Hershel McGriff Is At It Again

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Win On Sunday... Sell On Monday

Mustang To Debut In Nascar... Very Cool!



Nascar announced today that the Mustang could be seen in as many as five Nationwide races as NASCAR works on its new car rollout for the series next year with the Dodge Challenger, Toyota Camry and Chevy Impala SS which are also expected to participate. Ford Mustang will start racing in the Nationwide Series in 2010 which will be the first time Mustang has appeared in a NASCAR sanctioned series.

In light of the adverse effect on today's economy, the annual car sales in The United States are down from 16 million to less than 10 million. Remember the old saying "WIN ON SUNDAY SELL ON MONDAY"? Well it was a lot more than just a saying as the facts prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that every time a specific model won on Sunday cars sales for that makes rose abruptly on Monday.

While it appears that some auto manufactures appear to be pulling out of major racing series it's also obvious that Ford is not of that frame of mind. Last week Ford made it's presence well known at the 2009 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb with two Fiestas and recently the announcement of their new three-car Fiesta effort that Ford will run at this year’s X Games Rally.



Usually this event is dominated by Subarus and a few Evo's but if Ford can make as good a showing as they did at Pikes Peak they will begin to gain a lot of recognition from the younger generation and hopefully take back some of what has been a domination of imported automobiles.



Don't think it can be done? Don't forget back in the day when the big Ford himself told Iacoca and Shelby, "Win at all cost. Money is not an object." Could it be history is about to repeat it's self? Mustang has a rich history in motorsports since its introduction and has won in drag racing, IMSA, Trans-Am, Grand-Am Cup road racing and, even Formula D drifting but it has never competed in NASCAR.

Brian Wolfe, director of Ford North American Motorsports said, "It's the most successful nameplate in racing history, and it seems only right that it should be coming to the most popular form of racing in North America,"

With the introduction of Mustang, Impala and Charger to Nascar racing it wont be long until the biggest rivalry in the auto world will once again have fans screaming in the stands and in front of their TVs which will also fuel sales on Mondays just like it did back in the day. Furthermore, if you don't think Americans wouldn't rather see a Ford Mustang race against a Toyota Camry then think again.

I honestly believe what Ford will accomplish by doing this is they will begin to get the attention of young potential car buyers who will in the process start reconsidering buying a Ford instead of an import. If Ford's begin to make a name again in racing as history shows they have done many times before you can rest assured Ford will increase their sales on Mondays.

Lord, Please Don't Take Me Now... I Still Have Another Race.

I had to laugh... While at Mass this evening the priest was talking about of all things, returning home to be buried. After Mass he asked me why the smirk on my face so I told him about Hershel McGriff. The more I thought about it the funnier it seemed. While a lot of men return home at the age of 81 only to be buried Hershel returned home not only to take part in a Nascar race but in fact to run 13th overall. I guess you could even say Hershel buried a few of them young bucks today the track and they have been running the entire season.

I know for a fact that some optimist couldn't help but wonder if Hershel could come back after his bad break at Infineon and asked if it got him down enough that it would cause him to have self doubt? But the results are in folks and it proves once again that once a champion always a champion. Not only did he bounce back but he did so with a vengeance and kicked butt and took names while doing it.

It's amazing Hershel had time to do anything since every time he turned around there was a camera stuck in his face. Oh the price for good looks.


Anyone who watched the race will tell you it was a blood bath. There was a filed of rookies, proven champions and on top of it all this was a seasons championship event so all the marbles were on the table and let me give you some facts about this race. There were 5 cautions for 23 laps, 7 cars not running at the end and the scheduled 63lap race went 66 laps with a green/white/checkered. During the last 20 laps at one point Hershel was up to 4th overall and there where cars off the track at every part of the course some from over-driving, some crashing, body contact and more but the best part of all... NOT ONCE did Hershel spin or go off proving he's still got it. And trust me when I say, that has nothing to do with luck.

Hershel getting mentaly ready.


Prior to this event the only driving Hershel has done in years was a little track time with our good friend Bob Bondurant (not in a race car) then one day of testing in his brand new car prior to heading up to Infineon for very little time in his car. While at Infineon there were some carburetor problems which made for a poor practice session which caused an understandable setback for qualifying. Then one day of testing at Thunderhill which really has nothing whatsoever in common with PIR other than making sure Hershel's butt began remembering what it should feel like. From there it was on up to Portland and from what I saw of the race Hershel's butt was beginnging to feel pretty damn good.

