49 replies to this topic

[brabhamBT19]

Hi,

What do we actually know about Tim Richmond. There are limited informations available on the web. He started as an open wheel driver, than went to Nascar, won a few races, went really well at Glenn. Was pretty mischievous. He got Aids, and died because of it. And that is all I know. I would like to know more, because I find him interesting character something like James Hunt I presume, so if any of you know more, can you please tell it here. Thank you. Bye

[Buford]

Hi,

What do we actually know about Tim Richmond. There are limited informations available on the web. He started as an open wheel driver, than went to Nascar, won a few races, went really well at Glenn. Was pretty mischievous. He got Aids, and died because of it. And that is all I know. I would like to know more, because I find him interesting character something like James Hunt I presume, so if any of you know more, can you please tell it here. Thank you. Bye

He was the first race driver I ever saw in the garage area at Indy who when asked to stay there a minute because ABC was on the way to interview him turned to his handlers (first to have handlers that I saw) and said urgently, "Do I look OK? Is my hair OK?

[Hieronymus]

He was the first race driver I ever saw in the garage area at Indy who when asked to stay there a minute because ABC was on the way to interview him turned to his handlers (first to have handlers that I saw) and said urgently, "Do I look OK? Is my hair OK?

Perhaps he was just ahead of his time. Today sport is infested with image boys that are more worried about their hairdos, whitened teeth, etc.

Richmond's life will make a nice Hollywood movie, I presume.

[Direct Drive]

I'll not forget the time, I think it was at Talladega or maybe Pocono, when he pushed Big Dale's rear bumper long enough to cause Earnhardt to over rev his motor and dnf. A great driver, fun man and bon vivant who's lifestyle killed him

[fines]

All I know is he looked a very interesting prospect for a couple of years, then dropped off the radar. Heard he did Touring Cars for a few years, then died of AIDS, as you say. Probably didn't get the right breaks.

[William Dale Jr]

I was reading through the archives of Sports Illustrated the other day when I stumbled across this:

http://vault.sportsi...66200/index.htm

There really isn't much information about Richmond on the net anywhere. ISTR reading a couple of columns on him on a NASCAR history site once upon a time, but that's it. For someone who was clearly quite the character, you would think there would be a lot more.

[URY914]

There is plenty on the web about him. Google him to find the stories. You can call him a "bon vivant" if you want but I saw a TV news show on him and he spread his AIDS to others. He infected his girlfriend and possibly others.

Edited by URY914, 07 May 2009 - 18:50.

[RStock]

Tim was quite a character . A partyboy who loved the ladies . He also sat behind the wheel of possibly the most unusual Super Modified ever built .





^ That's not Tim in the second photo , just a shot of the car .

photo's courtesy jakesite

Edited by REDARMYSOJA, 07 May 2009 - 16:15.

[fines]

Tim was quite a character . A partyboy who loved the ladies . He also sat behind the wheel of possibly the most unusual Super Modified ever built .

What is unusual about it?

[RStock]

What is unusual about it?

Three wheels on one side ? Maybe it's just me that finds it unusual .

[lanciaman]

Three wheels on one side ? Maybe it's just me that finds it unusual .

I'm thinking its a gag photo with a spare wheel/tire placed to look like there are 3 on the right side.

Richmond's unfortunate lifestyle legacy, as noted above, was to infect several people with AIDS and I think at least one of his girlfriends has died of the disease. She went public with her illness some years ago on national news. Anyone who would knowingly infect someone else, either purposely or simply from unconcern, ought to be roasting in hell's tarpits.

[Flat Black 84]

Three wheels on one side ? Maybe it's just me that finds it unusual .

Didn't you know that in Alemania all cars have three wheels on one side!

[HistoricMustang]

There is plenty on the web about him. Google him to find the stories. You can call him a "bon vivant" if you want but I saw a TV news show on him and he spread his AIDS to others. He infected his girlfriend and possibly others.

Yea, we were all stupid back then before realizing what was actually taking place. Tim was no exception.

Henry

[RStock]

I'm thinking its a gag photo with a spare wheel/tire placed to look like there are 3 on the right side.

No . No gag at all . 3 wheels one one side , 1 wheel on the other . It was built by Kenny Reese , that's him in the second photo . It was to be driven by Tim Richmond . The photo of Tim in the car was taken at Sandusky during a test . The car was being built for Oswego , but they banned the car before it ever competed . Other tracks followed suit . Disgusted , Reese chopped the car up , which he still regrets .

