1982 Membership Card
Harry Nicholson President…Ding DeLeeuw Secretary
1982 Run Down
1982
This was our 14th season racing and 11th with the Hobby’s. This would be the year Ray Hughes came back, after a two year boycott, he was glad to see…”no more slicks”. “Hey Ray”, aren’t you glad we kept it going for you!!!! We gained a few cars in 82′ but lost some good runners who liked the soft, gummy, fast, replace every week if you want to be competitive, slicks. 1982 was good for Nonie and I. Steffon Zoskey and Paul Cornwall established their faithfulness to us, a relationship that would last for almost 20 years. We had 2 cars, a 33 Ford Coupe and 36 Dodge Coupe. The Ford we bought in 1977 from Don Cockburn, and the 36 Dodge we bought at the end of 81′. It was one of Bill Wakish creations. Dave Mogford, Harold Lawrence and Alfy Ryckman all had it before we got it. Harry Nicholson was President in 82 and worked hard to get the club back on it’s feet as we lost many cars when we went to slicks. One thing about the slicks, when I was able to afford them, I could run with the fastest cars. Now back on treaded tires, we were lost, and had to hang in week after week hoping to break through in our understanding of how to make a car go around the corners….we didn’t learn, but had enough ambition and determination to make it fun. We did however learn a lot more about engines, mainly because we blew them up fairly frequently. Many teams were running the light crank and rods, as well as the 194 head. We were still in the woods trying to compete. Once the machine of Dave McKee came out, everyone was racing for 2nd, although Dave Carson was almost as quick. We hope you enjoy 1982, we did.
1982
9th Year With Quaker State
33 Ford Heads For Repairs
David and Shirley pose as the 33 Ford gets hauled to a garage with heat.
Beat Up Coupe Waits For Bondo Doctor
That’s the way it left the track in 81.
Putting The Final Touches On Our 240
Steffon Looks On With Salesman Dave
Grenade Gets Paint Job
Being on the end of a cherry picker was routine
We tried a few things to stop oil pressure building up, like releiving the pan and rocker cover. We ran the big heavy clutch, like most teams did, like all were suppose to. We had roller rockers and spent a few thousand on our engines in 82′. Starting the engine was like pulling the pin, it was only a matter of time before we scattered it all over some part of Flamboro Speedway. I guess it sounds like bitterness, but we spent so much time and money on engines we were too tired to figure out how to get around the corners. Dad said, when talking about how our car handled..”gary comes out every week and aims the car”.
Powered by Steffon
Steffon Having Fun
We had some rough nights in 82′ but always got through it with Steffon’s attitude. He loved people and wanted always to have fun at what he was doing.
Lettering The Car
Pollock Signs
Ritchie, David and I watch Butch letter our car in 82′. Butch and his dad Ed were very good at free hand lettering and did a great job on the car.
Elgin Ford Used Car Showroom
Elgin Ford
Driving In The Snow In Toronto …Who Does That?
Spinning Up Bay Street
We kept the car for a while at Elgin Ford, our sponsor, as we got it ready for the Motion Car Show. One day we moved the car and by looks of it, there was snow on the ground. I guess I wasn’t the first to drive in the snow, I may have been the first to do it in downtown Toronto, on Bay Street, in the afternoon….maybe Steffon was driving.
O.A.R.C. Sign
Mike Makes Sign
We were very surprised when we saw this amazing sign, used at the car show to promote the Hobby club, designed and built by Mike DeLeeuw. Mike did many projects like this, and this was one of his early creations.
Mike DeLeeuw #17
Mike DeLeeuw #17
Hobby’s Work Hard At Promoting Club
Article From Car Weekly
Jim Collison #12
Jim Collison #12
Butch On Display With Our 36 Dodge
We loved car shows
Club Display
Hobby Cars Always Looked Good
In this display we put card board numbers on the cars in different places. Each number represented a different aspect of the cars safety. Mike’s is pointing to the seat, Jim’s to the right front wheel and mine to the windshield. An explanation of what each meant was given on the separate bristol board in the front of the display.
Yellow and Black…In Celbration of Ray Returning?
