[Phils20]

I'm about halfway through this one. It's a pretty short book, but interesting. It's a good read for those who would just like to remember a great racer, who was taken much too early.

[PenelopePitStop]

Tim Richmond? Talk about a "blast from the past"!

When I first started following racing, it was very hard to follow a driver, so I picked the cars with paint jobs I could easily spot. Tim Richmond in the Folger's car was one of them.

It's kind of spooky. Most every driver I have liked was either killed, or nearly killed. Tim's gone. I liked Davey Allison (only because of the Texaco paint job ... I later learned that not many people liked him). Davey's gone. I also liked Irvin. Still with us, but will never race again.

I also was a big fan on the Indy circuit of Rick Mears and Danny Sullivan. They are still with us, but left the sport too soon.

My friend said to me a few years ago, "You better stop liking Dale!". I said, "Are you kidding me? He's larger than life! Nothing will ever happen to him!" Alas ...

A long time ago, I saw a documentary on Tim. I guess he was a womanizer ... what driver isn't? I also heard "somewhere" that he died of AIDS. True?

Thanks for bringing this post.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Tim Richmond? Talk about a "blast from the past"!

When I first started following racing, it was very hard to follow a driver, so I picked the cars with paint jobs I could easily spot. Tim Richmond in the Folger's car was one of them.

It's kind of spooky. Most every driver I have liked was either killed, or nearly killed. Tim's gone. I liked Davey Allison (only because of the Texaco paint job ... I later learned that not many people liked him). Davey's gone. I also liked Irvin. Still with us, but will never race again.

I also was a big fan on the Indy circuit of Rick Mears and Danny Sullivan. They are still with us, but left the sport too soon.

My friend said to me a few years ago, "You better stop liking Dale!". I said, "Are you kidding me? He's larger than life! Nothing will ever happen to him!" Alas ...

A long time ago, I saw a documentary on Tim. I guess he was a womanizer ... what driver isn't? I also heard "somewhere" that he died of AIDS. True?

Thanks for bringing this post.

Yes, he did die from AIDS. Apparently from Hetereosexual sex. He was quite a character.

He was also quite a talent in the race car.

This book would be a must read for you!!! I think you would both enjoy it, an be saddened by it. He started showing symptoms of the illness as he was starting to hit his stride in racing. And NASCAR really rallied against him in some ways.

He also caused some if his issues for himself, by not being more honest about his illness, but I don't think I could have done any better. He was really trying to protect his family, and himself. Those days were quite different when it comes to acceptance about this sort of thing.

I would look for the book on Amazon. It was $19.99, and a quick read. Only 194 pages, bit it was a good 194. There was only about a chapter on his life before racing, the rest cuts to the chase.

It also doesn't paint him in the best light in some ways, but it does seem to just be an honest book, not a go for the throat type of thing.


As far as Davey and Ernie Irvan go, I liked Irvan, and my cousin was a huge Allison fan!

It just seems that way too many of our racing heroes meet sad ends.

I hope we don't lose many more young, like Tim, Davey, Kulwicki, Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin, Tony Roper, and just too many others to name.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Phils20

Yes, he did die from AIDS. Apparently from Hetereosexual sex. He was quite a character.

He was also quite a talent in the race car.

This book would be a must read for you!!! I think you would both enjoy it, an be saddened by it. He started showing symptoms of the illness as he was starting to hit his stride in racing. And NASCAR really rallied against him in some ways.

He also caused some if his issues for himself, by not being more honest about his illness, but I don't think I could have done any better. He was really trying to protect his family, and himself. Those days were quite different when it comes to acceptance about this sort of thing.

I would look for the book on Amazon. It was $19.99, and a quick read. Only 194 pages, bit it was a good 194. There was only about a chapter on his life before racing, the rest cuts to the chase.

It also doesn't paint him in the best light in some ways, but it does seem to just be an honest book, not a go for the throat type of thing.


As far as Davey and Ernie Irvan go, I liked Irvan, and my cousin was a huge Allison fan!

It just seems that way too many of our racing heroes meet sad ends.

I hope we don't lose many more young, like Tim, Davey, Kulwicki, Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin, Tony Roper, and just too many others to name.

Thanks. I will definitely check out this book. We all have skeletons in our closet, don't we? I'm not surprised Tim wasn't painted in the best light. I'd prefer the truth rather than a "holier-than-thou" smoke and mirrors story.

Yes, AIDS was quite a curse back then, not that it isn't now. If he would have gone public, it would have been assumed he was gay. My guess is that would not be a good thing in the "good ol' boy" NASCAR community.

How on earth could I have forgotten Kulwicki? I remember him racing in a white car with no major sponsorship. Just when I started to notice him, he was gone. I'd be willing to bet he would have been one of the super stars of NASCAR.

It's nice to know someone who has followed NASCAR pre-Gordon, Johnson, Busches, etc.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Thanks. I will definitely check out this book. We all have skeletons in our closet, don't we? I'm not surprised Tim wasn't painted in the best light. I'd prefer the truth rather than a "holier-than-thou" smoke and mirrors story.

Yes, AIDS was quite a curse back then, not that it isn't now. If he would have gone public, it would have been assumed he was gay. My guess is that would not be a good thing in the "good ol' boy" NASCAR community.

How on earth could I have forgotten Kulwicki? I remember him racing in a white car with no major sponsorship. Just when I started to notice him, he was gone. I'd be willing to bet he would have been one of the super stars of NASCAR.

It's nice to know someone who has followed NASCAR pre-Gordon, Johnson, Busches, etc.

Thanks! I've always loved racing. My father grew up a half hour from Bristol. I live about 9 miles from Dover! My Father took me to the races a lot as a kid! We went to Dover when there was room in the stands to run around and play during the race. It seemed you could just do whatever! In some ways it is a lot better, and in other ways, it is not!

Maybe that is just my memories as a 7-10 year old! The oldest program I could find is from 1981 when I was there, and that had me at 14. There is a number of 31,??? on the cover, and I assume that was the attendance!

Anyway, I hope for many more years of great racing! It's different than it was, but still better than most sports!

I just hope that folks don't lose track of the Pettys, Allisons, and many others that laid the groundwork for the sport.

And you are very right about AIDS not being well recieved then! He had a tough enough time being accepted for what he was!

But what he was to me was one great racer, who was just lost waaaaaaaaaay too soon. That book really stirred up some memories!

Hope you get to check it out!