by: Cody Dinsmore
Christopher Constantine Economaki was born in Brooklyn New York on October 15, 1920. His father was Greek, and ironically, his mother was a great-niece to Confederate general, Robert E. Lee. Chris went to his first auto race in 1929, just months before the stock market crash that October. The race was a board track, which was popular for the time up North. The track was located just outside of Atlantic City, and he was a regular there for the next decade. That was the track where he raced his one and only race, in a borrowed midget. Driving in the sport he loved just wasn’t for him. Pretty soon, around the age of 11 or 12, he voluntarily sold copies of a local paper, National Speed Sport News. They were a nickel each, and in return, he received one penny. An average of $2 per race day was good pay during the depression. Even some adults didn’t receive that much pay for many jobs.
When he was just 14 years old, he started writing a column for the paper he lovingly sold every week. It was called “Gas-O-Line” and he wrote about different aspects in racing. In 1938, he was 17 years old, and he hitch-hiked down to Indianapolis with $15 in his pocket. He was gone for about a week watching some good racing and after he came home, he had spent only $12 of his 1938 dollars. Soon after he got back, he helped a friend with his midget car and spent the next season traveling with him. His friend was severely underfunded and really couldn’t compete. Economaki acted as his crew chief…..and that was his one and only time doing that.
After a stint in driving and trying his hand at being a crew chief, in addition to his regular contributions to National Speed Sport News, he put it all aside for a couple of years to serve in the U.S Army during the war. He went to Europe and fought on the front line. He came home and went back to work, right where he’d left off. After ten years, he finally went back to see the Indy 500, and returned each year for more than 60 years, from 1948-2010.
In 1950, he became the chief editor of National Speed Sport News. His announcing career was introduced in 1951, when NASCAR founder, Bill France hired him to call the NASCAR races at Daytona Beach. After that, he started to ‘sell’ himself to other tracks to let him announce when he wasn’t there to cover a race for his publication. His unique voice soon became recognizable at many tracks across several racing circuits. In 1959, Bill France hired him to be the announcer for his new big track at Daytona. That lasted until 1961, when The American Broadcasting Company, otherwise known as ABC, hired Chris to cover races from the pits.
He was the first to commentate about racing on television. Even though the first live race was in 1971, and the first flag-flag coverage in 79′, starting with Economaki in 1961, the races were filmed, but cut down to portions for ABC’s “Wide World of Sports”. Now, Mr. Economaki was heard nationwide, from the comforts of home. Since he had now almost 30 years of racing knowledge, he could translate what was going on during a race to the fans at home. And when it came time to interview drivers, especially after a crash for instance, he would ask the questions that no other journalists would venture to ask. After all, his listeners, viewers, and readers expected the truth about what happened, not a ‘guess’ or a change of words. Chris had a keen sense of what was going on, and knew most of the drivers. Just imagine what he might ask one of the Busch Brothers if he had been still active.
After 23 years of working with ABC, he was lured away by CBS and covered not only Daytona races, but also his beloved Indianapolis 500′s in addition to other events such as the 24-Hours of Daytona, and Formula One Races. In 1995, he was discharged by CBS because of a racial comment made in his National Speed Sport News column….but then again, he was writing what he had on his mind. After this, he stepped away from many TV and announcing positions with the exception of every Daytona Speedweeks, when he joined his fellow and former colleagues, such as Dave Despain, and Ken Squier.
With a full lifetime of pride in his typewriter, the last publication of HIS National Speed Sport News was printed on March 23, 2011. [Editor's note* The publication now operates digitally under new ownership, as noted on the website, "National Speed Sport News" is now used under an exclusive license agreement Turn 3 Media, LLC. Doing business as National Speed Sport News, the new owners offer the website www.nationalspeedsportnews.com, a new monthly magazine “SPEED SPORT Magazine“, and will be rolling out a variety of motorsports media products and initiatives over the coming years."]
Speaking of his typewriter, it had been said that even with the technology of computers, he wrote all of his articles on a typewriter. He didn’t email, or send them in letters, he called the printer, and spoke the entire article, word for word, in his booming announcer voice.
His wife, Alvera Helene (Tomljanovic), passed away in 2001, and Chris Economaki, the “Dean of American Motorsports Journalism” passed away on September 28th, 2012, just shy of his 92nd birthday.
-Cody
Email: cody7474@yahoo.com
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The Dean’s Chair will always be empty from Now On.
It sure will be…no one is allowed to sit in it! But atleast Chris has got good company in the big announcer’s booth up there…..why I’ll bet Jimmy Mosteller and him are announcing a big race right this moment.
-Cody
I’ll bet you’re right Cody!
I had been following Chris Economaki since the Sixties, and was saddened to hear of his death. Despite the many who followed, the voices that I associate with NASCAR are Economaki and Bob Jenkins. With Jenkins’ retirement from broadcasting occuring the same week as Economaki’s passing, it’s been a time of reflection.
Your writing isn’t as good as Matt McLaughlin’s yet, but based on what I read on other websites, you’re more literate than most. The rest will come with time and practice. I’,m pleased that you write for us because it balances out all the crotchety old folks like myself. Although the good old days WERE better, it’s best to present a younger viewpoint every so often.
I balked at your use of the word commentate, but Merriam-Webster tells me that it’s a valid word and I can’t think of an alternate way to present that sentence. You may benefit from semicolons – http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon. I still haven’t figured out when to use them, but it may help prevent choppy paragraphs with many short sentences. As I said, the more you write, the better you’ll become.
