MORE EVANS WIT
I loved the commentary about Steve (Evans). I met Steve
when I was 16 and working for him at the late Orange County
International Raceway, one of the first super-tracks. Steve
not only was fun to work with, he enjoyed teaching you
about the sport that he loved and was a great mentor.
I do remember his quick wit when one night we were watching
Bill Shrewsberry and his exhibition wheelstander. Bill
had forgotten to remove a travel brace in the car and after
several tries, couldn't get it to ride up on the back wheels.
Bill brought it back to the starting line as his son made
the adjustments. Steve quipped into the microphone to a
packed house that night, "Gee, Bill, what's wrong?
Can't get it up? Don't worry, it happens to every man once!" Needless
to say, the fans were falling out of the stands laughing.
We miss you Steve!
Howard Hull
FREY CARRIES ON EVANS LEGACY
Drag racing without Steve Evans and his unique commentary
and analysis is sorely missed and thank goodness we still
have Bob Frey. Steve, you will live forever in the hearts
of all who knew you through racing and life itself. God
Bless.
Billy Presant
Blenheim, Ontario, Canada
EVANS TAUGHT CLEARLY
Just read the memorial by Dave Argabright. I never met
Steve Evans, but I miss him, too. The last time I saw him
was at Bakersfield, at the last Hot Rod Reunion held there
before his passing. He did some guest announcing, and boy
was it good to hear his voice again from the tower. You
see, I was in my early teens, an already avid drag racing
fan, when Steve was the main announcer at Irwindale Raceway,
my home track.
I can recall noticing, even back then, that he was able
to add to the excitement of an event with what he said,
and how he said it. He had a wonderful knack for explaining,
concisely and clearly, the details and nuances of what
fans were seeing and hearing on the track. I just know
he understood that to the casual fan the sport can be confusing.
He seemed to take on the responsibility of clearing up
the confusion, and I believe that helped the sport. And
when the action was slow, particularly in the later rounds,
he could sense the lower energy levels in the crowd. That's
when he'd become an entertainer, with the "Who wants
to see the Chevy win? (cheers from the crowd)...Who wants
to see the Dodge whip the Chevy!?!" (more cheers).
He even told corny jokes. I still remember one: Before
the final round at one fall event, it was so quiet you
could hear conversations going on across the track. So
Evans says, "So these two guys are at a bar, and the
first guy asks the other, 'What would you do if you came
home and found your wife with another man.' So the second
guy answers, 'Well, first, I'd break his cane, then I'd
shoot his dog.'"
Steve was part of a movie/documentary made quite a few
years ago called American Nitro. In one scene he was announcing
the action from the tower while, if memory serves me, Jungle
Jim had just laid down a very hard burnout. Evan's comment,
in part, was "it's noise, but there's something delicious
about it...for what it represents, I guess."
He said that from the tower. Yeah, I think a lot of us
still miss him.
Thaddeus D
ITS OWN REWARD?
I'm 36 years old and I have been a loyal member of the
NHRA since I was 9. I've always wondered why the NHRA continues
to look for new members but they look over the long-time
members. What I'm saying is, the long-time members should
be given something for their loyalty to the sport. Like
a pin, patch, shirt or something. I know basically you
are buying a subscription to the National Dragster but,
come on, they need to act like they care.
I'm also an active drag racer in the street car series
NMRA, NMCA -- these guys know how to treat fans and racers
alike. I will continue to go to the US Nationals every
year and look forward to my National Dragster like I have
for years, but come on NHRA, show your loyal fans some
kind of support. Even the NRA gives you something for your
support. Just venting.
Jeff Conley
Auburn, IN
