July 23, 2025 • 42 mins
Tonight, on Beyond the Bricks with Jake Query and Mike Thomsen, they look back at the early NASCAR career and brief IndyCar career of Tim Richmond.
In the second half of the show, Jake and Mike continue their conversation about Tim Richmond and look back at some of his funniest and wildest interviews.
Then to wrap up another edition of the show, they talk about the end of Tim Richmond’s career, getting diagnosed and passing away from AIDS.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Only the best run here of the Indianapolis five hundred Mary, who.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Do you feel we'll have to beat this year's.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
Rich people like A. J.
Speaker 4 (00:08):
Foyt and Bobby answer for us.
Speaker 5 (00:10):
And five fla absolutely and incredible Hanny Sullivan's fun in
front of Mario and Frondy.
Speaker 6 (00:16):
Hey jun.
Speaker 7 (00:21):
Hundred Beyond the Bricks with che Query and Mike Thompson
brought to you by Quality Supply and Tool Think outside
the box Store on ninety three five and one oh
seven five the fan.
Speaker 8 (00:35):
Hey, good evening to you. Jay Quarry along with Mike Thompson.
Landon Kuns is the man that is putting everything together
here on Beyond the Bricks. Our look at the personalities,
the names, the storylines of the history of the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway, and of course primarily this show, especially if
you're listen to podcasts, form the vast majority of those
(00:56):
episodes with which you would be learning about things, it
would be that relation.
Speaker 6 (01:01):
To the Indianapolis five hundred mile race.
Speaker 8 (01:03):
But this is the week of the Brickyard four hundred
and NASCAR at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As a matter
of fact, tomorrow everything will get underway in terms of
the Hauler Parade and all of the events that take place,
with practice on Friday and qualifying on Saturday, racing in
the Exfinity Series on Saturday, the race for the Brickyard
(01:23):
four hundred on Sunday. We'll get the schedule for everything
in more finite detail coming up at the bottom of
the hour. But first let me welcome in the man
who is kind of the brains of the operation, and
that is not necessarily the biggest challenge when the only other.
Speaker 6 (01:39):
Brain involved would be mine.
Speaker 8 (01:41):
But Mike Thompson is the guy that puts together everything
in terms of beyond the bricks of the ideas of
what we talk about and cross breeding both from the
NASCAR side and IndyCar open wheel racing history side, and
he is the audio archivist, if you will, of the
Indianapolis Motor speed Mike Tonight. This is going to be
a fun one because we get to talk about somebody
(02:03):
that I think is one of the more fun personalities
and larger than life personalities at his time, during the
time that he was driving at the speedway.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Absolutely, he was definitely a larger than life personality, one
of the most charismatic.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
People you'd ever want to meet.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
We'll talk about that a little bit later, because I
got to meet him on a couple of occasions and
really definitely one of the most charismatic people in the
history of racing as far as I'm concerned.
Speaker 8 (02:30):
We're talking about a guy that and it was just
last year, as a matter of fact, that I was
at the midd Ohio sports Car Course. Of course, that
is essentially Mike's home track, and I have a friend
that lives in Cleveland. Of course, midd Ohio sports Car
Course for those that are unfamiliar, is in essentially Lexington, Ohio,
(02:50):
Steam's Corners if you want to get really technical, but
just about oh, I don't know, maybe forty five minutes
to an hour north of Columbus and a little bit
to the southwest of Cleveland. And so my buddy from
Cleveland we met for dinner for the night and decided
that the closest place I believe it's Ashland, Ohio. Am
I correct in saying Ashland, Ohio? Mike, That's correct, Ashland, Ohio.
(03:11):
That's where the person we're talking about tonight is from.
Speaker 6 (03:14):
Correct.
Speaker 8 (03:15):
So we're having dinner and I said, hey, so what's
the you know, other than being a meeting point that
is convenient for the two of us. Let's look up
the history of Ashland, and in doing so I very
quickly learned that not only was the hometown of but
the final resting place of where we went and paid
our respects to Tim Richmond, who is somebody who drove
(03:36):
essentially Mike. The easiest way to say it is if
you look at the time period in which Tim Richmond
was racing, and we're talking late seventies into the early eighties.
He was a guy that not only from a personality standpoint,
was larger than life, but also was willing and capable
of racing just about anything if it had a steering wheel,
(03:57):
steering wheel and four wheels, no matter the series it was, USAK,
whether it was NASCAR, whether it was Open wheel, he
could run and would run just about anything.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Oh that's right, he know he ran USAK. People don't
really remember the fact he ran USACK races. You know,
he was running on the dirt and things like that.
I mean he ran a series called Mini Indie at
one point, so you know, you're right he was. He
was running everything he could get, you know, anytime he
could get a ride, he was moving up the ranks,
(04:28):
and he he was one of those guys that you know,
they call it, I guess a shooting star, because you know,
it felt like he kind of came out of nowhere
and became this you know, meteoric rise and and just
just really became an instant star in racing.
Speaker 8 (04:44):
And when you look at his overall, as you had
talked about, kind of that meteoric rise where all of
a sudden, and sometimes this happens where you have a
driver that hits the scene, you hear things mentioned and
then all of a sudden, before you know it, everywhere
you turn around, you are seeing stories of or hearing
stories about their accomplishments. Tim Richmond was born in June
(05:05):
of nineteen fifty five in Ashland, Ohio, and as you
had talk about, by the time he got to Indianapolis,
he was not yet twenty five years old running in
the nineteen eighty Indianapolis five in a mile race that
was his rookie campaign, and especially in a time period
when you look at it where you know, clearly back
in the early eighties you were talking about a number
(05:26):
of entrants for the Indianapolis five hundred, a number of
cars and quality drivers that did not even make the
show back in those days. But that was not the
case for Tim Richmond. When he showed up and showed
up with his Penske Cosworth back in nineteen eighty, he
was immediately one who showed that he had speed. Now,
this is from May ninth of nineteen eighty. What you're
(05:46):
about to hear. This is Lou Palmer, who himself would
later go on to become the chief announcer of the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio network. With his track report of
track activity for that first third of the month in
May of nineteen eighty.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, go to a rookie. Well,
certainly the odds were against it until the final hour
of practice on a Friday, when Tim Richmond showed everybody
else how fast you could go one hundred ninety three
and a half miles an hour a rookie in car
number twenty one. Some changes in the offing, too, it
(06:20):
would appear Johnny Rutherford and aj Foyd out in the
cars that carried the t or backup they could well
become primary. Rutherford runs at one hundred and ninety three
point double oh nine and point with the Cosworth engine
at one hundred ninety two and a half miles an hour.
Others were going well. We had Spike Gelhausen at one
hundred and ninety one nine and then an entire team
(06:44):
moving up well above one hundred and ninety miles an hour,
with Rick Mears leading away, fuddled by Mario Andretti and
Bobby Unser those cars for the Penske team, Danny on
Gaias very late in the day finally achieving as well
one hundred and ninety point nine miles an hour, others
attempting to run up and with an hour and a
half practice on a Saturday before we go qualifying, while
(07:06):
other people who could be there might include Johnny Parsons,
Tom Sneve, Poncho Carter, Tom Bagley, Jerry Sneve finding at
another area of speed the beginnings of a breakthrough, and
Al Unser finally seeming to get it sorted out and
moving to one hundred and eighty eight miles an hour
in a brand new ground effects car. Gordon john Cock
(07:29):
trouble but cleared to run now the fracture should not
interfere so he could get qualified. Sheldon Kinser, who had
a car on the wall earlier in the week back
out on the track in Carniber twenty four, it stayed
together and then the incident of the afternoon came, and
not seriously so when Carniber nineteen, being piloted by Dana Carter,
(07:49):
got into a spin again at the south end of
the track but made no wall contact. Some progress made
in terms of finding rights. Gary Bettenhausen was out in
one of Sherman Armstrong's car number forty six. John Mayler
finally made an appearance in car ninety two, and Rich
Boegler also in car fifty. But he still has some
laps to run to complete a driver's test, so does
(08:10):
Ron Schumann, so does Bill Whittington.
Speaker 6 (08:13):
For them, it's a weekend wait before they.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Can run the test to completion and then try to
qualify on the final weekend and again at the top
of the line on the final full day of practice
before poll day qualifications. Tim Richmond, a rookie at one
hundred ninety three point five oh seven miles an.
Speaker 8 (08:32):
Hour the poll in nineteen eighty and the win for
that matter would go to Johnny Rutherford, who would become
a key figure within the story of Tim Richmond. More
on that in a minute. But as for qualifying for
Richmond himself, you heard Lou Palmer say he was a
legitimate threat to start up front, but it was a
crash in qualifying that would then cause a setback in
(08:54):
trying to put the car that he would ultimately put
into the field back together again. And as Tim Richmond
talked about with Jackie Stewart, that effort and that new
curveball did create some challenges for the rookie.
Speaker 9 (09:06):
It's been a tumultious month for Tim Richmond. Tim, this
must be the biggest month that's.
Speaker 10 (09:13):
Ever happened to you.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
I'll tell you, Jackie a couple weeks ago it was
probit of the best week in my life in the
worst all in seven days right there. You know, we
ran as fast as we did and we kind of
crashed the car, But now the cruising a fantastic. God,
we're we're backady to run the race. So I'll tell
you it's been really fantastic for me.
Speaker 9 (09:32):
I'd have to observe as a race driver right now
in your career year sort of all bright eyed and
ritchy tales. I mean, it must be like a bodler
Champee being open for you because you're all bubbling through
the light.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
Yeah, I am, And I don't know what to say.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
I just it's all news for me.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
You do things like this right here, and I don't know,
it's amazing and I really appreciate, you know, the fact
that I've been able to be able to come here
and have a chance to do what we've done. And
I hope I go many years.
Speaker 6 (10:00):
And you know, it's interesting, Mike.
Speaker 8 (10:03):
We mentioned Johnny Ruttherford in that nineteen eighty race and
Tim Richmond as well, and one of the most iconic
moments of the nineteen eighty eighty five hundred, of course,
happened at the end of the race as Johnny Ruttherford
is doing his victory lap and Tim Richmond runs out
of fuel. It led to one of the most memorable
moments of the eighties at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Speaker 10 (10:22):
In the ball I think it must have been concentration
or something.
Speaker 11 (10:25):
But there's a man who's very happy in the year
Johnny Runner waiting to everyone already seems to thinking he's
driving K Yes, yes, the workman is show.
Speaker 12 (10:39):
He's away of other stuff.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Apparently Keevy showing ready, he said, tack, putting to her
white back.
Speaker 11 (10:45):
He's waiting till we're talking about you know, a joy
was talking about a taxi samers.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
It was expensive when you could find the pel.
Speaker 13 (10:56):
So come up, you know, tell us how the way
I'm gonna go this year?
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Or he may be the oncoming a j point in
that way all the month of la.