Hershel's pit board. Looks like his wife Sherrie.





















During today's race at PIR, one of the track announcers said, "Man, look at McGriff move up. Ya know Hershel only signed up for three races but I am thinking he should sign up for all of them. Any of these young drivers who may have thought they would just drive around him are surely giving that a second thought right about now."

Nope, Hershel isn't going to be buried.. he too damn busy racing cars. Now I cant wait to see Hershel move up at the Utah race. GO HERSHEL!


Wanna ride along around PIR with Hershel?

A NASCAR Record That May Never Be Beat

Hershel McGriff just finished qualifing his 04 Park Corporation Chevrolet to run in the NASCAR Camping World West Series race, the BI-MART Salute to the Troops “125″ Race. Hershel has thus become the oldest driver ever to compete in a national NASCAR series race setting one of the most prestigious records in automotive racing history. What a great day for the entire race world and when you realize he did it at the very track that it all began on on September 16, 1945 it simply makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

Awesome Day For Hershel McGriff !

Like I told a friend, I bet when Hershel got to Portland International Raceway he looked around at the track and said, "Honey, I'm home." This has simply got to be overwhelming for Hershel as well as his family and close friends not to mention his fans. With out a doubt it gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "Going Full Circle". Can you believe it; Hershel won the very first NASCAR race here before most (if not all) of the other drivers in this weekends event were even born.

As best I could I watched Hershel run his NASCAR West practice laps today at Portland International Raceway by watching it on http://www.pirlive.com/ and an awesome practice session it was. Hershel finished 16th overall and looked super doing it. Tomorrow Hershel will qualify for the BI-MART Salute to the Troops “125″ Race at 11:00am then his race will begin at 2:00pm. This event is one of three that Hershel will be running in the NASCAR Camping World Series.


GO HERSHEL DAMMIT GO!!!!!!

A Great Ending To An Awesome Weekend

The Father's Day Nascar race at Infineon this Sunday was as awesome a day at the race track as I have ever had even though my favorite driver didn't win. After all, how often do you get to spend a day at the races with one of the biggest race legends of all time? But not only did I get to enjoy Hershel McGriff's company and watch one hell of a race but in fact one of the best NASCAR races I have ever seen.

During the race we took a break to do an interview with Hershel to be used in our new HD DVD that will debut at the Monterey Historics. Trust me when I say, if you enjoy La Carrera Panamericana you're going to LOVE this interview.



One reason the race was so exciting is because NASCAR literally copied and implemented a double-file rule change which NASA (National Auto Sports Association) has used for sarting races for as many years as I can remember. I am proud to say every race I ever ran with NASA was using a double-file starts which makes for exciting racing. On many of the talk shows I listened too for the week prior to this race there was lot of speculation as to how good or bad double-file restarts would be or if it would show a popular result but I am here to tell you... The NASCAR fans LOVED double-file restarts! Nascar showed what a class act they were by listening to their fans suggestions with regards to double-file restarts but they should have hired Jerry Kunzman a long time ago and they could have learned a lot more.

After the race I overheard several drivers including winner Kasey Kahne talk openly about how much they enjoyed double-file restarts and how much more exciting the race was as a result.

Kasey Kahne with Tony Stewart hot on his tail in turn 2 on the final double-file restart.



Anyone who has ever been to a NASCAR race will tell you there is never a dull moment as you can see from some of these pre-race photos.

Now before anyone writes me just let me say, this first photo is NOT upside down. The Redbull stunt helicopter was performing loop-d-loops one right after another, something that not so many years ago was said to be impossible.













As for those who think I'm pulling your leg, just watch.



Speaking of helicoptors, Nascar and Infineon, never let it be said that we do things half-arsed here in California. Just check out how the winner's trophy for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was delivered to Infineon Raceway prior to the race via an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, from Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco. Be sure to take note of the white gloves used to receive it. Talk about Pomp and Circumstance!



Here is another fly-by during the opening ceremonies.






Fighter jets performed numerous stunts as well as an awesome fly-by during the National Anthem.


The start of the race turn 2 behind the pace car.


This is where Will spent the day with friends in some of the party tents.


The Oakland Police Department was in attendance for the event and they asking for donations for the families of four Oakland Police officers who were recently killed in the line of duty and from what I was told the NASCAR fans really came through in a substantial way.


