My brother and my best friend.
David "T"
1947-2005
2000 Ministock(pro4) champion.
A racer for many years, starting in the mid '60's,(1965 ??) I think the first race was at Stafford speedway, Stafford, Conn. When it was dirt.
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exciting news and fun photos.
My First Year As a Short Track Race Car Driver
My biggest fan Wes Jr. I do not dare to leave for the tack without him.
It all started as a project to build a race car for my son Jason, But with 2 new babies and working nights it was just impossible for us to get together to work on it. So with a little coxing form my two brothers and my two nephews I decided to try and race it myself.
It has been an exciting and most invigorating thing I have ever done. I can hardly wait for the next race date. It dose take up a lot of time and draws me away from things that Nancy would rather do, like more bike riding and things for just the 2 of us.
I am currently the raining 2000 Rookie of the year for, Mottville Stocks 4 cylinder division at Mottville Speedway in Mottville Michigan. I also finished 2nd in points behind David T. my younger brother. I missed the first month or so of the racing season at Mottville Speedway but with a lot of help from my friends and our sponsor Hole's Salvage of North Webster, Indiana I was able to keep a car on the track.
It was a B feature win, MY first racing win and I loved it.
This was my first win EVER. I was glad to have Nancy at the track that night, as she does not go every night.
I didn't take pictures of the building of the car. I was quite frankly not sure if I could do this. I'm 56 years old and still like racing, but to do it ? I was afraid of looking like a old man with a midlife crisis, and being foolish. At first it may have looked that way. It seemed as though I was spinning the car around all the time. But, with a lot of help from Jessie, Brice, Frank and David T. I was able to finish the first race with out spinning out (6 lap dash). That was something, I finished a half a lap down and last. I still smile when I think of it. This pic is the first official lap of the #54 car.
My first race day.
David T. not only likes to drive, he is good at it. Dave, along with others has been the reason for this old man to do so will. He understands that I really don't know what I'm doing yet and seems to ask the right questions to get the info he needs to help me. I'm very grateful to have him around to help.
In August David T. and I ventured out on our own. With few tools and a lot desire we decided we were here to have FUN. If we win, ok, if we don't finish at all, we'll still have fun doing it. It is more satisfying to loss with dignity and pride, than to win and loss the respect of my fellow drivers. I can say that I have driven into almost every at least one this year. But it was the lack of skill and or judgment not because I wanted to. I have had as much fun laughing with guys like Rand, Merle and Dave after the race as I do racing with them. When we to get together on the track we laugh and usually I find out what to do next time to keep for not doing it again. Then we LOL make sure all the cars are ready go for the next race. Mottville there is truly no place quit like it.
Dave is resting figuring his next move to put on me to get around me. I'll try not to make it easy.
Dad, doing and enjoying what I have watched him do all of MY live, working on cars. Pic 1973 brother Joe's Heavy Chevy.
Wins
My dash wins were my most . For a while I had a motor that got me out front in the dash and let the faster cars fight behind me for second place. Here are some of those pics.
It was nice to have 2 of my grandchildren at the track for some of these wins. Gregory and Elisabeth.
Heat wins were harder to get. Here are some of those pics.
This next pic is of the car that was originally bought by Randy Morley. He allowed me to drive it to maintain my position in the points battle. About a 2 weeks or so later he sold the car to David T. Also to allow him to eventually win the points battle. Thanks Randy for your trust and help along with your friendship. This A feature 2ND place finish was my first and highest A feature finish.
Although I never won a A feature I had 5 B feature wins.
The A feature win has still excepted me. Next year it will be my goal to win at least one A feature. But I have placed in the top 3 and top 5 numerous times.
Dave and I have had a lot of fun over the last few months. Now that I have become a fare driver and gained some respect from the drivers in all the different classes of racers I would like to share with you some pics I have taken this year. Visit Wes's Racing Buddies, who knows maybe your there if you have raced at Mottville Speedway.