Speaker 6 (11:04):
This rookie at age twenty four, he's always with the
figure five finish here.
Speaker 14 (11:08):
You imagine he'll be the rookie.
Speaker 15 (11:10):
Of the year.
Speaker 12 (11:10):
Well, he's getting his mind and this might be Jeddy
to Fickly simple.
Speaker 11 (11:16):
Prematurely.
Speaker 16 (11:18):
Brother good do we enjoy it just as much?
Speaker 13 (11:20):
And so of them shaking him and he's lifting to
hang him.
Speaker 11 (11:24):
Tony's runners for nothing, pointing number money's running to young Tim.
He was looking form for, not Wendy.
Speaker 17 (11:32):
We the crowd got all they could.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Have asked for today.
Speaker 13 (11:34):
Magneficit racing, no serious injuries, some spectacular sights deceive and
bury worthy winner in Johnny Leatherber of fourth Worth.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
Texas at age forty two. An iconic moment.
Speaker 8 (11:50):
Indeed, Jim McKay on the call there along with Jackie
Stewart as Tim Richmond just got out of his car
hopped on the side pot of Johnny whatth Theford, and
Johnny Rutford said, go ahead and I'll take you to
the area where Victory Lane is, as Johnny Rutford celebrated
his win and Tim Richmond celebrated a top ten finished
ninth in that nineteen eighty Indianapolis five hundred. Tim Richmond
(12:11):
and Johnny Rutherford later would talk about that iconic moment.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
You know, it's amazing how many people in that situation,
Brotherford and I going to Victory Lane together, how many
people thought that was a planned, you know, premeditated situation there,
and in fact it wasn't. You know, I ran out
of fuel. Believe me, if if I would have not
tried to run out of fuel, and because I would
have finished probably fifth, I guess, instead of ninth. But
(12:35):
now I was talking to the crowd, you know, waving
and stuff and having.
Speaker 15 (12:38):
A good time, and JR.
Speaker 6 (12:40):
Drove behind me and.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
I didn't even see him. And I was going to
the crowd and they were going, you know, like they
were going look over here, and I looked to my
left and there was Rutherford, and you know he I
could just see his hand in their motion and me,
come on, come on, and I ran after the car,
and you know, those things were pretty fragile at the time,
the sidepods and said, I said.
Speaker 6 (13:00):
Right here, and he said, yeah, get on.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
So I got on, and you know, I knew he'd
won the thing, and he said, where's the phinish And
I said, I don't know. I was kind of like
a joke. I said, where'd you finish that? I said
that you did win it?
Speaker 6 (13:13):
He said yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
And so then I held his hand up, and.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
You know, I was a little embarrassed at being holding
the number one sign up because I was doing it
for him. So I held the number one up and
pointed to his helmet, and you know, it's not bad
to go to Victory Lane, either in a car or
on a car to Indianapolis.
Speaker 18 (13:30):
He came running over and he's you know, he's patted
me on the show.
Speaker 15 (13:33):
It's a nice shop.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
And I said, thank you, get on. He says what
I said, get on, I'll give you a ride.
Speaker 6 (13:37):
He said, oh okay.
Speaker 10 (13:39):
So he sat down on the on the sidepod and.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Hung on the roll bar and I took him to
Victory Lane, and I had always hoped that that he
was sick.
Speaker 12 (13:46):
With IndyCar racing and maybe win Indianapolis.
Speaker 10 (13:49):
So I could always tell people that I gave him
his first ride to Victory Lane.
Speaker 8 (13:53):
Pretty good stuff, Mike, And obviously one that you know,
Johnny Rutherford, I think has enjoyed that story over the
years as much as you know Tim Richmond, who is
no longer with us, but certainly fans in general just
in reliving that, I've always got the impression of Johnny
Rutherford got to kick out of that story as well.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Oh.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
And one of the things about that race, I mean,
let's not forget. I mean, it was pretty much a
foregone conclusion that if the Chaparral didn't break down, Johnny
Rutherford was going to win that race. He was the
class of the field. And so that's the memorable moment
from that race is Johnny Rutherford. In fact, the painting
that they did every year for the race is those two.
You know, they called it the Champ and the Rookie,
and it's those two riding toward Victory Lane. And that's
(14:32):
the memorable moment of the races came after the race.
So I think Johnny has always enjoyed that moment, and
you could tell Tim Richmond enjoyed that moment as well.
Speaker 8 (14:41):
Richmond would only go on to run nine championship level
races in IndyCar and a huge crash at Michigan later
in that nineteen eighty seven or excuse me nineteen eighty
season obviously played I think a part in his decision
to step away and get out of IndyCars.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
Well, I'll tell you the nickname that I when I
first went to Indianapolis was Captain Quick, and then it
soon became Captain Crunch, And I mean, honestly, I liked
the way my feet were porny.
Speaker 8 (15:13):
See again, the sense of humor, Mike from Tim Richmond.
That's the reason why he became such an engaging personality.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
I mean he was the life of the party at
all the different things he was involved with, and he
was very quick with a joke, and he was The
thing I liked about Tim Richmond is everybody was Tim
Richmond's friend. I mean, you didn't have to know him,
and I'll talk about that later in the show. You
didn't really have to know him, but he made you
feel like he was a friend of yours, you know,
So we'll talk about that a little later in the show.
(15:42):
But that's just the kind of guy he was.
Speaker 8 (15:45):
Speedway history in Emeritis. Donald Davidson on Tim Richmond's short
career in Indianapolis IndyCar racing.
Speaker 10 (15:53):
Basically at Indianapolis he had two starts nineteen eighty and
eighty one, and he was from Ashland Over and drove
USAC sprint cars and in fact it was a division
called Mini Indie for a short time, which was basically
supervis and he won one of those, and I think
that was like seventy eight or seventy nine. But he
(16:13):
was also and that's you know, rearrangine cars and small
rearrangine cars. But he was also drove sprints quite successfully,
and I remember him around quite a bit in seventy
eight and seventy nine, and in seventy nine he pulled
a bit of a coupe. I remember that he went
to the five hundred victory banquet. Now he had not
(16:36):
had a ride for the five hundred yet, but he
went to the victory banquet and his date were the
three Hears girls. It was Linda Vaughan and I think
June Cark and I don't remember who the third one was,
and I thought, boy, is that guy an operator? He's
showing up with the three Hears girls. There's his date
and hasn't even been in the race yet. Well, he
(16:58):
was a very refreshing newcomer in nineteen eighty and drove
for team. Actually, I think the team was underwritten by
his father.
Speaker 8 (17:11):
When we come back more on the career of Tim
Richmond and transitioning as this show is kind of doing
from IndyCar into NASCAR and the Cup side of things,
as we look back at one of the most gregarious
personalities of the early eighties, Tim Richman. On this edition
of Beyond the Break.
Speaker 6 (17:30):
Jesus, he's the Bet three six' five command.
Speaker 7 (17:33):
Center get your race updates here all month long and
make sure to enter for your chance to win five
hundred dollars by predicting the winner of this year's. Race
On july twenty, seventh go to one oh seven five
fan dot com to Winter, now here's your twenty twenty
five race, update brought to you By bet three six Five.
Speaker 6 (17:52):
And that race update is pretty. Simple it is.
Speaker 8 (17:55):
Here the time is upon us Because thursday five until,
seven you've had that marked on the calendar for a
while and here we are on the doorstep of. It
it is The Haller parade for The brickyard four hundred
at The Indianapolis Motor.
Speaker 6 (18:07):
Speedway as the haulers will work their way.
Speaker 8 (18:09):
From five until seven pm Down Main street And speedway
into The Indianapolis Motor. Speedway there will be a lot
of activity and celebration going on with, that And Justin, Haley, Todd,
Gillovan Riley, Herbs Tyler redick all.
Speaker 6 (18:22):
Will be making appearances.
Speaker 8 (18:23):
There so you can see those four drivers all part
of The Haller parade coming up five until seven. O'clock
then On, friday the gates we'll open at ten o'clock
practice sessions For exfinity and FOR nascar as. Well by
the way six thirty Pm thursday, NIGHT i should have
mentioned there's going to BE usack racing at The Indianapolis Motor.
Speedway saturday is qualifying day with everything setting the stage
(18:48):
for the afternoon session of The pennzoil two fifty Four,
exfinity and then it is two o'clock On sunday the
running at The Indianapolis Motor speedway of The brickyard four.
Speaker 7 (18:59):
Hundred this is beyond The, bricks brought to you By
Quality supply And Tool think outside The box store on
ninety three to five and one oh seven five the.
Speaker 6 (19:15):
Fan, Hi I'm.
Speaker 19 (19:17):
Tim richmond and this is an original poster of My
indianapolis five hundred career created by racing Artist Ron. Verton
this poster is now available for five dollars at your
Forty Guarantee.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
Auto stores Throughout.
Speaker 19 (19:30):
INDIANA i hope you will follow my racing progress Throughout
may AS i drive A Guarantee AUTO wttv special in
this Year's indianapolis five. Hundred the greatest spectacle in racing.
Speaker 8 (19:43):
There would be a very famous racing poster Involving Tim
richmond that falls into the category of if you, know you.
Know but we're talking About Tim Richmond tonight and his
short career in IndyCar transitioning over to cup. Cars and
in addition to, that anytime that you can hear a
retro ad FOR Wttv, Cowboy bob And janey and the
(20:04):
rest of them In, indianapolis it is pretty. Awesome Jake
querry along With Mike Thompson lane in tuns editing everything
together for. Us tonight And, mike let's talk about that
transition now For Tim richmond in the nineteen eighty and eighty,
one eighty five hundred and then crossing over and now
we get into where the legend really continued to. Grow
talking about his cup car side of, THINGS i just.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Want to point OUT i have one of those posters
at my house with my palatial estate as you call
it In.
Speaker 6 (20:33):
Ohio but, yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Those posters are pretty, cool by the, Way but, yeah
what's cool Is Tim richmond actually had us some struggles
in eighty one trying to make the, race actually had
to buy a car from Aj foyd to get him
in the race in eighty, one and so there's a
lot more of a struggle in eighty one than it
was in eighty for. Him so then in the summer
of eighty he had actually started running Some cup, races
(20:58):
SOME nascar, races and he with Dk ulrick for a,
while long TIME nascar, competitor and then he switched over
actually to the people REMEMBER J.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
D stacy's team AND Jd. STACEY. Jd stacey was a guy.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Who at one point seemed like he owned most of
THE nascar Great he had like nine different cars at
one point it seemed like he had a lot of
different different cars and on the, grid kind of like
the people might remember The scandia team in the EARLY
irl days.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Seemed like they had a bunch of the field as.