One of several fly-by's this one being the United States Coast Guard.




Jeff and Jimmy going at it early on.


One of Robby Gordon's trailers parked by Hershel's rig. Notice the air conditioned pop up viewing area on top for spotters.



These last two photos of turn 7 were for fun just to show the difference in attendance between Saturday race and Sunday.

Saturday's Race.


Sunday's race

Hershel & Gary Mentioned On NASCAR Site

Very good article about Hershel McGriff. CLICK HERE

Spending Time With Another Great One

I feel truly blessed and speaking of father and son racing families today was another awesome day in that I got to visit with one of the all time great NASCAR drivers, Buddy Baker who is the son of two time winner of the NASCAR Championship and a Hall of Fame member Buck Baker.






















Buddy began his NASCAR career in 1959 and in 1970 he became the first driver to ever exceed 200 mph on a closed course. The same year, with a victory at the Southern 500, he became the first NASCAR driver to win the same race at the same venue as his father. (His father did it in 1953.)




During his career, Baker won nineteen races including the 1980 Daytona 500, NASCAR's most prestigious race. His victory remains the fastest Daytona 500 ever run, with an average speed of 177.602 mph.

Buddy is one of eight drivers to have won a Career Grand Slam by winning the sport's four majors... the Daytona 500, Aaron's 499, Coca-Cola 600, and the Southern 500. Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson are the other seven to have accomplished the feat. He is the only one of the eight to not win the championship.




Buddy and I had an incredible visit but you should have heard how excited Buddy got when I told him Hershel McGriff was going to race again at the age of 85. I didn't think Buddy was ever going to stop talking about Hershel and his many amazing accomplishments and he said he had never met a man with bigger..... (Well, let's just say, "tires") than Hershel. But what really surprised me was how much Buddy knew about Hershel. I was really surprised when Buddy told me Hershel had driven for Buddy's dad, Buck Baker. He has so many gvreat and colorful stories about Hershel but one of them was about the time Buck went north for the weekend to race and he sent Hershel to the south. When the weekend was over the two of them had won five major races in a single weekend, a NASCAR record that still stands to this day.

Buddy told me that Hershel was well known to be the sort of driver that never burnt the candle at both ends; meaning, while other drivers were up celebrating in each town they came to, Hershel did what ever it took to be ready to beat anyone he came up against which he did most of the time.

What a privilege it was to spend time with one of the most recognizable and colorful NASCAR drivers of all time. Funny thing was, when I talked to Hershel this afternoon he told me he remembered Buddy being only 5 years old when he first met him.

Press Release.. Hershel McGriff Back With Nascar Again

Nope, I kid you not. My amazing friend and NASCAR legend, Hershel McGriff, just called me first to make the announcement that he will be running at Infineon International Raceway on the weekend of June 19 -June 21 during the Toyota/Save Mart 350 and is entered in the NASCAR Camping World Series West.


Gary and Hershel on holiday in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Besides winning the first ever world famous La Carrera Panamericana which was held almost 50 years ago Hershel still holds the distinction of being the oldest driver to have raced at the age of 65 but even more amazing when you consider that Hershel is now 81 years young and about to compete not only at Infineon but in fact the entire NASCAR Camping World Series West.

Hershel won a race in the initial year of the series with NASCAR, when it was known as the Pacific Coast Late Model series in 1954. With 35 victories, he is Winston West's winningest active competitor. He began his stock car career in September 1945 at Portland (Ore.) Speedway. He won the 1950 Mexican Road Race. He competed in the first Southern 500 at Darlington International Raceway. He accumulated the most wins (14) at the old Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway. He has competed in a stock car at LeMans, France, in Australia and in Japan. He won the 1986 NASCAR Winston West Series Championship. He tops the list of pole awards in Winston West Series poles (35).

NASCAR influence on La Carrera Panamericana

It's interesting how many famous drivers from NASCAR competed in La Carrera Panamericana not to mention how many cars were prepared or owned by some of the biggest names in racing history. As a matter of fact NASCAR shares a lot of it beginnings in Mexico going back almost 60 years. A lot of these names will not to be recognized by many of todays younger crowd but there are a few of us old timers who do. Hershel McGriff, Bill France, Curtis Turner, Marshall Teague, Clay Smith, Johnny Mantz, Bill Stroppe, Chuck Stevenson, Walt Faulkner, Bob Korf, Ray Crawford, and Jack McGrath are just a few. Have you ever heard of Nascar driver Tim Flock whose good luck charm was a real live monkey by the name of Jocko Flocko who used to ride as co-piloto? It's true.

