| Author | Post |
|---|
SAFEWAY KELLY
Member
| Joined: | Wednesday Dec 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 387 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Monday Mar 9th, 2009 05:54 PM |
|
Saturday I was at a memorial service for a fellow I worked with off and on for over 30 yrs. at Safeway. At that memorial I had a chance to bench race with Cousin Curt Kern's who was a family friend of this family and also talk to a fellow who raced at Skagit and Sky Valley Speedway's many years ago (I started at Safeway under the training of his wife) by the name of Mic Craft. Mic raced at these tracks for about 3 years in the olive green #92. He told me a rock stuck under his throttle and he hit the wall at Sky Valley hard enough to put him in the hospital but surprisingly enough the car survived! Mic worked at the old Mobil gas station on Madison in Everett infront of the H & D Glass Company my dad worked at (H & D also owned the gas station). After the accident Mic put the car up for sale. A young Fred Brownfield called about the car (I think this was in the early 70's) and brought his Dad's pickup and gave Mic $2,800.00 for the car and everything that went with it. This was quite a chunk of money back in those days! The rest is history and you can go to North Sound Radio 1380 website and hear Dick Wilskey tell 'the rest of the story' on Fred's first trip to Skagit with that car!
Kelly Nicholas
Stanwood, WA
|
cmark
Member
| Joined: | Monday Mar 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 18 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Tuesday Mar 10th, 2009 12:01 AM |
|
Kelly; I would be very interested in hearing Mr. Wilskeys version, as I was Freds one and only pit crew on that eventual nite. Can you direct me or do I need to contact the radio station?
Mark C
|
drifter56w
Member
|
Posted: Tuesday Mar 10th, 2009 12:29 AM |
|
Marc, it's good to hear your name again, it's been many years.
It started at Evergreen when this young fellow walked up to me after a main event on the asphalt and said he was going to drive one of these one day and asked if I knew of any cars for sale. Since I was well aquainted with Mic and his accident and the fact that he didn't want to drive any more, I suggested Fred conntact him.
Shortly there after I was pitted at Skagit when this same young fellow, yourself and his Father stopped the truck and trailer with Mic's car aboard by my pit and Fred climbed out approached me and said "well I bought it what do I do now". Quote/Unqoute. He unloaded next to me and after asking if he had a helmet and driver uniform he showed me a helmet he had bought at K Mart, I think, that day.
When I checked for the Snell label I realized it was made of cork. He said he had spent all his money on the car and would have to race with it on, I grabbed the ear gaurds and broke it in half. I thought he was going to deck me, LOL.
After loaning him a helmet and helping with gears etc. he promptly went out, timed in to the B dash and won it handly. It was apparent right off that he had a great connection between his head and his behind, as history proved.
I have so many great memories of our friendship and to this day I still deeply miss giving "Freddy B" a call when I get up his way or answering the phone and hearing "Hey RL" come to Elma and have lunch with me today.
There will never be another like him.
|
cmark
Member
| Joined: | Monday Mar 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 18 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Tuesday Mar 10th, 2009 12:51 AM |
|
Dick, Just too many to write about, Fred & I went back to the high school years. O the memories. Just a tease, that helmet you mention was found along-side of the road between Snohomish & Everett & I remember him changing into his fireproof underwear in the back of McLees's stationwagon in the pits.
Mark
|
sespe92
Member
| Joined: | Wednesday Aug 16th, 2006 |
| Location: | Snohomish |
| Posts: | 144 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Tuesday Mar 10th, 2009 06:06 PM |
|
| good stories guys i cant tell you how much i enjoy hearin them!
|
cmark
Member
| Joined: | Monday Mar 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 18 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Tuesday Mar 10th, 2009 07:06 PM |
|
sespe92
Do you want to start something? Ask drifter56w about the time at the Gold Cup in W. Sacramento, where he tried to do a Smokey & the Bandit impersonation.
markc
|
sespe92
Member
| Joined: | Wednesday Aug 16th, 2006 |
| Location: | Snohomish |
| Posts: | 144 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Tuesday Mar 10th, 2009 07:57 PM |
|
cmark wrote: sespe92
Do you want to start something? Ask drifter56w about the time at the Gold Cup in W. Sacramento, where he tried to do a Smokey & the Bandit impersonation.
markc
Drifter56w what happened at gold cup when you tried doing a smokey & the bandit impersonation!
|
SAFEWAY KELLY
Member
| Joined: | Wednesday Dec 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 387 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Tuesday Mar 10th, 2009 08:37 PM |
|
Mark-Thanks for the stories! Most of only know Fred as one of the best dirt/asphalt open wheel racers around. Tell us what made him decide to even buy a sprint car in the first place and can you remember his emotions the first time or even the first few times he climbed into the car. Did he have doubts when he started wrecking every week? What did the hot shots like Wilskey (Drifter 56), Stewart, Fontess and Armey think of the new comer?