Well BUT.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Jd stacey had a bunch of, cars And Tim richmond
drove at one point FOR. J. D stacy After Mark
martin left the, team And Tim richmond won his first
two races IN nascar FOR. Jd, stacey and then he
ended up moving over To Raymond beatle his, Team Raymond,
beadle the famous The Blue Max, guy and he picked
(21:54):
up some a couple more wins there in the Old
Milwaukee pontiac and he was really starting to make a
name for himself and IN, nascar and that was kind
of he never looked back and never looked back at
coming back To, IndyCars because he was really making a
name for himself A nascar at that, point and he.
Speaker 8 (22:08):
Also was making a name for himself when opportunity would
present itself as again that, charisma that colorful character and
the sense of humor and just the overall gregarious nature
Of Tim. Richmond for, example when he had an engine
failure At michigan and decided to take the opportunity to
well just kind of become a, commentator if you.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Will we have a.
Speaker 6 (22:29):
Radio hookup With Tim.
Speaker 20 (22:30):
Richmond we'll try to see if we can make radio
contact with him and find out what.
Speaker 16 (22:34):
Happened, tim this Is Larry nuber up ON esvpn. Control
do you know exactly what? Happened, TIM, a not, Really.
Speaker 12 (22:42):
Larry i'm like going the bottom end of the thing
here before we put in the turn one there and
they let go and luckily we kever in one direction.
There it didn't hold and get on a rear. Tire
So i'm in a motor.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
AGO i can't say what it, wanted.
Speaker 16 (22:57):
THOUGH a tremendous amount of smoke even in the car
as you came around turn number two and down the
backstretch was vision a, Problem, TIM.
Speaker 21 (23:05):
I it wasn't really a.
Speaker 12 (23:07):
Problem, well not all aria was inside the. CARPET i
can still see, OUTSIDE i, Know and the main problem
was just keeping a car straight going.
Speaker 21 (23:14):
In when it came out to the bottom. End it
tried to.
Speaker 12 (23:18):
Tried to get the car loose on the rear, tires
but luckily we made.
Speaker 22 (23:22):
It, unfortunately we're going back behind the.
Speaker 12 (23:23):
Wall here and probably won't be back out for.
Speaker 16 (23:25):
Today well thanks a, Lot, tim a tough, break and
you know you've won a lot of racists recently and
a lot of different kinds of, racetracks SO i know
this is a major.
Speaker 8 (23:33):
Disappointment pretty good stuff from inside the cockpit in terms
of being able to give good insight as to not
only what his car was, feeling but also what was
happening to his, car but when it would come for
the opportunity For Tim richmond also to just simply have.
Fun we have seen plenty of times where rain delays
have been an opportunity or just broadcast delays in general
(23:54):
for us to get to know drivers a little. Better
that certainly was the case With Tim richmond during one
rain delay with a very young by the way Jack.
Speaker 20 (24:03):
Route, well what do race drivers do when it's. Raining
let's find out as we go down to the pit
area And jackie your, Route.
Speaker 15 (24:11):
Bob one of the things that race drivers like to
do and the rain delay is pretend that THEY'RE tv.
Commentators And Tim richmond has really gone one step. Further
he has members of his crew all over this racetrack
and they've been playing our parts throughout this rain. Delay,
tim we understand you're all hooked up on the. Radio
do you want to introduce your?
Speaker 14 (24:27):
Crew, WELL i wouldn't mind doing.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
That for some reason got. Started everybody just left their
radios and headgear. ON i took my helmet off and
one of the guys gave me. Theirs and we've just
been sitting here actually pretending like radio, personalities talking about the,
weather going back and reports.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
And having interviews up and down the pit.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
Road and right Now i'd like to go to with
my radio to Our turn four location With Larry, nuber
who's A tv. Personality let's turn around, Here Larry, neuber you.
Speaker 22 (24:52):
Have a, report a weather report. Down it's turned four for.
Us he's out in these location. There could you come
on check it out?
Speaker 6 (24:57):
Forth Leaders, Ma.
Speaker 12 (25:00):
Larry duborn here And i'm here and it is.
Speaker 15 (25:02):
Raining i'm helping.
Speaker 12 (25:03):
You i'm glad to be here when it is finn
and the rain is coming.
Speaker 22 (25:06):
Down BUT i hope we can get this race.
Speaker 18 (25:08):
In.
Speaker 12 (25:08):
Uh we have men stationed all over the.
Speaker 4 (25:11):
Train it's really win but the clouds are blowing away
AND i think we'll maybe.
Speaker 12 (25:14):
Able to get this race.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
In.
Speaker 22 (25:16):
Really thank you very, Much, May and now we're gonna
go over car in car. Reporter, Uh Bob jackings over
here inside our? Car can we can we can we
turn over here and take a, look go ahead and
get a shot of the.
Speaker 21 (25:28):
Car? Uh, okay could you give us a?
Speaker 22 (25:30):
Report? There pop tickets inside the? Car could you raise
your flat? Please?
Speaker 7 (25:37):
Okay in here back.
Speaker 9 (25:38):
Here, now thank you very.
Speaker 12 (25:40):
Much, uh this is what kind of fun we've been.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
Having uh while the rain's going on here And i'm getting,
wet and uh how about?
Speaker 2 (25:48):
You uh, YEAH i.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Want you to report, here damn rach when this Is Benny.
Speaker 6 (25:52):
Parsons do you hear?
Speaker 22 (25:53):
Me, yes, Sir, benny go, Ahead i'm.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Listening, well you, know if they start this, race there's
no way in the world you're gonna be of races
or you're having too much Fund.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
Michael plug him in now and recharge of my.
Speaker 15 (26:08):
Home well that's the story from down here in a
very wet pit. Road one Thing i'm sure of, Though,
BOB i don't want to be a race car.
Speaker 20 (26:17):
Driver, yeah it's too bad that we can't retaliate and
pretend like we're race.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
Drivers oh, wow those guys are really having.
Speaker 6 (26:25):
Fun they, are and you can see it right. There mike.
Speaker 8 (26:28):
Obviously first, Off jackie Of, ROUTE i love, that but
just the, overall you, know, fun sense of humor and
creativity Of Tim. Richmond clearly you understand why he became
a fan.
Speaker 6 (26:39):
Favorite, oh no doubt about.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
It WHAT i liked about that clip especially Is Larry
nuber was From, Mammy, ohio which is a suburb Of,
toledo AND i used to live In, Mammee, Ohio and
nobody From, Mammy ohio talks with that kind of.
Speaker 6 (26:52):
Accent BUT i just thought that was a lot of.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Fun, so, uh just the creativity and the fun and
the fact that he was willing to get out there
and have a good time and just really he put
himself out there and was one of the guys and
just just really a fun loving guy With Tim richmond for,
sure and.
Speaker 8 (27:10):
He obviously was right on the doorstep at that point
of a prolific career in period with In Cup, racing
because the personality in general and the talent would allow
him to land an opportunity With Rick Kendrick's powerhouse. Team
he would go on to win nine races in The
Folgers Coffee. Machine one of the strangest moments he had
was his in race interview At North. Wilkesboro this is
(27:32):
in nineteen eighty seven and he conducted an interview while.
Racing take a, Listen.
Speaker 6 (27:38):
Tim, richman this is THE espn control you.
Speaker 12 (27:40):
Reading, yeah go, AHEAD i got you, Out.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Claire what was wrong with the?
Speaker 6 (27:45):
Card it again with.
Speaker 21 (28:01):
Any better our lab. Rack we're gonna go, ahead all, Right,
Howard we're Barely ricardo.
Speaker 23 (28:25):
Doing better, Now Tim, richmond disregarding the fact that the
green has come, out he is continuing to talk with
us and trying to explain the problem that he has.
Speaker 20 (28:36):
Experienced hearing the early going office.
Speaker 23 (28:39):
Race right, now he's Behind jeff fo, nine but that
car still just does not appeared to be handling all that.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
Well i'm gonna tell, you.
Speaker 7 (28:46):
Guys a rare glimpse into the psyche of a race.
Speaker 16 (28:49):
Driver Tim richmond takes the green flag and keeps up
this conversation with, us racing two and three of press
awful way around this racetrack and trying to describe the
action for all.
Speaker 6 (28:58):
Those views of, money that's most.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Impressive i'll tell you THAT i can't imagine it runs
a great flag lap off talking to.
Speaker 8 (29:07):
It you also got an idea as just how loud
things were inside those cars back and that time. Period
Tim richmond doing an interview while racing inside of a stock.
Car we come back more On Tim richmond and the
sad turn of events in terms of his life and
the speculation thereof when we look back at one of
(29:28):
the most colorful characters in the history OF, Ims Tim,
richmond on this edition Of beyond The.
Speaker 7 (29:33):
Bricks this Is beyond The bricks brought to you By
Quality Supply Intol think outside The Box store on ninety
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Speaker 4 (29:48):
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Speaker 22 (30:00):
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Speaker 4 (30:03):
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pages number two hundred full color pictures of the, drivers
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Speaker 15 (30:10):
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Speaker 3 (30:11):
It and it's the most fantastic book we've ever.
Speaker 9 (30:14):
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Speaker 4 (30:18):
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the cover captures the intense excitement of auto racing and
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Speaker 21 (30:29):
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Speaker 3 (30:31):
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Speaker 1 (30:41):
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Speaker 6 (30:48):
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Speaker 8 (30:52):
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is not to work for.
Speaker 6 (30:57):
You that was quite some time.
Speaker 8 (30:58):
Ago Lendavad, richmond who was the subject Of Tonight's beyond
The bricks and taking a look back At Tim Richmond, Tonight,
mike the reality is, this in the mid, eighties when
one would HAVE, aids which is What Tim richmond would,
acquire there were a lot of, questions not only about
WHAT aids, was but also About Tim, richmond and it
(31:18):
would create some challenges for him in his.
Speaker 6 (31:21):
Career, yeah a lot of.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
Questions but there was a lot of as you, said
paranoia and a lot of really terrible things happened in that.
Timeframe you, know he tried to race at one, point you,
know he got he got banned BY nascar for testing
positive for sudo fed and advil because basically they were
trying to out his. Condition they wanted him to reveal
(31:45):
that he HAD aids because they basically didn't want him
around and they wanted to out. Him and so they
concocted this drug test and said that he, had you,
know tested positive for. Drugs, well he hadn't tested positive for.
Drugs he tested. Posit if we're taking SUIT i fed an,
advil which are, legal you can buy them over the counter,
Obviously and so it was really unfortunate what, happened you,
(32:09):
know it was it was a ridiculous attempt to out his,
condition to be candid with, you and and it was
just it was just sad all, around you, KNOW i
mean the way it was, handled you, know BY. NASCAR
i think they admitted later that they should have handled it.
Differently but as you, said there was a lot of,
paranoia but there were also a lot of THINGS i
(32:30):
think we need to take from it that were there
were people that were In tim's corner that were really
good to, him people Like Kyle, petty people Like Dale
earnhardt who would always sit with him at the driver's
meeting and showed that they weren't afraid to sit With
Tim richmond because people knew that there was something, wrong
and people knew that he had something that was going.
