“The saints are the sinners who keep trying.” Robert Louis Stevenson

On Johnson and Some Other Stuff

January 30, Norwalk, CT--- Just a few things to start off our 2007 season. But first one last note from 2006.

For my money the class act of last season was pulled off by Rich Pallai of CarQuest when selected Johnson Jones to be the Grand Marshall of the Fall Final at Stafford Motor Speedway.

You all know Johnson, well if you don’t, you’ve seen him at tracks throughout the northeast. Johnson is the man sitting at that rickety card table, usually by the main grandstands, with his copies of Area Auto. Rain or shine. Hot or cold. It doesn’t matter. He’s there.

Johnson has been around our sport for a long time. His friends include drivers, owners, crew chiefs, track owners, promoters, sponsors, race fans and those of us in the media.

His racing knowledge is encyclopedic. His dedication to racing never wavers. His demeanor is quiet. His friendship is true, strong and loyal.

I don’t know if Johnson is a saint or a sinner. I do know that despite his physical limitations he keeps on truckin’, dragging that rickety old card table from track to track.

The honor of being last years Grand Marshall at the Fall Final is something Johnson truly deserved. He was so proud when he told me he had been chosen to give the command to “start your engines” for the Whelen Modified Series race. And I was proud for him.

So to Rich Pallai I say “thanks Rich, 'ya done good.”

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My buddy Charlie Mitchell was part of the annual NASCAR media tour and he tells me that the movie “Dale” is a must see. The film, screened for the press during the tour, shows a side of Earnhardt few people got to see. It is narrated by Paul Newman and NASCAR plans to show the film through out the year at theaters on the Cup tour. DVD’s will be available later in the season and CMT will air it in October.

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The New England Antique Racers held their 10^th annual Hall of Fame induction banquet on

Sunday, January 28 at LaRenaissance Banquet Hall in East Windsor, Ct.

The inductees this year included car owner and promoter John Falconi Sr., car owner John McCarthy, former crew chief Bob Johnson, drivers Jean-Paul Cabana, Dave Dion, Bob Potter, John Rosati and Bentley Warren.

Veterans committee inductees included drivers Dick Garrett and Dick Eagan and car owner George Barber.

The NEAR banquet is a day that I put away my media credentials and become a fan, and as a fan I was pleased to see Potter and Warren become Hall of Famers. As a fan I was proud to watch my buddy Dave Dion be enshrined.

But I gotta tell 'ya being there to see Walt Renner and his wife Ronnie being honored was the best part of the day for me. Walt was given the Jack Ratta Memorial Media Award for his almost 50 years covering racing beginning shortly after World War Two.

Walt has been a friend and a teacher to me for many years. He and Ronnie are doing well and looking hale and hearty. I was happy for both of them.

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Jack Arute’s intro of Bob Johnson brought tears of laughter and Russ Conway’s intro of Bentley Warren was simply hilarious. But the funniest part of the afternoon for me was listening to Billy Greco and Rene Charland swap war stories. The cigar never left Rene’s lips all day.

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Look for the latest book from Bones Bourcier, “Steady Eddie”, on the life of Ed Flemke Sr. Lew Boyd and his crew at Costal 181 are the publishers and they plan on releasing the book just prior to the Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway.

Deane Mercier worked in radio for 35 years as a DJ and talk show host. He is currently the Host Broadcaster for Stafford Motor Speedway and is a Motorsports correspondent for the Hour Newspaper.  Deane may be contacted at DeaneMercier@aol.com.

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