Jocko Flocko was a Rhesus monkey and remains the only known "co-driver" in NASCAR history. On May 16, 1953, Jocko helped Tim win the Grand National race at Hickory, N.C. - becoming the only winning monkey to date. Unfortunately, Jocko was forced to retire from "driving" duties two weeks later in Raleigh, N.C.. Too bad, Jocko was one of the cutest co-pilotos around.


Here is a photo taken on May 30, 1953 when the one-mile superspeedway in Raleigh, N.C., joined NASCAR and presented a Memorial Day 300-miler. Fonty Flock came from the 43rd starting position to win. Tim Flock fell to third in the final laps when he pitted to remove monkey copilot Jocko Flocko from his car.



Driving a 1953 Lincoln that competed in the annual Carrera Panamericana, Tom Cherry whips a quick lap at Daytona. Cherry finished ninth in what turned out to be his only start in NASCAR's premier stock car racing series. Two different numbers were painted on the durable Lincoln -- the #120 that it had in the grueling race over the rugged Mexican terrain, and the #38 that it officially carried in the NASCAR Grand National event.

Here is a first hand account as Tim Flock recalls the incident that caused Jockos early retirement. "I actually raced with a monkey, which I named Jocko Flocko, for eight races in 1953. It started as a publicity stunt, and we gave him his own driving uniform and a specially designed seat. Back then the cars had a trap door that we could pull open with a chain to check our tire wear. Well, during the Raleigh 300, Jocko got loose from his seat and stuck his head through the trap door, and he went berserk! Listen, it was hard enough to drive those heavy old cars back then under normal circumstances, but with a crazed monkey clawing you at the same time, it becomes nearly impossible! I had to come into the pits to put him out and ended up third. The pit stop cost me second place and a $600.00 difference in my paycheck. Jocko was retired immediately. I had to get that monkey off my back!"

Lucky's Blood Line Appears At NASCAR Race

Last weekend prior to the start of the Camping World RV 400 at Kansas Speedway soldiers from the U.S. Army Special Operations Command thrilled race fans with a daring pre-race demonstration as the official Ford Fusion pace car was taken on a special “ride”.It was airlifted and then offloaded onto the track by an MH-47 Chinook helicopter from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne).

Boy, I know a few teams that would give their right arm to get a ride like that to the La Carrera Panamericana.

Why do we race.... Because we can.

This evening my son Will sent me the following article and I thought it good enough to include here. My daughter and sons and I as well as my team mate Jon are truly blessed to live here in the San Francisco Bay area and the opportunities it affords us both in business and in pleasure. While this really is one of the best places in the world to live considering the large array of endless possibilities to do just about anything you can imagine within a few miles of driving, the best part of all is we get to call some of the finest and most historical racetracks our very own and to do with as we please. And don't forget, we have a whole bunch of other state of the art tracks within a few hours drive as well.

The following article written by David Caraviello from NASCAR.COM pretty much tells it like it is.



The fog clears, revealing an unlikely racing hotbed


SAN FRANCISCO -- There is not a more breathtaking urban landscape in all of America than the one that unfolds before you from this city's Municipal Pier, a crumbling old structure curving out into the mouth of San Francisco Bay. But the wood rot underfoot is completely eclipsed by the view, a 360-degree panorama that takes in the majestic Marin headlands, infamous Alcatraz Island, the busy waterfront, and skyscrapers and townhouses climbing toward Nob Hill. And then there's the bridge, that spectacularly understated art deco masterpiece, gracefully spanning the strait for which it is named.

It's an always enchanting, sometimes strange, often eclectic and occasionally tremulous place, an unthinkably dense metropolis perched at the edge of a peninsula that seems much too small to accommodate it. Even stranger is the fact that there's a major NASCAR racetrack only 30 miles north of what has to be one of the least driver-friendly big cities in the world. During the sport's annual pilgrimage to the region, you half expect mandates forcing the Sprint Cup teams to field hybrids, and charging them $40 a night to park in the Infineon Raceway garage.