Dave and Scott Visit Motion Show
Dave was a great salesman at Elgin Ford, and Scott worked there also. Scott was Steffon’s best freind.
Butch & Me At Motion
Keeping an eye on the display
It was common, and still is, for those who had their cars in the show to be with the display to answer any questions on the Hobby club. Butch, who lettered our car and worked on our crew, joined me this day.
Car Show Write Up
Ding DeLeeuw wrote articles for Car Weekly and other racing papers for the club.
Rebuilding The Engine
Engine Room
It wasn’t the best work bench, but it was the most light and let us get it together knowing for sure where every part went. Richie and Dave help get the 240 back together…..they would get good at taking the six apart and putting it back together.
Running Two Cars
Opening Day
We ran two cars in 82′. Our coupe from 81 was run by Dave for the first part of the season and then Bob MacDonald took over later for a short career. Jim Granger, lived accross the street and towed the Ford Coupe to get the second car to the track.
Jim Collison #12
Steffon and Scott do a pre practice check.
Jim Collison is beside us and you can see the roof line of the not yet painted #10 of Brian Atkinson.
Pit Row
Flamboro Hobby Pits
Pete Ireland #26, Roger Perry #98, Alex Dube #15, you can see Rich Farraway’s blue coupe at the end and the yellow coach is Bill Spero.
Practicing At Flamboro
Flamboro
1948 Chev Maple Leaf Ramp Truck
Co-ordinated team
Heat Line Up
Jeff Bedell #65 outside pole, #55 Jim English and beside Jim is #12 Jim Collison. Not sure who is on the pole. It could be Harold Lawrence #39.
Two Car Race Team…Two Car Garage
“Canada”
On the big overflow container,in front of the rad, (it was about 7 gallons…for sure it was big), we put a Canadaian decal on it. I was a proud Canadian like most, and at the time our car was deserving of carrying the name….that would change later on in the year when the car went through some terrible times.
Working In The Garage
Antique Wall Unit Good For Storage
Roger Perry #98
“The Pink Panther”
First Gold Cup Race May 16th 1982
Starting Pole In Gold Cup Feature
Doug Didero #75 was suppose to start outside pole beside Pete Ireland #26. Doug had won his heat and semi and could have made it a hat trick but had trouble.
Side by Side with Pete Ireland #26
Tired After Two Laps
We had worked on the car to get it to handle better, but really didn’t have any idea how to get around the corners. With street tires instead of racing slicks (1981) we would never make the car work without getting the chasis right. In my notes from 1982, I was extremely tired by lap three. Man, the car must have been impossible to steer, come to think of it, it was.
Falling Slowly
Heading South
Dave McKee #37 passed me shortly after this picture and of course went on to win. In my notes I describe his car as the Late Model Hobby. Also mentioned was that Ray Hughes was right behind Dave in “warm pursuit”, in other words, he wasn’t catching McKee….More of this race below.
Jeff Bedell #65
Running Last..Just Ahead Of The Next Race
Dick Remus #44
“One Of The Club’s Humblest Racers Dick Remus”
Dick Remus was a great member of the OARC. He helped everyone and worked hard at keeping his car looking good and being competitive. He ran a garage in Paris and rebuilt the engine on our 1948 Chev ramp truck. We ran about the same, not at the front, but always giving it our best.
Ad For Race At Varney
Varney Ad…Gold Cup race Sunday June 6th 1982
Varney Pit Pass
“Rain Out Policy!!!…4 Races Constitutes A Show”
First Time At Varney In A Hobby Car
Varney
We quite often stopped and tried to get a picture entering a race track. It was done to show the track we were running at more than anything else. There was some importance in us racing here, it was our first time on Varney since 1969 in our Mini Stock, and the first time ever in a Hobby car. It rained out at Flamboro the night before and rained Sunday morning in Toronto. We waited for a long time to decide when to leave and head north. The Varney staff said it was cloudy with sunny brakes but no rain. One of the things I hated the most was not knowing if we were going to race because of uncertain whether. If it was a definite rain out, I could live with it, but when the sky was cloudy and we didn’t know if we would race or not, I got upset. The worse times for me was when it was sunny, then start to rain. I would get excited about racing and then get depressed because it was raining. This particular day we got the races in.
