Post by Jim Fisher on Sept 1, 2010 22:45:03 GMT -6
As a youngster growing up, it seemed most of my heroes came at the local dirt track. Names like Jack Sharp, Larry Zimmerman or Don Taylor probably won't even ring a bell to anyone outside of Michigan's Butler Motor Speedway, but they were larger than life heroes to me. I remember Sharp turning the first sub 19-second lap at Butler, and Zimmerman driving his "Lucky Lindy" to many checkers. Some people think that Steve Kinser is the greatest open wheel driver to wear No. 11 on his car. Nope. That was Larry Zimmerman. I have a racing room with a poster shot of Kinser on the wall. Above it is a shot of Zimmerman (that someone else took) in his heyday at Butler.
I have to admit, that in my teenage years there were times when chasing girls seemed more important than racing. Even so, during that time I was able to catch some of the very first races of the World of Outlaws series, and with that my list of heroes began to grow. I'll never forget a move that Brad Doty used to perfection for a pass at Butler in those early days of the series. Driving the Bowers Coal No. 28, Doty drove high into turn one at Butler and then shot low and ducked under his competitor in turn two. Words can't do the move justice, as Butler was an oiled-surfaced track at the time. It was very fast and tacky, but yet one grooved with a wall on the inside and very tough to pass on unless the driver ahead made a mistake. And Doty made it look soooooooo easy.
Another driver that drew my attention in later years was Jack Hewitt. Anyone that has enjoyed the photos I've taken over the years can thank my parents, Gale and Gloria Fisher, who were huge sprint car fans. My father still follows sprint car racing, mostly the AVSS series. But my mother passed away nearly 20 years ago. When she died, she was buried with several pictures of Jack Hewitt in her casket. That's how much she loved Jack Hewitt. Needless to say, Hewitt brings out special feelings in me as well.
A few years back, Hewitt was on hand at Butler Motor Speedway with his two-seater during the All Star show. I was lucky enough to be the media representative to ride with Hewitt during his early trip on the speedway. Sitting in the car, getting buckled in for a ride with your hero was a pretty neat experience. And to be on the track you grew up with, and one that you'd saw Hewitt take victories on: I knew if my mother could have been watching, she'd certainly have been smiling.
I'd been in the pit area for years, I knew the routine of the belts and helmet, and it all came easily. What I wasn't ready for was the waiting. Now I know what it feels like to be a driver sitting in the warmup chute when the race before goes on forever. Finally we pushed off and the motor came to life and there was no more waiting. I'd watched sprint car in warmups, and most of the time they took several laps to warm up the motor. Hewitt hadn't been on the track yet, and I figured he'd do the same. After one lap, we came out of turn four and I reached out with my right thumb to the Butler crowd as we went by. At the very same moment, Hewitt stomped the gas and I was in for the ride of my life.
I can't say that I was ready for the acceleration of a sprint car. But then again, how can you ever be? Words can't describe it. The first thought that raced through my mind was, "oh my God, what have I gotten myself into." After about a half lap I returned to my senses and knew that the ride would be short, and I'd better enjoy it while I could. I gained new respect for drivers on starts, as I climbed out of the car wondering how they don't crash into each other every time they step on the gas. And after that ride, all sprint car drivers seemed like heroes to me.
I have to admit, that in my teenage years there were times when chasing girls seemed more important than racing. Even so, during that time I was able to catch some of the very first races of the World of Outlaws series, and with that my list of heroes began to grow. I'll never forget a move that Brad Doty used to perfection for a pass at Butler in those early days of the series. Driving the Bowers Coal No. 28, Doty drove high into turn one at Butler and then shot low and ducked under his competitor in turn two. Words can't do the move justice, as Butler was an oiled-surfaced track at the time. It was very fast and tacky, but yet one grooved with a wall on the inside and very tough to pass on unless the driver ahead made a mistake. And Doty made it look soooooooo easy.
Another driver that drew my attention in later years was Jack Hewitt. Anyone that has enjoyed the photos I've taken over the years can thank my parents, Gale and Gloria Fisher, who were huge sprint car fans. My father still follows sprint car racing, mostly the AVSS series. But my mother passed away nearly 20 years ago. When she died, she was buried with several pictures of Jack Hewitt in her casket. That's how much she loved Jack Hewitt. Needless to say, Hewitt brings out special feelings in me as well.
A few years back, Hewitt was on hand at Butler Motor Speedway with his two-seater during the All Star show. I was lucky enough to be the media representative to ride with Hewitt during his early trip on the speedway. Sitting in the car, getting buckled in for a ride with your hero was a pretty neat experience. And to be on the track you grew up with, and one that you'd saw Hewitt take victories on: I knew if my mother could have been watching, she'd certainly have been smiling.
I'd been in the pit area for years, I knew the routine of the belts and helmet, and it all came easily. What I wasn't ready for was the waiting. Now I know what it feels like to be a driver sitting in the warmup chute when the race before goes on forever. Finally we pushed off and the motor came to life and there was no more waiting. I'd watched sprint car in warmups, and most of the time they took several laps to warm up the motor. Hewitt hadn't been on the track yet, and I figured he'd do the same. After one lap, we came out of turn four and I reached out with my right thumb to the Butler crowd as we went by. At the very same moment, Hewitt stomped the gas and I was in for the ride of my life.
I can't say that I was ready for the acceleration of a sprint car. But then again, how can you ever be? Words can't describe it. The first thought that raced through my mind was, "oh my God, what have I gotten myself into." After about a half lap I returned to my senses and knew that the ride would be short, and I'd better enjoy it while I could. I gained new respect for drivers on starts, as I climbed out of the car wondering how they don't crash into each other every time they step on the gas. And after that ride, all sprint car drivers seemed like heroes to me.