Some Personal (And Somewhat Relevant) Information.

Firstly, as I mentioned at the beginning of my Magnum Opus, I love old Fords. I'm talking massive American-made Dearborn monsters with enough steel in one car to build 4 Toyotas. Cars with dynamic and distinctive styling cues and a trunk big enough to comfortably sleep 6. Cars that were the foundation for NASCARs now-Golden Age.

Stock car racing must have gotten in my blood somehow. I mean, Sacramento, CA is not exactly the birthplace of NASCAR, right?

Well, Sacramento used to host NASCAR-sanctioned events out at the old state fairgrounds as part of the national tour. For three years they ran a 100-mile feature in conjunction with the state fair. On the day I was born, September 8, 1958 (yup, I'm that old) Parnelli Jones won the NASCAR 100-mile event at the Sacramento track that usually saw horse racing.

I guess that after three years of running a race clear on the other side of the country, NASCAR decided to skip us in favor of closer venues. Still, as I was growing up I followed the NASCAR Grand National circuit as best I could. My imagination was fueled by names like Richard Petty, David Pearson, Big Bill France, Little Joe Weatherly, Curtis Turner, Darel Dierenger, Lee Roy Yarbrough, Fred Lorenzen, and Holman-Moody.

I also got a kick out of hearing names like Speedy Thompson, Smokey Yunick, Tiger Tom, Cotton Owens, Shorty Rollins, Tiny Lund, Flocko Jocko, Buck Baker and Coo-Coo Marlin, and of course, Fireball Roberts.

Something about that last name on the list would always remain in my memories.Of course, having my dad keep me around old cars and speedy little machines had a bit of an effect on me as well.

Okay, So How Does This All Fit Together?

Well, I have been very fortunate to have gleaned all of that old (and more current) NASCAR knowledge and put it into my hobbies. Early on, it was helpful in building many race car models. In 1999, being an old-school NASCAR fan (and de facto NASCAR historian), it got me connected to some really great people. I managed to hook up with the
Historic Stock Car Racing Series, a group that locates, restores, and races retired Winston Cup stock cars.

The HSCRS has been a part of many vintage racing events over the years, and we were a support race for the three years the San Jose Grand Prix was raced as part of the Champ Car World Series. I served as the "Color" Announcer for the closed-circuit telecast during our group's on-track events. And Fireball was on display with all of the actual Winston Cup cars at the 2007 Grand Prix. Now, THAT was an honor!

So, being a member of a group that keeps NASCAR history alive means that I can get closer with these cars than many fans will ever have the opportunity to do.

And I also get to see first-hand the benefits of using a great synthetic motor oil.

Of course, traveling so many places also means that I still need my rest.

And, yes, that is me taking a brief nap on a pit lane wall at Daytona. I just had to give it a try after seeing a crewmember with Kenny Wallace's Square D team partaking such on a pit wall at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (A place you NASCAR newbies currently know as Lowe's Motor Speedway.) It is a surprisingly comfortable resting spot.

And to the left: Me, a wannabe NASCAR tire changer at Daytona, USA.

A Little HSCRS History

The Historic Stock Car Racing Series was established by a group of fairly well-to-do business owners here on the west coast who enjoyed vintage auto racing.

Eventually, one of them decided to bring a restored 1983 NASCAR Buick Regal to an event. Now owned and raced by San Jose businessman John Davis (who was a major driving force in bringing the Grand Prix to San Jose), the sheer noise and sight of the car on the tight road courses generated some pretty big interest.

There was a group that had formed earlier on the east coast, in the heart of NASCAR country. But bringing it out here meant convincing others to follow. The HSCRS has since grown to over 40 members and nearly 70 historic NASCAR stock cars.

One of my favorites at these races is Ken Epsman's pristine 1964 Mercury Marauder. Originally built by Bill Stroppe (the west-coast arm of Holman-Moody) and raced by Darel Dierenger, the red, white, and blue beauty turns heads wherever it shows up. It may not run as fast as the more modern stock cars, but it's a kick to drive!

Ken also owns this Sam Posey Trans Am Challenger (seen here with Ken behind the wheel), which was recently featured in an article in the July 2008 edition of Road & Track. Look further in Ken's garage and you'll find a Mark Donohue Sunoco Camaro, a 1988 Bill Elliott Coors T-Bird, and the last Holman-Moody car built, a Boss 429-powered 1972 Gran Torino once driven by Bobby Unser.

The Torino car is seen here at Laguna Seca, being driven by Ken's good friend Jimmy Hague. A hell of a wheelman, more often than not Jimmy actually drifts this car through the corners on that track.

Being their original webmaster, de facto historian, and sometimes event announcer (as I have been with the San Jose Grand Prix), because of my involvement with the HSCRS, I have had the distinct pleasure of meeting some famous NASCAR drivers like Hut Stricklin, Steve Grissom, Brett Bodine, Ernie Irvan (left) and Lake Speed (right).

We even put Bobby Allison back behind the wheel of his Daytona 500-winning 1988 Miller Buick. The car, owned now by Jimmy Castle, Jr. (after he purchased it from famed racer/businessman Bruce Canepa) had just been meticulously restored by the crew at Bill Elliott Racing in Dawsonville, GA. Bobby got to take the car for a couple parade laps around Laguna Seca.

But for all the members of the HSCRS I've had the pleasure of knowing, few have touched me as much as my good friend Ron Huber. Ron supported my acceptance into the group, provided assistance and insight, and always made me feel welcome. He was usually seen racing a former Davey Allison Havoline Thunderbird, and helped to locate many cars for members and members to-be.

Ron also covered my tuition to the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School at Infineon (Sears Point) Raceway, with the intent of seeing me behind the wheel of one of his stock cars.

While that didn't have the chance to come about due to a freak accident that stole him from all of us, it only made my own dreams stronger.

I think Ron would have been proud of my Project Fireball.