(32:52):
On but you know that always stood by, Him people
Like Kyle, petty people Like Dale, Earnhart they always stood by,
him and SO i, think you, know we can take
a lesson from the fact that those people were there
For Tim.
Speaker 8 (33:02):
Richmond in nineteen eighty, Seven Tim richmond would have a
near fatal bout with double. Pneumonia he also won The
All Star race In, may and then he drove his
First Cup series race At Pocono raceway after that, illness
and despite the fact that his health was in, question
he won the.
Speaker 6 (33:18):
Race it'll be white flag.
Speaker 14 (33:20):
Next, Time. Hi when they come across the, Strip Harold
kinder will show them the white, flag which means there'll
be one more lap, remaining there's the flag final. Lap
this is the two hundredth revolution of this triangular shaped,
racetrack and right now the battle seems to be a
further back as.
Speaker 5 (33:35):
Well you get a look at that one hundred and
seventy Mile Prior congo line down that. Frustraightaway it's seven
tenths of a. Mile richmond leads the, Way elliott has
less than two. Miles the trottle really, man but It's
Tim richmond by seven karlings further.
Speaker 14 (33:48):
Back Kyle penny is still in, Third Cale yarborough. Fourth
the battle behind That, Earnhardt Bobby allison And ricky run
in that. Order There's elliott and there you see the
difference as they work the shorts huge heading across the
tunnel towards turn number.
Speaker 6 (34:03):
Three Tim richmond's got to be grabbing that.
Speaker 5 (34:06):
Steerwheel white knuckle has the foot planted firmly on the,
floorboard holding it wide.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
Open there's a look At, richmond thirty two years of.
Speaker 5 (34:13):
Age could the comeback be completely? Lie could he take
a checkered flag and win? It what a tearful celebration
that's gonna. Be richmond less than a half.
Speaker 21 (34:20):
A mile from.
Speaker 14 (34:21):
Victory if he, wins it would be the third straight
victory for. Him here At, pokano the crowd Waving richmond
with a hand out of the window And Tim richmond
has picked up the victory and The miller highlight five.
Hundred here At, Pocono Bill elliot a, Second Kyle pitty,
Third Kao garborough is. Fourth let's See ehnheit now across
the line to finish, fifth ahead Of Bobby allison And Ricky.
Speaker 17 (34:41):
Right, Whatever very Happy Tim richmond with A cinderella story
in A cinderella, Indiings, tim and you have to be
happy with what happened. There did you ever really think
that this could be possible with everything that's?
Speaker 6 (34:52):
Happened, well, YEAH i did you?
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Know it's uh feeling need for?
Speaker 6 (34:58):
Speed, huh.
Speaker 10 (35:00):
Thanks, Herry, YEAH i really.
Speaker 17 (35:04):
Did you?
Speaker 4 (35:04):
Know when you've got this good equipment sitting under, you
you know that layoff it was, Devastating but you KNOW
i didn't lose ANY i thought about it every, day
WHAT i would do WHEN i come.
Speaker 15 (35:17):
Back SO i wasn't THAT i.
Speaker 6 (35:18):
Forgot how to drive a race.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
Car it resist AND i take my time and a
few turns in the road there to make SURE i
was doing the right, thing and they wanted.
Speaker 10 (35:26):
To you, know it was All it was all back to.
Speaker 4 (35:28):
Me if somebody asked me on the way to the,
car WHAT i felt about a wind, today AND i
thought it was one hundred.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
PERCENT i thought there.
Speaker 8 (35:33):
Was Tim richmond would win again the next week At,
riverside but by the end of the summer he was
out of a race car for. Good And, mike you
got a chance to talk To Tim richmond at his
FINAL nascar, race, Correct.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Yeah it was kind of an interesting.
Speaker 3 (35:48):
Deal my uncle got me pit passes for The michigan
Second michigan race that, year AND i was only, seventeen
SO i was breaking the rules. Unfortunately BUT i looked
a lot old there BECAUSE i was six six AND
i was seventeen years, old SO i could pass as
being eighteen years. Old so my uncle had pitt passes
Through champion Spark plug AND i was standing there and
(36:12):
on qualifying day and qualifying was going, on AND i
was just kind of standing there near the media center
under they had a little overhang, there AND i WAS
i was just kind of standing there And Tim richmond came,
RUNNING i mean just, running sprinting out and he, said
is qualifying going? On AND i, said, YEAH i said,
it AND i, SAID i THINK i think your spot
(36:33):
was already. Gone and he went sprinting down there and
he had missed his, spot he had. Overslept and then
he came walking back after he found out that he
had missed a, spot and he came up to me
and he just started talking to me and he, said,
YEAH i, overslept missed my, spot and just started talking
to me as if we were like best. Friends and
he talked for five or six minutes and just made
(36:54):
me feel LIKE i was like in his kind of
in his inner, circle you, know because you, KNOW I
i had been friendly to him a few minutes before,
that AND i don't know if it was just a
situation where because you, know he was, dying you, know
he was dying of this, disease and you know somebody
had been nice to him that that he kind of
took me in for a few minutes, there and it
(37:18):
really meant a lot to. Me it still chokes me
up a little bit thinking about, it BECAUSE i didn't
know at the time he was. Dying, obviously we didn't
know that he you, know had aids or.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
Anything like.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
That but you, know he he treated me LIKE i
was one of his best friends for, five six ten,
minutes you, know and just stood there talking to me
about racing and and just was super friendly to.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
Me AND.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
I actually had a picture of him with, me AND
i had him sign a picture and he, wrote.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
You know To, mike you, know best, Wishes Tim.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
RICHMOND i still have, it and it just it just
meant a lot to me to have that few minutes with,
him and you, know it just it's SOMETHING i REALLY i.
Cherish AND i actually told this. Story we had a
poker night At Dick jorden's, house the Late Dick jordan's,
house AND i actually got to tell this story To Cody,
swanson The, great The GREAT U sect, driver AND i
(38:07):
told him this story and he was, like you got
to Meet Tim, richmond tell me all about, it you,
Know and it just it still, RESONATES i, guess is
What i'm trying to say to this, day that The
Tim richmond's such a magical name in, racing And Cody,
swanson you, know who's done. EVERYTHING i, mean IF i
had a million dollars or two million dollars AND i,
could you, know buy somebody into The indianapolis five. Hundred
Cody swanson to be probably my first, choice BECAUSE i,
(38:29):
MEAN i think he's a great talent And i'd love
to see. Him you, know he's it's just a to
See Cody swanson's face light. Up he's, like you Met Tim.
Richmond tell me all about, it you, know it just
it just tells you what an Impact Tim richmond had.
Speaker 8 (38:42):
Well and of course you talked about the difficulties THAT
nascar had presented for him in nineteen eighty, eight and
even Though Tim richmond was in fact nearing the end
of his, life he still wanted to make a comeback IN,
nascar and he talked about that With Bob jenkins on
ESPN's Speed week in nineteen eighty.
Speaker 20 (39:00):
Eight tim's style has always been, aggressive whether it be
in a race, car, professionally at play on a cigarette
vote on the, ocean or working out with weights and.
Speaker 6 (39:12):
Aerobics a thrive on.
Speaker 18 (39:14):
COMPETITION i, mean it's Like i'm addicted to.
Speaker 20 (39:16):
Competition his competitive spirit meshed up well with the fatherly
guidance Of Harry. Hyde in nineteen eighty, six in a
team won seven of Seventeen Winston cup, events but after
the season. Concluded tim's competitiveness is drying to satisfy too
many commitments cost him his health a life threatening bout
of double. Pneumonia although he came back in eighty seven
(39:36):
and recorded two straight, victories his health was still not.
Good he resigned from The Rick hendrick team amidst rumors
of drug. Abuse some say those rumors led the NASCAR's
decision to implement a drug testing program for nineteen eighty.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
Eight, tim do you have a drug?
Speaker 4 (39:52):
Problem i'm, sorry but that question has been asked more
than once, here more than once by, everybody AND i
am not answering that. QUESTION I am going to let
the drug test In daytona.
Speaker 3 (40:04):
Answer, it And nashcar can answer it for.
Speaker 4 (40:06):
Y'all and if they don't answer it the right, way
Then i'll have my little bottle and there will be
another answer, there BECAUSE i KNOW i know whether it's
dirty or whether it's, clean and it is.
Speaker 18 (40:16):
Clean you, know everybody talked About tim having some problems with.
Drugs tim was sick with the flu or the new
mownair of white and it got him down and they've
tried to prove drugs on, him and you know he's
taking drug tests and he's you, know he's been in the,
hospital and surely if he had been on, drugs it
would have came out when he went in the. Hospital.
Calls everybody in the hospital don't keep. Secrets SO i
(40:38):
don't feel Like tim was using. DRUGS i Think tim
had some other, problems and Hopefully tim can get his
problems worked.
Speaker 9 (40:43):
Out and make a.
Speaker 20 (40:43):
Comeback is your health such that you could run a
Full Winston cup?
Speaker 4 (40:47):
Season the bottom line IS i. Don't i'm not. GOING
i won't ever come back unless the schedule changes and
run a full Blown Winston cup tour for The Winston Cup.
Championship winstump champion is very, important BUT i don't think
it's as important as is you, know enjoying myself and
the and the, time the time it takes to do.
Speaker 18 (41:05):
THAT i.
Speaker 4 (41:05):
Don't i'm not gonna do. THAT i mean this might sound,
corny BUT i MEAN i went to A halloween party
the other. NIGHT i, mean this has been back when
That i've Never i've never been to. IT I i
MEAN i dressed up with the mask on and got
all you, know crazed out there and uh.
Speaker 18 (41:21):
And had a good.
Speaker 4 (41:21):
Time i'm going To Bike week In. Daytona i've got
me a New. Harley I'm i'm gonna be there with you,
Know i'm. ENJOYING I i miss, racing but you know
there's some a lot of things because of RACING i.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
Missed do you have any other goals in?
Speaker 4 (41:36):
RACING i wanna go drag racing if that's the. Question
my my low lifelong, goal and this is not something that's,
new it's been a lifelong, goal was to be in
a fronty. CAR i, MEAN i very much respect those.
Guys unlike a lot of rounding around, guys they don't
(41:56):
think drag racing.
Speaker 17 (41:56):
MUCH i.
Speaker 4 (41:57):
Do, uh BUT i would really IF i got in
a funny, car my first choice would have the name
The Blue max on The Blue max on the side of.
Speaker 3 (42:11):
It that's The Blue max is funny.
Speaker 20 (42:13):
Cars of, Course tim used to drive A Raymond beadle In.
Winston copy says the two are talking about that funny,
car but nothing. Definite yet another. Thing Larry tim says
his main goal in life now is to get, married
settled down and have a.
