DALE DETER - The Two Minute Interview

[Jerry Lee]

A local racing hero with a name that's fun to try and say ten times real fast also made for a fun interview.

Known to get his start with Darrell Smith's gang in the '60's (a.k.a. The Baltic Boys), this 1997 clip with Englewood Speedway Late Model/Figure 8 legend Dale Deter ended as a good public service announcement as well.

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JL: "Were you racing prior to your start in the Figure 8's in '66?"

DD: "I was out there watching them when I was younger and I started racing Figure 8's when I was 17. My first car was a '55 Studebaker! (laughs) The steering wheel popped up in my face during a race and I couldn't turn it!"

JL: "When did you hook up with Darrell Smith?"

DD: "Around when I first got into the Figure 8's. But then I went into the service for 3 years. Then I think I drove for Darrell maybe 2 or 3 years. He always had twenty cars out there. (laughs) Me and Bob Jackson, Dave Tansey, we used to all hang around together down at Darrell's yard. We'd go to the bars and party a little bit."

JL: "Yeah, I've heard some stories."

DD: "None that you could use though. (laughs)"

JL: "And those are the best damn ones! (laughs) Uh, how about the one where you guys flipped Rich Codner's van after leaving the bar one night?"

DD: "Bob Jackson was driving and somehow we ended up flipping the van up against a telephone pole. Darrell and I were rolling around in the back and there were tools flying all over! I had got hit by a jack and I was bleeding badly, but I was drunkenly handing out race flyers to the cops and all the people that were gathered around. "You like this excitement? You wanna see more? Then come on out to Englewood Speedway every Sunday night!"."

JL: "At one point during the mid-'70's you were driving both a Figure 8 and Late Model for Ivan Chambers."

DD: "I got hooked on the Late Models. I learned a lot though by racing the 8. You have the advantage of having a wide perspective of the whole track and what's going on around you."

JL: "Did you ever join the 'Bottoms Up Club'?"

DD: "I did at C.D.R. That was another night me and Smith and Jackson were out all night long. We closed down a bar in Castle Rock, then went somewhere else to party, and about 5 or 6 in the morning we came out to hot lap. About the second practice lap I blew a tire and flipped seven times! Oh man, so this is Dale Deter reminding you "Don't drink and drive"!"

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[Jerry Lee]

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=136&pictureid=864
(Darrell Smith collection) Dale Deter’s Figure Eighter looks pretty beat up after
this 1967 main event win at Englewood Speedway. ---J.L.




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=136&pictureid=865
(J.L. McGuire collection) Dale piloted this metallic maroon colored Figure 8
#4 for Darrell Smith through the early ‘70’s. –J.L.




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=136&pictureid=866
(J.L. McGuire collection) Here’s a page from Dale Deter’s past, from an Englewood program dated 8-17-74. –J.L.





http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=136&pictureid=867
(Photo by Dynamic) Many drivers, including Deter in 1976, drove Carl Pugliese’s
#23 Figure Eight in the ‘70’s. That’s Roger Avants on the outside. –J.L.





http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=136&pictureid=868
(J.L. McGuire collection) Don Styes does the dance while Dale Deter #4 takes this 1977 season
opener Figure 8 trophy dash by a nose over Dick Gastinaeu #13 at Englewood.
Figure 8 rules started to change in 1977, and Deter was one of the first to run a mid-‘60’s
Chevy in the division. Darrell Smith was the other with a ’65 Ford. -J.L.




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=136&pictureid=869
(Photo by Jerry Lee McGuire) From the top row of the stands at Englewood Speedway in 1977,
here’s a great color shot of Deter’s “futuristic” ‘60’s Chevy (#4) hot lapping along with the
‘50’s Fords and Chevies. –J.L.

[webby]

Man... that's great color shot from Englewood. Very cool stuff, thanks Jerry Lee!

[Jerry Lee]

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=136&pictureid=1874
(Darrell Smith collection) Dale Deter picks up a win during the ’66 season at Englewood.
Note that it was before the time they would cut out the rear wheel well for more clearance.
They also used to cut a hole in the front fenders for the exhaust.

[Jerry Lee]

:( I read over on the Big West site that Mr. Deter had passed away last night, 10/25/10.:(Thanks for all the memories, Dale. There sure were a lot of them. R.I.P. My condolences to the family.

I popped this interview back up to the top again in case some of you might have wanted to read it.

[lakeside #29]

Rest in peace, Dale. Our condolences to your family. I didn't know you well but you seemed like a good guy and were a terrific driver. Your races are done and you are now in good company.









Miss Peggy and