Kelly
|
drifter56w
Member
|
Posted: Tuesday Mar 10th, 2009 09:48 PM |
|
I can only speak for myself, but as I said before he seeemed to have a natural connection and pretty much knew how to use it. His biggest problem was with the fence. He was so hard on the throttle that he and the walls would tend to try and occupy the same place at the same time.
I don't recall him causing contact with other cars that much, unless he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I could see that his desire to race was the biggest thing in his life. He just loved it, the competion and had a burning desire to win.
The car he bought from Mic had the old style small quick change rear end so every time he bumped the wall it would break. I bought him 2 of them and Bob Cochran helped him out with one.
Over the winter we rebuilt the car and put a new style rear end along with new torsion bars and bird cages. During those early years I was doing some metal fabrication and Fred would work with me. As time went on he became a very proficient metal craftsman and welder, hence the start of Brownfield Manufacturing.
|
drifter56w
Member
|
Posted: Tuesday Mar 10th, 2009 09:54 PM |
|
sespe92 wrote: cmark wrote: sespe92
Do you want to start something? Ask drifter56w about the time at the Gold Cup in W. Sacramento, where he tried to do a Smokey & the Bandit impersonation.
markc
Drifter56w what happened at gold cup when you tried doing a smokey & the bandit impersonation!
Oh Boy, that's a long time ago. Some fun  ...... stay tuned.
|
cmark
Member
| Joined: | Monday Mar 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 18 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Tuesday Mar 10th, 2009 11:43 PM |
|
Doubts, Fred, NEVER, in all the years of knowing Fred I don't ever recall him doubting his decision to go racing. He was never an every weekend crasher, most of our troubles were his driving ability going faster than that car was capable, mechanical troubles meant more hours during week for repairs. The vets we raced were great, they were always ready with an answer or suggestion, but in the end Fred would almost always go back to drifter56w & his crew for their advise.
want more?
|
sespe92
Member
| Joined: | Wednesday Aug 16th, 2006 |
| Location: | Snohomish |
| Posts: | 144 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wednesday Mar 11th, 2009 12:31 AM |
|
| always
|
drifter56w
Member
|
Posted: Wednesday Mar 11th, 2009 01:02 AM |
|
The thing that made Fred so great in life, racing, business and relationships was his ability to listen, listen, listen. Something most of the newbees don't have. Fred was like a sponge, what ever question he asked he listened intently to the answer and then rolled it around in his head, analyzed it, put it into perspective and then usually improved on it.
Fred never questioned his desire to race and as history shows he took that desire and improved on it when he finally came to that "y" in the road where he had to make a choice between racing, as in "driving" for a living, and used his knowledge to take it to the next level. All the while giving back to the racing community.
He was an excellant business man using his ability to make ice cream out of horse manure when it came to metal just as he took his ability in the drivers seat to become one of the best promoters in the country. He listened to others and never uttered the words "yeah I know" after he asked you a question.
During the many years Fred worked for me, as my first employee when I went into business, and how that came to be is another story, he watched, listened and learned by observing the mistakes I made and many times asked for more responsibility. Each time he took our company to another level.
When he finally decide to leave and concentrate on building his manufacturing business that partnership led to many successful ventures for both of us.
The other great things was he never lost sight of where his roots were and any time a friend needed a hand Fred was always there usually without even asking.
As I said at his memorial he left footprints in the sands that no tide will ever wash away.
|
GregB
Member
|
Posted: Wednesday Mar 11th, 2009 01:48 AM |
|
This stuff is GREAT thanks for sharing and thanks to Rick for providing a place to share.
