Dick Hutcherson in Bondy Long’s Ford Fairlane at Daytona - 1966…
Jim Vandiver - 1972
Dick Brooks at Michigan - 1976
One of Nascars best, but one of the least understood drivers of all time. At Talladega one year, he “heard a voice” that told him to park the car (in the middle of the race), get out, walk away and never get in a racecar again. He retired on the spot.
A few years later, when the urge to get behind the wheel again came over him, he ran a local short-track race in hickory NC. After that race, he climbed from the car, collapsed from a heart attack and was gone.
In these days of pretty-boy racers and polished images, Bobby would have NEVER made it… he could neither read nor write. But I’ve always figured that the gas pedal doesn’t know about all of that.
Forgot the picture…
Try this again… my picture of him in Banjo Matthews #27 wouldn’t load.
One of the few guys, along with Don McLaren, who could keep up with Ollie Silva in the New England Supermodifieds on a regular basis.
If you like these odd-ball old Supers, make sure to check out www.RetroRockets.org
Steady Eddie Flemke… still revered in New England as one of the best of all time!
Tyler Walker was supposed to be the newest, greatest thing on the World of Outlaws circuit. He left to become part of Tyler Jet Racing, who fielded the Tabasco car for Todd Bodine. The team folded, but he did spend some time in the Truck series.
The thing he didn’t figure out along the way, was that Nascar wasn’t going to put up with his partying habits. He joined the likes of AJ Fike, and Shane Hmiel in being asked to never return to their garage areas!
Chuck Ciprich would drive on Dirt or Asphalt, in a Modified or a Super… many times, all in the same weekend. And, he was a contender to win in each one of them. He won the Oswego Classic in 1978, and he and car owner Ron Buckner, decided to try tackling Indy. That project didn’t fare too well, and Chuck kinda faded from the spotlight. He was damn good though in his day.
“Travelin” Tom Druar was one of about 9 Modified drivers who were killed in quick succession, along with Richie Evans, Charlie Jarzombek, Corky Cookman, Don Pratt, and even his own Brother-in-law, Tony Jankowiak.
After a bunch of testing, it was found that the cars needed to crush up in an impact, rather than the full force going into the drivers body. Not many drivers have been lost since they figured out how to build “crushability” into the chassis.
His son Tim gets all the attention now, but David Russell was a very good racer himself. Must be a pretty good salesman too, as he had some pretty good sponsorship deals going for himself and also Pete Orr. Who can forget the “Horsen Around Farms” team?
Bruce Jacobi at Daytona in 1975… Better known as a USAC driver, a twin 125 crash would leave him in a vegetative state for several years before he passed away…
Oh yeah, this guy is well known… Yours truely in a Hialeah figure 8. My friends Lynn and Sue Reid loaned me this car for an unforgetable night of fun.
Friday Hassler with his LMS Chevelle in 1970…
Friday at Daytona in 1971…
Friday Hassler, Jr. at Huntsville, AL Speedway…
D.K. Ulrich - 1976
Grant Adcox
Maurice Petty inside brother Richard at Golden Gate Speedway - 1962
Riverside Park Track Champion, Billy Greco