This isn't Southern California, where car-clogged superhighways rule. Up here, discounts abound for alternatively-powered vehicles. A drive from the airport to the Golden Gate Bridge requires a stop-and-go journey over surface streets. There are two kinds of parking -- nonexistent and exorbitant. Every other word on the radio is "green." Don't even ask about the price of gas.


It's all enough to make you think that the good citizens of the Bay Area are a bunch of Prius-driving, left lane-blocking eco-whackos who equate the internal combustion engine with the Ebola virus. And without question, a few of them are. But out here in the bluest part of the bluest state, where Big Oil is public enemy No. 1 and where protesters have literally lived in trees for more than a year to block the construction of a new sports center at the University of California in Berkeley, there's a little secret -- a lot of people like to drive fast. Very fast. In big, roaring, gas-hoggin' cars.

How else to explain the preponderance of racetracks in this part of Northern California? There's not one but two major motorsports facilities, Infineon up in the Sonoma Valley and the sports-car mecca of Laguna Seca down the Pacific Coast Highway in Monterey. Out in far eastern Alameda County there's Altamont Motorsports Park, which in its 42 years has seen names like Andretti, Foyt and Unser compete on its half-mile paved oval, and still hosts the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Up along the delta in Contra Costa County there's Antioch Speedway, a quarter-mile dirt track which hosts, among other things, the kind of dwarf cars that Sunday's winner at Infineon, Kyle Busch, grew up driving.



Ken Clapp, who has served Infineon Raceway in a variety of capacities was enshrined into the facility's wall of fame.



Farther east is the site of revered old Stockton 99 Speedway, former home to NASCAR's Southwest tour and weekly racing division, and the oldest quarter-mile paved oval west of the Mississippi River until it closed last year. The region stretching from San Francisco to Sacramento is a hotbed of quarter-midget racing, which jump-started the career of Vallejo native and four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon. There are drag racing clubs based in the Silicon Valley. And there are numerous other tracks, places like Placeville Speedway and Madera Speedway and Shasta Raceway, remote enclaves of speed among the mountains and redwoods that draw racers deeper into Northern California or out toward the Nevada line.

Who knew that tony, antiestablishment San Francisco was the hub of a region with such a need for speed? Ken Clapp did. The retired former NASCAR vice president, who was enshrined in Infineon Raceway's wall of fame last weekend, (June 25, 2008)
played a large role in founding the facility 40 years ago, and delivering that first Cup event 20 years later. But the inaugural 1989 race, won by Ricky Rudd, wasn't the first time that NASCAR's premier series had competed in the region. Herb Thomas won a race at the fairgrounds in Merced in 1956. Events were held at Oakland Stadium three times in the early 1950s. And in 1954 the ageless Hershel McGriff won the first of three races contested at Bay Meadows Speedway in San Mateo, one short fuel run away from the intersection of Haight and Asbury.

So the gearheads have always been here, albeit in a diffused state until Clapp and some gutsy investors built the undulating road course at the intersections of highways 37 and 121 that pulled them all together. Clapp, who had promoted hundreds of races at short tracks across the region, knew the market for racing was there, even in an area not necessarily known for it. One of his former weekly series tracks, the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose, had been among the national leaders in car count and attendance. Now, the success of the facility originally known as Sears Point International Raceway speaks for itself. The track owns the record for largest crowd at a single-day sporting event in Northern California.

So sorry, San Francisco. Like it or not, you're a racing town. That sound you hear is an engine rumbling, not sea lions barking or the Pacific breaking upon Ocean Beach. Who knows, maybe that cable car driver maneuvering down Powell Street secretly harbors ambitions of becoming the next Carl Edwards. Maybe that radical college professor who by day rages against carbon emissions sleeps in a Dale Earnhardt Jr. T-shirt at night. In this city, much stranger things have happened.

Hershel McGriff will attend Concurso de Motor Sports in San Miguel de Allende

It's OFFICIAL! Legendary driver Hershel McGriff, the very first driver to win La Carrera Panamericana and his lovely wife Sheri, will be accompanying my wife and I to San Miguel de Allende where Hershel will be honored at the gala Panamerican banquet at the Concurso de Motor Sports in San Miguel de Allende on October 18. What a special treat this will be for anyone attending the the first Concurso de Motor Sports Panamericana in San Miguel de Allende this year. Traditionally San Miguel de Allende is where a much needed layover for competitors and teams who are part of the Coyote Convoy led by North American La Carrera Director, Gerie Bledsoe, find time to relax and acclimate themselves to the beauty of Mexico prior to heading south to the Guatemala border. San Miguel de Allende is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico and has been voted one of the top travel destinations not only in Mexico but in the world. Click here for a list.

