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David Steele from Tampa, Florida and owner of Steele Performance Parts will be at Orlando SpeedWorld on March 1st..He will present a seminar during the opening day of the 2012 DAARA U.S. Vintage Oval Track Winter Nationals..Known for his numerous wins in the USAC Silver Crown, Sprint, and Midget classes David is known as one of the best pavement racers in USAC's history.. Click here to learn more about David and then meet him at the DAARA Winter Nationals..
When your dad drives a sprint car for such notable owners as Dizz Wilson and also owns an Indiana speed shop, the chances you will end up making your living in racing are pretty good. Mike Smith was a regular competitor throughout Indiana during the 1960’s and beyond. As natural progression would have it, the younger Smith grew from a kid in the pits at his father’s side to the seat of a race car. Danny won his first feature at the age of seventeen and the rest is ongoing history. Danny’s first checker came at Indiana’s Bloomington Speedway in 1974 and he logged another at Lawrenceburg while he was still a junior in high school. As a senior he missed his graduation due to running the “Little 500” as a rookie in 1975. Since that time his career has stretched over four decades bringing over 300 wins at 102 tracks against the nation’s best competition, both then and now. Danny was one of the original World Of Outlaw travelers in the original C.K. Spurlock Gambler and has wins with WOO, All Star Circuit of Champions, ASCS and is competing down under in Australia as this is being written.
Many people felt certain that this great career had come to an end with the 2010 qualifying crash at Ohio’s Attica Speedway and the back surgery that followed. Not quite so however, as 2011 would find Danny return in his recognizable white #4 Maxim to log 17 wins. Danny, no stranger to adversity, once again overcame the challenges as he did after losing his wife to cancer in 2006 and having his shop burn in 2004 losing everything inside with the exception of a couple of engines that were away for rebuilding. Through all the victories and challenges one thing remains the same. Danny Smith is one of the most personable people in the sport. In this day and age, fielding a competitive sprint car effort is a serious undertaking yet Danny continues to frustrate some of the best financed teams in the business. His driving style has changed little through the years. Though a hard charger, his wins come from skill, experience and maintaining the equipment himself. Danny has always been a fun guy to race with and if you finish ahead of him you know you have earned your spot.
Today the native Hoosier has been transplanted to Chillicothe, Ohio where he lives with wife Stephanie. Danny gives credit to Stephanie who is a registered nurse at the VA hospital for aiding his recovery from the Attica crash. I asked him where his racing plans go from here. He said that he is nearly completely recovered from the crash, feels good and wants to race as long as he remains competitive and the enjoyment remains. This will certainly be good news for the legions of Smith fans. It is obvious when talking with Danny that he loves racing. He still has the #18 Gambler, manufacture #1, with the original engine that was in the car when he drove it. The car had been stolen, then recovered by C.K. Spurlock and now is with Danny where it belongs. Perhaps Danny Smith’s greatest victory in all his years of racing is with his fans. He is quick to give credit and thanks to his supporters for his comeback. It is clear that Danny loves every part of sprint car racing and that sentiment is not lost in his relationship with his followers. Danny has it together for the 2012 season with one new Maxim and two like new cars, but certainly would welcome corporate or individual participation to make the #4 even more competitive. Danny is still as recognizable as he was when I competed against him in the seventies and eighties. It is great to know that we can expect to see Danny in victory lane for 2012 and beyond. See, nice guys do often finish first. As for us here in Wewahitchka, Florida, the exceptionally warm winter has afforded us the opportunity to do some updates on the National Speedway Ministries motorhome. Our first 2012 event will be the Daytona Antique Auto Racing Assoc. Spring Nationals at Orlando Speed World. Additional Florida dates are likely to be added in the near future. Like Danny we are actively seeking a partner to help with 2012 travel expenses and make use of the available space on the motorhome. We look forward to an even more productive season than the one just past. It is the association and fellowship with folks like Danny and so many others in our racing family that allows us to anticipate yet another season on the road. More and more people comment on following this column and we look forward to visiting with y’all this season. Till then, God Bless.