Here's a old Open Wheel magazine article on the car . I wish I still had that issue .

http://www.jakessite...eece/reece.html

[HistoricMustang]

No . No gag at all . 3 wheels one one side , 1 wheel on the other . It was built by Kenny Reese , that's him in the second photo . It was to be driven by Tim Richmond . The photo of Tim in the car was taken at Sandusky during a test . The car was being built for Oswego , but they banned the car before it ever competed . Other tracks followed suit . Disgusted , Reese chopped the car up , which he still regrets .

Here's a old Open Wheel magazine article on the car . I wish I still had that issue .

http://www.jakessite...eece/reece.html

Double Damn! This is new to me and it is amazing how many innovative ideas were simply banned by the sanctioning bodies.

Henry

[lanciaman]

Double Damn! This is new to me and it is amazing how many innovative ideas were simply banned by the sanctioning bodies.

Henry

"Innovation" does not automatically correspond with "better." I am surprised but should not be, at this car's layout-- just when I think I know of every bizarre design, something new and totally improbable crops up. This thing was probably banned because it was a beast to drive and coyote ugly besides. When I saw the Tyrrell 6-wheeler in the USGP at Watkins Glen, my eyes got v. big: even though I'd seen pictures of it prior to the race, actually wittnessing something so unnatural was a shock. Reminded me of the two-headed calf I saw in a museum. Just not right.

[RStock]

"Innovation" does not automatically correspond with "better." I am surprised but should not be, at this car's layout-- just when I think I know of every bizarre design, something new and totally improbable crops up. This thing was probably banned because it was a beast to drive and coyote ugly besides.

No . Actually if you read the article I linked , you will see where Richmond said it was "the smoothest ride he'd ever had in a race car" , but you have to remember that's Tim Richmond speaking , so you can take it with a grain of salt . It was banned , along with rear engined cars , as it , and the rear engined cars , were deemed as a threat to the existing series and style of cars . It was actually a reaction to the very fast rear engined car that had been campainged by Jim Shamine previously .

[TrackDog]

Hi,

What do we actually know about Tim Richmond. There are limited informations available on the web. He started as an open wheel driver, than went to Nascar, won a few races, went really well at Glenn. Was pretty mischievous. He got Aids, and died because of it. And that is all I know. I would like to know more, because I find him interesting character something like James Hunt I presume, so if any of you know more, can you please tell it here. Thank you. Bye

I saw Tim's last race at Michigan International in August of 1987...it was a terrible day for him, even the track announcer commented on how poorly things were going for him. He was confused as to which line to restart in after a couple of cautions and he messed up a couple of pit stops; and IIRC, he blew the motor up, either on purpose or through inattention...after the race, the other drivers complained to NASCAR that they wouldn't race with him anymore.

There was a news story shortly after Tim died that the Charlotte Motor Speedway(now Lowe's) received several hundred phone calls from women he had allegedly had relations with that were concerned about their health. Of course, Charlotte was the home of one of the greatest promoters of all-time, Humpy Wheeler, who never shied away from a sensational story that would garner publicity for the track...and Wheeler and Richmond weren't friends; Wheeler tried to take Richmond under his wing when Tim first came to NASCAR, and Richmond slugged one of Wheeler's friends at a PR bash, ending Wheeler's involvement in his career. I don't mean to imply that Wheeler deliberately slammed Richmond after his death, but I always thought that the release of the details of that incident was rather tacky on Wheeler's part. Neither of them were among my favorite people.

Here's a link to a book, sort of a biogaphy, if you will...

http://www.amazon.co...a...1?ie=UTF8


Dan

[fines]

Didn't you know that in Alemania all cars have three wheels on one side!

Not only zat, ve actually have our legs and arms ze same: zree on ze right side, and one on ze left!

Seriously, like lanciaman I was thinking of a staged shot, with someone putting the wheel there for a joke! Mind you, I'm still not convinced, as I can't see any suspension parts or drive shafts - you sure the article wasn't dated April the 1st?

[lanciaman]

Not only zat, ve actually have our legs and arms ze same: zree on ze right side, and one on ze left!

Seriously, like lanciaman I was thinking of a staged shot, with someone putting the wheel there for a joke! Mind you, I'm still not convinced, as I can't see any suspension parts or drive shafts - you sure the article wasn't dated April the 1st?;)

I'm with you, Fines. The right rearmost wheel looks to be connected to nothing. The middle wheel lines up with the LR wheel, and RF appears hooked up (though there are no LF suspension bits showing).

