Rich Grady
I started my racing career in 1966 in the Hobby Division at Flamboro Speedway. I enjoyed competing in that division for 5 years, and had a lot of fun not too many wins but a lot of top 3’s and top 5’s. My 5th year I finished 3rd in points and that division had a rule that the top 5 in points had to sit out for a year, that was no good for me because I was just getting started.
A new division was starting at Flamboro called the Diamond Division, I bought a car and was quite competitive that year in 1972, however my dream was to race in the top division of Late Models. I was very surprised to receive a phone call from the Book brothers Ralph and George, offering me a second car for me to drive., and I jumped at the opportunity.
We crewed the car ourselves, the mechanics were two great guys John Segato and Mac McKinnon and we enjoyed early success. Two years later Pete Shepherd purchased a Chevelle from Andy Brown and asked if I would be his driver, I said yes and the Shepherd Grady team rocked from the get go. It was a great friendship, and a lot of hard work and many wins.
In 1979 Flamboro and Delaware Speedway joined forces with a seperate championship with a combined win, we competed at Delaware on Friday night and Flamboro on Saturday nights and won the championship at both tracks that season which included a combined championship. It was a great season. I couldn’t have done it without the hard work and smarts from Pete Shepherd and Mac McKinnon. Three more years and lots of wins and another championship. It was a great team.
Pete Shepherd had a son, 15 years old Pete Shepherd Jr. and he was eager to race in the Street Stock Division. So we went our separate ways leaving me without a ride. Shortly after that I stopped by Jr. Hanleys shop in Oakville, sitting there was a black #112, that had been driven by Gary Balough. The car was complete less the engine, and with a private sponsor I was able to purchase the car.
I then purchased a big block engine from Pete Shepherd and the hard work and smarts from a good friend Charlie Beck and also having help from another good guy Dave Jacombs, we were good to go. First race of the season was a 100 lap race at Delaware, we lapped the field except for one and that was Don Biederman, the car was a rocket.
After the race Don complained to the officials about the body on the car, I had to agree it was a little radical. The officials asked me to make some changes to the body style, it did slow the car down some but it was still quick. Charlie Dave and I won the championship that year, Charlie played a big part ,he was the best., the cost of racing was going up greatly so I was forced to sell everything, thinking my career in racing was over.
Then I was surprised to receive a call from Maurice Pieper, owner of the #16 car, the Blue Crew, they were looking for a driver and they had a meeting and my name came to the top of the list and I was back in the game. The owner, the crew and the car sure made my job a lot easier, the first year the team and I won the championship and many races including the Triple 50’s and the Octoberfest 100.
Racing was all I wanted to do for the longest time and I felt I was fairly good at it. Other than my wife and family it meant everything to me. In my 24 year career I have met some of the best people I know, they have supported me and cheered me on, and I think the world of them for it.
During my career I had a chance to race at some other exciting tracks, Sauble Beach Speedway was action packed and always fun and we had many wins there. They say racing has the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. well I did feel the lows at Lancaster Speedway NY, after grabbing the pole for a 100 lap event , I led all the way when about lap 90 I had to turn the wheel more and more and I knew the right front was going down.
With 5 laps to go but my butt wasn’t even in the seat with the white flag coming out, and one more corner to go, my tire was almost flat and 2 cars got under me, Earl Ross and Terry Kitchen and I finished a disappointing 3rd.
Another memorable time was at Peachstate Speedway in Georgia, for a 300 lap race , the best of the best were there. I was driving a Port City car with a proto type motor, the car was great and I was running in the top 10 for most of the race, only to break the transmission coming out of the pits. Our day was over and that’s racing you have to expect the worst at any time.
I am very proud to be member of Yesterday’s Speedways Hall of Fame, thanks to Rick Sharples, everyone who has every helped me, and all the track owners who allowed me to compete on their tracks.
Courtesy of Ruth and Rich Grady
