Jerry Lee
12-29-2009, 10:33 AM
For 50 years Lakeside Speedway influenced a lot of North Denver kids, and how could it not with an inner-city race track right down the block?
Gene Pastor was no exception to this rule as he not only ran 16 seasons with the R.M.M.R.A. at the track, but went on to become a flagman, official, and board member of the club, plus made a few trips to Indy as a pitman.
I found this 1994 video clip at the bottom of that dusty box of racing past.
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JL: "When did you start going out to Lakeside?"
GP: "We started going out to Lakeside in '46. They ran three nights a week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. They would hike us over the fence of the new bleachers and we would get in free. We followed those Midgets and me and a bunch of other guys would go out there every night. We never missed a night. We thought those drivers could walk on water, and the cars were dangerous in them days."
JL: "When did you start racing Midgets?"
GP: "I started running in '49 or '50. I had an old car with the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association. They had started off an off-shoot of the Denver Midget Racing Association."
JL: "Really?"
GP: "Yeah, then I got Earl Kouba's old Norberg in '54 and ran that for years. I hung around with Don Malone, and Malone is actually the one who got me into racing. In 1955 he got killed at Arapahoe Fairgrounds. But, he was driving the #55 of Earl Kouba's for awhile. I straightened the car out for him and that's how I got the Norberg. He gave me the chassis for doing the work. Then in '57 I got a ride in Warren Hamilton's Offy. It was the twin to what Don Daly and Pete Hedrick were driving. Later I drove Curt Stockwell's car."
JL: "I believe you drove for Bob Olds as well."
GP: "I finished 6th in points driving for Bob Olds. I drove a few more cars later on, but then I just kind of backed off and watched 'em after that. Since then I've been a flagman."
JL: "Were you ever in any real bad accidents?"
GP: "Foster Campbell and I tangled up in Grand Junction and put me in the hospital for 6 weeks. Kind of a bad deal, it completely demolished the Stockwell's #3 car. Been upside down a few times, but nothing serious except that time."
JL: "Any last thoughts on Lakeside?"
GP: "I always seen a lot of famous race drivers go through there, and I always figured someday I'd get to run there. And I did it!"
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My thanks once again to Mitch G. for help!:bow:
Gene Pastor was no exception to this rule as he not only ran 16 seasons with the R.M.M.R.A. at the track, but went on to become a flagman, official, and board member of the club, plus made a few trips to Indy as a pitman.
I found this 1994 video clip at the bottom of that dusty box of racing past.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
JL: "When did you start going out to Lakeside?"
GP: "We started going out to Lakeside in '46. They ran three nights a week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. They would hike us over the fence of the new bleachers and we would get in free. We followed those Midgets and me and a bunch of other guys would go out there every night. We never missed a night. We thought those drivers could walk on water, and the cars were dangerous in them days."
JL: "When did you start racing Midgets?"
GP: "I started running in '49 or '50. I had an old car with the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association. They had started off an off-shoot of the Denver Midget Racing Association."
JL: "Really?"
GP: "Yeah, then I got Earl Kouba's old Norberg in '54 and ran that for years. I hung around with Don Malone, and Malone is actually the one who got me into racing. In 1955 he got killed at Arapahoe Fairgrounds. But, he was driving the #55 of Earl Kouba's for awhile. I straightened the car out for him and that's how I got the Norberg. He gave me the chassis for doing the work. Then in '57 I got a ride in Warren Hamilton's Offy. It was the twin to what Don Daly and Pete Hedrick were driving. Later I drove Curt Stockwell's car."
JL: "I believe you drove for Bob Olds as well."
GP: "I finished 6th in points driving for Bob Olds. I drove a few more cars later on, but then I just kind of backed off and watched 'em after that. Since then I've been a flagman."
JL: "Were you ever in any real bad accidents?"
GP: "Foster Campbell and I tangled up in Grand Junction and put me in the hospital for 6 weeks. Kind of a bad deal, it completely demolished the Stockwell's #3 car. Been upside down a few times, but nothing serious except that time."
JL: "Any last thoughts on Lakeside?"
GP: "I always seen a lot of famous race drivers go through there, and I always figured someday I'd get to run there. And I did it!"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
My thanks once again to Mitch G. for help!:bow: