Guest Writer

IT’S BEEN A GOOD RIDE

PART III

Obviously, “The Race” had taken a vise-like grip on my life, especially after being befriended by Bob Sweikert, the l955 winner.  He had taken a moment to befriend and shake the hand of an awe struck youngster.  My right hand had oil smeared on it from his firm grip, and looking down at it, I vowed never to wash that hand again.

From that moment on I read every item in newsprint, books, magazines about not only the “500,” but the famed Championship trail, Syracuse, Sacramento, the famed Milwaukee Mile, Duquoin, and Springfield to name a few, vowing secretly to make them all in my lifetime.

The years flew by and I was devastated by the loss of Sweikert, to whom I never got a chance to say “thank you” for the gesture, however fleeting, and the course it set for a goodly part of my life.  Fortunate to hear a field of Offys, to listen to the banshee wail of the potent, earth shaking Novi’s, to witness the rear engine invasion, the “whooshmobiles” effortlessly gliding by, the speeds climbing beyond the wildest dreams of the men of the ‘50’s.

Too many good men were taken in all venues of the endeavor, and I swore if I ever achieved the dream of photographing auto racing, and if my camera captured a demise, the photograph(s) would never see print out of respect to the pilot and his family.  Some might consider that odd, but I was raised by wonderful parents who taught me to always attempt to be a gentleman at any cost.

The roaring road has been more than kind … five million miles by the ribbon of asphalt and concrete, some dirt roads thrown in for flavor, and too many moonlit and rainy nights spent pounding back home to the job.  More than once I received a few surprises and another femme fatale was gone to the wayward wind.  But there was another race somewhere, and the journey has taken me from Beach Ridge Speedway in Maine, to the last race at Riverside.  From Mosport in Ontario, Canada, to the famed beaches of Daytona, and a lot of wonderful speed plants such as Langhorne, Dover, Trenton, Phoenix, Oswego and a thousand more, with memories, experiences I wouldn’t trade for all the financial gain in the world.

By-lines, after a short period of time, didn’t mean anything.  I was just hoping that someone would enjoy the photograph(s).  I have turned down substantial money from Time/Life, Raybestos, and others, but I have to be honest … I had to accept one dollar from them because of the legalities involved.  I bet it cost more for the paper work involved instead of just sending me a dollar bill and calling it even.

Hopefully, if the beat goes on, and the dust doesn’t settle too quickly, or the red flag comes up, I am writing a book of the total adventure.  It will be about how I got involved in photography with some hopefully memorable published and unpublished photocopy.

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There will be a great deal of laughable copy, romantic interludes, and the sobering effect of drivers, mechanics, and the fraternity of those who were lost.  Dan Gurney said it best, “a cruel sport.”

I would be more than remiss if I didn’t thank some very important people in this quest.  I  have a wife, Linda, who has supported me whole-heartedly, with nary a complaint about the cost of equipment, the travel, the loneliness, and running the good ship “Nonsense” in my absences.  I am thankful for the courtesies extended by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Drs. Mattioli at Pocono, and a gentleman named Mike Hughes who took a chance.  There are more people than I could ever list and do justice to…..it has meant more to me than almost life itself.  A gentleman named Metz, who came to a very sick man’s aid in l995, so weak he could hardly walk, much less carry his equipment, got me propped up, and we shot a race.  The list is endless, and if I missed you, it was out of the need of necessity to be concise.  BUT you have not, and never will be, forgotten.  I am also indebted to a lady named Dorie Sweikert who was, and is, so kind to a nobody in the racing game. 

On Sunday, to the day, May 30^th will mark my 50^th Indy 500.  Cheer, don’t boo, regardless of the criticisms.  It is, and will always be, “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”  Enjoy whatever venue you choose, be supportive to a great sport.  It has been a good ride. 

Godspeed, and let’s do another 50 years!