raceannouncerblog

Like many of you, I collect racing diecast.  Mostly 1/64 scale but I also have many 1/24 as well.  They provide that little “extra” for me in my love for motorsports.  Take a look at this picture:

Do you have this one in your collection?  I have it in mine for a lot of reasons but one overshadows the rest.

This is one of those racing memories which, over the years, has become bittersweet–and it involves one of the wildest characters, both on and off the racetrack, in NASCAR history, Tim Richmond. 

Watkins Glen International had reopened in 1984 after being dormant since 1982.  I decided to volunteer for the media center so I could get closer to the racing action.  J.J. O’Malley, the press director at the time, put me to work on pit reporter notes, those updates that tracks provide periodically to the media during race events.  The track was putting on great road races but the question was constantly being asked:  “When will we see a NASCAR race?” 

It finally came to fruition in 1986 (I had not yet announced my first race but the itch was there!).  NASCAR was coming to the Glen!  I remember the excitement in the air as the NASCAR circus rolled into the village and up the hill to the racetrack. 

Now, prior to my interest in announcing, one of the ways I added to my enjoyment of motorsports was photography.  (I would like to state for the record right here and now that, although I am comfortable with my basic abilities for taking pictures,  I do NOT consider myself a professional “lensman”; I refer to myself as an “enthuisastic amateur”).

While at the Glen NASCAR race in 1986, I took pictures of all the cars and whatever drivers I could snag.  I had an advantage, of course, because I was working for the media center.  For the practice session on Friday, I decided to “stake out my spot” just in front of the old media center, next to the garage exit.  I figured I could take pictures of the cars going in and out of the garage as well as out on the track and also the drivers as they walked in and out of the area.  Well, I had taken quite a few pictures of the cars out on the track but now I was trying to capture the “human” element too.  So I started looking around and I didn’t have to look far.  Right behind me (and I have no idea how long he had been there) was Tim Richmond.  He was sitting under a tent right next to the media center used as an auxiliary press area and was watching a practice session of another series out on the track.  At first, I didn’t know whether I should even try to get a picture of him but the opportunity presented itself and I finally got up the courage to take the shot. 

Look familiar? It’s the picture that was used on the diecast! So how did it get there?  Hang on, I’m getting to that…

Richmond went on to win the Glen that year and notched 6 wins overall.  By the time NASCAR came back to the Glen in 1987, I had met up with local racing photographer, Ron Rigby.  We instantly hit it off as friends with a common interest:  motorsports photography.  Rigby was working at Kodak at the time and when I showed him the shot of Richmond, he explained that he could get it “blown up” to poster size proportions.  I said “Do it!” and took a few with me to the Glen that following year.  The opportunity came that I was able to present both Tim and his mother that poster size enlargement–and of course, I didn’t charge them for it.  Tim said “Thanks!” and his mom remarked how different the picture looked to her as opposed to so many others of him.  “Most of the time he is caught ’straight on’ and ’clowns’ for the camera.  Your shot shows another side of him.  I really love it–thank you very much”. 

Little did I or anyone else know at that point that Tim was beginning to feel the effects of a little-known (at the time) disease called AIDS.  The ignorance and prejudice that came from it during that time prompted NASCAR to make an unpopular decision by 1988–they suspended Tim from competition on the suspicion of drug use.  Some of those drugs were being used to treat his ailments but that was no matter to those in charge at the time.  (There are several people who have stated their opinion that the suspension, as much or more than the disease itself, may have been a contributing factor to his death).

But back to the story–as a tribute to Richmond (and let’s face it, to make money), several companies released racing memoriabilia of the man.  One of those was the 1/64 diecast car pictured above.  Imagine my surprise the first time I saw one of those hanging on a pegboard!  ”HEY, THAT’S MY PICTURE!!!” 

Now I know what some of you might be thinking–did I get paid for it?    NO–and here’s why:  because I gave a copy of it to both he and his mom, I had given away my “rights” as the original owner.  Sure, I still have the 35mm negative, mostly because Ron Rigby kept it in a safe place until I asked for it back.  But I wasn’t entitled to a dime for it being used on the diecast.

It doesn’t matter, though.  I have something worth more–a great racing memory of the man himself!