Jeff Gordon at 5 in an open wheel - Auto Racing Memories

cemar · 01-31-2012, 11:22 AM

Sure we all know Jeff got his start in open wheel but how many know he was given his frist race car at the age of 4?
He only could practice in that car untill he was the mature age of 5.
Thought maybe some would enjoy pics of those early years. These come from old trading cards I have.
The full size Pepesi Midget is from 1989 when he won his very first Midget main at 18.
cemar

webby · 01-31-2012, 11:52 AM

Jeff was a heck of a midget driver.

I wish quarter midgets still looked like that. They had a much style back then.

bobjeffreson · 01-31-2012, 03:07 PM

Hey guys,
What about this footage of a 15 year old Jeff Gordon racing sprintcars in Perth Western Australia in 1987.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...LQZaExiX-gtPjA

Quick Time · 01-31-2012, 04:55 PM

The little track Jeff started at was right around the corner from here in Rio Linda, basically Sacramento. I think it is a 1/20TH mile track. I worked with some folks whose kids raced with Jeff back in the day.

The track almost shut down a few years ago and I believe Jeff was very much a part of helping to keep it open.

Chuck

numbbers · 01-31-2012, 06:43 PM

I first saw Jeff on either Thursday Night,or Saturday Night Thunder. He was sixteen at the time. He ran over the rear wheel of a lapped car, on the backstrech, and went way up on his outside two wheels. But, he never let off, and won the race. From that point on, I was a fan. We will see him if Phoenix for the March race.

bobjeffreson · 01-31-2012, 11:49 PM

This clip sounds just like the action described above!

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...05gmTpeXo9sk8A

Bobbyjr · 02-01-2012, 07:52 AM

WOW, That is awesome... Thanks Bob

webby · 02-01-2012, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobjeffreson

This clip sounds just like the action described above!

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...05gmTpeXo9sk8A

I remember watching that live. There is no denying what an amazing talent that kid was/is. Too bad he doesn't still jump in a open wheel car now and then. I really think it helps to keep you sharp.

Mitch G. · 02-01-2012, 04:00 PM

I was at Belleville in 1990 when he won....er, cruised to victory, he lapped every car in the 40 lap main event except 2nd place, Steve Knepper(a 2 time Belleville champ). Stan Fox (2 time Belleville champ) was 3rd, Chuck Gurney (1989 Belleville champ) was 4th, Tommy White (1986 champ) was 8th. Just to let you know of the talent that got lapped that night, Dean Billings many time Wisconsin midget champ, Rick Hood sprint car legend, Jerry Coons Jr, Dave Strickland Jr, Keith Rauch, P.J. Jones, all these dudes were lapped, some of them more than once. Jeff was 19 and destroyed guys who had spent a lifetime in midgets, and had been going to Belleville for years (it was the first time he ever set eyes on that track). It was amazing, after the race my wife said, "Well if that's the way it's going to be here, I'm not coming back" (speaking of Belleville). I said, "Don't worry, Jeff Gordon isn't coming back either", guess I was right! Not to start a argument, but most drivers in NASCAR, and Indy car, today, would pee their pants trying to follow Jeff Gordon at Belleville in a midget.

numbbers · 02-01-2012, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitch G.

I was at Belleville in 1990 when he won....er, cruised to victory, he lapped every car in the 40 lap main event except 2nd place, Steve Knepper(a 2 time Belleville champ). Stan Fox (2 time Belleville champ) was 3rd, Chuck Gurney (1989 Belleville champ) was 4th, Tommy White (1986 champ) was 8th. Just to let you know of the talent that got lapped that night, Dean Billings many time Wisconsin midget champ, Rick Hood sprint car legend, Jerry Coons Jr, Dave Strickland Jr, Keith Rauch, P.J. Jones, all these dudes were lapped, some of them more than once. Jeff was 19 and destroyed guys who had spent a lifetime in midgets, and had been going to Belleville for years (it was the first time he ever set eyes on that track). It was amazing, after the race my wife said, "Well if that's the way it's going to be here, I'm not coming back" (speaking of Belleville). I said, "Don't worry, Jeff Gordon isn't coming back either", guess I was right! Not to start a argument, but most drivers in NASCAR, and Indy car, today, would pee their pants trying to follow Jeff Gordon at Belleville in a midget.

