Hooked on the Great Race
January 10, 2013
It’s always fun to watch the new participants in the Great Race to see how much they like it. Everyone enjoys it, but there are always several folks each year that enter to try it one time and get hooked. And then there are those that get hooked and enjoy preparing a new or different car for the next race. That’s the way it was for me. I believe it was the same for Gary and Jean Ann Martin, Pat and Pat Brothers, Rodney Rucker, Dave Reeder, Howard Sharp, Chad Caldwell and Alan Travis among others. And from the 2012 Rookie Class, I believe the same can be said about Ted Stahl and Buddy Green. And now you can add John Wagner to the list.
John, who raced his 1957 Chevy station wagon in 2012 with his brothers, sent me an email from his Troy, Mich., home the other day about his new ride for 2013. It is a beautiful maroon 1947 Chevrolet with wide whitewall tires. It’s good to see some more Chevys in the event from the 1940s. Now we need some more Chevys from the 1930s (are you listening Ed and Brenda Hurst?).
John is getting his new Chevy ready and will be at the start in St. Paul in June and should be a real threat in the Sportsman Division.
Leave a Reply
It’s always fun to watch the new participants in the Great Race to see how much they like it. Everyone enjoys it, but there are always several folks each year that enter to try it one time and get hooked. And then there are those that get hooked and enjoy preparing a new or different car for the next race. That’s the way it was for me. I believe it was the same for Gary and Jean Ann Martin, Pat and Pat Brothers, Rodney Rucker, Dave Reeder, Howard Sharp, Chad Caldwell and Alan Travis among others. And from the 2012 Rookie Class, I believe the same can be said about Ted Stahl and Buddy Green. And now you can add John Wagner to the list.
John, who raced his 1957 Chevy station wagon in 2012 with his brothers, sent me an email from his Troy, Mich., home the other day about his new ride for 2013. It is a beautiful maroon 1947 Chevrolet with wide whitewall tires. It’s good to see some more Chevys in the event from the 1940s. Now we need some more Chevys from the 1930s (are you listening Ed and Brenda Hurst?).
John is getting his new Chevy ready and will be at the start in St. Paul in June and should be a real threat in the Sportsman Division.
Jeff,
I admit I am guilty as charged!
John Wagner
You are correct! We certainly are hooked and are anxious for the 2013 Great Race.
And you can add us to the list, switching from a ’67 Jaguar E-type roadster to a ’69 Firebird ’400′ convertible….see y’all in St. Paul!!
I tell people that think they are only going to do the Great Race once that it is so much fun you may end up doing it every year. You all are proof that what I am saying is true.
My plan was to do it once for the experience and to see what everyone was talking about, but now i know that is not possible. After the 1st day in 2011, I was hooked and already looking to see the dates for the 2012 Great Race. Now, I’m counting the days until 2013. Someone said “it’s the most fun you can have with your clothes on” and they are right! Thanks Jeff and Corky for a 1st class event.
its is like fishing Jeff Corky and all the gang put out the bait and now they have set the hook you have got us bill & buddy green last car #64 we will be back this year with a new old car talking and planing each day from 1000 miles apart we are loveing it
I retired a couple years ago and while I don’t have a large “bucket list,” The Great Race has been at the top of it for a long, long time. I just bought a 68 Mustang Convertible with this in mind and if it’s as good as I hope it is (or doesn’t break the bank making it so) … and if I can find someone to go with me … I’m in for 2013.
I’m getting excited already!!!!