Speaker 8 (42:25):
Family, okay Bron, Sadly Tim richmond would pass away On
august thirteenth of nineteen eighty nine in the state Of.
Florida Tim, richmond who as we mentioned, earlier is now
resting In, Ashland, ohio his, hometown passed away at the
age of thirty. Four Rilanda, Goods Mike, Thompson I'm Jay.
(42:45):
Query thanks for helping us take a look back at
the Great Tim richmond on this episode Of beyond The.
Speaker 6 (42:50):
Bricks
Only the best run here of the Indianapolis five hundred Mary, who.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Do you feel we'll have to beat this year's.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
Rich people like A. J.
Speaker 4 (00:08):
Foyt and Bobby answer for us.
Speaker 5 (00:10):
And five fla absolutely and incredible Hanny Sullivan's fun in
front of Mario and Frondy.
Speaker 6 (00:16):
Hey jun.
Speaker 7 (00:21):
Hundred Beyond the Bricks with che Query and Mike Thompson
brought to you by Quality Supply and Tool Think outside
the box Store on ninety three five and one oh
seven five the fan.
Speaker 8 (00:35):
Hey, good evening to you. Jay Quarry along with Mike Thompson.
Landon Kuns is the man that is putting everything together
here on Beyond the Bricks. Our look at the personalities,
the names, the storylines of the history of the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway, and of course primarily this show, especially if
you're listen to podcasts, form the vast majority of those
(00:56):
episodes with which you would be learning about things, it
would be that relation.
Speaker 6 (01:01):
To the Indianapolis five hundred mile race.
Speaker 8 (01:03):
But this is the week of the Brickyard four hundred
and NASCAR at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As a matter
of fact, tomorrow everything will get underway in terms of
the Hauler Parade and all of the events that take place,
with practice on Friday and qualifying on Saturday, racing in
the Exfinity Series on Saturday, the race for the Brickyard
(01:23):
four hundred on Sunday. We'll get the schedule for everything
in more finite detail coming up at the bottom of
the hour. But first let me welcome in the man
who is kind of the brains of the operation, and
that is not necessarily the biggest challenge when the only other.
Speaker 6 (01:39):
Brain involved would be mine.
Speaker 8 (01:41):
But Mike Thompson is the guy that puts together everything
in terms of beyond the bricks of the ideas of
what we talk about and cross breeding both from the
NASCAR side and IndyCar open wheel racing history side, and
he is the audio archivist, if you will, of the
Indianapolis Motor speed Mike Tonight. This is going to be
a fun one because we get to talk about somebody
(02:03):
that I think is one of the more fun personalities
and larger than life personalities at his time, during the
time that he was driving at the speedway.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Absolutely, he was definitely a larger than life personality, one
of the most charismatic.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
People you'd ever want to meet.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
We'll talk about that a little bit later, because I
got to meet him on a couple of occasions and
really definitely one of the most charismatic people in the
history of racing as far as I'm concerned.
Speaker 8 (02:30):
We're talking about a guy that and it was just
last year, as a matter of fact, that I was
at the midd Ohio sports Car Course. Of course, that
is essentially Mike's home track, and I have a friend
that lives in Cleveland. Of course, midd Ohio sports Car
Course for those that are unfamiliar, is in essentially Lexington, Ohio,
(02:50):
Steam's Corners if you want to get really technical, but
just about oh, I don't know, maybe forty five minutes
to an hour north of Columbus and a little bit
to the southwest of Cleveland. And so my buddy from
Cleveland we met for dinner for the night and decided
that the closest place I believe it's Ashland, Ohio. Am
I correct in saying Ashland, Ohio? Mike, That's correct, Ashland, Ohio.
(03:11):
That's where the person we're talking about tonight is from.
Speaker 6 (03:14):
Correct.
Speaker 8 (03:15):
So we're having dinner and I said, hey, so what's
the you know, other than being a meeting point that
is convenient for the two of us. Let's look up
the history of Ashland, and in doing so I very
quickly learned that not only was the hometown of but
the final resting place of where we went and paid
our respects to Tim Richmond, who is somebody who drove
(03:36):
essentially Mike. The easiest way to say it is if
you look at the time period in which Tim Richmond
was racing, and we're talking late seventies into the early eighties.
He was a guy that not only from a personality standpoint,
was larger than life, but also was willing and capable
of racing just about anything if it had a steering wheel,
(03:57):
steering wheel and four wheels, no matter the series it was, USAK,
whether it was NASCAR, whether it was Open wheel, he
could run and would run just about anything.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Oh that's right, he know he ran USAK. People don't
really remember the fact he ran USACK races. You know,
he was running on the dirt and things like that.
I mean he ran a series called Mini Indie at
one point, so you know, you're right he was. He
was running everything he could get, you know, anytime he
could get a ride, he was moving up the ranks,
(04:28):
and he he was one of those guys that you know,
they call it, I guess a shooting star, because you know,
it felt like he kind of came out of nowhere
and became this you know, meteoric rise and and just
just really became an instant star in racing.
Speaker 8 (04:44):
And when you look at his overall, as you had
talked about, kind of that meteoric rise where all of
a sudden, and sometimes this happens where you have a
driver that hits the scene, you hear things mentioned and
then all of a sudden, before you know it, everywhere
you turn around, you are seeing stories of or hearing
stories about their accomplishments. Tim Richmond was born in June
(05:05):
of nineteen fifty five in Ashland, Ohio, and as you
had talk about, by the time he got to Indianapolis,
he was not yet twenty five years old running in
the nineteen eighty Indianapolis five in a mile race that
was his rookie campaign, and especially in a time period
when you look at it where you know, clearly back
in the early eighties you were talking about a number
(05:26):
of entrants for the Indianapolis five hundred, a number of
cars and quality drivers that did not even make the
show back in those days. But that was not the
case for Tim Richmond. When he showed up and showed
up with his Penske Cosworth back in nineteen eighty, he
was immediately one who showed that he had speed. Now,
this is from May ninth of nineteen eighty. What you're
(05:46):
about to hear. This is Lou Palmer, who himself would
later go on to become the chief announcer of the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio network. With his track report of
track activity for that first third of the month in
May of nineteen eighty.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, go to a rookie. Well,
certainly the odds were against it until the final hour
of practice on a Friday, when Tim Richmond showed everybody
else how fast you could go one hundred ninety three
and a half miles an hour a rookie in car
number twenty one. Some changes in the offing, too, it
(06:20):
would appear Johnny Rutherford and aj Foyd out in the
cars that carried the t or backup they could well
become primary. Rutherford runs at one hundred and ninety three
point double oh nine and point with the Cosworth engine
at one hundred ninety two and a half miles an hour.
Others were going well. We had Spike Gelhausen at one
hundred and ninety one nine and then an entire team
(06:44):
moving up well above one hundred and ninety miles an hour,
with Rick Mears leading away, fuddled by Mario Andretti and
Bobby Unser those cars for the Penske team, Danny on
Gaias very late in the day finally achieving as well
one hundred and ninety point nine miles an hour, others
attempting to run up and with an hour and a
half practice on a Saturday before we go qualifying, while
(07:06):
other people who could be there might include Johnny Parsons,
Tom Sneve, Poncho Carter, Tom Bagley, Jerry Sneve finding at
another area of speed the beginnings of a breakthrough, and
Al Unser finally seeming to get it sorted out and
moving to one hundred and eighty eight miles an hour
in a brand new ground effects car. Gordon john Cock
(07:29):
trouble but cleared to run now the fracture should not
interfere so he could get qualified. Sheldon Kinser, who had
a car on the wall earlier in the week back
out on the track in Carniber twenty four, it stayed
together and then the incident of the afternoon came, and
not seriously so when Carniber nineteen, being piloted by Dana Carter,
(07:49):
got into a spin again at the south end of
the track but made no wall contact. Some progress made
in terms of finding rights. Gary Bettenhausen was out in
one of Sherman Armstrong's car number forty six. John Mayler
finally made an appearance in car ninety two, and Rich
Boegler also in car fifty. But he still has some
laps to run to complete a driver's test, so does
(08:10):
Ron Schumann, so does Bill Whittington.
Speaker 6 (08:13):
For them, it's a weekend wait before they.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Can run the test to completion and then try to
qualify on the final weekend and again at the top
of the line on the final full day of practice
before poll day qualifications. Tim Richmond, a rookie at one
hundred ninety three point five oh seven miles an.
Speaker 8 (08:32):
Hour the poll in nineteen eighty and the win for
that matter would go to Johnny Rutherford, who would become
a key figure within the story of Tim Richmond. More
on that in a minute. But as for qualifying for
Richmond himself, you heard Lou Palmer say he was a
legitimate threat to start up front, but it was a
crash in qualifying that would then cause a setback in
(08:54):
trying to put the car that he would ultimately put
into the field back together again. And as Tim Richmond
talked about with Jackie Stewart, that effort and that new
curveball did create some challenges for the rookie.
Speaker 9 (09:06):
It's been a tumultious month for Tim Richmond. Tim, this
must be the biggest month that's.
Speaker 10 (09:13):
Ever happened to you.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
I'll tell you, Jackie a couple weeks ago it was
probit of the best week in my life in the
worst all in seven days right there. You know, we
ran as fast as we did and we kind of
crashed the car, But now the cruising a fantastic. God,
we're we're backady to run the race. So I'll tell
you it's been really fantastic for me.
Speaker 9 (09:32):
I'd have to observe as a race driver right now
in your career year sort of all bright eyed and
ritchy tales. I mean, it must be like a bodler
Champee being open for you because you're all bubbling through
the light.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
Yeah, I am, And I don't know what to say.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
I just it's all news for me.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
You do things like this right here, and I don't know,
it's amazing and I really appreciate, you know, the fact
that I've been able to be able to come here
and have a chance to do what we've done. And
I hope I go many years.
Speaker 6 (10:00):
And you know, it's interesting, Mike.
Speaker 8 (10:03):
We mentioned Johnny Ruttherford in that nineteen eighty race and
Tim Richmond as well, and one of the most iconic
moments of the nineteen eighty eighty five hundred, of course,
happened at the end of the race as Johnny Ruttherford
is doing his victory lap and Tim Richmond runs out
of fuel. It led to one of the most memorable
moments of the eighties at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Speaker 10 (10:22):
In the ball I think it must have been concentration
or something.
Speaker 11 (10:25):
But there's a man who's very happy in the year
Johnny Runner waiting to everyone already seems to thinking he's
driving K Yes, yes, the workman is show.
Speaker 12 (10:39):
He's away of other stuff.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Apparently Keevy showing ready, he said, tack, putting to her
white back.
Speaker 11 (10:45):
He's waiting till we're talking about you know, a joy
was talking about a taxi samers.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
It was expensive when you could find the pel.
Speaker 13 (10:56):
So come up, you know, tell us how the way
I'm gonna go this year?