In any case it begs the question: why? I wish Buford would give us his opinion of the layout, as he has driven sprint cars. What advantage would this geometry theoretically offer? Can you steer with only a RF? (I realize the LF would be off the ground nearly always and thus superfluous anyway....)

"Innovative" ideas don't always get boxed just because they threaten the status of existing inventory. Sometimes they just aren't good ideas. Usually we rely on the free market or evolution to get rid of inadequate ideas like the Trabant and space-frame single seaters and Smokey's sidecar. It also is true that Andy's turbine racer and rear engine sprint cars were spiked because they threatened the status quo...which of itself isn't necessarily an evil thing. Without sustaining the status you might not have quo.

[PMac]

Not only zat, ve actually have our legs and arms ze same: zree on ze right side, and one on ze left!

Seriously, like lanciaman I was thinking of a staged shot, with someone putting the wheel there for a joke! Mind you, I'm still not convinced, as I can't see any suspension parts or drive shafts - you sure the article wasn't dated April the 1st?;)

It appears to me that the wheel had been placed there for a gag, unless the top image of the chassis was taken before the third wheel was accommodated.

[RStock]

Well , perhaps this was a well done joke . If so , they've fooled a lot of people over the years . Here's some more from a fellow who "allegedly" worked on the car .

Don Wilcox, of Fulton New York said, "I was the one that did the story on the Ken Reece super 3 to 1 car. I had been a crew member on Mr. Reeces race cars in the 70's. When he was building this car he kept in touch with the officials at the Oswego Speedway about what he was building and they said as long as it was within the rule book there would not be a problem with them letting it run at their speedway. When the car was finished and ready for testing Reece was very surprised as to how good the car ran right out of the box. The testing found a few minor problems but all in all it went very well. The news about this car spread like wildfire and because they feared it would wipe out the field of cars that ran at the Oswego Speedway the management there banned the car even before it made one race run. Mr.Reece was very upset over this as all the other tracks followed the Oswego Speedways lead and they also banned it. There was a countless amount of hours put into this car plus about 50 grand to boot. Mr.Reece decided to cut the car up and take what parts he could and build a sprint car for his son to drive. This did not work out well so he got out of racing all together. The car was built and finished in 1979 and I tried for years to get him to let me put something in a magazine about him and the car. He finally agreed to it and I went ahead with doing the story on it. He is very sorry right to this day that he cut the car up."

Kenny Reese had been racing Super-Modifieds for years , and this experience soured him to the point that he got out all-together . Perhaps that was just part of the "big joke" however .

[Flat Black 84]

Of course, Charlotte was the home of one of the greatest promoters of all-time, Humpy Wheeler, who never shied away from a sensational story that would garner publicity for the track...and Wheeler and Richmond weren't friends; Wheeler tried to take Richmond under his wing when Tim first came to NASCAR, and Richmond slugged one of Wheeler's friends at a PR bash, ending Wheeler's involvement in his career.

With a name like Humpy you'd have thought he and Richmond would have been thick as thieves.

[RA Historian]

There was a news story shortly after Tim died that the Charlotte Motor Speedway(now Lowe's) received several hundred phone calls from women he had allegedly had relations with that were concerned about their health.

Now that is amazing. Why are these redneck bimbos calling a race track rather than their doctors??? I knew that the France family is all controlling, but in the medical area as well as racing?
Tom

[lanciaman]

Now that is amazing. Why are these redneck bimbos calling a race track rather than their doctors??? I knew that the France family is all controlling, but in the medical area as well as racing?
Tom

I recall a lot of early obfuscation about the cause of Richmond's death. AIDS was certainly not the first thing mentioned, especially as it was still generally thought to be exclusive to homosexuals. Having seen Richmond's girlfriend interviewed about her illness, I would not characterize her as a "redneck bimbo," and if he was the bon vivant some thought he was, I expect many of his conquests might be charactertized as "nice" girls. In any event, the reasonable course for these women to pursue when learning of his death-- from causes that were mentioned including pneumonia, hepatitis, a drug OD and cancer- would have been to first call a racing source for more information. Their first thought would not be to get a medical exam for an STD.

[lanciaman]

Well , perhaps this was a well done joke . If so , they've fooled a lot of people over the years . Here's some more from a fellow who "allegedly" worked on the car .