Greg
____________________
For the very latest ASCS NW news, updates and more: http://www.ascsnorthwest.com
greg@beachhutvacations.com
Want your next vacation to benefit NW Motorsports? http://www.beachhutvacations.com
92
|
rickt
Member
| Joined: | Wednesday Jun 29th, 2005 |
| Location: | Left Coast, USA |
| Posts: | 8048 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wednesday Mar 11th, 2009 02:54 AM |
|
I love this stuff! As many of you know, Dick Wilskey is a great friend of mine and the stories he has to tell........ my oh my
Rickt 
____________________
Next race: Sept 12th Miller Motorsports Park in Utah
Avatar: Bill McAnally Racing assembly room
http://www.billmcanallyracing.com
FB92
|
doublediamond
Member
| Joined: | Monday Nov 14th, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 177 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wednesday Mar 11th, 2009 03:28 AM |
|
Don't know if the the silver tonqued orators dazzeling them with brilliance, or baffeling them with BS, but the West Sacto cop had to get chips to come as back up and do a field sobriety test. The Trans Am just came off Hap Kemps lot, no plates or license. Three of us thought we were going to jail but Dick just kept on talking. They finally escorted us back to the motel and said if we even looked out the door they would arrest all of us. Still Kevin and I ended up at the pool drinking beers with Fred in good old West Sacramento. Jan probably went to sleep, don't know if Dick was a good boy or not.
Dick should tell the stories about the race strategy conducted on the back roads before Sky Valley races or doing a slide for life in the motor home. Oh the good old days, race hard play hard.
|
cmark
Member
| Joined: | Monday Mar 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 18 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wednesday Mar 11th, 2009 04:32 AM |
|
| Kelly; There was vet at Skagit who loved to give us the business whenever he could. It wasn't because we were new, young wide eyed still wet behind the ears kids, it was because our race car was very GREEN. He never missed a chance to bust our chops. So about 3/4 of the way thru the season we painted our car, not yellow not red or blue, it turned out baby shi* brown, not tan, shi* brown. At skagit the next weekend we were the talk of the pits, This vet came by our pit and told us he was glad we painted it but we were still going to be slow with those tractor tires on the front.
|
dn1967
Member
| Joined: | Saturday Aug 9th, 2008 |
| Location: | Snohomish |
| Posts: | 132 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Tuesday Mar 17th, 2009 05:19 AM |
|
Just for reference....
DavidAttachment: Fred'scarSkyValleyOpp.jpg (Downloaded 449 times)
|
flattrackracer15b
Member
| Joined: | Monday Mar 31st, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 2 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Monday Jun 29th, 2009 02:51 AM |
|
| I wonder if that is the same car he put travis Cram, Damon hespe, and one other gentleman in back in '93 or '94 to let them race in econosprint division. It looks like the same chassis he used for them.
|
dn1967
Member
| Joined: | Saturday Aug 9th, 2008 |
| Location: | Snohomish |
| Posts: | 132 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Monday Jun 29th, 2009 04:10 AM |
|
I highly doubt it. That pic is early 70's.......
btw...... credit to cmark for the pic!!!!!!
DavidLast edited on Monday Jun 29th, 2009 04:11 AM by dn1967
|
cmark
Member
| Joined: | Monday Mar 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 18 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Monday Jun 29th, 2009 05:23 PM |
|
The original 92 modified was sold & sent to Alaska, after Fred purchased his first sprint Car.
Mark
|
sespe92
Member
| Joined: | Wednesday Aug 16th, 2006 |
| Location: | Snohomish |
| Posts: | 144 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Tuesday Jul 7th, 2009 05:44 PM |
|
flattrackracer15b wrote: I wonder if that is the same car he put travis Cram, Damon hespe, and one other gentleman in back in '93 or '94 to let them race in econosprint division. It looks like the same chassis he used for them.
think this is the one your talkin about haha...
Attachment: 239999361_l.jpg (Downloaded 208 times)
|
dn1967
Member
| Joined: | Saturday Aug 9th, 2008 |
| Location: | Snohomish |
| Posts: | 132 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wednesday Jul 8th, 2009 12:10 AM |
|
| Woops!
|
Just an Old Guy
Member
|
Posted: Wednesday Jul 8th, 2009 01:47 AM |
|
sespe92 wrote: flattrackracer15b wrote: I wonder if that is the same car he put travis Cram, Damon hespe, and one other gentleman in back in '93 or '94 to let them race in econosprint division. It looks like the same chassis he used for them.
think this is the one your talkin about haha...
Telling on the old man, huh Seth?
I was going to post the whole series of photos but couldn't find them.
And the wing panel he's leaning on is the one hanging in my shop.
____________________
Age is just a state of mind.
Some days I'm myself.
Some days I'm my kids.
On the best days--------
I'm my Grandkids.
|
Current time is 10:19 PM | |
|
