Sonny
This months news is a profile of a NVSR member who has been racing for more than 1/2 of a century.
He started racing in 1950. Now to put this into perspective: my grandaughter says I am old, really old, and I was only born in 1949; so what does that make Sonny?
Sonny raced pure stocks, hobby stocks and street stocks as well as his current "hearse mobile". One wonders what funeral home is missing its hearse that was used to build the 49'r?
At various times, Sonny raced at Chateau Raceway at Lansing, Sunday nites at Mason City, Cresco Ia, and at Deer Creek. He was track champion at Lansing at least 4 times but regrets he is unable to get a "Champion of the Year" with his current sanctioning body.
He mentioned he was the first racer to test the new track at Deer Creek - I forgot to ask him if that was the current or last century. His other not so fond memory of Deer Creek is a bad accident that put him in Rochester for a stay.
The current promoter at Lansing has nothing but good to say about Sonny and the years they raced together.... My how time heals.
Sonny was fortunate, at least more than most racers, in that everytime he needed some more money to continue racing or to buy parts or build another car, all he had to do was go dig another hole for a farmer and collect the bounty.
From my short observation of Sonny and his racing, I believe he was one of those racers who was a little sneaky in that he passed you before you even knew he was anywhere near AND most likely operated by the fact that rules are a vague guideline and it doesn't really matter what side of them you are on. Note: this is just my guess.
Sonny currently and for some time has lived close to the Lansing track, many NVSR members have stopped over there in the past and have enjoyed his and Janice's hospitality.
Lastly, Sonny wanted me to know that our spring meeting is only one day ahead of his birthday, so he felt cake would be in order.
When you see Sonny, stop and shake his hand. He really is a legend.