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Or he may be the oncoming a j point in
that way all the month of la.
Speaker 6 (11:04):
This rookie at age twenty four, he's always with the
figure five finish here.
Speaker 14 (11:08):
You imagine he'll be the rookie.
Speaker 15 (11:10):
Of the year.
Speaker 12 (11:10):
Well, he's getting his mind and this might be Jeddy
to Fickly simple.
Speaker 11 (11:16):
Prematurely.
Speaker 16 (11:18):
Brother good do we enjoy it just as much?
Speaker 13 (11:20):
And so of them shaking him and he's lifting to
hang him.
Speaker 11 (11:24):
Tony's runners for nothing, pointing number money's running to young Tim.
He was looking form for, not Wendy.
Speaker 17 (11:32):
We the crowd got all they could.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Have asked for today.
Speaker 13 (11:34):
Magneficit racing, no serious injuries, some spectacular sights deceive and
bury worthy winner in Johnny Leatherber of fourth Worth.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
Texas at age forty two. An iconic moment.
Speaker 8 (11:50):
Indeed, Jim McKay on the call there along with Jackie
Stewart as Tim Richmond just got out of his car
hopped on the side pot of Johnny whatth Theford, and
Johnny Rutford said, go ahead and I'll take you to
the area where Victory Lane is, as Johnny Rutford celebrated
his win and Tim Richmond celebrated a top ten finished
ninth in that nineteen eighty Indianapolis five hundred. Tim Richmond
(12:11):
and Johnny Rutherford later would talk about that iconic moment.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
You know, it's amazing how many people in that situation,
Brotherford and I going to Victory Lane together, how many
people thought that was a planned, you know, premeditated situation there,
and in fact it wasn't. You know, I ran out
of fuel. Believe me, if if I would have not
tried to run out of fuel, and because I would
have finished probably fifth, I guess, instead of ninth. But
(12:35):
now I was talking to the crowd, you know, waving
and stuff and having.
Speaker 15 (12:38):
A good time, and JR.
Speaker 6 (12:40):
Drove behind me and.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
I didn't even see him. And I was going to
the crowd and they were going, you know, like they
were going look over here, and I looked to my
left and there was Rutherford, and you know he I
could just see his hand in their motion and me,
come on, come on, and I ran after the car,
and you know, those things were pretty fragile at the time,
the sidepods and said, I said.
Speaker 6 (13:00):
Right here, and he said, yeah, get on.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
So I got on, and you know, I knew he'd
won the thing, and he said, where's the phinish And
I said, I don't know. I was kind of like
a joke. I said, where'd you finish that? I said
that you did win it?
Speaker 6 (13:13):
He said yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
And so then I held his hand up, and.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
You know, I was a little embarrassed at being holding
the number one sign up because I was doing it
for him. So I held the number one up and
pointed to his helmet, and you know, it's not bad
to go to Victory Lane, either in a car or
on a car to Indianapolis.
Speaker 18 (13:30):
He came running over and he's you know, he's patted
me on the show.
Speaker 15 (13:33):
It's a nice shop.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
And I said, thank you, get on. He says what
I said, get on, I'll give you a ride.
Speaker 6 (13:37):
He said, oh okay.
Speaker 10 (13:39):
So he sat down on the on the sidepod and.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Hung on the roll bar and I took him to
Victory Lane, and I had always hoped that that he
was sick.
Speaker 12 (13:46):
With IndyCar racing and maybe win Indianapolis.
Speaker 10 (13:49):
So I could always tell people that I gave him
his first ride to Victory Lane.
Speaker 8 (13:53):
Pretty good stuff, Mike, And obviously one that you know,
Johnny Rutherford, I think has enjoyed that story over the
years as much as you know Tim Richmond, who is
no longer with us, but certainly fans in general just
in reliving that, I've always got the impression of Johnny
Rutherford got to kick out of that story as well.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Oh.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
And one of the things about that race, I mean,
let's not forget. I mean, it was pretty much a
foregone conclusion that if the Chaparral didn't break down, Johnny
Rutherford was going to win that race. He was the
class of the field. And so that's the memorable moment
from that race is Johnny Rutherford. In fact, the painting
that they did every year for the race is those two.
You know, they called it the Champ and the Rookie,
and it's those two riding toward Victory Lane. And that's
(14:32):
the memorable moment of the races came after the race.
So I think Johnny has always enjoyed that moment, and
you could tell Tim Richmond enjoyed that moment as well.
Speaker 8 (14:41):
Richmond would only go on to run nine championship level
races in IndyCar and a huge crash at Michigan later
in that nineteen eighty seven or excuse me nineteen eighty
season obviously played I think a part in his decision
to step away and get out of IndyCars.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
Well, I'll tell you the nickname that I when I
first went to Indianapolis was Captain Quick, and then it
soon became Captain Crunch, And I mean, honestly, I liked
the way my feet were porny.
Speaker 8 (15:13):
See again, the sense of humor, Mike from Tim Richmond.
That's the reason why he became such an engaging personality.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
I mean he was the life of the party at
all the different things he was involved with, and he
was very quick with a joke, and he was The
thing I liked about Tim Richmond is everybody was Tim
Richmond's friend. I mean, you didn't have to know him,
and I'll talk about that later in the show. You
didn't really have to know him, but he made you
feel like he was a friend of yours, you know,
So we'll talk about that a little later in the show.
(15:42):
But that's just the kind of guy he was.
Speaker 8 (15:45):
Speedway history in Emeritis. Donald Davidson on Tim Richmond's short
career in Indianapolis IndyCar racing.
Speaker 10 (15:53):
Basically at Indianapolis he had two starts nineteen eighty and
eighty one, and he was from Ashland Over and drove
USAC sprint cars and in fact it was a division
called Mini Indie for a short time, which was basically
supervis and he won one of those, and I think
that was like seventy eight or seventy nine. But he
(16:13):
was also and that's you know, rearrangine cars and small
rearrangine cars. But he was also drove sprints quite successfully,
and I remember him around quite a bit in seventy
eight and seventy nine, and in seventy nine he pulled
a bit of a coupe. I remember that he went
to the five hundred victory banquet. Now he had not
(16:36):
had a ride for the five hundred yet, but he
went to the victory banquet and his date were the
three Hears girls. It was Linda Vaughan and I think
June Cark and I don't remember who the third one was,
and I thought, boy, is that guy an operator? He's
showing up with the three Hears girls. There's his date
and hasn't even been in the race yet. Well, he
(16:58):
was a very refreshing newcomer in nineteen eighty and drove
for team. Actually, I think the team was underwritten by
his father.
Speaker 8 (17:11):
When we come back more on the career of Tim
Richmond and transitioning as this show is kind of doing
from IndyCar into NASCAR and the Cup side of things,
as we look back at one of the most gregarious
personalities of the early eighties, Tim Richman. On this edition
of Beyond the Break.
Speaker 6 (17:30):
Jesus, he's the Bet three six' five command.
Speaker 7 (17:33):
Center get your race updates here all month long and
make sure to enter for your chance to win five
hundred dollars by predicting the winner of this year's. Race
On july twenty, seventh go to one oh seven five
fan dot com to Winter, now here's your twenty twenty
five race, update brought to you By bet three six Five.
Speaker 6 (17:52):
And that race update is pretty. Simple it is.
Speaker 8 (17:55):
Here the time is upon us Because thursday five until,
seven you've had that marked on the calendar for a
while and here we are on the doorstep of. It
it is The Haller parade for The brickyard four hundred
at The Indianapolis Motor.
Speaker 6 (18:07):
Speedway as the haulers will work their way.
Speaker 8 (18:09):
From five until seven pm Down Main street And speedway
into The Indianapolis Motor. Speedway there will be a lot
of activity and celebration going on with, that And Justin, Haley, Todd,
Gillovan Riley, Herbs Tyler redick all.
Speaker 6 (18:22):
Will be making appearances.
Speaker 8 (18:23):
There so you can see those four drivers all part
of The Haller parade coming up five until seven. O'clock
then On, friday the gates we'll open at ten o'clock
practice sessions For exfinity and FOR nascar as. Well by
the way six thirty Pm thursday, NIGHT i should have
mentioned there's going to BE usack racing at The Indianapolis Motor.
Speedway saturday is qualifying day with everything setting the stage
(18:48):
for the afternoon session of The pennzoil two fifty Four,
exfinity and then it is two o'clock On sunday the
running at The Indianapolis Motor speedway of The brickyard four.
Speaker 7 (18:59):
Hundred this is beyond The, bricks brought to you By
Quality supply And Tool think outside The box store on
ninety three to five and one oh seven five the.
Speaker 6 (19:15):
Fan, Hi I'm.
Speaker 19 (19:17):
Tim richmond and this is an original poster of My
indianapolis five hundred career created by racing Artist Ron. Verton
this poster is now available for five dollars at your
Forty Guarantee.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
Auto stores Throughout.
Speaker 19 (19:30):
INDIANA i hope you will follow my racing progress Throughout
may AS i drive A Guarantee AUTO wttv special in
this Year's indianapolis five. Hundred the greatest spectacle in racing.
Speaker 8 (19:43):
There would be a very famous racing poster Involving Tim
richmond that falls into the category of if you, know you.
Know but we're talking About Tim Richmond tonight and his
short career in IndyCar transitioning over to cup. Cars and
in addition to, that anytime that you can hear a
retro ad FOR Wttv, Cowboy bob And janey and the
(20:04):
rest of them In, indianapolis it is pretty. Awesome Jake
querry along With Mike Thompson lane in tuns editing everything
together for. Us tonight And, mike let's talk about that
transition now For Tim richmond in the nineteen eighty and eighty,
one eighty five hundred and then crossing over and now
we get into where the legend really continued to. Grow
talking about his cup car side of, THINGS i just.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Want to point OUT i have one of those posters
at my house with my palatial estate as you call
it In.
Speaker 6 (20:33):
Ohio but, yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Those posters are pretty, cool by the, Way but, yeah
what's cool Is Tim richmond actually had us some struggles
in eighty one trying to make the, race actually had
to buy a car from Aj foyd to get him
in the race in eighty, one and so there's a
lot more of a struggle in eighty one than it
was in eighty for. Him so then in the summer
of eighty he had actually started running Some cup, races
(20:58):
SOME nascar, races and he with Dk ulrick for a,
while long TIME nascar, competitor and then he switched over
actually to the people REMEMBER J.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
D stacy's team AND Jd. STACEY. Jd stacey was a guy.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Who at one point seemed like he owned most of
THE nascar Great he had like nine different cars at
one point it seemed like he had a lot of
different different cars and on the, grid kind of like
the people might remember The scandia team in the EARLY
irl days.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Seemed like they had a bunch of the field as.
