There are a few types of accidents that are not good. Fire is the worst, a roll over can be just as scary, a blown engine taking you for the slide of death, and a stuck throttle. The roll over happens sometimes very slow, other times can be a few rolls (my worst 1973 had 4 flips at Speedway Park). I only had one fire and it was minor, caused by a blown inline six engine. I would never want to be in or see anyone inside a car on fire….never.
The stuck throttle? That’s another very serious deal all together. It’s usually unexpected, and a driver won’t know it until he lets off the gas deep into a turn. The results are usually physical injuries, possible concussion, broken wrist,a ton of damage, very costly Both roll overs and fires can be expensive but not as much as a head on into the cement at high speed.
Jamming on the brakes won’t overpower a stuck throttle, slow it down a little but not much. You don’t have time to shut off the ignition either, the distance from brake application and the wall isn’t very much, maybe 4 car lengths max. You react mostly by just holding on. Seeing the wall come at you that fast, especially if the car is travelling 100 mph takes your breath away. Even at 60 to 70 mph can be very bad is scary and can brake some bones, not to mention twisting a chassis and busting many front end parts.
I’ve had 7 different roll overs, 1 fire and 2 stuck throttles. I don’t like any of them but the stuck throttle tells you the next time you’re in the car “do you really want to go in that deep again”?
This picture was my first stuck throttle at Pinecrest. The car hit so hard it lifted the back off the ground 3 feet and drove the seat belt buckle (a round one back then) deep into my stomach. I got out of the car but was really sore almost sick to my stomach.
My good friend Danny Shirtliff #39 drove under me. I think he said “I’m glad that wasn’t me”.
Quite a good shot by the photographer and you can see Danny looking at me during this nightmare.
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Season On Hold Until The End of June….Here’s Some History 1981
I want so bad to promote my sponsors for 2020. Quaker State, Lincoln Electric, PPG, Permatex, Grind Stone, FMS, Brand Apparel, PYE Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Strictly Hydraulics. I will get a chance on June 5th for another I race to get some exposure. The Maritime Pro Stock Tour season has been cancelled until the end of June. Covid 19 is the culprit. As long as new cases keep coming up the season will continue to lose dates. Part of the problem is the borders between PEI, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are currently close, so no travel, and if anyone tries to go from one border to the next they must quarantine for 14 days.
Businesses are slowly opening up but with borders closed and at least half the MPST field from PEI and New Brunswick, we won’t be able to race. z
Lets hope for no new cases in June and no more deaths in Nova Scotia. There have been no deaths in PEI or New Brunswick, and 90% of those in Nova Scotia are from the same nursing home. It’s really sad and once this is over the world needs to take strong measures to make sure our seniors and those with weak immune systems are looked after.
Here is a picture of my car from 1981. During hot laps the right rear axle shaft broke in the middle of turn 3. The wheel bounced over the wall…..as you can see I got it.
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Iracing Debut Wasn’t Too Bad
Just want to thank the Maritime Pro Stock Tour, Race Time Radio (Joe Sue Chisholm) and Tim Terry of Tim’s Corner Production for hosting the live Maritime Pro Stock Tour race Saturday May 16th on Iracing.
It was a fun race with 21 teams, 3500 viewers at various times.
Also want to thank my family, friends and fans for watching and supporting me on this. It was a great venue to have my sponsors promoted and for that I am very thankful.
I got confused for the start and missed my heat race and the start of the feature. The last time I raced on line, the cars were automatically put onto the grid.
But I finally made it to the race and proceeded to put on a wild flippin’ wreck lol. The graphics were so real that some friends thought I was in a real terrifying crash. They messaged me to see if I was okay. I want to thank them for the kind words, but me and the car are fine.
There will be another race hopefully in early June. I will post the info when it is available
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Iracing Maritime Pro Stock Tour….This Saturday
With our first few races cancelled, the Maritime Pro Stock Tour is hosting an Iracing event with all the current and previous members of the series. This race can be found on the MPST face book page, or on their web site.
The times and info is on this ad.
I want to be part of this to support my sponsors anyway I can.
I haven’t raced on line for 10 years. In the past 2 days I completed over 700 laps, crashed several times, but in Iracing, crashing is easy, just return to the pit and get a new car. I am still much slower than the experienced I Racers, but will practice more today and again Saturday to eventually find the proper line and be consistent. Hope you get to see it.
