We meant it to be a family affair and it has been. Each of us has had a great part in operating the speedway over the last 30 years. Dan did the dirt and Barbara took over the food department. Each of our children filled in everywhere else over the years. Liz and her future husband cooked the pit food for a season or two and they graduated, next it was Joyanna selling the programs and then counting laps and helping as needed. Matt and Mark started by selling programs and checking for wheel and tire stickers. We all took a turn at cleaning the grandstands. We all have some fun stories and some sad stories to remember. My fun story was the day that I had Mark pull the grader to start it. He was only about 10 years old and the only one available to do the pulling. The grader had no brakes and we were pointed downhill a little bit. When the grader started, Mark stopped as I had told him and of course I couldn’t stop. I hit him full roll in the bumper. We were still chained together and he hit the gas and then he hit the end of the chain!
We have been blessed as a family to be the caretakers of the speedway and now it is time for new folks step in and bring on the new generation. Yes, it does make me choke up a bit, and some people probably think I am rude, but I just could not say anything without shedding a tear, so I just looked away.
One fellow in the pits was telling me thanks, and he did add that he didn’t approve of all of our decisions, but he did appreciate that we kept the place running. I reminded him of what General Patton said about agreement. “If two people agree on everything, one is not necessary!”
So with that I will remind you of our motto. “Making Memories Worth Repeating" and many more to begin in 2020.