Well BUT.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Jd stacey had a bunch of, cars And Tim richmond
drove at one point FOR. J. D stacy After Mark
martin left the, team And Tim richmond won his first
two races IN nascar FOR. Jd, stacey and then he
ended up moving over To Raymond beatle his, Team Raymond,
beadle the famous The Blue Max, guy and he picked
(21:54):
up some a couple more wins there in the Old
Milwaukee pontiac and he was really starting to make a
name for himself and IN, nascar and that was kind
of he never looked back and never looked back at
coming back To, IndyCars because he was really making a
name for himself A nascar at that, point and he.
Speaker 8 (22:08):
Also was making a name for himself when opportunity would
present itself as again that, charisma that colorful character and
the sense of humor and just the overall gregarious nature
Of Tim. Richmond for, example when he had an engine
failure At michigan and decided to take the opportunity to
well just kind of become a, commentator if you.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Will we have a.
Speaker 6 (22:29):
Radio hookup With Tim.
Speaker 20 (22:30):
Richmond we'll try to see if we can make radio
contact with him and find out what.
Speaker 16 (22:34):
Happened, tim this Is Larry nuber up ON esvpn. Control
do you know exactly what? Happened, TIM, a not, Really.
Speaker 12 (22:42):
Larry i'm like going the bottom end of the thing
here before we put in the turn one there and
they let go and luckily we kever in one direction.
There it didn't hold and get on a rear. Tire
So i'm in a motor.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
AGO i can't say what it, wanted.
Speaker 16 (22:57):
THOUGH a tremendous amount of smoke even in the car
as you came around turn number two and down the
backstretch was vision a, Problem, TIM.
Speaker 21 (23:05):
I it wasn't really a.
Speaker 12 (23:07):
Problem, well not all aria was inside the. CARPET i
can still see, OUTSIDE i, Know and the main problem
was just keeping a car straight going.
Speaker 21 (23:14):
In when it came out to the bottom. End it
tried to.
Speaker 12 (23:18):
Tried to get the car loose on the rear, tires
but luckily we made.
Speaker 22 (23:22):
It, unfortunately we're going back behind the.
Speaker 12 (23:23):
Wall here and probably won't be back out for.
Speaker 16 (23:25):
Today well thanks a, Lot, tim a tough, break and
you know you've won a lot of racists recently and
a lot of different kinds of, racetracks SO i know
this is a major.
Speaker 8 (23:33):
Disappointment pretty good stuff from inside the cockpit in terms
of being able to give good insight as to not
only what his car was, feeling but also what was
happening to his, car but when it would come for
the opportunity For Tim richmond also to just simply have.
Fun we have seen plenty of times where rain delays
have been an opportunity or just broadcast delays in general
(23:54):
for us to get to know drivers a little. Better
that certainly was the case With Tim richmond during one
rain delay with a very young by the way Jack.
Speaker 20 (24:03):
Route, well what do race drivers do when it's. Raining
let's find out as we go down to the pit
area And jackie your, Route.
Speaker 15 (24:11):
Bob one of the things that race drivers like to
do and the rain delay is pretend that THEY'RE tv.
Commentators And Tim richmond has really gone one step. Further
he has members of his crew all over this racetrack
and they've been playing our parts throughout this rain. Delay,
tim we understand you're all hooked up on the. Radio
do you want to introduce your?
Speaker 14 (24:27):
Crew, WELL i wouldn't mind doing.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
That for some reason got. Started everybody just left their
radios and headgear. ON i took my helmet off and
one of the guys gave me. Theirs and we've just
been sitting here actually pretending like radio, personalities talking about the,
weather going back and reports.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
And having interviews up and down the pit.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
Road and right Now i'd like to go to with
my radio to Our turn four location With Larry, nuber
who's A tv. Personality let's turn around, Here Larry, neuber you.
Speaker 22 (24:52):
Have a, report a weather report. Down it's turned four for.
Us he's out in these location. There could you come
on check it out?
Speaker 6 (24:57):
Forth Leaders, Ma.
Speaker 12 (25:00):
Larry duborn here And i'm here and it is.
Speaker 15 (25:02):
Raining i'm helping.
Speaker 12 (25:03):
You i'm glad to be here when it is finn
and the rain is coming.
Speaker 22 (25:06):
Down BUT i hope we can get this race.
Speaker 18 (25:08):
In.
Speaker 12 (25:08):
Uh we have men stationed all over the.
Speaker 4 (25:11):
Train it's really win but the clouds are blowing away
AND i think we'll maybe.
Speaker 12 (25:14):
Able to get this race.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
In.
Speaker 22 (25:16):
Really thank you very, Much, May and now we're gonna
go over car in car. Reporter, Uh Bob jackings over
here inside our? Car can we can we can we
turn over here and take a, look go ahead and
get a shot of the.
Speaker 21 (25:28):
Car? Uh, okay could you give us a?
Speaker 22 (25:30):
Report? There pop tickets inside the? Car could you raise
your flat? Please?
Speaker 7 (25:37):
Okay in here back.
Speaker 9 (25:38):
Here, now thank you very.
Speaker 12 (25:40):
Much, uh this is what kind of fun we've been.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
Having uh while the rain's going on here And i'm getting,
wet and uh how about?
Speaker 2 (25:48):
You uh, YEAH i.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Want you to report, here damn rach when this Is Benny.
Speaker 6 (25:52):
Parsons do you hear?
Speaker 22 (25:53):
Me, yes, Sir, benny go, Ahead i'm.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Listening, well you, know if they start this, race there's
no way in the world you're gonna be of races
or you're having too much Fund.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
Michael plug him in now and recharge of my.
Speaker 15 (26:08):
Home well that's the story from down here in a
very wet pit. Road one Thing i'm sure of, Though,
BOB i don't want to be a race car.
Speaker 20 (26:17):
Driver, yeah it's too bad that we can't retaliate and
pretend like we're race.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
Drivers oh, wow those guys are really having.
Speaker 6 (26:25):
Fun they, are and you can see it right. There mike.
Speaker 8 (26:28):
Obviously first, Off jackie Of, ROUTE i love, that but
just the, overall you, know, fun sense of humor and
creativity Of Tim. Richmond clearly you understand why he became
a fan.
Speaker 6 (26:39):
Favorite, oh no doubt about.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
It WHAT i liked about that clip especially Is Larry
nuber was From, Mammy, ohio which is a suburb Of,
toledo AND i used to live In, Mammee, Ohio and
nobody From, Mammy ohio talks with that kind of.
Speaker 6 (26:52):
Accent BUT i just thought that was a lot of.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Fun, so, uh just the creativity and the fun and
the fact that he was willing to get out there
and have a good time and just really he put
himself out there and was one of the guys and
just just really a fun loving guy With Tim richmond for,
sure and.
Speaker 8 (27:10):
He obviously was right on the doorstep at that point
of a prolific career in period with In Cup, racing
because the personality in general and the talent would allow
him to land an opportunity With Rick Kendrick's powerhouse. Team
he would go on to win nine races in The
Folgers Coffee. Machine one of the strangest moments he had
was his in race interview At North. Wilkesboro this is
(27:32):
in nineteen eighty seven and he conducted an interview while.
Racing take a, Listen.
Speaker 6 (27:38):
Tim, richman this is THE espn control you.
Speaker 12 (27:40):
Reading, yeah go, AHEAD i got you, Out.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Claire what was wrong with the?
Speaker 6 (27:45):
Card it again with.
Speaker 21 (28:01):
Any better our lab. Rack we're gonna go, ahead all, Right,
Howard we're Barely ricardo.
Speaker 23 (28:25):
Doing better, Now Tim, richmond disregarding the fact that the
green has come, out he is continuing to talk with
us and trying to explain the problem that he has.
Speaker 20 (28:36):
Experienced hearing the early going office.
Speaker 23 (28:39):
Race right, now he's Behind jeff fo, nine but that
car still just does not appeared to be handling all that.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
Well i'm gonna tell, you.
Speaker 7 (28:46):
Guys a rare glimpse into the psyche of a race.
Speaker 16 (28:49):
Driver Tim richmond takes the green flag and keeps up
this conversation with, us racing two and three of press
awful way around this racetrack and trying to describe the
action for all.
Speaker 6 (28:58):
Those views of, money that's most.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Impressive i'll tell you THAT i can't imagine it runs
a great flag lap off talking to.
Speaker 8 (29:07):
It you also got an idea as just how loud
things were inside those cars back and that time. Period
Tim richmond doing an interview while racing inside of a stock.
Car we come back more On Tim richmond and the
sad turn of events in terms of his life and
the speculation thereof when we look back at one of
(29:28):
the most colorful characters in the history OF, Ims Tim,
richmond on this edition Of beyond The.
Speaker 7 (29:33):
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Speaker 4 (30:03):
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It and it's the most fantastic book we've ever.
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Speaker 6 (30:48):
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Speaker 8 (30:52):
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is not to work for.
Speaker 6 (30:57):
You that was quite some time.
Speaker 8 (30:58):
Ago Lendavad, richmond who was the subject Of Tonight's beyond
The bricks and taking a look back At Tim Richmond, Tonight,
mike the reality is, this in the mid, eighties when
one would HAVE, aids which is What Tim richmond would,
acquire there were a lot of, questions not only about
WHAT aids, was but also About Tim, richmond and it
(31:18):
would create some challenges for him in his.
Speaker 6 (31:21):
Career, yeah a lot of.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
Questions but there was a lot of as you, said
paranoia and a lot of really terrible things happened in that.
Timeframe you, know he tried to race at one, point you,
know he got he got banned BY nascar for testing
positive for sudo fed and advil because basically they were
trying to out his. Condition they wanted him to reveal
(31:45):
that he HAD aids because they basically didn't want him
around and they wanted to out. Him and so they
concocted this drug test and said that he, had you,
know tested positive for. Drugs, well he hadn't tested positive for.
Drugs he tested. Posit if we're taking SUIT i fed an,
advil which are, legal you can buy them over the counter,
Obviously and so it was really unfortunate what, happened you,
(32:09):
know it was it was a ridiculous attempt to out his,
condition to be candid with, you and and it was
just it was just sad all, around you, KNOW i
mean the way it was, handled you, know BY. NASCAR
i think they admitted later that they should have handled it.
Differently but as you, said there was a lot of,
paranoia but there were also a lot of THINGS i
(32:30):
think we need to take from it that were there
were people that were In tim's corner that were really
good to, him people Like Kyle, petty people Like Dale
earnhardt who would always sit with him at the driver's
meeting and showed that they weren't afraid to sit With
Tim richmond because people knew that there was something, wrong
and people knew that he had something that was going.
(32:52):
On but you know that always stood by, Him people
Like Kyle, petty people Like Dale, Earnhart they always stood by,
him and SO i, think you, know we can take
a lesson from the fact that those people were there
For Tim.
Speaker 8 (33:02):
Richmond in nineteen eighty, Seven Tim richmond would have a
near fatal bout with double. Pneumonia he also won The
All Star race In, may and then he drove his
First Cup series race At Pocono raceway after that, illness
and despite the fact that his health was in, question
he won the.
