Old warriors

[egspeedway]

A couple of weeks ago we were busy bashing/defending Morgan Shepherd. This week end while visiting other web sites I ran across an excellent picture of Red Farmer in his crate late model at talledega short track. He is 82 and still a viable contender and not a backmarker. On another site I saw where Pappy Powell was still racing on dirt in Senoia Ga. I went to their web site and sure enough Pappy finished 5th in car number 90. His car number changes yearly to agree with his age. That has to be some kind of record. I first encountered him in Valdosta in the l late 60s.

[OldSchool+]

Bruce Everett (rip)

I recall Bruce Everett and "the worlds oldest late model" that ran in the 90's.

It was a bronze color and was about a 1980 model, with a dirt late model nose.

He was always there, and showed up with his dog. That was the total "crew".

On one evening there was a crash fest and Bruce drove through crash after crash until he got close to the front. You could feel it in the stands, he could actually win the thing. It seemed like everyone on both sides of the track was "willing" him on--and the car actually seemed to get faster!

He won that night, after driving a helluva race, and the place went crazy. Bruce seemed bewildered by all the excitement.

I read on KARNAC that he passed away in 2005 at age 65.

R.I.P. Bruce--FEATURE WINNER!

[ancrdave]

This is a photo of the night when Bruce got his only win... His car was actually quite competitive when he had his "good" engine in it and he was a very good driver... Bruce lived near St. Petersburg but opted to make the long drive to OSW and NSS each week because Clyde Hart allowed him to bring his dog in the pits while other tracks near his home didn't... Towed his car on an open trailer behind a canary-yellow early-1970s Chevy Monte Carlo... He was one of a kind...

[Boneman]

He was a good driver AND a very bright guy. Bruce enjoyed his oddball image, but when it came down to it, he could think on a car and improve it very much. I was racing dirt at the time, (1998 or so) and Bruce would often stop by on Saturdays before NSS. We would work on my car and I could really tell it was better.

[scottgarrity07]

Old School and Dave: Thanks for that great story. How do you not love a guy like that?

[Frasson118]

If Bruce did pretty well at Orlando, didn't bust up anything, and made a few dollars, he would get a room at the beach and hit Smyrna on Saturday.

If the car was hurt, or finished too far back to make hotel money, he would haul it 2 hours home, fix it, and drive 3 more hours back to Smyrna.

Every week for many years.

I offered several times to crash at our house and work out of my shop to save him 5 hours of travel. He would always politely decline, smile, and say "we'll be back tomorrow"

Great guy that won't be forgotten.

[Lurkin]

He really was a racer's racer. Gone too soon.

[Lurkin]

The Butler vs Aguilar thing really got me thinking about how few of the old guard sprint racers are still doing it. No Childers, Reutiman, no Heckman, no Gary Gimmler, Steele has cut way back and on and on and on..are we getting old?