Varney Pits
Bob MacDonald Drives The Ford
We brought our other car with us. It was #35 when Dave drove it but he lost interest and didn’t want to make the commitment. I liked Dave alot, but sometimes things are much tougher than they appear. Plus, watching me run at the back and most nights out of contention at the beginning would be enough to discourage normal people. I wasn’t normal, therefore Dave couldn’t understand how we could run so much and not be successful on the track. He was right in a way, but we loved racing so much, we were willing to wait until we became a competitive car. Bob MacDonald wanted to try his hand at it and he got the number 5. It saved replacing both numbers.
Ron Shaw & Bob MacDonald Turn Two Varney
Practicing At Varney
Death Of A Coupe
Bob MacDonals’s Horrific Ride
It was just a horrific for Harry Nicholson. It was only Bob’s second night out with our 33 Ford Coupe, unfortunately it would be his last and the last race for the Coupe. Bob was not hurt in this wreck and that was the main thing. Coming off turn four early in the feature Bob got the move over flag from the starter. In a panic Bob came on to the front chute and not only down on the apron on the front chute but also had the two inside wheels in the dirt. As the leaders came around Bob got on the gas to make sure he was well out of the way (which he was already…by a mile) and as he hit the car it turned towards the front straight. He was headed right in front of the fast moving lead pack. Harry Nicholson #14 had no where to go and nailed Bob broad side…t-boned him at a very high impact. Both cars were heavily damaged…ours for good. Bob continued on with us as a pit crew member.
Messed Up Points Standing
Count The Mistakes
This document was in the Flamboro program in 1982. It was typical for the Flamboro staff to give much less attention to the Hobby club and it sure shows here. There are a number of errors. Ray Hughes is shown in first with less points than Jim English Dick Remus is show in two positions 9th and 12th Bob Kurtin should be in 9th The 14th place car was #75….Doug DiDero Flambor’s emphasis was soley on the Late Model class, and it should be, but this one just of many areas the Hobby had to fight for recognition.
Dave Carson #83
Carson Came To Win
Rained Out ? Not Yet! We Had To Bob Kurtins
Loaded For Bob
It was raining real bad in Toronto and likewise at Flamboro. John would never call off a race because of rain at noon, so we headed to Bob Kurtins to try to get help with our suspension.
Bearded Steffon Ready To Unload
Not handling well?…See Dr. Bob
Unloading In The Rain
Get er’ off…get er’ fixed
Bob Making Plates….Me Making Faces
Top Shop…Top Mechanic…Great Friend
Bob knew I had no clue on how to make a car work, so while he made the necessary changes in hopes of getting our car to handle, I entertained him.
June 19th..Putting It Back Together
Bob Makes sure the axle goes in properly, with the right camber and caster
Heating Nerf Bar To Relocate It
Final Touches
Thanks Bob
We Ran Better
Although we miised our heat on June 19th, didn’t arrive from Bob’s until after 8:pm, we did manage to finish 4th in the consi and 9th in the feature. We ran poorly in 82 but never gave up. A wave of thanks to Bob Kurtin for all his help…and he did let us know that we still needed to do more on the chassis to make it competitive.
1st Win Of The Season
1st Win Of 82′
Brian Atkinson #10….Trust Me
Brian Could Make His Car Work
Brian and I needed to get our programs together. Our car looked good and ran like…and his looked like…and ran very well. He was #10, it just dosen’t show up on this side of the car.
Ray Hughes Leading The Points
Bob Kurtin to 3rd
This one of Bob Kurtins better years. He ran very strong, but had his good friend Jim English #55 to contend with, as the 1978 Rookie of The Year kept ahead of Bob. Ray made his return to the Hobby’s in style. He missed 80 and 81 because of the slicks and when the club came to it’s senses and went back to treaded tires he came back and dominated the points chase. He didn’t domninate on the track, that was done by #37 Dave McKee.
