A Tribute to Jimmy Packard

Editor's Note: We were touched when we received this wonderful letter from Betty Packard Voris, the widow of the late Jimmy Packard, which she wrote after viewing Jim Nise's photos. With her permission, TVR wanted to share it with you.

Jimmy Packard at Williams Grove
Champ cars 1959
Jim Nise Photo

I don't know whether it was your editor or Jim Nise who made the comments about Jim Packard, but I certainly do appreciate it. Yes, he could be spectacular. And if anyone should know, I should. He gave me several anxious moments in our two years of marriage, as well as two great children. Lisa now has six of her own and no one would have been more proud of those grandchildren than Jim. In fact, after we had towed Johnny Thomson's car back following Allentown, we had a very long talk about what he wanted me to do if he was ever killed in a race car and he prefaced those remarks with, "Ma, I intend to live to see my grandchildren, but in case I don't....." Who would have thought that four days later he would be gone. It was with many tears I watched our oldest granddaughter graduate from BYU last summer. Yes, he would have been proud. But after nearly 43 years of being without him, it is touching to know that he is remembered and still thought about with great admiration.

One interesting sideline about his winning Hatfield in Charlie Sachs' car where he started last (summer of 1959), We had spent the weekend of Williams Grove with Sandy and Van Johnson at the motel and so we went back immediately to help out and attend the funeral. Van and Jim had been teammates for two years on Lowther's sprint car ARDC team. Charlie Sachs, who was Van's father-in-law, asked Jim if he would take over Van's ride for the midget race in essence to honor Van's memory. I was horrified because Jim was really destroyed over Van's accident and this was the closest friend he had ever seen killed. But Jim agreed to do it for Van and Sandy and Charlie. Although he qualified in the front row (and today I am not sure whether it was first or second), ARDC would not let him stay there because he was not a full-time member. So they made him start last. He was leading within 5 laps, and my heart was in my stomach because I knew how desperately he wanted to win the race for Van and family. He did, and it went a long way to giving him closure with Van's death. I do know that Jim won Hatfield both in Jake's car and in Ken's as well, but I think the time that was referred to under the picture was when he was driving Charlie's car. In any case, it's nice to know that people still remember. Both myself and my children will appreciate it.

Bruce Craig was always generous with sharing his pictures of Jim with me for the children. I miss him too. Am glad his pictures are being well cared for and shared. Of course, Bruce's wife - of whom he was soooo proud - is the daughter of Tommy Hinnershitz, who was Jim's first championship car mechanic. What fun we had at the 1959 race at Daytona. Such great stories of being poor and racing in the good old days, but that was one for the books.

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