| JOSLIN MEMORIAL SLATED FOR ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD ON JUNE 16TH | The eighth annual Joslin Memorial Night is slated for Orlando Speed World on Friday, June 16. The event was conceived by the late Dick Joslin's sons, Jerry and Jimmy, in 1993 to honor their father for his success and dedication to auto racing.
This year's edition will take on special meaning as Jerry Joslin passed away last September following a heart attack at age 42. Dick Joslin began his racing career on Central Florida ovals in 1948 and quickly chalked up wins at Sunbrock Speedway, Orlando Raceway and Deland Fairgrounds just to name a few. Track championships soon followed and it was time to move on to NASCAR where he participated in various events on the famed beach/road course.  Running his own '39 Ford Sportsman, Joslin came home the winner of the beach run in 1954 for his biggest career win.
Racing out of Columbia, S.C. Joslin hit many small dirt ovals like Columbia, Newberry and Lancaster where he again topped many of the best wheelmen of the time. In 1956 Dick built a new Dodge and chased the NASCAR convertible circuit around the country before returning to Orlando at mid-season for Jerry's birth. For the next few seasons he participated in a variety of Grand National (now Winston Cup) events as well as selected short track runs in a variety of cars. In 1962 Joslin ran his last race in a Dumont Smith owned Chevy late model and became the pit steward at Orlando Raceway. An automobile salesman by trade, Joslin was a familiar fixture at Leppere Pontiac which later became McNamara Pontiac. He also took over the promotional reins at Orlando Raceway and organized the state's promoters under the SEPAC banner, striving for a common set of car rules.
Dick Joslin's passing came in early 1972, the result of heart problems, and one of the most popular, outgoing racers of the era was gone but certainly not forgotten. Jerry Joslin was brought up in racing but music was his calling and he toured professionally for seveal years before finding his way back to Orlando in the late 80s. Like his father, Jerry was an "iron peddler" (car salesman) and spent many years at Sonny King's Orange Buick/GMC Truck in Orlando. He and younger brother Jimmy convinced Speed World promoters Clyde and Robert Hart to stage a memorial race in their father's honor in 1993 with Dick Anderson the winner of the 100 lap late model run in Buddy Foster's potent Dodge. From that begining the event has blossomed into one of the most prestigeous special events in the state and has featured the popular Florida modifieds since 1995.
In addition to a great field of cars and drivers each year, the event has played host to many of the former drivers, car owners and track officials from speedways all over the state. Familiar names like Phil Orr, Bill Enters, Ernie Bass, Bobby Brack, Bill Hohman and Buzzie Reutimann are among those who have attended the event as guests of the track as they enjoy friendships and events of years gone by.
This year's edition of the event, renamed the Joslin Memorial Night, is the result of many friends of Dick and Jerry Joslin who refused to allow the hard work and dedication of the past seven years fade into history following Jerry's untimely death last September. Come out and enjoy yourselves on June 16th and know that you will be part of something very special in Florida short track racing. The format will consist of twin 50 lap features, the Dick Joslin Memorial Modified 50 and the Jerry Joslin Memorial Late Model 50 and an outstanding field of cars is expected for both.
PREVIOUS JOSLIN MEMORIAL RACE WINNERS:
1993 Dick Anderson, late model; 1994 Dick Anderson, late model; 1995 Doug Moff and Jerry Symons, twin modifieds; 1996 Doug Moff, modified; 1997 Ross Eldridge, modified; 1998 Jeremy Fitch, modified; 1999 Teddy Nelson, modified.
by: Marty Little
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