Mangled Mess
Salvage what we can
No More Patching This One
Call The Forensic People
This was one incredible piece. Patched everywhere, pieces of plate steel and pipe used to reinforce old war wounds. The engine was cracked, the fan is broken…basically a write off after Bob’s wreck. We did what we had to do to race. If the Childrens Aid had seen this the year before, they may not have let me run, although I may not have qualified under their jurisdiction.
Ray Hughes 24
Hard Charging Ray Hughes
Johnny Spins
John Hasselfeldt #66 spins in front of Harold Lawrence #39. Harry Nicholson gets by on the outside.
Front Chute Flamboro
Before race gloves were mandatory
Ding Had His Own Column
Car Weekly Report
Pink Panther
Roger Perry #98
Dave Carson #83
Winning Again
Thanks to Dave the rules became more definitive, and not so vague letting racers interpert them at their own free will. His creation of an offset car (looking more like a motorcycle with a side car) in 1979 sent the Hobby club, and all the Tech boys off the deep end…or at about 9.9 on the Richter scale. Dave was a very serious competitor and one of the smartest and toughest racers in the Hobby club. He was one of the few who could give Dave McKee a run for the checker in 82′. Obviously he did it here, because Dave would have been a 3rd heat car. He cared more about winning than winning the Championship because if he didn’t feel like it he wouldn’t come out, but when he did, the hot shoes knew he was there to take the spoils for the night.
Syncronized Drift
Rich Farraway #53 and Ken Hills Jr. #43
Jim English #55
Tough As Nails
Every fast Hobby driver at one time had the incredible task of trying to pass Jim English during a race. Most of them would at one time or another end up in the cement either in turn two or four because Jim never slowed down, moved over, or gave much room to anyone. Out of the car he was one of the nicest compassionate members to ever race in the Hobbies.
Battling With Pete Ireland
Easy Going Peter
Peter was always a shy and easy going laid back racer. He ran hard but rarely caused any trouble although he got caught up in it once in awhile. Here we’re both hard at work, leaning to the left as the g-force pulls us right in the turns. In a few years from this picture, through the technology of better seats and belts, and Hans decvices, drivers won’t be able to move as much in the cars.
Storing The Ford Coupe Body
“36 For Schurr” On My Shirt
Last Ride For This Junk
Coupe Scrap On Ramp Truck
A 9′ Year Old Shirley…A 48′ Chev Ramp Truck
We Rented The Heavy Stuff
With barely enough tools to fix a bicycle, there was no hope of us having any welding equipment. Ironically, that was the piece of equipment I used the most. We rented the welder once in a while. Here Shirley poses just before we leave to return it. I’m guessing it’s secured enough.
Delaware July 2nd
Club Refuses To Run Last 11 Laps
On July 2nd 1982 I finished 4th in my heat and 5th in the semi. I started 3rd in the feature and got the lead after Dave Benley and Doug DiDero spun together. I led the feature until Bob Kurtin passed me and so did Brian Atkinson. On lap 9 of the 20 lap feature, an accident coming off turn two caused a lot of damage to the back straight guard rail. The Hobby club refused to continue the race until the fence was fixed properly. The track agreed to have us come back again on August 6th and finish this race before starting our regular show on the 6th. We had a meeting on July 5th, the Tuesday after the long week end and there were four points of interest regarding the race on July 2nd (these are from my notes taken at the Hobby meeting). 1) the final 11 laps will be run on August 6th 2) the pay out for July 2nd will be at the completion of the August 6th show. 3) the cars will line up for the final 11 laps as they were running when the yellow came out 4) You must pre enter for the 6th of August…..Nonie and the kids and I usually came in the truck. To pass the time away we played “punch buggy”. Everytime you saw a VW Bug, you called out “punch buggy” and hit someone close to you…it helped pass the time.
Bob Fields
Bobby
Bob Fields brought out this excellent looking machine in 82. It ran very well. Ken Jorgenson was back up driver for Bob in some of the races.
Brian Atkinson #10…Yes He Gets Me
July 2nd Feature
Brian passed me after a brief struggle, actually maybe no struggle. The race would be stopped when the back straight guard rail was damaged after a wreck. Bob Kurtin was leading at the time.