It’s been said that Economaki’s columns were difficult to read because he didn’t use paragraphs; just stringing together random thoughts with ellipses between them. So you can already make the valid claim that you’re a better motorsports writer than Chris Economaki. If you hang around here long enough I get the feeling that you’ll know as much about racing as he did as well.
Andy, I do hope you realize that Cody is 16 years old, not 46. He hasn’t had a chance to finish high school yet, let alone college. I try hard not to change his words if possible. He read this live on radio Tuesday night and believe me, no one had any problem knowing what he was saying or hearing the reverence in his voice as he spoke the words he himself had written.
Commentate is a perfectly good English word, and the reason why we call them commentators or color commentators. Semicolons are useful little tools in some instances, but all too often stuffed incorrectly into some place where they have no business. They are not substitutes for colons, though could be called substitutes for periods.
The semicolon is used to punctuate a single sentence that contains two complete thoughts within it. I promise you; that is the correct use.
I do wish you’d come listen to the Tuesday night show for a while. When we say that Cody is a historian, we are NOT joking. He not only does spots on our radio show, but has served as tour guide at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame since he was 11 years of age. His knowledge of racing would amaze and astound you.
Cody’s future plans include broadcasting in the field of racing; his friend and mentor, Jimmy Mosteller only recently passed away. Andy, Cody is now what Chris was at the same age. We here at RR are just as proud of him as we can be, and with good reason.
Make an effort to attend the Moonshine Festival in Dawsonville at the end of this month. Despite being on crutches with a broken knee, I’m quite sure he will manage to be present, probably at the Hall of Fame. You have to meet him, get to know him and be his friend before considering criticizing his punctuation and wording. I’ve done all that and even as his editor I try to leave his words and meanings as undisturbed as possible… because I’ve heard them spoken and because I respect the knowledge contained in that young 16-year old brain.
~PattyKay
Well my, PattyKay, I really do appreciate your kind words!
It means alot!
Thanks
-Cody
My apologies to Cody, yourself and anyone else who was offended by my tone.
I was aware that he was a young man and also that he was very knowledgeable. I understood and enjoyed the article, and felt that it was not as well written as other articles he had published; especially as it concerns a well-respected motorsports writer. The content was fine, but some portions read as a disjointed collection of facts. I am not and have never been a professional writer. I recognize that he hasn’t fully developed his style but I’m not the type to award trophies to everyone who participates.
To my knowledge, you and most others here are not and do not aspire to be professional writers. It was my impression that Cody hopes to be a published author, thus I apply a more critical eye towards what I read from him. I tried very hard to not be harsh, but even the best authors can use some editorial guidance. There are a lot of columnists on the web who are terrible at their craft and I’d like to see Cody exceed the current standard. I don’t expect a writer to have perfect grammar but do expect that they will do their job well.
My personality can be caustic and that’s especially true when I’m restricted to the written word. I have some financial concerns that make me irritable. I didn’t intend to tear him or anyone else down. I’m not criticizing you for improper editing. I don’t make a point of picking apart people’s columns but when one of my favorites turns in a whitewash job, I have sent a note reminding them that some are still paying attention.
I hold Matt McLaughlin’s work as something to be compared to. Matt doesn’t always spell everything correctly, nor does he stick to the Queen’s English. But his writing is personal, often humorous and flows like a melody. I also enjoy Monte Dutton’s work and although Ed Hinton isn’t the best writer, he’s a heck of a storyteller. Had I found Cody’s email address, I would have sent him a personal note. I did not wish to embarrass him publicly.
I’m new to this site and new to the South. I’m still trying to adapt myself to the culture of each. I’m motivated to do so but I expect a few critical remarks along my journey.
Andy, I appreciate your input, and the truth in what you see. I will admit I didn’t take as much time for this one as I have for others I have. I actually researched and completed this in about an hour. Others, however, may take me two or three hours. I can’t wait for you and others to read some of my favorites…such as my article on Raymond Parks that is 6 pages long, or my article on my mentor on announcing, the late Jimmy Mosteller.
Thanks Again
Interesting discussion here. Cody is 16 and is becoming quite a writer, as you point out Andy. PattyKay was, at one time I understand, a professional writer and is certainly a most astute editor. She has a field day editing my works.
I think all of us who write here do it because of our love for the sport. Andy, you certainly come across as one who shares that love and looking at your page on Racers Reunion, you have some great photos to share.
Andy, you do mention that you are new to the South. I assume, from your homepage, that the Northeast is your place of origin. Not sure where in the South you are settling in, but I hope you find it welcoming and satisfactory.
For the record, I try to use proper English and to spell words correctly, more in deference to Ms. Eldene P. Devett, the high school teacher who so influenced my life in many ways. Having said that, I realize I sometimes fail miserably because of the common usuage by which I am surrounded every day in public. Nevertheless, I continue to strive for the elusive perfection.
Note to Cody: You did a great job with your story and I think we all agree on that. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Legend!
Cody,I guess Ive been scolded by PKL by my use or lack of use of proper english in some of my ramblings more than once. But what I write or rather what I put in script is how I remember some things told or said. Saying that you and I have grown up in a state that that has a unique flair on how things are said or spoken. Jimmy was one that used his unique flair on words or group of to hold the public’s attention when announcing. Races have these dead stretches on the track where nothing is going on,or the break in between races needs activity created to entertain the fans. I especially remember him from MGR where he could keep a smile going with a laugh in between. Also noted he knew almost every car,owner and driver and could,at a moments notice,fill the audience with untold knowledge, who some say were stretching the truth,but no one ever publicly called him out.
You my friend will go places and see many many things in your lifetime and I only hope that R/R friends contribute a small portion to your success in the future.———————memories