The Living Legends of Auto Racing will hold their 20th annual beachside parade on Tuesday, February 21, 2012. The parade will stage as usual at the Drive-in Church located at 3140 S. Atlantic Avenue (A-1-A), Daytona Beach Shores, at 9am. Parade vehicles will then parade north A-1-A to Botefur Ave.and return to the Drive-in Church for display.
This year we have decided to move the date up to coincide with Daytona speed weeks at the request of many 50s and 60s racing folks that come to Florida then and have wanted to attend the CLR south event in the past. This Wed. date allows a quick trip over on I-4 for 11-3 or so and then back to the Daytona area for Volusia County races in the evening. Cuba Lake Raceway south, Florida luncheon for all stock car, midget and sprint drivers, mechanics, car owners, track personnel and fans that were involved in and enjoyed racing in WNY, Ontario and NWPA during the 40s, 5Os and 60s and their companion(s). A special invite is also open to any 40s, 50s and 60s racing drivers and fans from around the Country or Province that will be on vacation or are full time or part time residents here in Florida too. Any guests that would enjoy our event are also welcome to attend with you. Note: CLR north luncheon/reunion our 10th anniversary annual, the big one(200 plus), will be at Moonwinks in Cuba, NY again this year on July 25th 2012. When: February 22nd, 2012 (wed) Where: Golden Corral restaurant, Brandon FL, exit 257 off I-75 at sr 60. Go east on sr 60 after exiting I-75 from the north or south about 1/2 mile and make right turn(south) on S. Lakewood. It is well marked with overhead sign at light. Go south on Lakewood for three lights then watch for Golden Corral on left between Applebees and Carrabbas. Actual address is 815 Providence Rd. Plenty of parking room. Best to follow these instructions as new roads in area will mess up GPS devices. Time: Registration starts at 11:00 am with lunch starting about noon or whenever everyone is registered and seated for the great buffet luncheon in our private room. Golden Corral restaurants are noted for their great buffets, if you haven't been at one, I guarantee no one will leave hungry. Luncheon will be "Dutch treat" for all attending and a RSVP is required along with a payment of $11.00 for each person attending (covers everything, food, drink, tax and tip). I must receive your RSVP and payment by February 13th 2012 at the latest as no day of luncheon payments will be allowed. When you arrive at restaurant go through the line and tell cashier you are with the Cuba Lake Raceway group(don't pay any money) and you will be directed to the left and will see our room on the far end to the rear. We have our own waitress for the day and she or he will fix you up with a soda(pop for us northeners) or a coffee as soon as you arrive. We will all hit the chow lines about noon after everyone has arrived. Program: This year I have arranged for an extreamly interesting speaker that worked in engineering at the GM proving grounds in Detroit in 1968. His work was in the auto safety division and some of the stories he shared with me recently had me on the edge of my seat. Many of the stories you will hear tie directly to racing at the time and from previous years. Our speaker will entertain questions after his very educational talk that I know everyone in attendance will enjoy. The luncheon will end about 3pm so everyone can return home during daylight hours or get to the east coast for races at Volusia in the evening or just south of our event the 360 sprints are running at East Bay Raceway Park that evening too.(www.eastbayracewaypark.com ) The banquet room we will be using can only handle 50 people. I suggest you send your names and money as soon as you get this notice as this annual event is gaining in popularity and very well may sell out again this year. Last year we did max. out and I had to turn 10 folks down that sent their RSVP in late. Dress code is casual. RSVP: Send payment, $11.00 per person, along with your name and each companion(s) name to: Ford Easton, 5200 28th St. N. # 651, St. Petersburg, FL 33714. Make check or M.O. payable to: Ford Easton. If you wish to contact me phone is 727-522-4042 and e-mail is fjeaston@aol.com. Tickets will not be sent to you as your name and those attending with you must be on the master list at registration to gain entry to the luncheon in our private room at the restaurant. The $11.00 per person includes the great buffet, coffee, hot tea, iced tea and pop, free refills, tax and gratuity. Remember deadline for me to receive your RSVP and payment in the mail is February 13th 2012.
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