Kids Soap Box Race
August 21st 1982
David and Michael MacFarland ran the Soap Box with Mike steering and David pushing.
Winners Circle
Runner Up
David is pretty excited as he receives his trophy for finishing 2nd in the Soap Box event. Michael received the same trophy.
Harry Having Fun
Adults Are Kids Too
Rich and The Boys
Daddy Wins
Brian Breaks A Wheel
Not So Good
Battling With Rich Farraway #53
Racing For The Lead In The Feature
Our last feature win was in 1978. In that race I crashed at the finish line fighting off Dave McKee. In this race I started 7th and was running 2nd with 6 laps to go. A cuation came out allowing me to catch Rich. Dave McKee was running 3rd.
Take The Lead With Six To Go
Farraway Has Trouble
We caught Rich earlier in the race and though I was all over him, could not get by. On a restart with six to his car started sparking badly from the engine area on the restart. I was able to get by him and take the lead with McKee right on my tail. Our notes stated the car was running very good.
Say It Ain’t So
Are You Kidding
After waiting over five years to win another feature you would think I would have been prepared for this moment. I mean, rarely in the 80’s did a slower car get a chance late in the race to grab a win. We did take advantage of Farraway’s engine problem, but in my notes I credit the spin out for over driving, over worrying and simply messing up. We ended up going to the back and finished 13th. How fitting, not that I’m supersticious…but we lose the race and finish 13th.
Racing In Front Of All My Fans
Canada Steam Heat
We were sponsored by Elgin Ford on Bay Street and a company that cleaned restaurants in Toronto “Canada Steam Heat”.
Spinning Into Turn One
No One Got Hurt
Jim Collison #12 Goes High
Collison Flys By….Battery Flys The Coupe
In this spin we lost our battery. You can see it skidding across the track.
Dave Bentley #29
Dave, Jim English and Dick Remus
Hood Up Means Trouble
We Blew Many Engines In 82′
Pulling Out The Lemon
Blowing Engines Was Part Of Our Race Program
We spent lots of money, had good power, but when the dust settled, it was usually from the “speedy dry” put down for our blown inline. This one was yellow to match the car, or maybe to match what it was….a lemon.
Ready To Install Patch
David with Bob and Richie
Tow Truck To The Rescue
Our sponsor helps
One of our sponsors in 82′ was D&S Towing. We sometimes rented or borrowed an engine hoist, or we called our sponsor to help us. This driver was easy going, letting us do much of the hard work while he waited, and while the car was in the air. David watched from the back of the truck….I wonder if he pondered that one day he may have to go through this…if that was his thoughts, he probably hoped it wasn’t as often as we slugged with engines.
Common Scene For Dave Mckee #37
This Car Was The One To Beat
If you were from Milton there was absolutely nothing wrong with this car. It was legal in every aspect. If you were from anywhere else on earth, you may have been suspect because this Coupe was so much better than the rest. In my notes I called it a Hobby Late Model. At the end of the season, October Fest, the committee told the owner of Dave’s car that both the head and the oil pan were to be removed at the end of the race on Sunday. The owners refused to take the car apart and were disqualified for the entire season. Why did they refuse tech? This was one incredible story that had most teams scratching their heads. All kinds of theories were tossed around. They had an illegal crank, a small cluch, nitros, who knows. The car could have had an advantage on rule interpretation, something not quite covered in the rules, but legal, and they didn’t want to reveal their technology to the rest of the club, especially to the committee. I find that hard to believe because even if there was some magic in what they were doing, most of the rest of us either could not have afforded the upgrade, or wouldn’t have known what to do with it if we did have it, plus their car, aside from the engine and driveline was a work of art. It wasn’t just the driveline that made it fast, Dave was an amazing talent behind the wheel. So why take your toys and go home? It seemed that whatever this car had, whatever the big secret was, the owners wanted it burried for ever so no one would know. They wanted to blow the competition way…which they did most every week, they just didn’t want to be accountable to the rules. To me, a dominate car is not fun for the other drivers or the fans, it takes away from close racing. However if they were legal, good for them, but if they weren’t good riddens. Anyway, we’d never know. The following Tuesday at the club meeting, Dave McKee came asking why the penalty was so severe. We asked him why they left the pits without letting the committee check the car, but he couldn’t answer that. He really didn’t have any choice of the matter, it wasn’t his car and I felt bad for him but if your protested and you tell the Hobby club to stick it…I guess they will, but it will be the one failing to comply that will get the bitter end of the stick. Dave McKee was a champion long before this car was built and will always be a champion in my eyes. It’s just too bad he couldn’t convince the owner to let the club see what they wanted. Brian Atkinson delivered the notice of protest, he was one of the Tech people and if there was some skull duggery going on, Brian and the boys would have found it. This disqualification for failing to allow the club to tech the engine was the first one I’d seen since joining the Hobby club. It was truly a sad day especially involving such a well respected member…..it’s still sad to write about it now (December 2nd 2007)but I still love Dave, one of the truly best to ever race a Hobby car.
