moves on. "Good to the Last Drop", "Have you Driven a Ford Lately" and "The Real Thing" were manufactured by Madison Avenue white shirts and ties. This Racers Reunion tag line is manufactured by love of the sport, deep passion for the heritage, and the blood, swear, and tears of many here who have given so much to the cause. I commend all you ladies and gentlemen for those efforts.

I Never Got Used to It Back Then in '69 Either

General

Paul, the last time I saw a Petty Garage production, last year or year before, it was a Challenger. Now it is the Blue Oval guys paying for the Petty Name so they get to have the Mustangs. Shame is that the shade they are using now is NOTthe real Petty Blue from the days when the King was winning with his number 43. Close, but now real. Side note here. When we were teenagers, several of us Petty fans who built model cars were up at the shop and asked for some of the real "Petty Blue Paint". Testor number 10 blue was as close as we could get in model car paint but it wasn't really Petty Blue. Maurice gave us a can containing about a quart of the real Petty Blue paint straight from the paint shop. The next day a couple of us got together to paint our model Plymouths. For anyone who has never witnessed what REAL Petty Blue Paint does to a plastic model, let's just say "melting it" is putting it midly. So, we used it on our bicycles.

I Never Got Used to It Back Then in '69 Either

General

It was like November 24th or so, 1968, when this was announced by Petty Enterprises. Back in those days I had Richard's home phone number and called that number as soon as I heard. Lynda answered the phone and she said it was true but she didn't have much other information. Back in those days I absolutely HATED a Ford. All of my friends also hated Fords. I actually would not even ride in one. 1969 turned out to be one of those years like 1965 were I went to Grand National races. 1965 because of the Chrysler boycott and 1969 because seeing Richard in a Ford was something I was not ready for. I've already related a story from the 1969 Columbia Speedway race in August in another Forum from awhile back so I won't go there again. In September, at The Southern 500, I talked with Richard in the back of his tow truck (not a hauler like today) and he told me he would have a surprise for me soon. Of course that was the return to Plymouth with the Superbird. All of this only reflects, I think, the sincere dedication we fans of old had for brand loyalty. As for today's brand loyalty, all the cars look alike so it really doesn't make a difference. There is NOTHING I can buy off the showroom floor that looks anything like what's on the track. I don't like that at all.

But, bottom line is that PETTY BLUE is supposed to be on a PLYMOUTH or DODGE. Sadly, there is no longer a Plymouth. Richard was roped into, tricked into, bought by Rousch-Fenway to allow Jack another team which he uses for not much more than a research and development team for his three cars. Sad, but true, I fear. It has been a long time since there was a Petty Blue 43 out there, or a Petty Blue and STP Red 43 out there.

What was the tag line at the opening of the Lone Ranger Radio Show? "Return with us now to the days of yesteryear......" See, my long term memory is pretty good. Good enough to know that watching those Petty Blue Plymouths of the 60s are really great memories for me. Loved those 60 Plymouths at Charlotte for that first 600 with the wire cages and mud flaps. That 1962 Plymouth that Richard hooked to the back of that black and gold Pontiac in the Daytona 500. The 1963 Plymouth that won both Columbia Speedway races that year. I still see that 1964 Plymouth at Daytona in the 500 where I watched from the dirt mound in the infield as on lap 7 Richard just took off and blew by for the lead and won that race. 1965 was the boycott but I was happy when the Petty Blue 43 returned at the end of the year. I was at that first Rockingham race on October 31st and that, in itself, is a story of my dedication to racing and Richard Petty. 1966 was a good year, but wow, 1967 for my Petty Blue Plymouth was awesome. Ah, the days of Petty Blue seem to have gone with the wind. Sad.

The Gospel Train Sunday Mornings on ShagCityUSA.com

General

Thanks Jeff. I'll try to catch that next Sunday. I'm usually up and about on the computer by 8:00 a.m. on Sundays.

The Golden Era of NASCAR Vol. 3

Stock Car Racing History

This is awesome!!!! Someone needs to tell Senator Warner that The King drove a PLYMOUTH, not a CHRYSLER. lol

I LOVE CONTRACTS!!!

General

I could NOT pass this up as the old year ends. Johnny, well written, I loveit! Jimmy, the world would be shocked by what I was taught in those 26 years and what I learned. I have participated in preparing contracts with "incentive clauses" that would outstrip most contracts. The guy I worked for was awesome and he taught me many things. HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone.

I LOVE CONTRACTS!!!

General

Most of you probably do not know that I worked 26 years for one of the premier Sports Contract attorneys in the country before he passed away from cancer in 2003. In the beginning he represented professional athletes from Major League Baseball, National Football League and the National Basketball Association. After approxiamtely 10 years on holding hands and wiping noses of the mostly uneducated, pampered, brats, my boss ventured into contract represenation of Coaches in college and professional ranks. I will not list those individuals here for legal reasons, but let it suffice to say that most of the coaches you see in the bowl games this year and many of the NFL coaches were his clients. ESPN Game day could have filled hours of tv time interviewing the coaches that attended the funeral in December, 2003. It was quite a site.

I said all that to say that these contract issues that have come up with young Mr. Kyle Busch and JGR, are well within the options available to Gibbes racing. Joe Gibbs has the right to tell Kyle what underwear to put on IF that was a contract term. There is no telling what terms may be in the contract between the parties but I have seen NFL contracts that do not allow players to do such things as snow or waterski, fly in one seat airplanes, or drive race cars. When a contract pays big bucks, the Payor of that contract can call the shots as the Payor see fit. Just be sure it's in the contract or can be legally interpreted to represent the intentions you have. I would bet the NEXT contract between Joe Gibbes and Kyle Busch will contain different terms as to certain aspects of the personality of Kyle Busch.

Because I still have connections in the legal contract world, even today, I would like to tip you readers off to "possible" contract terms between Phoenix Racing and Kurt Busch. Allow me to preface this with the statement that I have a great deal of respect for James Finch and if he can get these terms in the contract over the objections of Kurt's lawyers, more power to him. These are the terms currently under negotation:

1. Kurt is NOT allowed to wear driving GLOVES. He must, instead, wear driving MITTENS, much like the mittens worn by children in kindergarten. The reasoning behind this is that by wearing such hand covering, Kurt cannot exercise the "one digit option" to be picked up by television cameras.

2. Two way radio communication will NOT be permitted between Kurt and his crew or spotter. The crew and spotter will be able to speak with Kurt, but Kurt will NOT be allow a microphone.

3. Kurt is NOT allowed to give any radio, television or written press interviews whatsoever. Should he actually win a race, Victory Lane Interviews will be handled by a crew person designated by James Finch.

4. Kurt will be responsible to personally repair any damage to the car including all body work damage incurred as the result of what Kurt terms as "racing".

5. All sponsor photo shots will be done with full helmet coverage of Kurt's face so, in the event of abrupt dismissal from the team, new sponsor photo shots will not be required.

At this point, these are the only contract options of which I am aware causing much discussion. Good luck to Phoenix Racing. The Phoenix is the bird that goes down in flames (Kurt Busch) and comes back as a new and beautiful bird (NOT Kurt Busch).

If this offended anyone, go hire yourself a lawyer. I know a couple good ones.

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM