MOORESVILLE, N.C. – I am forever indebted to Ken Squier, whose incredible life and career came to an end Nov. 15 when the legendary broadcaster passed away in his native Vermont at the age of 88.
As a broadcasting neophyte, I was fortunate to work alongside Squier at CBS, TNN, TBS and World Sports. There is no college in the world that offers a broadcasting and journalism education like I received while observing and learning from Squier and Chris Economaki.
During my first Daytona 500 in 1990, I was visiting friends in the CBS-TV compound. I was introduced to Squier and he said, “Why don’t you and I go to lunch. I’d like to learn more about you.”
I was floored! I couldn’t believe this legendary broadcaster wanted to go to lunch with me. It was a real thrill for a young man just beginning his career.
A few years later I was hired by CBS to join its motorsports team, which included covering the Daytona 500 with Squier leading the way.
There I was on race day, sporting my new CBS Sports blazer, ready for my first pre-race interview when in my headset I heard the legendary voice of Ken Squier welcoming me to the team as he threw to me for my interview with Johnny Benson.
The man who was a big influence in me choosing this career path threw to me live on CBS at Daytona. Thinking about it, still gives me chills like it did on that Florida race morning.
Thanks Ken, not just for influencing me, but for being so thoughtful to take the time to enlighten a wide-eyed youngster with big dreams.
It is something he did for so many of us who do the best we can to carry on the lessons and to share them with the next generation like Squier shared with us.
Squire set the bar incredibly high, not only for those of us in the current crop of racing broadcasters, but also for those who will follow. RIP, Ken.
■ Sadly, Squier wasn’t the only legendary voice that recently fell silent. Art Eckman, the first “Voice of Supercross,” died at the age of 81.
Eckman and his broadcast partner, former Supercross champion David Bailey, helped to make household names of riders such as Jeff Ward, Ricky Johnson and Jeremy McGrath.
Eckman was blessed with a classic broadcaster’s voice. His sound was instantly recognizable and comfortable for motocross fans. On top of that, he was a true gentleman and a friend.
■ One of the most unique events I get to call each year is the Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown.
It features 12 two-man teams that are randomly paired with one person from the Hendrick Motorsports Engine Shop and the other a Master Service Technician from Hendrick Automotive Group.
The challenge is to build a complete NASCAR Chevy R-07 race engine from the block up. All 243 pieces are to be assembled as quickly as possible. Then, the engine must run for 60 seconds.
This year’s finale was incredible. Six-time champ Scott Vester from Hendrick Motorsports was paired with Phil Seaton from Hendrick Toyota in Merriam, Kan.
They faced off against five-time winner Danny Emerick and his partner, Bill Sullivan, from Hendrick Toyota in Wilmington, N.C.
Vester and Seaton posted a blistering time of 21:57:37. With the 60-second run time added, they finished in a stunning 22:57:37. It was a clean build with no penalties.
Emerick and Sullivan, however, were nine-tenths-of-a-second quicker. Their time was 21:56:46, which with the 60-second run time added, they clocked in at an amazing 22:56:46. Their build was also clean.
Emerick is now tied with Vester at six championships each — the most in the history of the annual event.
■ There have been a couple of big sales lately in the collector car market. First was the only 1962 Ferrari GTO that was owned and raced by the Ferrari Factory Team.
The car sold for a staggering $51.7 million.
If that sale price was a little too steep for your wallet, the Formula 1 car that multi-time world champion Lewis Hamilton drove to his first F-1 triumph for Mercedes in the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix recently crossed the block.
The hammer price was $18.8 million. Both auctions were handled by RM Sotheby’s.
■ Looking for an early Christmas gift idea? How about tickets to the 49th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 19-24. It’s always one of the best events on the NTT IndyCar Series calendar.
The packed schedule includes the Indy cars, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar championship, Stadium Super Trucks, vintage Indy cars and Formula Drift. Tickets are available at gplb.com.
This story appeared in the Nov 29, 2023 edition of the SPEED SPORT Insider.
