Weekend Warriors
Tommie Clinard
Tuesday December 8 2009, 2:12 PM
All of us are guilty of seeming to want to reward the guys in the highest levels of any sport.I guess that this is just human nature. I know that it is true in auto racing.Where did these guys come from? Where did they learn the art of slinging 3500 pounds of steel into a broadslide on some 1/2 or 1/4 mile race track around the country while running side by side with another competitor to the excitement of thousands of fans?Surely we know that it is not from sitting on their rear ends reading it from a magazine or watching it on TV.These guys have paid their dues. They got it the only way possible. Been there, done that school. These guys are known as Weekend Warriors. Then along comes Mister Money and says to one guy, "Wanna drive my race car?" The other guys get left behind. Thus the success (???) story goes on until money, not ability, takes the guy to another pinnacle.My story. I used to outrun a guy that was like this. His father had lots of money. Mine did not. He went on to great success and I was still running the bull rings. End of story.Do I feel bad about this. Sure I do. Not just bad but wondering what if??? There are thousands of other drivers just like me that NEVER got that chance. But they paid their dues.Where would the sport be today if these guys had never been there? Only the winners are remembered. Not the other 20 or 25 that ran the race. Just wondering. ???Another Weekend Warrior.
Pete Banchoff
@pete-banchoff   15 years ago
Tommie, although I never drove a race car, I've been watching racing since about 1962. Mostly watching at local bull rings, but started going to big league nascar racing at Michigan in 1969 until about 1985. I watched a skinny balding guy race some of the very best Michigan had to offer and many nights he had his butt handed to him by the end of the night. He kept learning and getting better and picked up rides in better equipment for the next few years. Eventually he was noticed by Ford Motor Company and was offered an ARCA car and the rest is history. This was Benny Parsons and racing men like Danny Byrd, Joy Fair, Ed Howe, Jack Goodwin and others made him a great driver. I don't know why the others mentioned didn't go Nascar, Benny was just able to get the break. Was Benny the best, Nope. But he was damn good!Pete
Johnny Mallonee
@johnny-mallonee   15 years ago
Tommie,you and I had the pleasure of racing some of our sports greatest drivers in our little hotbed of racing in middle Ga. we learned our sports technique of power sliding or drifting as some call it from being passed and with continued practice you either learned it or built a lot of cars.M G R was a special place for us because it served as a meeting ground,you met a lot of drivers there and that is where the big ride takes off from--some financed it out of their hip and others lived off a sponsor.I had a few unique teachers in my time and all them were patient in their schooling whether it was on the track or on the tailgate talking.these things we were taught back then you never forget.We could survive in todays racing form but I dont think todays drivers can survive in the racing form you and I were brought up in . this only revives more---------------------------memories
Tommie  Clinard
@tommie-clinard   15 years ago
You are correct Johnny. But have the talent or not it took dollars to get into the big time. If you didn't have it whether it be by family or otherwise you couldn't make it. If you did by some chance get there without the money or didn't have money backing you then you were one of the also rans.But I believe that we had more fun back then on a local level than the cup guys have today. Remember the Lounge under the grandstands at Middle Georgia. Sitting around talking to Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Neil Bonnett, Red Farmer, Tiny Lund, Tom Pistone, etc., etc.. Those were fun days for me and I was running off the hip pocket. Bobby and Donnie were already in the cup series but would come over and run in the late model races with us. I have made a lot of friends in racing and I wouldn't take anything for it. Not even to have all of the money back and not have done it. No regrets.......One doesn't really know unless they have been there.
Jeff Gilder
@jeff-gilder   15 years ago
So well said., Tommie....and in the past 10 years we've seen yet another evolution in this process. Now most drivers...who make it to the big time bring the sponsor (or Daddy's $$$$) with them. I was talking with NASCAR Camping World Series truck owner, Billy Ballew a few weeks ago about certain drivers and their talent. Billy was fretting over the fact that Kyle Busch was going to have his own truck team next year. When I asked Billy if that meant that Blake Feese might get a shot in the 51...he commented.."Blake is a hellava race driver, but he ain't got no money behind him." By the way...Billy said he would would outrun Kyle and his money next year...we'll see. Billy is old school...I would love to see him do it
Tommie  Clinard
@tommie-clinard   15 years ago
Exactly my point Jeff. In this day and time if you ain't got the money you ain't got the ride. Thanks for the input.
Dale Dodge Jr
@dale-dodge-jr   15 years ago
Pete, Words of great hope...From the past. It's difficult to get a sponsor these days, let alone a full, or even part time ride. I'm having fun living the dream, as long as it lasts. Born to race.
Pete Banchoff
@pete-banchoff   15 years ago
Dale, you're right...things have changed from Benny's day. I can't image how tough it is now to get financial help in these tough times. I'm glad you're able to live a dream and live it to the fullest, my friend. What a great thing to have in your life.Pete
Connie Tidwell Frady
@connie-tidwell-frady   13 years ago
Mr. Clinard, I've always felt that the true racecar drivers were the ones like you and my dad who built theirs with their own hands, knew their cars inside and out, and could still get out there and compete! Sadly that's not what racing is about today but like they say, those were the good ole' days. Ya'll were a special breed. Nowadays it's about the money. Daddy even mixed his own racing fuel and I've found 2 of his formulas among his things since he died. People just don't do those things anymore. The guys driving don't know anything about how those cars are built. Back in the day, you put your heart and soul into your car. Ya'll had the heart of a true racecar driver if you ask me. It was great seeing you last Saturday. You take care :o)