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April 17, 1999 "FIELD OF DREAMS"
- by William "Bill" Green
As I sat tonight and watched the movie, "A Field of Dreams", I was suddenly
overcome with emotion. My father once enjoyed the small tracks of Florida.
From Lake City to Hialeah, he raced them all. He ran mostly Super Modified,
1960-69, a better owner than driver, he approached racing with a passion my
mother was jealous of. He never accomplished much in racing, but he did
manage to infect his son with the racing bug. While his ole #99 was a great car, (32 Ford coupe with a 427, six duces, yes 6, two barrel carbs for a while), a thing of wonder to a kid growing from 6 to 15, he LOVED just being at the races. He wore that car like a badge of honor. His greatest thrill was
to pull in to a place to eat or gas up, and have people ask about the car and
it's workings. Names like Spooky Whittle, Dale Lynch, Emile Ruttimann, Pop
Butler, Chuck and Clarence Rice, were all people I saw every week. I was one
of the lucky ones growing up in Mulberry, Florida. I got to play under the
bleachers at Golden Gate and listen to Gordon Soely, and watch Pancho
Alverez. There were Thrill Shows, racing three nights a week, sometimes four.
We did asphalt, we did dirt, and there were even Sunday afternoon shows. We
had fun and socialized with the other racers families. Camp Mac fishing trip
stories still float around our family get togethers today, some 30 years
after my Dad's passing. Golden Gate is no more, the Fair Grounds came and went in short order, East Bay and Sunshine still draw a crowd, but Phillips Field, is remembered by few. If I built a Field of Dreams, it would be asphalt and shaped like an egg. There'd be an X in the middle, and a whole lot of seats, the bathrooms would be clean and the parking free. The lights
would be bright and pay window fair. And who knows, maybe, just maybe,..... out of the pits would come ole #99, he'd be in that half shell helmet, smoking a cigarette, smile so wide, and eyes so bright, he'd light up the front stretch . We all have dreams, and we all have memories, and we all have friends at the races. Please do what you can to help save every track that falls ill. Because my Grand kids should have the opportunity to see what their Great Grandfather LOVED so passionately.
Hi, to all around the country, and those who recognize the name and remember
my father, drop me a line at [Racer99Bil@aol.com]. He had a wonderful spirit.
That shirt off his back kindness, everyone has told me about. I am his son,
Billy. My mother, Minnie lives still in Polk County, but has moved into
Lakeland. Spooky Whittle still is found walking through the pits at East Bay
or Lakeland's new, USA International Speedway. I am now the announcer for the
still Musgrove owned and operated, Sunshine "ACTION" Speedway, in St
Petersburg, FL. After 20 years in the Air Force I returned to my home to raise
my 5 kids. They too will soon be infected with the racing bug. So hope to
see you one night this summer, we operate each Saturday Night, 6pm qualifying,
and racing at 7pm.
PLEASE, keep up with the local racing in your area, and do everything you can
to save the TRACKS.
AND I'll see you at the RACES !!!
-William "Bill" Green Comment on this story? Post it on the Message Board! or e-mail to: comments@karnac.com |
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