Once in while I have two very interesting stories I like to to tell. Kelly will like #1.
Story #1.
In 1993 there was this kid (along with his wife) who approached me and asked if he could sit in my Plueger TA/FC at the Bakersfield divisional race. He was a crew member for Darryl Hitchman at the time. He said he never sat in a funny car before.
Because of how I was treated in certain pits as a kid at the old funny car meets at Orange County Raceway I always made sure that if I had time we would honor requests from people. If someone asked me if they could have their picture taken next to our car we usually would have fun by asking them "Instead of having your picture taken next to the car, why not have your picture taken in it!" That was a lot of fun.
We raised the body and he got in. Because he was shorter than me by a bunch the seat sort of swallowed him up. We put the body down and he sat up as high as he could looking out the windshield over the injector. He steered the steering wheel and moved the throttle a little bit.
While he was in my funny car his wife said "Some day he wants to drive a funny car!" I said "Hmmm, sure, right, yea."
We raised the body and let him out. Then his wife asked if she could sit in it too. So in she went.
While she was in the funny car looking out the windshield over the injector her husband, who is standing next to me, says "My dream is to some day drive a funny car!" I said "Oh, good, yea, right."
She got out and they both thanked me and walked off.
I actually forgot all about that story until 1996. I was at Prudhomme's shop picking up the Snake's funny car to deliver it to the Peterson Automotive Museum in my rig (theirs was out getting the COPE paint scheme put on it) for the official unveiling and announcement of their new sponsor and new driver, Ron Capps.
I totally forgot the whole story until Ron reminded me of it. He was the kid in who sat in my funny car that day. Now, whenever I see Ron passing me in the pits I yell out to him "Hey Ron...Remember me?" He says "Hmmm, right, yea, sure." LOL.
I have two regrets. First, not taking any pictures of the Snake's funny car in my trailer (that was dumb). And second, underestimating the determination of some kid named Ron who just wanted to sit in my car (I should have taken pictures of that, too).
Story #2
I just lost (probably first round) at the Final's in Pomona in 1994. I had already been approached by Ron, Dana and Ron August, Jr. about selling my Plueger TA/FC to them. I was buying Anderson's Uyehara car and planned to sit out 1995 to be able to do it (finances).
I think I was sweeping off our pit carpet getting rid of old paper towels pieces and wire tie ends or something when this guy walks up and asks if I would consider letting him drive my TA/FC for the 1995 season. He said he could bring some funding, too. I really hadn't thought much about looking for a driver, although it would have been a smart move for me back then. And I really needed financial help in trying to run the car (as always).
I thought about it for a second and told him no. I told him I made a deal to sell my car, and I wasn't ready to get out of the driver's seat yet.
My wonderful crew guys were upset when they heard I turned him down.
A few months later, I fessed up to him why I really said no. He was a very good driver, and I was a very incompetant tuner. My ability to put him in a car that would match his ability as a driver would be very frustrating for him and I felt he should be able to find a better ride than what I could offer him. I liked him as a friend and fellow racer an honestly felt he could do a lot better if he wasn't tied up with me. When I finally told him all that, he dissagreed and said he thought I could have done a good job and that we would have had a lot of fun together. He ended up driving for Jerry Darien and Ken Meadows.
That was my pal, Gary Scelzi.
My only claim to fame was beating Gary on a hole shot second round at a Bakersfield Divisional race when he was driving for the Miner Brothers. A friend of mine gave me an "I Beat The Champ" button after that. I wanted to add to the button in parenthesis the words "JUST ONE TIME."
I do have a picture of that race. In fact, I have the video (LOL).
So, if Gary would have driven for me back them, he may never have driven for Darien and Meadows. Which means he may never have driven for Alan Johnson. Which means Schumacher never would have picked him up. Which means he would have never won all the world championships including his latest one in Funny Car for JJ's Oakley and Dodge. See what I did for Gary...Hey Gary!!!
RG
PS. I need a sponsor.
