Thread: My first "professional" racing job

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I was digging through some old shots and found these, the car I worked on as my first ever job as a race mechanic... I worked for a guy named Charlie Kemp, good man, good racer, unfortunately his biggest claim to fame was doing a back flip down the big hill at Road Atlanta in a 917 Porsche--and breaking his back.

The car pictured is a '76 Mustang II, chassis by Bob Riley, sheet metal by Ron Fournier, engine by Gapp and Roush. My job was the shop make ready guy. Go over all the checklists load the trailer, prep the chassis, change engines, service the car, and the fuel can guy if we were in a long race and did a pit stop. The car raced in IMSA GT class. Big event of the season was the 12 hrs of Sebring, most prestigious win was Road Atlanta for the IMSA championship race. I was with Charlie for 2 seasons, that got and invitation to move back home and build/race sprint cars. We hadn't won any races, I was young and dumb, depressed from no wins, so I bailed out and went back to dirt burners...

Lots of memories in this car for me, it was very advanced for it's day, I worked with some very, very competent people and learned a ton from them about suspension, engines, racing, and life in general..... Had a blast!!!!

Dave, that's a very cool bit of history, thanks for sharing!!!

Mike

Thanks Mike! Thought it might be fun to post it. With the wide variety of people representing so many different areas of motorsports, thought it might be kewl to have a thread where those who were so inclined might want to share a bit of their past history. Betcha there's not many kinds of racing that someone on CHR hasn't been involved in!!!!

This is the only picture I have of this car. My name is on the side. I had others but someone else wound up with them. I worked on this thing 3 winters and 3 summers. My job keep it looking good. We won enough to pay for the gas and some parts. My welding rod of choice was coat hangers. ( metal ones remember them) We only raced clay at a track outside Chicago . It is now a housing project. The first race of second season I couldn't go had to work.. I was waiting for them to get back, I went out to see what damage had been done....Drivers side was like it was when it lift...The passenger side was ripped open like a sardine can. It was fun and a learing experiance..........Thanks for bringing up the menories Dave.

"Body by Fisher"---- Way kewl Charlie!!!! Thanks for the post!!!!!

Very kool Dave, thanks for posting that. I met Ron Fournier years ago when he was building the scale Indy Cars. I did some artwork and photo-etching for those cars. The grilles and suspension links. Very nice guy. He and his wife even drove his hand built hotrod up to the house one time.
The 1st pic in your photos is of the 1/24th scale model that R-M did of those cars, right? They did a couple of different IMSA cars if I remember right.
Mark

my racing expierence was very brief .. i helped build this car ( on the toombstone ) and i built the engine .. my friend died ..

Cool stories, wish I had a racing history, but alas just teenage stuff!

Originally Posted by stovens

Cool stories, wish I had a racing history, but alas just teenage stuff!

I should have stuck with wrenchin' instead of driving...on the days the race car rheumitis kicks in I'm thoroughly convinced of it.

Hoss, I know what you go through losing a friend and a driver, lost far too many of them myself. RIP--all of you!
I guess if a guy dies doing what he loves, it isn't all bad, is it???