Jerry Lee
05-13-2009, 09:36 AM
I dusted off this 1992 video interview with local legend Ken Tadolini for this week's Two Minute Interview. These snippits include a little insight on Ken's famous father John Tadolini who was one of the earliest pioneers in Denver auto racing history.
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JL: "What are some early memories of growing up at Englewood with your Dad racing and all?"
KT: "One time I was running around and I tripped on the stairs and fell and cut my head open on those concrete steps. My father John was racing at the time, and they red flagged the race! He got out of his car and scaled the big fence to see what had happened after they had announced that I had hurt myself. Well, I had to sit in the ambulance until the races were over before they took me to the hospital to stitch me up! (laughs)"
JL: "Your Dad loved the Englewood dirt, but I think he only ran once when they paved it in 1960. I read where he took out the East pit entrance, then hung his helmet up."
KT: "After they paved it, Dad didn't like the pavement. If he couldn't sling it in the corners, he couldn't get around the race track. My Dad had different drivers throughout the '60's. He had Dick Bayles, Bob Neely, Larry Dechant, Pete Brandenburg. In '67 I became 18 all of a sudden (laughs), and that's when I started. And I was rookie of the year at Englewood in '67."
JL: "And all the Tadolini cars over the years were yellow and black with the #14."
KT: "Right. He always carried the #14 because he had size 14 shoes!"
JL: "What did Englewood Speedway mean to you?"
KT: "Englewood was a lot of fun. I made a lot of friends and know a lot of people because of it."
JL: "You ran Late Models in the '70's at Lakeside as well."
KT: "Lakeside was a challenge, especially with the Late Model. You run a car that weighs 3200 lbs. on that 1/5 mile track and you're always turning, always turning. I hit the fence the hardest I ever hit the fence one night, and I know who put me there! (laughs)
JL: "Who did you like to run with out there?"
KT: "Oh, I can remember running side by side for 20 laps outside Fritz Wilson, we could have shook hands! It was a good race!"
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JL: "What are some early memories of growing up at Englewood with your Dad racing and all?"
KT: "One time I was running around and I tripped on the stairs and fell and cut my head open on those concrete steps. My father John was racing at the time, and they red flagged the race! He got out of his car and scaled the big fence to see what had happened after they had announced that I had hurt myself. Well, I had to sit in the ambulance until the races were over before they took me to the hospital to stitch me up! (laughs)"
JL: "Your Dad loved the Englewood dirt, but I think he only ran once when they paved it in 1960. I read where he took out the East pit entrance, then hung his helmet up."
KT: "After they paved it, Dad didn't like the pavement. If he couldn't sling it in the corners, he couldn't get around the race track. My Dad had different drivers throughout the '60's. He had Dick Bayles, Bob Neely, Larry Dechant, Pete Brandenburg. In '67 I became 18 all of a sudden (laughs), and that's when I started. And I was rookie of the year at Englewood in '67."
JL: "And all the Tadolini cars over the years were yellow and black with the #14."
KT: "Right. He always carried the #14 because he had size 14 shoes!"
JL: "What did Englewood Speedway mean to you?"
KT: "Englewood was a lot of fun. I made a lot of friends and know a lot of people because of it."
JL: "You ran Late Models in the '70's at Lakeside as well."
KT: "Lakeside was a challenge, especially with the Late Model. You run a car that weighs 3200 lbs. on that 1/5 mile track and you're always turning, always turning. I hit the fence the hardest I ever hit the fence one night, and I know who put me there! (laughs)
JL: "Who did you like to run with out there?"
KT: "Oh, I can remember running side by side for 20 laps outside Fritz Wilson, we could have shook hands! It was a good race!"
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