Driver Nickname Trivia

[John Berti]

I got a few...:
Bugs Stevens is Carl Berghman (great guy, and total goof-off)
Langis "Punky" Caron
Harmon "Beaver" Dragon
Sal "Dee" DiRoma
Sonny O' Sullivan (another great guy)
Travelin' Man, Pete Fiandaca
Flyin' Greek, Ron Narducci ( who may be coming to 2013 Reunion)

Thinking I just remembered the Ted Tappet answer... Phil Walters?

And I'm SURE I know the Les Ley answer, but it's trapped behind a fog of Budweiser right now...!

I'm surprised you got three wrong: Punky, Sal Dee, and "Flyin Greek". For the record Narducci is an Italian name. It's second try time!

Ted Tappett's real name was Phil Walters

[John Berti]

Just noticed the bottom one... the recently passed "Wild Bill" Slater.

That's true, but not the Wild Bill I was looking for.

[John Berti]

Nutsy Fagan = Rene Charland at non-NASCAR events ?

Connecticut Valley Rocket = Also Bill Slater ?

Young One = Doug Heveron



How about the "Big O"

You got Nutsy Fagan and the Connecticut Valley Rocket correct of my list. Doug Heveron was called "The Young One" early in his career. As I said to Fras, Bill Slater was not who I was looking for as my answer for "Wild Bill".

I'll take a guess that "Big O" was Billy Osmun.

[John Berti]

Twin.... I think you're right about Rene. He ran, and won, in several years of NASCAR Championships for the Sportsman series. They would bust you for the season if you supported anything other than Nascar events. LOTS of guys would whitewash their cars, slap on a electrical tape car number, and a fake name.... so they could race "outlaw" shows.

Last I knew about Rene, is pretty sad. He's confined to a nursing home, doesn't recognize friends.... but still tells people on occasion that he's "The Champ". They think he's crazy, but it might be the only part of REALITY that he has left.

For those that don't know, Rene has been known as The Champ for well over 40 years. He's not making it up for old-folks sake... it is his lifelong nickname.

Charland was the first driver to win four consecutive NASCAR titles, earning Sportsman championships in 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965. And if not for a fiery crash in 1966 -- known as the "French Barbeque" -- Charland could have easily kept the streak alive, as he finished third in the points despite missing the remainder of the season.

[John Berti]

Frasson.... You are right about Rene being "The Champ". I'm really sorry to hear about his current condition. But maybe if he still has that to hold onto....... He was one cigar chomping character in his day not to mention a heckuva race car driver.

With dating myself out of the bag. Here are a few more:

Steady
Fats
Wild Man
Stumpy
Joe Kelly (his real name)
The Connecticut Bandits
Magic Shoes (a bit more recent)

Steady Eddie Flemke, Mario "Fats" Caruso, the Connecticut Bandits were Ed Flemke and Dennis Zimmerman they were more commonly called the Eastern Bandits and included Rene Charland when racing in the South, Mike "Magic Shoes" McLaughlin.

Got some more to throw out myself:

"Money Bags"
Sparky Belmont
Dicky Doo
Jocko - Real name please!
Bobby Vee
"The Flying School Teacher"
Jap
Ice Man

[Jimmy McKinley]

From announcer Chip Green: "Pistol Pete" Luefkins.

This was the one I was lookin' for.

Y'all jacked my thread...LMAO

[Jimmy McKinley]

Larry Rodeo Rogero #17
Tom Ducky Duckworth #25
Chargin Charlie Ragan #43,12, & 11
Spider Insinger #9
Speedy Reeves #21
Rapid Randy Tissot #2

Yes sir...we're gettin' there....

Y'all start your own threads...LMAOAOAOOAOAOA

[Jimmy McKinley]

Steady
Magic Shoes (a bit more recent)

Steady Eddie Flemke and "Magic Shoes" Mike McLaughlin

[Jimmy McKinley]

I'm *totally* shocked that no one has guessed Buzzie's yet...LOL

[twinracers]

John Berti ......You are correct on all from my list with the exception of the Big "O". I was thinking more along New England although Osmun as well as Budd Olsen would be good NJ/PA guesses.


Money Bags = Moe Gherzi ? The rest I'll have to sleep on. Work in just a few hours.

[John Berti]

A couple more for you well-traveled fans:

Captain Sizzle
Captain Crunch
Dynamite
Goober
White Lightning
The Doctor
Mr. Modified
The Corporate Jet
Chocolate Thunder (as I sit listening to thunder right now)
Lanky Pete
The Pink Panther
Daytona Don
The Canadian Blast
Double "0"
The Ferrum Flash
Satch
The Krazy Kanook
Rickshaw
This ones tough, because it was a mistake in the first place. This driver, a Jewish man, painted "Crazy Kike" on his roof. The announcer either mis-read it, or was being politically correct, announced him as "Crazy Mike", which is NOT his first name.
The Young One
Handsome

More later when you guys catch up... and I know you WILL.

"Goober" Scheidel, Donald "Satch" Worley, Fred "Handsome" Lorenzen, Paul "Ferrum Flash" Radford, "Chocolate Thunder" - Ellott Sadler's crew when he drove the M&M's 38, "The Doctor" would be Dick Berggren.

[John Berti]

John Berti ......You are correct on all from my list with the exception of the Big "O". I was thinking more along New England although Osmun as well as Budd Olsen would be good NJ/PA guesses.


Money Bags = Moe Gherzi ? The rest I'll have to sleep on. Work in just a few hours.

I think you gave Big "O" away. Is it Ollie Silva?

[Frasson118]

Anthony "Goober" Scheidel was a lot like our own Bruce Everette. Had NO money, raced EVERYWHERE there was a dirt Mod show, and had one of the greatests quotes I ever heard..... "I never won, but I got passed by everyone that IS someone". True racer and still very respected

[John Berti]

I'm *totally* shocked that no one has guessed Buzzie's yet...LOL

Emile Reutimann II. His dad was named Emile also.

Buzzie could also be Dan "Buzzie" Bezanson

[Frasson118]

Ollie Silva was "Dynamite Ollie".

I was looking for "Double O"..... think Oswego.