Skratch With-a-K, with the On Pit Road Racing Motorsports Show, admires the 4D vintage NASCAR short track modified car built by Frank Pelkey, which is a tribute to short track driver, Dale Merz. Photo by Rachel Mills
Russ Stoiber stands with his 1975 IMSA Corvette (recreation) which was raced at Sebring by Floridian race car driver, John Greenwood. Photo by Rachel Mills
Jason Hanson, crew chief for Generac Racing Team, stands in front of two of the Generac Racing Team cars. Photo by Rachel Mills
Nascar Youth Series racer Wilder Eaves stands by one of the Generac Racing Team cars. Photo by Rachel Mills
The history of racing was celebrated at One Daytona's Icons of Racing Car Show & Reunion at Victory Circle. Photo by Rachel Mills
The Icons of Motorsports Car Show & Reunion was held at the Victory Circle at One Daytona, Thursday August 27. Photo by Rachel Mills
One Daytona hosted the Icons of Motorsports Car Show at Victory Circle on a rainy Thursday afternoon on Aug. 27.
The rain didn’t keep race car owners, race car builders or race car lovers away.
“[We have] some really amazing throwbacks to racing’s history,” said Kelly Dispennette, managing director of NASCAR Real Estate. “So, you’ve got every generation [of racing] represented.”
Race car driver and car builder Frank Pelkey said that he and his wife are retired, but that they don’t spend their time working on their flowerbeds and beautifying their home.
“We’re out doing all kinds of things, and racing is one of them,” Pelkey said. “The car that I race here is the 4D, a vintage [NASCAR] modified. It’s built period correct for a car that was racing in the early ’70s.”
Pelkey said the car is a tribute to Dale Merz, who was a well known short track modified driver in the ’60s and ’70s.
“He’s a great guy,” Pelkey said. “ He’s 88 tomorrow and he comes down to Daytona during Speed Week and we let him take it out in the parades and car shows, and I race it about once a month at New Smyrna. We probably get over 100 [mph] on the straightaways.”
There were many who recognized and were admiring the vintage 4D car.
“It takes me back to my childhood,” said Skratch With-a- K, host of Motorsport show On Pit Road Racing. “I race a little bit myself. Mostly just a big fan and admirer. It’s a neat piece of racing history.”
Russ Stoiber drove to the show in his 1975 ISMA Corvette recreation that was raced at Sebring by legendary Florida race car driver John Greenwood.
“I bought the body in ’75 from John Greenwood in Detroit,” Stoiber said. “It took [me] about a year to build the car.”
He is really hoping to inspire the next generation.
“If the next kid will carry on my passion [for racing], then that’s a great thing,” Stoiber said.
Eight-year-old driver Wilder Eaves represents the next generation. He currently competes in the NASCAR Youth Series and stopped by the Icons of Motorsports Car Show on his way to a race in Alabama.
When asked if he will be victorious at his race, he simply said, “Yes.”
