Imagine That
Over 45 Years of Auto Racing Experiences
by
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One short excerpt from a larger amazing collection of true stories:
One night on a Charlotte city street, Curtis Turner backed his big black Cadillac into the car behind him at a traffic light because the guy wouldn't dim his high beams. Curtis put the guy's lights out and drove away. Curtis was charged with "leaving the scene of an accident". Curtis told the judge, "it wasn't 'no' accident, I intended to put his lights out!" Curtis was ordered to pay for repair of the damages. Following races, Curtis would often fly his twin-engine plane alone while sleeping with an alarm clock set to wake him up when he got to where he was going. He crashed his plane in Pennsylvania, October 1970 and died broke.
In his day, Curtis nicknamed "Pop's" spent most of his time at his home in Charlotte. Whenever NASCAR came into town, he set up the bar and put out the "welcome mat" for all his racer buddies and friends of buddies. He truly loved to party and entertain. On occasion, it's said, he did not drink at some of his parties. I don't know if I believe that. As a regular party feature, Curtis always made sure his invitation list included an ample supply of local "ladies" just to be on hand to help "nurse" the homesick boys back to health if needed.
I was told of one such party, a new neighbor, a Baptist preacher, had moved in down the street. At about midnight, the preacher went over to Curtis's party to ask them to lower the noise level. Curtis did the good neighbor thing and invited the frail, elderly preacher in and offered him some liquid refreshment. A couple of hours later, the preacher was seen standing on the kitchen table, in his shorts, preaching "Hell, Fire and Damnation". I think he got "possessed by the devil" and found freedom from his good senses.
For some unknown reason, I fortunately was never invited to Curtis's parties. Someone had to have been watching over me, undoubtedly God and a few good friends........
"There aren't but three true sports, Bullfighting, Mountain Climbing and Auto Racing." "The rest are but mire games."
Ernest Hemingway
"A Race Car Driver is akin to the Matador." "Forever seeking the Moment of Excellence And 'not' going beyond."
Donald R. Finke NASCAR Newsletter, 1967
"IMAGINE THAT"
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About the Book
Co-authors of “Imagine That”, Don and Nikki celebrated their 50
About the Author
Don and Nikki met in Pasadena 53 years ago, she from a prominent San Marino family, daughter of an Oil Company Vice President, he was a high school drop out. Nevertheless, together they achieved an incredible life experience of exciting diversity. Their combined personalities and charismatic people skills carried them to the center of the rapidly emerging Sport of Auto Racing. They founded Motion Control Industries Corporation in 1986 and transformed their racing interest into a prosperous business venture. In recent years, Don experienced age related loss of eye site. God set him down at a computer where he began to reflect on the life they shared. “Imagine That” came forth, one key at a time. Thankfully, Nikki is at his side to contribute and to edit the progress. The “book” is “well written”, as Don so humbly characterizes it. Nikki and Don now live in Mooresville, NC, the heart of NASCAR Country. They remain well connected to friends in NASCAR and the special people that make Stock Car Racing GREAT!