The event will be a weekend of classic cars, vintage motorcycles, and motor sports entertainment. In addition to recognizing Hershel the Concurso will raise funds for groups providing assistance to the children of San Miguel de Allende and the area. During the fund raiser Hershel will be interviewed in a question/answer type format by a panel headed up by Gerie Bledso and let me tell you, having spoken with Hershel numerous times, I can guarantee Hershel is an amazing speaker so this is going to be great! Can it possibly get any better than this? I think not.



When I was a young boy growing up in rural Oregon I was all but cut off from the rest of the world when it came to all the hero's that most young boys grew up idolizing. Most boys worshiped sports legends like Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, and Willie Mays as well as others from football teams naturally being fondest of the teams from their state. But Oregon had no famous NFL or baseball teams but what we did have was Hershel McGriff. While other boys were playing ball I could be found racing my go-carts on country roads or cow pastures pretending to be Hershel McGriff. Like myself Hershel grew up around the lumber business in Oregon and he even bought some logs from my father's mill over the years. Little did I know that one day I would find myself traveling to Mexico to take part in honoring the man I have idolized since my early childhood.



I can't begin to tell you how exciting this is for me. Just think... Hershel won the very first La Carrera Panamericana and now after 58 years he is returning to be recognized for his amazing feat.

McGriff's career is one that pre-dates NASCAR and spans seven decades of racing. NASCAR Chairman Bill France Jr. said, "Hershel started with us about the same time NASCAR was founded and he has always championed NASCAR's cause since day one. He was quite a race-car driver through the years and even more importantly a great ambassador for the sport and we hope he continues as an ambassador to our sport."

McGriff's fascination with racing stemmed from an early interest in cars that developed while growing up in Sioux Falls, S.D. He owned a motor scooter when he was about 9 years old and drove farm machinery while working summer jobs before becoming a teenager. "My dad let me use the family car when I was 12," McGriff recalled of living in a time and place that did not require a drivers' license. "I bought my first car when I was 13."

His first race was at 17 years of age after his family had moved to Portland, Ore. He borrowed his father's car to compete at Portland Speedway in September of 1945. "They advertised this 250-lap race at Portland Speedway, which was dirt," McGriff said. "My dad agreed to let me use his car, a 1940 Hudson. The following year I was offered a 1946 Ford coupe. In the meantime, they had blacktopped the track. I won that race, a 100-lapper.

One of what McGriff considers his biggest accomplishments came in 1950 when he won the Pan American road race in Mexico. His encounter during that event with fellow competitor Bill France Sr., led to a lifelong friendship. "From that time on we were always pretty close," McGriff said. "I think I learned a lot from him. He was so knowledgeable and looked so far ahead."



That same year, France invited McGriff to compete in the first Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. After driving his car cross-country, McGriff raced it to a ninth-place finish and then drove it home to Portland.

Busy building a successful lumber business, McGriff was basically away from racing from 1955 to 1967 before eventually getting involved again. During his racing career, McGriff competed against some of the best names in NASCAR including three generations of the Petty family. He went door-to-door with Lee Petty early in his career, later raced against Richard Petty and even competed against Kyle Petty.

Perhaps McGriff's most remarkable talent was on a road course. With 14 wins, he was the all-time leading race winner at Riverside International Raceway. He also won the first-ever NASCAR Winston West Series street race on the streets of Tacoma, Wash in 1986.

Never one to shy away from a challenge or an adventure, McGriff also carried the NASCAR banner overseas on more than one occasion. In addition to competing in a NASCAR Winston Cup car in the 24 Hours of LeMans in France, he raced in Australia and Japan.

Besides his accomplishments on the track, McGriff was also noted for his efforts off the track. His contributions to the sport were reflected with McGriff being presented with the NASCAR Award of Excellence.

McGriff's popularity among fans was indicated by the record 12 consecutive years, from 1981 to 1992, that he was named as the Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Winston West Series.

McGriff, who was named to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, leaves his name etched throughout the NASCAR Winston West Series record book. In addition to winning the series championship in 1986, he is third on the list of series career victories with 34. In terms of pole positions won in the modern era (1971 to present), McGriff leads the way with 35. His record 12 victories in 1972 still stands as the most in a season as does his record that year for winning the most pole positions, with 12. McGriff also set a record that year for most consecutive races won with five and for the most top-five finishes in a season with 22.

