Area vehicle racing landmark a hot spot once again

The sounds of sprint car engines and the memories from bench racing classes had been silent at Ray Smith’s Speed Shop since 2005.

A kind of local race automobile drivers – maximum who wheeled Smith’s rides at one time or another – reunited on the ancient velocity keep in Eaton to guide the latest e-book from racing historians Bill Holder and Ronn Berry. The tales told had been as considerable as those that stuffed the book, “Richmond IN Race.

The e-book information the precious racing records in the Indiana city from Perfect Circle Piston Rings and Crosley engines to cutting-edge drivers Steve Casebolt and Duane Chamberlin. Sunday it converged at Smith’s Speed Shop. The overdue Ray and Cissy Smith fielded motors for a handful of Richmond drivers, and a few of those rides had been on display.

“It becomes just a splendid region to do it,” Holder stated of Smith’s Speed Shop, placed at 401 Nation Ave. “I think we got some human beings questioning that had no concept about Richmond’s history.”

Holder got to look among the drivers mentioned inside the book in movement, inclusive of in his teenagers while he changed into able to sneak away to the tune.

“There changed into a lot occurring after I changed into a child however my dad might by no means let me go to Midget Stadium,” Holder stated. “He stated they were a bunch of low life’s accessible racing motors.”

Holder stated at some point of the occasion he’d been satisfied if he raised $500 with proceeds benefitting the Dayton Auto Racing Fan Club’s injured drivers fund. The book had raised more than $1,000 halfway through the 3-hour event.

“We went in advance and did the book. The extra we researched the greater that got here up,” Holder said. “It’s just something I desired to do, and we have a great time doing it. I suppose it’s been a good showing.

“I advised my spouse this was (the last e-book). She said, ‘Yeah, proper.’ There’s so little on this vicinity on racing history available.”

As for Smith’s Speed Shop, it nevertheless stands as a racing landmark in Eaton. Joe Smith, Ray’s son, stated racing lovers however prevent and ask if they can excursion the garage that homes antique trophies and plaques proclaiming a lot of Smith’s USAC speed and tune information at Dayton Speedway, New Bremen Speedway, and Winchester Speedway, among others.

“Quite regularly when I’m out mowing the lawn people will stop,” Smith stated.

“I’m crushed by way of the number of human beings that desired to see the shop and take into account it. Most of it’s the way it became while the shop closed. … It’s something I kept within my own family. I grew up right here. It’s a type of like a house.”

As fanatics toured the interior, Ray Smith’s old sprinters – which includes his orange and white No. 14 USAC Silver Crown automobile now owned through Goins Bros. Racing — embellished the out of doors. Smith’s former F-seventy seven Barracuda speedboat additionally sat on display, as did Jim Welty’s No. 5 1951 midget automobile, Mike Swain’s No. 23 Fankhauser Special, the overdue Mutt Anderson’s No. 51 H&H Machine Tool Special and several move-karts, modifieds and Chamberlain’s late model.

The No. 14, driven using greats like Tom Bigelow, Rich Vogler, Larry Rice, Johnny Parsons, and Steve Kinser, nevertheless proved a popular draw. Among Smith’s former drivers in attendance, Sunday have been Jeff Bloom, Duke Cook, Jack Hewitt, Rich Leavell, Greg Leffler, Jim Linder, Rusty McClure, and Brent White.