RIP Crocky Wright

[indybigjohn]

Just received the report that Crocky Wright, one of the last original characters of auto racing, passed away today.

There will be no service, as was his request. The body will be cremated, and the ashes will be sent to the Eastern Museum in Latimore, Pa.

Crocky went back to the days of the Nutley Velodrome. He was always entertaining to be around, and he stuck to his opinions. He didn't like wings, he didn't like fenders, and he didn't like engines in the rear.

I'll never forget the night we let him do the motorcycle stunt of crashing through a flaming board wall before a midget race at IRP. He was in his 70s at the time, I believe. Unfortunately, the top brass of NHRA was on hand and they were not amused. Some people have no sense of adventure. I'll admit to letting the general manager take the blame for the idea.

I was proud to call him my friend. RIP Crocky.

[Olen McGuire]

Crocky was inducted to the National Midget Hall of Fame in 2005. Crocky, who's real name is Ernest Schlausky, joined Evel Knievel as the only stuntmen to be featured in the famed Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., he has been involved with the sport of Midget racing for eight decades. A driver in his early days, he earned the Western Pennsylvania motorcycle championship in 1948. As a reporter, he helped found the Johnny Thomson Fan Club and began publishing motorsport books, including a four-volume history of Midget racing and a unique history of the famed Nutley Velodrome in New Jersey.

Here's Crocky wearing a shirt with a picture of Tony Stewart inducting him into the Hall of Fame.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=218&pictureid=1439

R.I.P. Crocky Wright

[indybigjohn]

Thanks, Olen. I had forgotten Crocky's real name. I served on the board of directors of the Hoosier Auto Racing Fans at the same time as Crocky, and that's when he started telling us about this kid Tony Stewart who was going to be big. He figured I'd like to know because I flagged the UMRA TQs back in the early 60s.

I understand that Tony had been quietly caring for him for the past few months. Smoke is like that, and I don't mean this to be publicizing it for him. He wouldn't like that and neither would Crocky.

I read on another forum that Crocky might refuse to go to heaven because angels have wings.

A true racing original who we will miss.

[webby]

He didn't like wings, he didn't like fenders, and he didn't like engines in the rear.A man after my own heart! There are too few folks left who think that way.

R.I.P. Crocky.

[ILv2Xlr8]

He was a joy to have around the Speedrome in Indy. He will be missed. We ought to get a Wikipedia page done on him. Anyone know any good sources of info about him we could use to generate a page?

[webby]

He was a joy to have around the Speedrome in Indy. He will be missed. We ought to get a Wikipedia page done on him. Anyone know any good sources of info about him we could use to generate a page?
Welcome to ARM. I certified your membership so you can post pictures and stuff if you want to. :up:

[Mitch G.]

A real loss for the sport, what an amazing man, RIP Crocky.

[waynedew]

I was reading my well-worn copy of Crocky's Nutley book and on a whim decided to Google his name--sadly to find this thread.

My Dad and I spent a delightful afternoon on May 29, 1962 outside the Indy Speedrome, awaiting the "Night Before" midget races. Crocky was there with a friend and we literally spent hours talking racing and listening to his fascinating stories. Truly one of my fondest racing-related memories.

As a big fan of TQs (my Dad raced them in South Florida) I treasure Crocky's History of Eastern TQ Midget Racing as well as the book he did on TQs at Pine Brook.

Crocky was a certainly a colorful character and though I am many months late in these comments I still wanted to add them.