I agree.

01-31-2012, 11:22 AM	#1
cemar Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 85	Jeff Gordon at 5 in an open wheel Sure we all know Jeff got his start in open wheel but how many know he was given his frist race car at the age of 4? He only could practice in that car untill he was the mature age of 5. Thought maybe some would enjoy pics of those early years. These come from old trading cards I have. The full size Pepesi Midget is from 1989 when he won his very first Midget main at 18. cemar Attached Thumbnails

01-31-2012, 11:52 AM	#2
webby Administrator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lakewood, Colorado Age: 55 Posts: 1,063	Re: Jeff Gordon at 5 in an open wheel Jeff was a heck of a midget driver. I wish quarter midgets still looked like that. They had a much style back then. Follow ARM on Twitter \| Like ARM on Facebook Rat Rods, Old school Muscle cars. Advertising on Auto Racing Memories

01-31-2012, 03:07 PM	#3
bobjeffreson Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 69 Posts: 306	Re: Jeff Gordon at 5 in an open wheel Hey guys, What about this footage of a 15 year old Jeff Gordon racing sprintcars in Perth Western Australia in 1987. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...LQZaExiX-gtPjA

01-31-2012, 04:55 PM	#4
Quick Time Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northern CA Age: 74 Posts: 327	Re: Jeff Gordon at 5 in an open wheel The little track Jeff started at was right around the corner from here in Rio Linda, basically Sacramento. I think it is a 1/20TH mile track. I worked with some folks whose kids raced with Jeff back in the day. The track almost shut down a few years ago and I believe Jeff was very much a part of helping to keep it open. Chuck

01-31-2012, 06:43 PM	#5
numbbers Old Guy Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Highlands Ranch, CO Age: 75 Posts: 39	Re: Jeff Gordon at 5 in an open wheel I first saw Jeff on either Thursday Night,or Saturday Night Thunder. He was sixteen at the time. He ran over the rear wheel of a lapped car, on the backstrech, and went way up on his outside two wheels. But, he never let off, and won the race. From that point on, I was a fan. We will see him if Phoenix for the March race. Thanks, Dave Russell

01-31-2012, 11:49 PM	#6
bobjeffreson Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 69 Posts: 306	Re: Jeff Gordon at 5 in an open wheel This clip sounds just like the action described above! http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...05gmTpeXo9sk8A

02-01-2012, 07:52 AM	#7
Bobbyjr Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lakewood, Colorado Age: 53 Posts: 67	Re: Jeff Gordon at 5 in an open wheel WOW, That is awesome... Thanks Bob Bobby Jackson, Jr

02-01-2012, 04:00 PM	#9
Mitch G. Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Age: 60 Posts: 1,106	Re: Jeff Gordon at 5 in an open wheel I was at Belleville in 1990 when he won....er, cruised to victory, he lapped every car in the 40 lap main event except 2nd place, Steve Knepper(a 2 time Belleville champ). Stan Fox (2 time Belleville champ) was 3rd, Chuck Gurney (1989 Belleville champ) was 4th, Tommy White (1986 champ) was 8th. Just to let you know of the talent that got lapped that night, Dean Billings many time Wisconsin midget champ, Rick Hood sprint car legend, Jerry Coons Jr, Dave Strickland Jr, Keith Rauch, P.J. Jones, all these dudes were lapped, some of them more than once. Jeff was 19 and destroyed guys who had spent a lifetime in midgets, and had been going to Belleville for years (it was the first time he ever set eyes on that track). It was amazing, after the race my wife said, "Well if that's the way it's going to be here, I'm not coming back" (speaking of Belleville). I said, "Don't worry, Jeff Gordon isn't coming back either", guess I was right! Not to start a argument, but most drivers in NASCAR, and Indy car, today, would pee their pants trying to follow Jeff Gordon at Belleville in a midget.