Jeff Bedell, Harry Nicholson & Jim English
Jeff Bedell #65
Jeff leads this pack. He ran for Jack Hood when he raced with the Hobbys. Jeff was just starting and had lots of potential. Here he stays ahead of Harry Nicholson #14 and Jim Englsih #55.
Flamboro Pits
Sponsors D&S Towing, Canada Steam Heat & Elgin Ford
Wayne Fetter #38
The Last Man To Run A Flat Head V8
The Hobby club use to run flat head V8’s in the 50’s and 60’s. Wayne put one together for 82′, they were still legal to run but couldn’t compete the way Wayne wanted.
2nd Heat Win September 6th
Doug MacFarlane and Steffon Zoskey
Another Engine Gone….Almost
Paul Cornwall Looks On
We only ran the warm ups on September 11th. It was another tough outing for us. We spun a bearing in the engine but I shut it off before it blew up saving the crank. Barrie was the next day and as the east coster said “we were some stressed out”.
Smiling Ray…Sad Gary
Sad Sack
We were all sad because the next race was at Barrie and we had engine trouble. The good news was that Mort, the owner of the #15 Hobby car driven by Alex Dube had a crank and bearing for us. Doug went with Dick Remus to borrow his engine hoist and Alex offered to bring the crank and bearings to our home in Toronto. Steffon and I headed home to take the engine out. It would be an all-nighter lasting until 8:30 before we got the engine together. At about 1:am, Nonie brought us out a huge jug of orange juice and at about 2:30am we knocked over all the tools and engine parts. The crew were awesome helping me get ready and we made it to Barrie the next day…..and it was a great race day for us.
Barrie Heat Race
First Heat Race
After working all night we got to Barrie and couldn’t get the engine to start, there was something binding. Mike DeLeeuw came over and noticed we didn’t have the bell housing bolts all the win. We got it tight and the car sounded good. In this heat Mike and I are on the pole. Dick Remus is second row outside beside Jeff Bedell and behind Jeff is #75 Doug DiDero and Ron Shaw at the tail.
3rd Win Of 82…Hard Work Pays Off
How Awesome Was That
After working all night on the car we got to Barrie without warm ups. I was reluctant to start up front not knowing how the engine would run…afterall there could have been orange juice in the bearings. Anyway we won this race, out third of the year. It’s times like this, that after so much trouble, we were given a little morsel to keep us coming back. This win wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for our crew and many other members including Harry Nicholson who gave us a piston. Thanks again to all those who gave us parts but especially to my crew and friends for spending the night to make it happen.
Barrie Feature Starting Beside Doug DiDero
Starting Inside Pole
More on who helped us. Dick Remus not only gave us the engine hoist, but he and his crew chief, Bubba, came to our home to help put the engine in the car. Dick was a mechanic and had some experience at putting pistons in the engine. He left our home,after Nonie made a great breakfast for us all. We started pole in the heat because Doug, our crew member drew #1 out of the hat……In the feature we started pole by virtue of the heat win. Doug DiDero started outside pole. (No one knew it at the time, but in a few years Doug would become a legend in Super Modified racing). Meanwhile we sure were happy just to make it to the track, so imagine how nuts we were after winning the heat and starting pole. See the next picture for the finale of the race.
