BOB LAND - The Two Minute Interview

[Jerry Lee]

This week's Two Minutes is a little different in a sense that it isn't from an old cassette or video tape, but a brand new interview via the A.R.M. site here with Lakeside legend and C.A.R.C. multi-Modified champion Bob Land.

Once I had figured out that he was on this site, I couldn't pass up an internet interview with a local hero I've enjoyed watching race since I could remember.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

JL: "Did you grow up at Lakeside?"

BL: "Actually, my first introduction to racing was at about 12 years old. We lived close to the old Englewood Speedway. They were running the full bodied cars with fenders. First time and I was hooked. And as luck would have it, we moved to S. Denver 3 doors down from where Harry Conklin had his shop and across the street from where the Malloy brothers and their Dad kept their C.A.R.C. cars (#'s 35, 37, 39). I hung out in Harry's shop and he would let me ride with him to Lakeside. Fritz Wilson was his driver at the time. When I got a driver's license and a car, I never missed a Sunday night at Lakeside. So, did I grow up at Lakeside? In a way, yes."

JL: "Who were some of your local racing idols, and who really got you started in racing?"

BL: "Having been around Harry's shop, I was exposed to a lot of racing people. And having shared the track with many "Greats" over the years, I have the utmost respect for them all. But, if I had to pick just one, it would have to be Fritz. To me he was a great competitor, I always really admired him. I suppose I'd have to credit Harry, indirectly, having spent so much time at his place, for my start. Having started at age 18, a lot of those guys at the time kind of looked out for me. I could name several, but one that stands out is Blu Plemons! He was not only my worst critic, but a good mentor also."

JL: "I realize we're talking over 50 years here, but are there any races that stand out?"

BL: "The race that stands out for most racers, at least for me, is that first main event win! Details are somewhat sketchy, but I remember starting somewhere near the back and working through for the win. Even more memorable, was coming back the next race for a repeat! Apparently Rick Carelli and Terry Daniels weren't there those nights!"

JL: "Did you ever think you'd be racing for this long?"

BL: "No! I actually quit a few times. After Lakeside closed down and we raced the '89 season at C.N.S., I was ready to retire. C.A.R.C. sat inactive for 5 years and I thought it was all over. But Don Campbell calls me and tells me we (C.A.R.C.) have a track to race at and he says "You can't quit, we need your car to have enough to make a show!". And Second Creek Raceway was born, and as they say, the rest is history. And so I've hung on so that the C.A.R.C. would have enough cars up until my official retirement at the end of the 2008 season."

JL: "Tell me about your first championship season. It was about 40 years in the making right?"

BL: "The first year at Second Creek we had 5 or 6 cars. Troy Ross beat me by one point for the championship. I figured out that on that track, the way to excel was to try and be patient, wait for the guy ahead to make a mistake, then pass, usually on the inside. And an assist by way of a "little bump" helped too. Anyway, I bumped and banged my way to that first championship in 1995, having beaten Butch Wallace by a slim margin. Am I proud of that championship and the others? Of course! But I'm equally gratified for having finished 2nd in the point standings to Rick Carelli on two occasions."

JL: "I think I was the first to shake your hand when you crawled out of your Modified after your very last race. What was going through your mind during that last race of a 50 year career?"

BL: "I was thinking that after more than 50 years of racing, it's all over! Thought about a lifetime of experiences, not only the on-track, but all the friends and relationships made because of these crazy, yet wonderful years!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Jerry Lee]

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=156&pictureid=947
(C.A.R.C. Archives) Bob Land (middle) and crew at Lakeside in 1964. –J.L.




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=156&pictureid=948
(C.A.R.C. Archives) From 1970, here’s Bob Land (standing far right) and crew with the beautiful
purple #1 Ford Falcon Compact Car at Lakeside Speedway. Note a “sign of the times” with the
crew member in front wearing ‘hippie sandals’ in the pits. –J.L.

[lakeside #29]

Jerry Lee, Fantastic interview. Bob has contributed so much to the CARC over the years as a racer and as an official. It was fitting that the club retired the #99 in his honor. It was Bob that nominated both me and Peggy for Lifetime membership. Thank you Bob for paying that tribute to us.

The little Falcon is the one whose picture I requested a while back. This car was my favorite late model at the time. It was fast and went around the track kind of like a slot car. I remember Bob winning a main in the car. Was there more than one main Bob? I'm sorry but I don't recall, but I think there was.