Speaker 6 (33:18):
Race it'll be white flag.
Speaker 14 (33:20):
Next, Time. Hi when they come across the, Strip Harold
kinder will show them the white, flag which means there'll
be one more lap, remaining there's the flag final. Lap
this is the two hundredth revolution of this triangular shaped,
racetrack and right now the battle seems to be a
further back as.
Speaker 5 (33:35):
Well you get a look at that one hundred and
seventy Mile Prior congo line down that. Frustraightaway it's seven
tenths of a. Mile richmond leads the, Way elliott has
less than two. Miles the trottle really, man but It's
Tim richmond by seven karlings further.
Speaker 14 (33:48):
Back Kyle penny is still in, Third Cale yarborough. Fourth
the battle behind That, Earnhardt Bobby allison And ricky run
in that. Order There's elliott and there you see the
difference as they work the shorts huge heading across the
tunnel towards turn number.
Speaker 6 (34:03):
Three Tim richmond's got to be grabbing that.
Speaker 5 (34:06):
Steerwheel white knuckle has the foot planted firmly on the,
floorboard holding it wide.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
Open there's a look At, richmond thirty two years of.
Speaker 5 (34:13):
Age could the comeback be completely? Lie could he take
a checkered flag and win? It what a tearful celebration
that's gonna. Be richmond less than a half.
Speaker 21 (34:20):
A mile from.
Speaker 14 (34:21):
Victory if he, wins it would be the third straight
victory for. Him here At, pokano the crowd Waving richmond
with a hand out of the window And Tim richmond
has picked up the victory and The miller highlight five.
Hundred here At, Pocono Bill elliot a, Second Kyle pitty,
Third Kao garborough is. Fourth let's See ehnheit now across
the line to finish, fifth ahead Of Bobby allison And Ricky.
Speaker 17 (34:41):
Right, Whatever very Happy Tim richmond with A cinderella story
in A cinderella, Indiings, tim and you have to be
happy with what happened. There did you ever really think
that this could be possible with everything that's?
Speaker 6 (34:52):
Happened, well, YEAH i did you?
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Know it's uh feeling need for?
Speaker 6 (34:58):
Speed, huh.
Speaker 10 (35:00):
Thanks, Herry, YEAH i really.
Speaker 17 (35:04):
Did you?
Speaker 4 (35:04):
Know when you've got this good equipment sitting under, you
you know that layoff it was, Devastating but you KNOW
i didn't lose ANY i thought about it every, day
WHAT i would do WHEN i come.
Speaker 15 (35:17):
Back SO i wasn't THAT i.
Speaker 6 (35:18):
Forgot how to drive a race.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
Car it resist AND i take my time and a
few turns in the road there to make SURE i
was doing the right, thing and they wanted.
Speaker 10 (35:26):
To you, know it was All it was all back to.
Speaker 4 (35:28):
Me if somebody asked me on the way to the,
car WHAT i felt about a wind, today AND i
thought it was one hundred.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
PERCENT i thought there.
Speaker 8 (35:33):
Was Tim richmond would win again the next week At,
riverside but by the end of the summer he was
out of a race car for. Good And, mike you
got a chance to talk To Tim richmond at his
FINAL nascar, race, Correct.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Yeah it was kind of an interesting.
Speaker 3 (35:48):
Deal my uncle got me pit passes for The michigan
Second michigan race that, year AND i was only, seventeen
SO i was breaking the rules. Unfortunately BUT i looked
a lot old there BECAUSE i was six six AND
i was seventeen years, old SO i could pass as
being eighteen years. Old so my uncle had pitt passes
Through champion Spark plug AND i was standing there and
(36:12):
on qualifying day and qualifying was going, on AND i
was just kind of standing there near the media center
under they had a little overhang, there AND i WAS
i was just kind of standing there And Tim richmond came,
RUNNING i mean just, running sprinting out and he, said
is qualifying going? On AND i, said, YEAH i said,
it AND i, SAID i THINK i think your spot
(36:33):
was already. Gone and he went sprinting down there and
he had missed his, spot he had. Overslept and then
he came walking back after he found out that he
had missed a, spot and he came up to me
and he just started talking to me and he, said,
YEAH i, overslept missed my, spot and just started talking
to me as if we were like best. Friends and
he talked for five or six minutes and just made
(36:54):
me feel LIKE i was like in his kind of
in his inner, circle you, know because you, KNOW I
i had been friendly to him a few minutes before,
that AND i don't know if it was just a
situation where because you, know he was, dying you, know
he was dying of this, disease and you know somebody
had been nice to him that that he kind of
took me in for a few minutes, there and it
(37:18):
really meant a lot to. Me it still chokes me
up a little bit thinking about, it BECAUSE i didn't
know at the time he was. Dying, obviously we didn't
know that he you, know had aids or.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
Anything like.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
That but you, know he he treated me LIKE i
was one of his best friends for, five six ten,
minutes you, know and just stood there talking to me
about racing and and just was super friendly to.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
Me AND.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
I actually had a picture of him with, me AND
i had him sign a picture and he, wrote.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
You know To, mike you, know best, Wishes Tim.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
RICHMOND i still have, it and it just it just
meant a lot to me to have that few minutes with,
him and you, know it just it's SOMETHING i REALLY i.
Cherish AND i actually told this. Story we had a
poker night At Dick jorden's, house the Late Dick jordan's,
house AND i actually got to tell this story To Cody,
swanson The, great The GREAT U sect, driver AND i
(38:07):
told him this story and he was, like you got
to Meet Tim, richmond tell me all about, it you,
Know and it just it still, RESONATES i, guess is
What i'm trying to say to this, day that The
Tim richmond's such a magical name in, racing And Cody,
swanson you, know who's done. EVERYTHING i, mean IF i
had a million dollars or two million dollars AND i,
could you, know buy somebody into The indianapolis five. Hundred
Cody swanson to be probably my first, choice BECAUSE i,
(38:29):
MEAN i think he's a great talent And i'd love
to see. Him you, know he's it's just a to
See Cody swanson's face light. Up he's, like you Met Tim.
Richmond tell me all about, it you, know it just
it just tells you what an Impact Tim richmond had.
Speaker 8 (38:42):
Well and of course you talked about the difficulties THAT
nascar had presented for him in nineteen eighty, eight and
even Though Tim richmond was in fact nearing the end
of his, life he still wanted to make a comeback IN,
nascar and he talked about that With Bob jenkins on
ESPN's Speed week in nineteen eighty.
Speaker 20 (39:00):
Eight tim's style has always been, aggressive whether it be
in a race, car, professionally at play on a cigarette
vote on the, ocean or working out with weights and.
Speaker 6 (39:12):
Aerobics a thrive on.
Speaker 18 (39:14):
COMPETITION i, mean it's Like i'm addicted to.
Speaker 20 (39:16):
Competition his competitive spirit meshed up well with the fatherly
guidance Of Harry. Hyde in nineteen eighty, six in a
team won seven of Seventeen Winston cup, events but after
the season. Concluded tim's competitiveness is drying to satisfy too
many commitments cost him his health a life threatening bout
of double. Pneumonia although he came back in eighty seven
(39:36):
and recorded two straight, victories his health was still not.
Good he resigned from The Rick hendrick team amidst rumors
of drug. Abuse some say those rumors led the NASCAR's
decision to implement a drug testing program for nineteen eighty.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
Eight, tim do you have a drug?
Speaker 4 (39:52):
Problem i'm, sorry but that question has been asked more
than once, here more than once by, everybody AND i
am not answering that. QUESTION I am going to let
the drug test In daytona.
Speaker 3 (40:04):
Answer, it And nashcar can answer it for.
Speaker 4 (40:06):
Y'all and if they don't answer it the right, way
Then i'll have my little bottle and there will be
another answer, there BECAUSE i KNOW i know whether it's
dirty or whether it's, clean and it is.
Speaker 18 (40:16):
Clean you, know everybody talked About tim having some problems with.
Drugs tim was sick with the flu or the new
mownair of white and it got him down and they've
tried to prove drugs on, him and you know he's
taking drug tests and he's you, know he's been in the,
hospital and surely if he had been on, drugs it
would have came out when he went in the. Hospital.
Calls everybody in the hospital don't keep. Secrets SO i
(40:38):
don't feel Like tim was using. DRUGS i Think tim
had some other, problems and Hopefully tim can get his
problems worked.
Speaker 9 (40:43):
Out and make a.
Speaker 20 (40:43):
Comeback is your health such that you could run a
Full Winston cup?
Speaker 4 (40:47):
Season the bottom line IS i. Don't i'm not. GOING
i won't ever come back unless the schedule changes and
run a full Blown Winston cup tour for The Winston Cup.
Championship winstump champion is very, important BUT i don't think
it's as important as is you, know enjoying myself and
the and the, time the time it takes to do.
Speaker 18 (41:05):
THAT i.
Speaker 4 (41:05):
Don't i'm not gonna do. THAT i mean this might sound,
corny BUT i MEAN i went to A halloween party
the other. NIGHT i, mean this has been back when
That i've Never i've never been to. IT I i
MEAN i dressed up with the mask on and got
all you, know crazed out there and uh.
Speaker 18 (41:21):
And had a good.
Speaker 4 (41:21):
Time i'm going To Bike week In. Daytona i've got
me a New. Harley I'm i'm gonna be there with you,
Know i'm. ENJOYING I i miss, racing but you know
there's some a lot of things because of RACING i.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
Missed do you have any other goals in?
Speaker 4 (41:36):
RACING i wanna go drag racing if that's the. Question
my my low lifelong, goal and this is not something that's,
new it's been a lifelong, goal was to be in
a fronty. CAR i, MEAN i very much respect those.
Guys unlike a lot of rounding around, guys they don't
(41:56):
think drag racing.
Speaker 17 (41:56):
MUCH i.
Speaker 4 (41:57):
Do, uh BUT i would really IF i got in
a funny, car my first choice would have the name
The Blue max on The Blue max on the side of.
Speaker 3 (42:11):
It that's The Blue max is funny.
Speaker 20 (42:13):
Cars of, Course tim used to drive A Raymond beadle In.
Winston copy says the two are talking about that funny,
car but nothing. Definite yet another. Thing Larry tim says
his main goal in life now is to get, married
settled down and have a.
Speaker 8 (42:25):
Family, okay Bron, Sadly Tim richmond would pass away On
august thirteenth of nineteen eighty nine in the state Of.
Florida Tim, richmond who as we mentioned, earlier is now
resting In, Ashland, ohio his, hometown passed away at the
age of thirty. Four Rilanda, Goods Mike, Thompson I'm Jay.
(42:45):
Query thanks for helping us take a look back at
the Great Tim richmond on this episode Of beyond The.
Speaker 6 (42:50):
Bricks
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