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Figure Eight Auto Racing 1966 – 1976 In the beginning, the Norton family introduced figure 8 auto racing to Evergreen Speedway in June of 1965. The track was dirt and lined with rodeo chutes. The fenderless cars were later called “Modifieds”, and the first champion was Ed Peterson in a ’53 Ford. 1966 saw the initial paving of the figure 8 and 1/5-mile oval tracks, the racing move from Friday to Saturday nights, as well as the creation of FEAR, Inc. The figure 8 club was started by the “Original 24” charter members, including Dean Curl, Dick Cosper and Glenn Grove. The first president was Les Cosper, followed by FEAR Hall of Fame members Wayne Crum (a three-time champ and four-term president) and Ben Estes. Early season champions included Bill Williams Sr. and John Beeson (twice each) Dan Knotts and Roger Estrin. The “Stock” Division was created in 1968, and cars owned by Walt Day dominated both divisions until 1971, when fellow Hall-of-Fame member Carl Zaretzke took over and won the Superstock Championship in a ’57 Chevy, four years in a row! In the Stock Division, Bob Sheckler dominated with three championships in a ‘63 Plymouth, until the Ford Galaxies of Chuck Falkenheimer, Nelson Downey and Lee Daily took over. 1972 ushered in the creation of the 3/8-mile oval, and the entire 8 track was paved over. Larry Goe was a three-term Club President, and Charter member Dale Youmans was heavily involved with running the club, as were Terry Guisinger and Ralph Lewis. Retired numbers (and Hall of Fame inductions) from this first decade include the #77 of Ben Estes, #100 of Wayne Crum, and “Crazy” Carl Zaretzke’s famous #2. 1976 – 1986 The Club’s second decade saw many changes as the “modern era” kicked in. Gas lines, Viet Nam and different promoters faded as membership in FEAR grew to over 600 under four-term Club President and future track steward, Mick Tomlin. It was 1977 when the “stock” class was de-tuned with 2-barrel carbs, and called the “hobby class”. Evergreen Speedway and FEAR were introduced to our current promoter, Mickey Beadle in 1978. His father, Bob and uncle, John along with a couple of Canadian businessmen, formed International Productions, Inc. (IPI) with the dream of making the Evergreen fairground facility a “big time” arena for auto racers and fans alike. The late “Stormin’ Norman” Litts won the last (of his two) Figure 8 Superstock Championships in 1979, before that group opted to race on the oval in 1980. Early oval champs included Leonard Sundholm, Toby Butler, Ron Daggett and FEAR Hall of Fame members (and four-time champions) Lee Daily and Rob Holden. Stock/Hobby Figure 8 champions in this busy FEAR decade include future “Top 50 drivers” Ben Chandler, Joe Young, Jr. and Vern Deitz. Brian Delfel won three times, as did Deitz. Club Presidents during this period included Gene Brookover, Bob Moore and Lee Frazier. It was in 1985 that Chandler was elected President for the first time, and the Superstock (oval) Division broke away from (“sprung from the loins of”) the FEAR club to join NASCAR, leaving the “stock class” alone for the next ten years. Retired numbers (and Hall of Fame inductions) from this decade include the #20 of Lee Daily, Mick Tomlin’s #72, and the #67 of Vern Deitz. 1986 – 1996 In the Club’s third decade, FEAR membership leveled off to between 250 and 300 after NASCAR came to Evergreen Speedway. The FEAR (oval) superstocks and FSCRA ministocks were absorbed, and the Bomber Division was created to race each Saturday with the FEAR Club’s “Stock” division. With our independence protected by an agreement with IPI, the club blossomed. Gary McAlister was an early two-time champion, and Glenn Davis won three times in a row – from ’92 to ’94. The “Oldtimers” Club was created during this decade and future Hall-of-Famer “Old Weird” Harold Babula was that group’s first inductee, along with Deitz, Tomlin, Chandler and Delfel. Other outstanding 20-year members inducted early on included Gary Taylor, Bill Ruddell, Jon White and Joe Young Sr. The Club also created an honorary lifetime charter membership for those pioneers who helped create FEAR, and were still involved in the club. Ewart Grove, Rick Norton, Dutch and Katie Stevens, along with Dale Youmans, Carl Zaretzke, Dick Cosper, Bill Williams Sr., Bob Moore, Ben Estes and Glenn Grove make up that special group. Single-season champions included Neil Hamlin, Rick Mattern, Gary “The General” Lee and 1990 Club President, Keith Blumhagen. Mike Candaux was President in ’87, Craig Eakright ran the Club from ’93 to ’96, with Ben Chandler in control the other five seasons. Babula’s #24 and Chandler’s unique #99 were both retired, and FEAR Hall of Fame inductees also included early stars Roger Estrin, John Beeson, Dean Curl and Walt Day. Soon we would be back to two groups as the need for a new division was realized. 1996 – 2006 FEAR began this last decade with the addition of an exciting entry-level class
called Extreme Contact, which was co-created by four-term president Doug Delfel
and track promoter Mick Beadle. The first two championships in this new division
were won by Merlin “The Magician” Cook, followed by Jody Brooks in 1998. Steve
Peters won it three times, along with single-year winners Guy Litts, Perry
Huffman, Troy Semianer and the current champ, Josh Beckel. The “Stocks” were
eventually renamed the “Super Eight” division, and the Camaro ruled supreme.
Steve Cox won four championships driving one, and Steve Peters won the last two
(of his 5!) with his. Doug “The Griz” Delfel won Super Eight championships
in1999 and 2002 in a Buick, while Greg Scott and “Cowboy” John Carlson each won
it one time. The Super Eight cars still run a recap 15" tire and must weigh at
least 2900 lbs. (with driver), while the Extreme Contact cars require door bars,
stock suspension and a 4" minimum ride height. The Club meets each month in
Lynnwood, now under the control of John Zaretzke, and visitors are always
welcome. Other presidents this past decade include Glenn Foster, Tony Crenshaw,
Pat Clark and John Carlson, with Eakright, Chandler and Delfel in charge again
for several seasons. We lost “Big Ed” Ritchie in 1999 during the Sixty Minutes
of FEAR event, and inducted him into the Hall of Fame along with four-time
champion Rob Holden and charter member, Dale Youmans. Retired numbers (and Hall
of Fame inductions) include the #01 of Doug Delfel, the #89 of the late Al
Hauck, and now, the #7 of four-time champion Steve Cox . |
