The Honourable Members of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame Dick Baker Inducted in 2002 Often described as a man "who got things done", Dick Baker was an honours graduate engineer who went to work for General Motors in 196, advancing easily through the corporate ranks. In 1976, to scratch his entrepreneurial itch, Dick struck our on his own and armed with vision, gumption, energy integrity and a rare attention to detail, wound up at the epicentre of an ever-evolving universe of Canadian trucking and manufacturing companies, realestate developments, far-flung business interests and a close, knit and devoted family. He was not a man to be involved in something by halves, and volunteered his efforts and ideas freely. As often as not, he wound up at the helm of whatever cause or project that attracted his attention. Dick was active in his community, serving as president of his local Rotary club. He supported children's camps and studied and researched Belleville area history. Dick was also a lifelong racer and avid motorsport enthusiast, who, over the last 25 years of his life, concentrated his interest and energies on the vintage end of the sport. Dick started racing in the 1960's, driving an MGA at Mosport. He was attracted to and got involved in vintage racing in the 1970s. He was the co-founder of the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada, championed and then spearheaded the inclusion of Formula 70 wings and slick open-wheelers in vintage racing, and at the time of his death was president elect of the Monoposto Register, the premier North American vintage racing group for single seaters. He was also chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame. He was the 2001 recipient of the Dewey Dellinger Award within the Vintage Motorsport Council for "many valuable and unselfish contributions to vintage racing in the United States and Canada". In both the business and motorsport worlds, Dick Baker had a rare knack of making things happen. He knew how to get people interested, to get them excited and to get them involved. He was most proud of the mechanical and racing skills of his three sons, Brad, Deana and Duncan. Besides being excellent racers, they had the mechanical skill to work on their own cars. Sadly Duncan passed away after a road accident several years ago but Brad and Dean remain threats to win almost any vintage race they enter. Dick Baker is gone now but he was a diehard enthusiast, fan and friend of the sport. As one old friend said recently, "Most of all, he will be remembered for his presence in the paddock, always there to help, council, cajole and ensure that all the open-wheel racers at a vintage event raced well and enjoyed themselves. If Dick didn't come by in his golf cart to chat, if wasn't a complete weekend." Well said because we will miss him.
Post #338, the driver is Bill Trevor, a Buick training instructor who taught at the GM Training Center in Burbank, California. He was the man who helped the Buick racers in Southern California with his knowledge and connections with the factory to really make people aware of the performance potential of Buicks. Doug Jones
Here are a few more of the various Buick powered race cars run by Melvin Jackson under the "Daddy's Toy" banner. His son Tommy was the shoe. All cars were run out of Jacksonville FL. The 64 was the first "Daddy's Toy" and was 300 4bl powered. The rear engined dragster was the last with a roller cammed 455. Mr. Jackson recently told me he still has the engine from the dragster "out in the shed"
According to Mr Doug Jones from a pm he sent me, The shorter person on the right is Bill Trevor. And I would think he should know!
Nice find Guy! This car was discussed briefly here: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?p=1570989#post1570989 Here are a few quotes from Troy; >>>>I actually have a DVD of Drag Racing from Cecil County Drag-O-Way from 1966. There is a 1965 Buick GS that runs twice in the Video that I would love to find. I know it was run out of Witham Buick .... It actually looks like a twin of the 1965 Buick GS that Lenny 'Pop' Kennedy drove. Astro Blue/Painted White Roof. In the video it puts a Hemi on the Trailer headin home. >>>>Bee OnLine Videos.... It is owned by Jim Amos and he has some of the best Vintage Footage available on VHS & DVD. I believe the DVD I'm speaking of is called "Run what you brung" Cecil County Troy<<<<<<
Talk about a thread that never gets old. I just looked back and it was started in September of 2004. Unreal...
Walt,When Chris was hot on the idea of a Reynolds Clone GS we were trying to find some colored pictures and could not come up with any.Talked to a couple guy that seem to remember it being Champaign with a White top.In your last post it's refered to as Astro Blue with White top.Anyone have any pictures to confirm colors? Tom
Guy: Back in 71-72 I was out on a Saturday night racing my Stg1 car at Twin City Speedway. Walked up to this car that had 4 motors in it. Yup, you guessed it . It was Tommy Ivo's dragster doing some match racing. I remember taking a pic or two but can't find them. Ken