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Beautiful Nova Scotia…Where My Parents & Relatives Were Raised
I went on a short trip the other day with my cousin Bill Elliott. We visited the site of my Dad, and his Dad’s birth place. Two of my Aunts were born in this area as well. I will post all the pictures on Diary of a Season 2020 soon.
The original house is tore down but a camp has been put in it’s place. I remember my Dad said “we lived so far back in the woods, we had to come out to hunt”. It was a great day for Buttons and I to finally get out. The first 3 months here have been hectic, getting settled and then Christmas. Since February it’s been cold wet damp and of course snow……we had snow on May 7th….that’s not funny.
This area is called Pleasant Hills and isn’t far from Truro about 45 minutes. I have family living about 2 few miles from this place.
I just signed up for Iracing and will post here what series I am in and when I will be racing. The Maritime Pro Stock Tour is hosting a race for this Saturday to represent our first race at Petty Speedway that has been cancelled.
More on that soon.
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Melissa Bullen……So Sorry You’re Gone
Another tragic loss with a very young lady. Melissa Bullen was the 3rd generation of a stock car racing family. Her grandfather Fred Bullen raced in the 60’s and 70’s, her Dad Phil, and her brother Branden also raced.
Melissa was loved by everyone who knew her. She raced Mini Stocks at Sunset Speedway.
The racing world is in shock that she is no longer with us.
Our prayers go to the Bullen family, that God will comfort them in their time of sorrow.
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1999 Pit Crew…..Steffon Zoskey, Jim Hulzinga, Roger Peach and Brian Watson
Here is a picture of my crew from 1999, our second Championship season. Brian is pictured here shaking hands with Steffon, at that time my longest pit crew member.
Jim Hulzinga is on the far left facing us, with Roger Peach beside Jim, who is still part of m crew today. Steffon lives in Oshawa and has a new career of riding bikes, he is an honorary crew member always.
We will miss Brian, but I know he is with the Lord, based on his confession and desire to know Jesus.
Roger Peach, also went home to be with the Lord in 2004, another soul who’s life ended too soon. People are the most important aspect of our racing, it’s all about those we get the privilege to meet and be with.
Please pray for Brian’s family at this time,
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Brian Watson…….Thank You So Much……Will Miss You My Friend
In 1999 Dave Watson, pictured here with his son Brian, asked me if I could use some pit crew help. I thought he was referring to himself, but he meant for his son Brian. I gladly said yes and over the next 5 months Brian would join me and my crew for a wonderful celebration, winning the 1999 Hobby Club Overall Championship.
Brian would eventually get his start racing in the Hobby Club in 2002. They purchased a good car and Brian learned how to drive it very well, running in the top 7 in points most of the season.
In 2003 Brian and Dave celebrated an amazing night winning the feature at Sunset Speedway.
Brian would race Mini Stocks for his Dad and eventually got out of racing although he really never wanted to quit.
Over the past few years Brian helped me whenever he could, always a great help willing to do anything to be part of our team.
A few years back Brian made a decision to follow Christ. He was committed no doubt. We went to church together many times, he very much enjoyed going and quite often asked to go with me, or for me to pick him up….I was glad to pick him up, then we would come back to my place and watch the NASCAR race or a hockey game.
One of the many promises Brian believed was from the Book of John, where Jesus said “Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me. In my Fathers house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am you may be also.
On April 30th Brian went to that place. My prayers are with his family and friends. May God wrap His loving arms around them at this time.
Going to miss this hard working loveable young man, who was a true friend.
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Buttons Relaxing Watching Me Every Second
You really get to know your beautiful friend when you’re with them 24/7. Buttons is such an amazing pet, so loyal and even when she is sleeping I’m sure she has one eye open to see what I do or where I go.
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Buttons Always Wants To Be With Me
Buttons and I have been together pretty well since 2013. We got her in 2009. She was a family pet until someone brought us 2 Chinese Crested dogs. They were suppose to be with us only a few weeks but they ended up staying permanently. What once was Buttons domain were now controlled by 2 rescue dogs, soon Buttons felt left out.
One day I was backing out of the driveway and she was looking out the window. My heart broke and I went in, brought out with me to go to town and we’ve been partners ever since.
Buttons has been such a great companion. The only time she was not with me was when I played darts one night a week. So we were together, and still are, 163 of 168 hours a week, although the past few months we are together 24/7 like most times. When I left the darts I couldn’t wait to get her and she got so excited.
She makes me laugh and cry and I thank God so much for her.
I will be posting soon an update on my new pit crew in Nova Scotia.
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