Racing Timeline
Been racing since I was in grade school, first track and field, bicycles, go-karts then auto racing!
Sit back and enjoy the ride, it’s a quick one! 1979 to 2006
The year was 1979. Pops bought a go-kart that we completely rebuilt and repainted. I only have 1 photo of it and the whole experience. We raced at a little track north of Bell Rd. Many orange trees.
We had to wear a leather jacket when racing and I will always remember a driver that had “BOAT” on the back of his jacket. Yes, it was Billy Boat, father of Chad Boat. Great times.
Next was the 1974 Dodge Challenger. Built at the shop where Pops worked and many years later became “Tech-Fab Welding & Fabricating. First race was in Yuma AZ. Year 1980 I Finished 5th.
New Paint job! Great sponsor, Big O Tires in Glendale AZ. Thank you Steve and Kathy!
Pops turn, just having fun in Yuma:
Next car 1974 Dodge Barracuda, built in northern California and brought back to AZ. 1982
Mostly raced at Casa Grande AZ. 11 Mile corner at the fairgrounds. Manzanita Speedway and Yuma.
Next car, Chevy Camaro 427 engine: In 1984
Next a handmade chassis and body. (Pops was one hell-of a racecar builder/Crew chief) 1985
Frontend and some body modifications: The wedge car!
Firebird Raceway Phoenix AZ. 1985 – The race in the photos below are from a race when Pops realized after hot laps and the heat races that the track was so ruff right in the center on the front straightaway.
He told me the cars in the upper lane go high and the cars in the lower lane go to the bottom of the track. Leaving the very ruff center of the track wide open. Pops instructed me on the drop of the green flag, to go right up the middle. Sure enough, at the green flag the cars parted like the red sea and I went right up the middle!
Pops was right, from the back of the field to leading the race going into turn 1. We both loved it!!
Next car a Shaw Chassis my Pops built in Butler Missouri: Raced 3 different tracks 2 in Missouri and one in Kansas. The dates were May 3,4,5, 2002 – Sedalia MO. Adrian MO. and Pleasanton KS.
That brings us to Show Low, AZ. – May 2006
Hope you enjoyed the timeline. from 1979 to 2006 – 14 years old when I started and 41 at the end.
Racing is brutal, it doesn’t care who you are, how much money you have or don’t have. Racing makes you earn everything you get and the next week it starts all over again.
I enjoyed my time racing, thankful for all of it. Thankful for a great team and the best damn crew chief I could have ever asked for. Thank you Pops!