By Dave Zortman

Yeah, I know what you're thinking. Leroy who?! Unless you are one of those people with a photographic memory who actually saw him race during the 1950's, 60's and 70's, you may not remember who he was. I hate to use the phrase that he was an "also-ran", because he was definitely more than that. I'd have to say he was more of an "always-ran." He was by all means a budget racer and raced purely for the love of it. He built and drove his own cars with great pride. He never won a race, but he always drove hard, clean and fair. Leroy faithfully showed up, week after week, to drive his heart out and give 110% to the sport he loves as much today as he did then.

I first met Leroy a few years ago at the now defunct Speed Zone of York. The Speed Zone was an indoor "slick track" which featured Honda powered, 1/3 scale winged sprint cars. It was as close to real racing you could get, without having to buy your own duelie and 40' trailer. You never knew who was going to show up there. I spent many a time there going wheel-to-wheel with drivers from many eras and backgrounds, drivers like Smokey Snellbaker, the late Kevin Gobrecht, Gene Goodling, Kenny Slaybaugh, Dale Blaney, Rick Eckert, Kenny Adams, and Buckshot Jones... just to name a few. And then, of course, there was Leroy. 

Leroy could always be found there, flagging the races, repairing or cleaning the cars, taking tickets, or training the first timers. He was pretty damn good at getting around the track behind the wheel too. While he was  technically employed there, I think he would have been there anyway, even if he wasn't getting paid for it. He just loved the place and loved being in the racing atmosphere.

To see him, you'd never suspect he was once a racer. He was always just your average, happy, quiet and polite guy that was obviously a huge racing fan, even if it was just those miniature sprint cars at the Speed Zone. After I got to know him, he very humbly mentioned a few times that he'd raced years before, but I never gave it much thought. Then one night he showed up with his old racing helmet and a tattered old scrapbook. Upon opening it, I couldn't put it down. It was more of a diary than a scrapbook. He kept such great details of each event, including changes made to his cars, plenty of photos, pit passes, membership cards and lots of other memories and memorabilia. Even if you have never seen Leroy race, I still think you'll find his scrapbook as fascinating and enjoyable a record of days past as I did. 

We even managed to get Leroy to sit down for the first in our new TVR series of "In Their Own Words" Interviews. It wasn't easy to get him to speak up, since he's such a modest and shy person by nature, but we did. 

Although Leroy has graciously agreed to share his scrapbook and his story on the pages of TheVintageRacer.com, he humbly doesn't think anyone will be interested in what he sees as his meager contribution to racing. Leroy, my friend... whether you were running up front, or back in the pack, you and thousands more just like you had an important role in motor racing history and helped to make the sport become what is today.

DZ - TVR Editor

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