“Mr. Modified” Al Tasnady

“Mr. Modified” Al Tasnady

“Big John” Sears… NASCAR Winston Cup/GN driver… He drove in the 1960s for L. G. DeWitt who later hired Benny Parsons…

Here’s a really neat one from way back…
Dewey Gatson, originally from Tyler, TX, was better known during his racing career as Rajo Jack or Jack DeSoto. Shown here before an ?outlaw? big car race, circa late-1920s, Gatson was barred from racing in many organized venues because of his African American heritage, but he had several notable wins during his time behind the wheel. He worked as a mechanic for racing teams in his late teens and began racing on his own in 1923, driving a souped-up Model T Ford. Later that year, he was hired by Rajo Motor Manufacturing to sell its after-market racing kits. Gatson’s sales skills earned him the nickname of ?Rajo.? His pseudonym of DeSoto presumably came about because he sometimes said he was Portuguese in order to gain eligibility to race, but he mostly raced on the American Racing Association ?outlaw? circuit. After World War II, Gatson competed in Western Racing Association sprint car races, and in 1954 was finally able to participate in AAA-sanctioned races sponsored by the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce. By that time he was driving with partial vision, having lost his eye in a motorcycle stunt in 1938. Still, he captured two victories that year.

Dang! disc brakes in '20 something race car. How kool is that?
[QUOTE=Jimmy McKinley;110250]Name the driver’s real name. Some of these’ll be pretty easy; some, you might have to think back a bit. Now, there may be more than one answer for some of these (I’m mostly lookin’ for local Florida guys), but after they’re all answered, I’ll give ya the ones I was lookin’ for 
Buzzie
Rodeo
Ducky
Rapid (and no, I’m not looking for Richie)
Chargin’ (there’s at least three of these I can think of right off the top of my head, but lookin’ for one Florida guy)
Wiley
Spider
Hot Shoe
Speedy
Pistol[/QUOTE]
So here’s the answers to mine:
Emil “Buzzie” Reutimann, Jr.
Larry “Rodeo” Rogero
Tommy “Ducky” Duckworth
“Rapid” Randy Tissot
“Chargin’” Charlie Reagan
“Wiley” Will Cagle
John “Spider” Ensinger
Gary “Hot Shoe” Balough
Dan “Speedy” Reeves
“Pistol” Pete Leufkins
Now…name the car number that these guys were most known for 
Easy one
Well Hell . I’ll take the easy one.
Buzzie 00

What was Randy Tissot’s other nickname? He hates this one!
To Mr Berti’s trivia answers:
Wild Bill Greco
Gentleman Jack Lecuyer
Desperate Dan Galulu
Tony “Jap” Membrino
Jocko Maggiacomo (sp)
A few more, if not too late;
The Frito Bandito
The Flying Dutchman
Rolling Orange
George “Moose”
Big Ed
His Dads name was Ray but I just cant remember , Had a gas station on
Merritt Island in the 70’s and Sid worked for my dad before he went to Jimmy Vickers.
Maybe some numbers right ?
Buzzie 00jr
Rogero 11r
Cagle 24
Balough 112
Reaves 21
mostly based on NSS races
Frito Bandito was Bob Santos
Flying Dutchman was Fred Harbach
George “Moose” Hewitt
guess here… Big Ed Yerrington?
Who was Sideways Sid and Wrong way Ray ??
Still waiting for the Rolling Orange. Guess the Big Ed could apply to several but the one I am looking for raced at Riverside and hailed from Westfield, Mass. Thanks for bringing back a memory from years ago. I purchased a tow bar from Ed Yerrington,once he saw I was serious he gave me the tow bar at no charge. Super nice gesture from Ed. You nailed the others.
[QUOTE=Denman;110384]Maybe some numbers right ?
Buzzie 00jr
Rogero 11r
Cagle 24
Balough 112
Reaves 21
mostly based on NSS races[/QUOTE]Close 
David Rogers was the 11R in the John Rogers Used Cars Nova; I was looking for Larry Rogero’s car number. Balough had most of his notoriety in the 112, but he also drove Merendino’s Car 84 Garage car and Marty Handshaw’s #237.
Ya got Buzzie, Cagle, and Reeves 
Who was Sideways Sid and Wrong way Ray ??
lcof has it right, but is disqualified for phrasing the answer in the form of a question. This is not Jeopardy.
Btw, Sid still races karts. He was running last week, along with one of his daughters and usually a grand kid or two.
Rogero’s number was 17
As for Balough, I would agree that the 112 was his most often used number, and had a lot of success.
However, most Northerners saw gary’s biggest wins in the 73 car. 3 of his 4 Syracuse wins were in the maroon 73 cars. The later versions were gorgeous Grant King built cars.
Balough drove a ton of different numbers… Remember how dominant he was at OSW back in the early-90s with Pee Wee Griffin’s black #3?
[QUOTE=Frasson118;110342]PS-John… Ron Narducci had been announced for years as Ron The Greek Narducci. In fact, all these years, and getting to meet his son and daughter inlaw, I found that they pronounce their own name different than the rest of us have been. They pronounce more of a Nar-du-seee , rather than the Nar-du-chi that I’d always heard.
Not trying to correct, as much as passing on something that threw me for a loop also.[/QUOTE]
The man most commonly acclaimed as the Flying Greek in New England was Johnny Georgiades. He really was of Greek ancestry. Drove #87 for many, many years. According to one of my dear friends Dave Dykes, Ron Narducci was known as “Top Wop” because of his Italian heritage.
[QUOTE=Denman;110376]To Mr Berti’s trivia answers:
Wild Bill Greco
Gentleman Jack Lecuyer
Desperate Dan Galulu
Tony “Jap” Membrino
Jocko Maggiacomo (sp)
A few more, if not too late;
The Frito Bandito
The Flying Dutchman
Rolling Orange
George “Moose”
Big Ed[/QUOTE]
What was Jocko’s real first name?
“Desperate” Dan Galullo
Tony “Jap” Membrino