In the modern era alone, McGriff started 236 NASCAR Winston West Series races, one short of the record. He is second in that era for top-fives, with 96, and also second on the list of top-10s with 144. McGriff led 4,094 laps of competition in the modern era, which also ranks second for that time span. When he visited victory lane at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., in 1989 he became the oldest driver to win in the series at 61 years and four months old.

Tyler's Day at Sears Point

What does any self respecting racer do the weekend after the NASCAR guys have raced on one of the local tracks? You get there as fast as you can so you can take advantage of several millions of dollars worth of fresh rubber that was laid down last weekend that's what. This weekend, my son Will, is race director while NASA is running at Sears Point so my wife and grandson Tyler dropped in to have some fun.


Now Tyler has grown up around race cars it seems but he was ether busy growing in his mommy's tummy or being pushed around in his stroller so today was his first time to really check out some cars. Funny but he told his Nana "These race cars noisy."

It turned out that it was the perfect day for Tyler since it seemed like we saw our fair share of "Small" cars. Just as we came thru the gates we saw a line of smart cars and later in the day as we drove by one of our friend's shops at the track we noticed someone was having a smart car get together. Wow, was there a lot of them. The truth is I didn't know there were that many in existence. Tyler seemed to like the one that was painted like a cow.


While we walked thru the paddock visiting with old friends Tyler seemed to take a liking to numerous cars but he really enjoyed one of the Mustangs that was painted like many of my race cars were, red with two white racing strips. Hey, the kids got taste.


He also liked the Legends race cars since they seemed to be almost the right size for him to drive. Why do I have the feeling we will be building a car in the very near future?


One car that pleased me to see was a green Volvo that raced with us last year in the 2007 La Carrera Panamericana which is owned by none other than Che and Cairenn Voigt. Even better, we got to spend a few minutes visiting with them. Gerie Bledso was also at the event but when I stopped to visit with him he must have been out on the track with a student but that's ok because we will get to spend some quality time with Gerie at the upcoming get together at Laguna Seca in a few weeks.

Not Everyone Completes La Carrera Panamericana

Bill France and Curtis Turner hitching a ride after they crashed.







During the 1950 inaugural running of La Carrera Panamericana, then called the Mexican Road Race, NASCAR president Bill France and Curtis Turner entered a Nash Ambassador to race across the rough Mexican terrain. Back then the race was run from north to south starting in Juarez, Chihuahua, and ending in El Ocotal on the Guatemalan border. Bill France who had teamed up with Curtis Turner crashed and never finished the race. It just goes to prove, La Carrera shows no favoritism regardless of who you are and if you are going to get in respect it must be earned.

Phone call from Hershel McGriff

A couple nights ago I got one of the coolest phone calls I have ever received. It was none other than Hershel McGriff who won the 1950 La Carrera Panamericana. Of course it would be unfair to point out he won more races than I can count including Nascar, World Championships and more. Hershel called me at home and we spent quite a while swapping stories about things we have in common besides the fact that we have both raced the La Carrera Panamericana. Hershel was born and raised in Oregon like myself and he owned a lumber mill just like my father. We talked about his involvement in the La Carrera Panamericana and we discussed the way things were done back then versus the way they are done today. Even though they didn't have transit stages back when Hershel ran it he said it sounds exactly how things were done when he raced it.

I couldn't help but laugh when Hershel told me how many things posted about him on the Internet were completely wrong such as where he was born, his involvement in Nevada mining and more. He does however own a mining company in Arizona and he was gracious enough to invite me down to his home to do an interview for our HD DVD. I am really excited and looking forward to meeting another historical figure with regards to La Carrera Panamericana.

McGriff's racing career spans four decades of NASCAR competition from the rough-and-tumble 1950s to the finely tuned 90s. He was the winner of the first Carrera Panamericana in 1950, where he met NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. France convinced McGriff to come south and race in NASCAR races at Daytona Beach, the first Southern 500 race at Darlington Raceway.

France convinced McGriff to race full-time in NASCAR in 1954. He had his four wins that year in the Grand National series. He had 17 Top 10 finishes in 24 events, and finished sixth in the final points standings. McGriff's average finishing position was higher than points champion Lee Petty.