The Scoop
A LOOK BACK AT MY FIRST FLORIDA SPEEDWEEKS IN 1981
Posted on: Saturday February 13, 2021
As I wake up to sub-zero temperatures the past several days in northern Wisconsin my memory takes me back to the first time I had experienced Florida sunshine. It was Speedweeks 1981. Seeing all these Facebook posts from my friends in Florida also helped prompt this column so here we go!
It was a family vacation – one I was really excited about for obvious reasons. Mainly because Mom and Dad pulled my brother Jesse and I out of school. We drove down and part of our vacation included the beach, sunshine and attending Disney World (or was it Disney Land?) and Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay as well.
More importantly though we got to take in some racing. I was in sixth grade at the time and had already begun scavenging my Dad’s issues of Stock Car Racing magazine, along with Midwest Racing News every time they arrived in the mail. At 11-years-old, I was already living and breathing this sport of stock car racing 24/7.
So, when Dad told us on the way down to Florida we’d be attending the dirt track races at Volusia and one night of pavement racing at New Smyrna I was beyond thrilled. Yeah, we were going to the Daytona 500 on Sunday including the Gatorade 125 qualifiers on Thursday. That was cool and all.
(Quick story about the 125’s. We were in the infield for both races. Back then the Winston Cup stars were much more accessible in 1981 than they are now. I was in line at one of the porta potty’s when the man who used it before me emerged and held the door open for me. He was wearing a yellow and blue suit with Wrangler on it. You guessed it.
The great Dale Earnhardt was holding the door to the porta potty for me!)
Anyways we caught the Volusia dirt tracks races one night. Dad was quick to point out the Wisconsin drivers who were down there – namely Kaukauna’s Pete Parker who was wheeling the number 111 Tri-City Buggy ride. The Concrete Raising number 2, which I had last seen driven by Mike Melius, was also in attendance but I can’t recall if Melius was driving or somebody else.
Anyways, I had only read about guys like Mike Duvall the “Flintstone Flyer”, Buck Simmons, Jack Boggs, Kevin Gundaker and Rodney Combs in MRN and SCR. I got to see these legends up close and personal! The rear spoilers on these wild-looking machines had grown significantly on the dirt late models I had seen at Shawano Speedway the summer prior in 1980.
Anyways I took the entire experience in – dust and all. During the feature races the track was so dusty that Mom and brother Jesse retreated to the car while Dad and I endured the feature race, popping up from covered blankets as the tail end of the field roared into turn one, providing a small two to three second window to see who was leading!
The race at New Smyrna was equally as cool because I got to see Dick Trickle and Joe Shear compete. Although the bodies on the cars looked wildly different than what I had seen during the Red, White and Blue series races at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. They had wild looking, sloped noses and wide, taller spoilers. I also got to see the guy I had only read about prior to this trip – Canadian short track superstar Junior Hanley and his red 72.
Ed Howe was there with his green machine, again a familiar name in racing I was first seeing down at Speedweeks.
Perhaps though the best part of it was seeing those pavement east coast modifieds roar around the Florida half-mile. The cars were loud and fast, and there were plenty of them to go around.
The only familiar names in the field I remember that night was the late, great Richie Evans and Dick Trickle, who on this particular night was wheeling one of Evans’ modifieds. I remember Dad telling me ‘Trickle could set fast time in a little red wagon he’s so fast.’
Disney was cool, the beach was fine and all of that and being at the famed Daytona International Speedway for the first time was a milestone for me. But I enjoyed the trips to Volusia and New Smyrna more than anything.
Even as a sixth grader I could see and appreciate the blood, sweat and tears these short track racers put into their escape for some sunshine and seat time for a week or two in February. Even at a young age I started to “get” the business end of things at least a little bit.
I was excited to also pick up and read for the first time a copy of National Speed Sport. Years later I would read the late, great Chris Economaki’s column regularly, without fail.
Fast forward to 2021. One of the neat things is with the various Pay Per View-type online outlets available there is no shortage of catching live coverage of any of these events from the convenience of your mobile device. The Midwestern contingent was well represented as Minnesotans Dan Frederickson and Nick Panitzke scored victories on the pavement while Northeastern Wisconsin was represented by Braison Bennett and Chad Butz. Although it appeared those young guns were bringing a knife to a gun fight both drivers and their teams kept digging and got valuable seat time that will help them along in their 2021 racing seasons in the Upper Midwest.
I’ve got friends working for NASCAR teams. As I’m penning this Dave Deprey and Craig Gottfried are both involved with Xfinity Teams and we wish them well in this event and throughout their respective teams ’21 campaigns.
Perhaps I’ll make a return to Speedweeks in 2022? We’ll see what next year brings.
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On the local racing scene Derek Moede deserves a huge shout out for a job well done. Despite facing several obstacles Moede pulled off hosting the Luxemburg Racing Show, which turned out to be a huge success. On short notice Moede was forced to relocate the show, which contained dozens of vendors. The show served as another great social event for the racing community.
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It was earlier this year we learned of the passing of Eric Van Iten. A great racer and an even better man, Van Iten lost his battle to cancer. The good news is it sounds like Eric lived life to it’s fullest. Knowing his time on this earth was limited Van Iten did anything and everything he could, including several fishing tournaments.
The former IMCA modified racer had built up a successful business (Directional Drilling Services) at a relatively young age. Van Iten will be honored this summer as The Burg Speedway in Luxemburg will be hosting Eric Van Iten Memorial Night July 18. This race is being spearheaded by Troy “Snoot” De Grave. “Snoot” is an IMCA northern sportmod racer and great friend of Van Iten’s and co-worker. Any persons or businesses interested in helping to sponsor this event can reach De Grave at (920) 371 2679.
The “Thursday Night Thunder” racing program at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna will kick off Thursday night, May 20. Highlighting the weekly program run by the Fox River Racing Club will be the 50th annual Red, White and Blue state championship series.
The Dirt Kings late model tour will kick off the 2021 season at Shawano Speedway’s legendary half-mile Saturday, April 17 with the Gehm’s Club 117 Spring Thaw.
The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay has plans to reopen this year after sitting idle in 2020 due to Covid restrictions. A Saturday, May 15 opener is on tap.
Norway (MI) Speedway has plans for a May 28 opener at the paved, third mile at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds while Eagle River Speedway has announced it’s season opening race will be Sunday, May 30 at the D-shaped, third-mile clay oval.
Story or news ideas? Shoot me an email anytime at jverdegan2@gmail. We’ll see you at the races – soon!