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Post by Chris K. Hale on Jun 7, 2019 8:47:10 GMT -8
This is the very car as a 13 year old DSG used to let me get in and steer while they pushed it in the shop.. I think my mind is still Blown!!!! Chris
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 7, 2019 9:04:03 GMT -8
Chris, You're killing me with stories like that. At least I got to meet him at either a Trans Am or Can Am race at Bridgehampton. Of course he didn't offer to even let me seat in his car.
Joel
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Post by Chris K. Hale on Jun 7, 2019 10:43:38 GMT -8
My Dad met DSG in the Marine Corps.( Motor pool) in Japan or ?? many years before he was a Professional driver. My Dad was a huge Drag racer in the San Joaquin Valley, a founding member of the Road Runners in Bakersfield. later he went on to run Jalopy type cars or whatever they called them back in the 50"s at Culver City, Beverly Hills, Ascot and many more early tracks around Los Angeles. He even was featured in Hot Rod Magazine in the Race report Volume 1 issue 2, still cant find one to this day because they were handouts the first year and not sold when the magazine first came out, he had a reputation for Crankin out the HP in Ford 4 cylinder engines, Drake, Offy , Miller etc. He could make a Model T engine blow off a Flat head .. DSG and my Dad stayed in touch over the years and by chance they both ended up in Santa Ana Ca. So when DSG started AAR he called up my dad who had his own business but like so many others , was willing to donate his time and experience to the team. Not a lot of Paid Help back then. He was working on the Offy engines and worked on the 1968 Eagles that won and raced the 500 that year. So when he would go to work he always took me and I hung out in the Paddock at AAR, where DSG seemed to always polishing or doing something to the cars out there, we had a lot of conversations. . Dan had a lot of confidence in my Dads driving abilities and in the 60's when he was to race in the Motor Trend 500 at Riverside, the year DSG ran Mercury Cyclones and had Purolater sponsors, he had put the Primary Car on pole but had a back up that he offered My Dad only catch was he had to pay for for Gas & Tires. With Six Kids at home and his own business he had to decline the offer, I wonder where he would have finished since it was a Pole quality car too, and NASCAR driving would have fit him well. The cost of Tires and Gas for the 500 was around $6,000. All was not lost, after the race and looking forward to the next, the team put mufflers on it and Dan had my Dad drive it to Phoenix , Az. for the next race...... I think it was a Wood Brothers team car since DSG only drove at Riverside that year.. I do remember my Dad was so un-happy for many years that he didn't get to run the Motor Trend 500 in that car. When DSG was to race Aurora HO Slot Cars on the ED d Sullivan show against Stewart, Hill & Moss he came to my Dads shop wit some young new driver, Swede Savage, and My dad taught DSG and I taught Swede how to race them for the show, Swede came in case DSG had prior commitments. Jackie Stewart won that race , I believe but a couple times a week Dan and all the guys would come over to Santa Ana Raceways and have a Ball racing slot cars. They all became pretty good at it to and most has some great modeling ability.. I am kinda sharing this as My Dad has Dementia, and developed a Blood infection last week, same day I had back surgery and wasnt expected to live, but like a true racer he came back in a few days as strong as ever, but with no memory of these times in his life that he lived and we shared.. Its a sad disease, and someday I think they will cure it ..but for now...so many memories are being lost to time. Chris
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 7, 2019 12:04:27 GMT -8
Chris, What a fantastic story. Just thinking about what it must have been like to have a Dad that was into cars, racing, and slot cars. Knew DSG and a few other big name drivers as well.
Sorry to hear that your Dad has Dementia. Right now we're going through that with my 95 year old Mother in Law with failing health. I lost my Dad when he was only 63 (32 years ago), so just having your Dad with you is still better then not having him at all.
Joel
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