My Father When I Was:
Reworked from a poem with an unknown
author
4 yrs: My
Daddy can drive ANY car he wants!
5 yrs: My
Daddy knows everything about engines!
6 yrs: My
Daddy’s car can outrun your Daddy’s car!
8 yrs: Well,
my Daddy might not know every little part of the car, but almost!
11 yrs: Back
in the old days when Dad was racing, things were sure a lot different.
12 yrs: Of
course Dad don’t remember go-karts, he’s too old to remember his childhood.
15 yrs: Just
ignore what Dad says about the faster speeds, he’s so old-fashioned.
19 yrs: My
Dad? No way, he’s a hopeless worrywart every time I get on the track even when
he tries not to show it.
24 yrs: My
Dad could probably lend a little advice; after all he’s been around the track
a time or two.
30 yrs: Tell
Dad to come over to the garage; he’s got a lot of experience with this type of
problem.
35 yrs: I’m
not signing a new contract or making a single decision until Dad and I talk!
40 yrs: I
wonder how Dad would handle retirement approaching the next few years? He’s so
wise and has a lifetime of experience.
50 yrs: I’d
give anything if Dad were here so I could tell him what I’ve been doing since
retirement. There’s the precious new grandson, next racing generation no
doubt, and the new racing team I just bought, he’d be really proud I think.
Too bad I didn’t always appreciate how smart he truly was, I could have
learned a lot more about racing, but much more importantly, I could have learned
a lot more about life!
A few Father’s Day quotes from the
racing community:
Jason Leffler:
"My Dad got me started in racing. He supported
it up until I was good enough to get rides with other people. He made a lot of
sacrifices so I could race. He owned my cars up until I was about 17 or 18 years
old, the midgets and dirt track rides back in California. He was really
supportive then and he’s really supportive now. We talk all the time and I’m
sure he’s glad he doesn’t have to pay the bills on everything anymore, but
he’s certainly happy for me. He’s happy to see how far we’ve gotten in my
career."
Kevin Lepage:
"I’d like to thank Dad for all his hard work
and determination for getting me in a race car in 1980! I certainly wouldn’t
be where I’m at today without him. He put a lot of effort, a lot of money, and
a lot of time, but mostly he believed in me. He actually took my brother out of
a car he’d been racing for 5 years and put me in it and I raced there until
1985. At that point, I got a ride elsewhere, but I got that ride due to the
earlier father/son team. He’s the guy I look up to on Father’s Day and
everyday."
Richard Childress:
"There are several men who advised me and helped me along in my racing
career to get me to the point I’m at today. They all taught me a lot.
Unfortunately my own Father died when I was only 5 years old, but fortunately I
had several other men to look up to. It would be really difficult to put a
finger on just one influential person, but I’m glad for the guidance and
thankful for them all on Father’s Day."
Rusty Wallace:
"I’m thankful Dad let me tag along and be outside watching him work on
cars. I usually couldn’t wait to get home from school so my brothers and I
could run out to tinker with the cars. I liked going to races, working on cars,
and meeting people a lot more than going to school. Dad raced some and would let
us try and fix up the wrecked cars and if we could, then we’d get to race it.
Dad helped me achieve my goals and make my dreams come true just like I’m
trying to do with my own kids."