by Jim King
The story of Lester Slone is far more personal and dear to my heart than you may have expected. You see, Lester is a childhood hero of mine.
In 1970 I was a 12 year-old boy sitting in the stands at Islip Speedway, rooting real hard for Lester the day he won the World Figure 8 Championship. It's a day I'll never forget! My grandparents retired and moved to Florida in 1970, and I spent my summer vacation visiting them. When I arrived, my Grandpa showed me a newspaper ad for Sunshine Speedway "featuring Figure 8 races". We shared an interest in racing and had gone to Freeport Stadium on Long Island together, but had never been to a Figure 8 race.
We went to Sunshine that Saturday night and saw our first Figure 8 race, and we were hooked. All the races were excellent, but the Figure 8's were our favorite. Surely the most exciting spectacle I had ever seen. We loved it and went back every Saturday night. Those times I spent with my Grandpa are some of the fondest memories of my life.
Shortly after I returned home to Long Island, my father told me they were running the "Figure 8 and Demolition Derby World Championships" at Islip Speedway-"ABC'S Wide World of Sports" was going to be there-and would I like to go. We made the trip to Islip for the Sunday afternoon show, and Lester Slone was entered representing Sunshine Speedway. He had a guaranteed starting spot in the 25-lap feature, and Lester drew 27th starting position in the 30-car field. Having TV cameras there filming the action made it seem like a big deal, and Lester drove a real smart race, staying out of trouble, crisscrossing at the "X" and steadily moving up through traffic. We were cheering for him, and I'm sure I had my fingers crossed for good luck.
By the final lap, Lester was up to 2nd place and was right on the back bumper of the leader, the #2 "Jet-X" car, but time was running out. The last time through the intersection, the leader was involved in a collision, and Lester made an incredible zig-zag move through the "X" to avoid the wreck and crossed the finish line first. I knew immediately he had just won, and the feeling of elation was unbelievable.
Lester became my hero that day, and I learned that if you wish for something hard enough, and if you want something badly enough, sometimes your dreams really do come true... In 1972, I brought a camera to the World Championship. Lester was back at Islip attempting to regain his title, and during the pre-race introductions, I pointed the lens through the fence, yelled "Hey Lester!" and when he turned, I snapped the picture. 
Later, when I saw the picture, I was very pleased. The picture of Lester & the #136 at Islip is one I am very proud of, and I have treasured it for years. I always dreamed that some day I could share it with him... Now, some 30+ years later, through the miracle of the Internet (who would have known?), I have had the pleasure of buildingPOP'S Racing Site and have been contacted by Les Slone Jr, who found his father's picture and showed it to him. It's the realization of a dream and the beginning of a new friendship I hope will last forever. I can truly say I'm the luckiest man in the world, and feel my life has come full-circle. It all proves once again that if you wish for something hard enough, and if you want something badly enough, sometimes your dreams really do come true...
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