The #99 is the car I referred to in a past post about John Shelton and Mike Cropper. This car had many owners. Rex Snell drove it as #20 before Bob. Bob sold it to Jim Moore and it became the yellow #93. Jim sold it and it became green #17 driven by Warren Melbourn. After that it stayed green #17 but was now owned by Frank Balzano. Dan Forehand was a listed driver and later Mike Cropper. The car went into storage and was sold to Jay Saxton. He brouhgt it out as white #76. Jay sold the car Rich and Skip Mikula they ran as blue #3. The car again was sold to John Malocsky and ran at Second Creek as the blue #33. It was driven by Barry Watters. It ran one year and didn't come back. Chris Dody ran #33 but it was different car.

Once again Mr. Land thank you very sincerly for all that you've done for the club and contratulations for all your accomplishments. I hope you enjoy your retirement.

All the best

Chris Ertler-"professor coupe"

[racer99]

Chris, how do you remember all that information? You remember more about the history of my cars than I do!!! Don't remember how many "Mains" I may have won in that Falcon. Probably not many, but a couple of things are memorable. I won my 1st main ever in that car and, also won a trophy dash one night. After coming off the track, a bunch of guys came running over to my car and wanted to know if it really had only a 302ci, which it did. The secret to that car was that it was very light compared to the Camaro's, etc. I actually built it just like a Mod Coupe in that I stripped a regular passenger car down to the bare frame, shortened it to Falcon WB, and completely gutted the body, leaving only the siloette. Up to that time, I had more fun in that car than any other I had ever driven.

One main that I won in that car is very memorable. When Century 21 was running, they ran an afternoon race which drew some out of town late models, one of which was a friend of Odie Robertson's from San Diego. This guy, name I can't remember, came over to Lakeside that night and thought he,d capitalize on some easy pickin's. Somewhere during the main he had offended Lloyd Land (no relation) and Lloyd spun him out, setting me up for the win.

Anyway Chris, thanks for the kind words. I' ve always had a great love for CARC and the Mod Coupes!!! Hope they continue to thrive for years to come.

[Flagman]

I loved watching Bob race at BCS. Always a class act and a tough guy to get around. Thanks for the memories Bob.

[carc7]

I'd like to add my name to the list of many, many people Bob Land has helped get into or keep moving in the sport. I remember watching Bob as a rookie and his climb to the upper levels of CARC racing. When the CARC and the HPM split, Bob provided a car for me. When I hurt that car at Pueblo, he came up with a replacement car, which I subsequently bought from Bob with a reasonable payment plan. Bob was always there to offer advice and share really super stories of days gone by. My sincere congratulations and thanks to Bob, and also to Jerry Lee for this thread. Paul Bredenberg

[parrot]

Loved that two minute interview, thanks Jerry Lee. Happy to see that photo of #99 also. Took photos of most of the cars as they entered the pit gate in 1964, but missed that one. Still like to find one of Bob's first #99 and also that model A Tudor bodied car that met it's demise against the unforgiving Englewood Speedway concrete wall. Even though several guys in the CARC over the years used the #99, that number and Bob Land just have seemed to go together. As just another fan in the stands, I'll never forget the night that Bob won his first main event at Lakeside Speedway. You never saw a happier guy! He was ecstatic! Then to come back the next week and win the second main in a row. It was pretty exiting. One of those things that you remember for a long time.

[racer99]

I have a lot of those photos. I need to learn how to scan them and post them. Maybe my daughter-in-law will educate me.

[Jerry Lee]

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=156&pictureid=2097
(J.L. McGuire collection) Here’s Bob Land and his red, white, & blue Vicky at Colorado National
Speedway. These were give-away photos that Bob was giving out and autographing during his
last season.

[Jerry Lee]

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=284&pictureid=4089
(Photo by Jerry Lee McGuire) Bob Land in the very last race of his career, leads
Englewood legend Joe Lehman around the C.N.S. oval in 2008.

[rapid30]

Bob and I had many battles over the years, the first year I drove the purple 30 at second creek I finished 2nd to Bob in points, that same year I also won my first CARC main, winning the last 3 at Second Creek and the final 1 of the year at CNS.

Then we went to Big Country and the battles continued with Bob and I racing for the championship of the CARC.

Although we had our differences over the years, I think that there was much respect for each other on the track and off.
rapid30