MOORESVILLE, N.C. — It’s been a difficult time lately for the extended racing family with the deaths of Bob Jenkins and Robin Miller.
Jenkins was one of the great voices in U.S. auto racing and Miller’s reporting has captivated thousands over the years.
Jenkins became one of the most recognized voices in racing in this country by anchoring ESPN’s NASCAR Cup Series coverage and hosting the network’s “Speedweek” series. He was very knowledgeable about all types of motorsports. However, it was his easy-to-listen-to delivery and warm, down-home on-air appearance that made him a hit with the fans.
I was very fortunate to get to know Bob Jenkins and to call him a colleague and a friend. Jenkins truly was a very kind and enjoyable person to be around. A real gentleman who was an outstanding broadcaster with a deep passion for the sport.
With the passing of Robin Miller many remembered him as being outrageous, sometimes controversial and having a wicked sense of humor. He was all of that and so much more. Miller was an outstanding journalist.
One would be hard pressed to find a media member in any pressroom who has as much passion for their sport as Miller had for racing. Heck, he even drove midgets for a time. But his passion really showed through in his love of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Miller liked to get to know new members of the media as soon as they appeared on the scene. That way, he would quickly find out how much they knew and how much passion they had for racing. Once one cleared Miller’s checklist, the person was welcomed into his unique and amazing world of stories, bench racing and laughter.
I was very lucky to work alongside Robin Miller at SPEED Channel. At SPEED SPORT, we were very fortunate to be able to share Miller’s words, commentary and brilliance with our readers.
Then, as this issue was going to press, we learned of the death of Sprint Car Hall of Fame videographer Greg Stephens, also from cancer.
We worked with Stephens on many projects through the years, including TNN’s coverage of the World of Outlaws.
Finally, two frequent SPEED SPORT contributors — Todd Ridgeway and Dave Dalesandro — have left us in recent months. Rest in peace gentlemen.
– There is a lot of excitement around NASCAR’s announcement of the February running of The Clash taking place inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which is the home of the University of Southern California Trojans football team.
The coliseum is one of the world’s most famous sports venues,having hosted the Olympics, NFL, MLB, Super Bowls and, of course, motorsports. Racing events such as Supercross, Mickey Thompson Stadium Off-Road Trucks, midgets and Evel Knievel stunt shows have thrilled massive crowds there.
This won’t be the first Southern California stadium in which NASCAR has raced. A recent conversation with longtime friend and mentor Ken Clapp, who is retired from the position of senior vice president for NASCAR, taught us a lot about NASCAR racing at Balboa Stadium in San Diego during the 1950s.
Clapp was instrumental in building NASCAR on the West Coast under the direction of the France family. He talked about how successful NASCAR’s West Coast division was racing in the future home of the San Diego Chargers.
NASCAR scheduled the races at Balboa Stadium when the Navy’s Pacific Fleet was in town, offering discounted tickets for the sailors who were looking forward to a fun night of racing after being at sea. “We’d pack the place,” Clapp said.
– Racing has been a large part of the sporting landscape of Southern California for decades. Flipping through Harold Osmer’s new book, “Where They Raced,” provides an excellent glimpse at the history of the numerous racing venues that have dotted the Southern California landscape.
It’s full of pictures of the wide variety of circuits, ovals and strips, that avid race fans have filled since the very early 1900s. Get your copy from HOPublishing.com. It’s a great way to get up to speed on SoCal racing history before more is made with The Clash at The Coliseum.
– It’s not often you get to look through the scrapbook of a top-level racer, but Sam Posey has turned his into a new book that has been published by Evro Publishing. The book is simply called, “Sam’s Scrapbook.”
It’s a unique peek into the life of a great racer and even better storyteller. As only Posey can, he spins tales of some of his fondest memories behind the wheel racing at Le Mans, Indy, Baja and in his neighborhood as a youth.
Posey has lived a remarkable life behind the wheel. With this new book he is able to share those stories through words, pictures and mementos. A new, fun and entertaining medium for Posey to once again prove he is a real treasure when it comes to telling the stories that bring racing to life.
Order a copy of Sam’s book from quatroknows.com. Thanks for more great stories Sam!