Barrie Line Up
Ron Butts #88
Ron Butts drove #88 and he started 3rd in this race. You can see Ron Shaw’s car also. It was a good run for us as the race went non stop.
Battling Brian For 3rd At Barrie Speedway
We Finish 3rd In Feature
What an incredible day this was for us. We won our heat and then held on to finish 3rd with both Brian Atkinson and Bob Kurtin all over me…trust me Bob is there. Dave McKee won this race starting at the back and passing me at the half way mark. He went on to win by a full straightaway. Ray Hughes finished 2nd. We celebrated as if we won and in a sense, given the year we had, this was as good as a win. We won $165 for finishing 3rd.
Jim English Won Fast Car Heat
Jim English #55 Wins Barrie Heat Race
Ray Hughes Wins Championship
Race Report
This report by Ding DeLeeuw stated that Ray Hughes won the Championship. Check out the paragraph on the top right side of the article…..oh, never mind, just read it all….this is quite awesome for Ray to sit out two years and then return to win the points.
Surrounded By Brian and Bob
Battling With The Boys
Ron Butts #88…..Rich Farraway #53
Lake Flamboro
John hardly ever called a race unless it was raining at 8:pm at night. Sometimes it rained hard all day and this huge pond appeared in turn three and four. They called it Lake Flamboro and the idea was to stay out of it.
Davey Jones #99
Staying Alive
One of the few coach runners, Davey Jones. He would come out with a beautiful paint job on this coach in 83′.
Lining Up For A Heat
Relaxing Before The Heat Gets Going
Family Racing At Kart World
We Did As Much Together As Possible
Nonie, Shirley, David and I spent some time carting at Kart World. The kids weren’t big fans of carting unless mom and dad got involved for fun.
Front Chute War
Ron Shaw #81 and Dave Bentley #29
Points Standings
Ray Wins Bob Has Awesome Year
Most Popular Driver 1982
The Season Wasn’t All Bad
It’s hard to get excited about winning an award because someone else was disqualified. The only reason we won Most Popular Driver was because of Dave McKee’s d’q’. Dave won a few awards in 82 that were taken away and given to the next in line. It was a bitter sweet honor, but sort of made up for a tough season.
Two Of Our Crew Members Of 1982
These Two Made It Fun
1982 was an up and down season for all of us. Steffon worked extremely hard every week and during the week just trying to get us to be competitive. He knew how much I loved to race and developed the same desire to never give up and no matter what, we got to get to the race. Steffon felt the pain of the bad nights we had as much as I did. It may have been better for Steffon if I had given up, that way he would get some rest. He always looked at me as if to say “well, what are we going to do”? He already knew the answer and that kept him busy for the entire summer because we would never quit and winning was the elusive goal that we strived for, but being comptitve was even more important, and for most of 82′ we did neither…but we never gave up. Paul was our mentor and kept us on our toes, more so in years to come, not so much in 82′. Paul was the cheerleader and never spoke a bad word about our competitors. He wanted us to win, but knew we were doing well with what we had. He always came up with ideas that were a few years ahead of us but still he stuck it out enjoying all that we had with the friendship and fun together after the races and during the week. Our fun usually ended when we got to the track…not really, but like any team that struggled, we only dreamed of how we could do and most nights it didn’t happen. In spite of that, these two, along with Richie, Bob and Doug kept me race ready week after week.
Mom Dad and Richie
Mom & Dad Always There To Support
Dad was always wanting me to win, likewise of course for Mom and Richie. Perhaps Dad had more at stake because he welded the stuff I kept braking. We struggled in doing anything with our car that would make it competitive, it meant a total rebuild and it wasn’t in our budget. Mom knew we did the best with what we had, and Dad was just tired of seeing everyone else beat me. Seems like a normal circumstance with a Dad and Mother. Richie for sure wanted us to win but knew we raced against some very good race cars and accepted how we did knowing we gave it our best every night.
1982 Special Photo
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Delaware
This picture was taken by Race Pro Photography out of Mount Bridges. They took many Flamboro pictures as well as other tracks we raced…this looks like Delaware, we there twice in 82.