Post by mario428 on Jul 25, 2011 14:31:11 GMT -4
No video, no pics but I watched one pass this weekend with a tear in my eye and I thank the Rankin family with all I am for what they did this weekend.
Some background, in the early 90's when I started racing the Fairmont there was small crew of regulars at Raceway Park so you knew everybody. At the time Dave Constable (Black 69? Camaro) was teamed up with another racer on a Plymouth Arrow with small block Dodge power. David MacIntyre was the other guy on the team. David was quite quiet and they did not travel much so I am not sure how many people know him. Like all drag racers he would help out anyone really helped out Jimmy and John Rankin back then.
But even then David was in the starting phases of MS and within 10 years the MS had put him in a wheelchair. Even from the wheelchair he acted as an engine tuner/builder for one of the local stock car teams. A car guy and a mopar guy right to the core and while he has very little mobility he spends time at both racetracks still.
So I am talked to Jim Rankin Fri evening at the track and he wondered if Kevin would allow David to make a pass as a passenger in Jim's Dart. I told him I thought it could easily be done.
So Sun afternoon David came to the track, Joe Rankin (Jim's father) had a word with Kevin and it was a go.
Jeff did let the cat out of the bag with a great off the cuff tribute to David, thank you Jeff.
I can only imagine the mile wide grin on David's face as he listened to Jim take that Nascar small block to 9000 rpms in the burnout box. Car hooked hard, went 9.70 at 139 and a lot of hearts went with him on that pass.
Thank you Jim and Joe Rankin,
Some background, in the early 90's when I started racing the Fairmont there was small crew of regulars at Raceway Park so you knew everybody. At the time Dave Constable (Black 69? Camaro) was teamed up with another racer on a Plymouth Arrow with small block Dodge power. David MacIntyre was the other guy on the team. David was quite quiet and they did not travel much so I am not sure how many people know him. Like all drag racers he would help out anyone really helped out Jimmy and John Rankin back then.
But even then David was in the starting phases of MS and within 10 years the MS had put him in a wheelchair. Even from the wheelchair he acted as an engine tuner/builder for one of the local stock car teams. A car guy and a mopar guy right to the core and while he has very little mobility he spends time at both racetracks still.
So I am talked to Jim Rankin Fri evening at the track and he wondered if Kevin would allow David to make a pass as a passenger in Jim's Dart. I told him I thought it could easily be done.
So Sun afternoon David came to the track, Joe Rankin (Jim's father) had a word with Kevin and it was a go.
Jeff did let the cat out of the bag with a great off the cuff tribute to David, thank you Jeff.
I can only imagine the mile wide grin on David's face as he listened to Jim take that Nascar small block to 9000 rpms in the burnout box. Car hooked hard, went 9.70 at 139 and a lot of hearts went with him on that pass.
Thank you Jim and Joe Rankin,