Kenny Reese had been racing Super-Modifieds for years , and this experience soured him to the point that he got out all-together . Perhaps that was just part of the "big joke" however .

Yeah, this thing quacks like a duck, especially the part about the news spreading like wildfire and "management" banning it without ever seeing it run. Any racetrack management I ever knew would have wanted the car to run and would welcome some kerfluffle, because that sells tickets. They could always ban it later if it was a genuine threat.

I say "hoax."

[Buford]

In any case it begs the question: why? I wish Buford would give us his opinion of the layout, as he has driven sprint cars. What advantage would this geometry theoretically offer? Can you steer with only a RF? (I realize the LF would be off the ground nearly always and thus superfluous anyway....)

Damned if I know. Couldn't handle any worse than my Sprint Car did most of the time. I do know this. There was a 20 year period of my life I would have been happy to jump in it and find out.

[RStock]

Yeah, this thing quacks like a duck, especially the part about the news spreading like wildfire and "management" banning it without ever seeing it run. Any racetrack management I ever knew would have wanted the car to run and would welcome some kerfluffle, because that sells tickets. They could always ban it later if it was a genuine threat.

I say "hoax."

Your certainly entitled to your opinion . But you could at least open the link and read the story about it before you pass judgement .

http://www.jakessite...eece/reece.html

I've posted all I have on the car , but I've seen other stories over the years , including track workers from Sandusky who were there when the test was done . I have no idea why these people would be lying for all these years . For tawdry bits of glory I suppose .

[Andy Glaess]

Tim Richmond was a bit of a flake when interviewed on television, but pure gold on a race track. His death from AIDS was a huge loss for not only his family and friends, but for all fans of great driving. The battles that he and Earnhardt were going to have would have been something to see.

Its akin to Formula One fans missing out on Senna vs. Schumacher. Tim was that good. I still feel he is the best stock car driver I've seen. I believe that he was also rookie of the year at Indianapolis in 1980. CART really lost out when he left shortly after that, as there was a real shortage of young American Indy drivers of quality at that point. Rick Mears, of course, but it was several years before Unser and Andretti Jrs. arrived and we had lots of old fellas hanging on too long.

Rumour has it that he had a thing for prostitutes, among other women, and that did him in. Drug use also, but if you ask me that was some unwarranted nastiness by some old time NASCAR folks that really didn't like him.

Strictly just an enthusiasts view, I never met the man, so take it for what its worth. The book listed early is a pretty thin treatment of Richmond, a better one will certainly be written some day. A very good newspaper article on him can be found here:
http://members.tripo...timarticle.html If you can, pick up some of his races at the online auction sites--all these years later he is still worth watching.

[HistoricMustang]

There was a 20 year period of my life I would have been happy to jump in it and find out.

Damn, those were the days!

Henry

[RStock]

Tim Richmond was a bit of a flake when interviewed on television, but pure gold on a race track. His death from AIDS was a huge loss for not only his family and friends, but for all fans of great driving. The battles that he and Earnhardt were going to have would have been something to see.

Its akin to Formula One fans missing out on Senna vs. Schumacher. Tim was that good. I still feel he is the best stock car driver I've seen. I believe that he was also rookie of the year at Indianapolis in 1980.

Rumour has it that he had a thing for prostitutes, among other women, and that did him in. Drug use also, but if you ask me that was some unwarranted nastiness by some old time NASCAR folks that really didn't like him.

Yes , he was ROY at Indy . And CART did lose out on a good draw when he left . I always thought he was a better fit for the Open Wheel ranks , possibly even Formula One with his flamboyant lifestyle .

He was a good driver , but I wouldn't rank him very high . One thing I never liked about him was that I considered him more of a playboy than a serious competitor . He had a penchant for doing some wild things . I remember at one race , Darlington I believe , the hood of his car flew up , folding back over the windshield . He continued on like that for a long time , ignoring the blackflag , basically driving blind . It prompted one Crew Chief , I don't remember which one , Jr Johnson I think , to refer to him as "That squirell in the 25 car" . That was kinda my opinion of him also .

He had already alienated some of the rank and file at NASCAR with his flamboyant playboy lifestyle . He didn't really fit in the "Good ol' boy" club . NASCAR gave him hell late in his career , when the truth about his situation was coming out . I remember something about him failing a drug test and not being allowed to compete . He was supposedly the first driver NASCAR had ever tested . It turned out he had actually passed the drug test , and was reinstated , I think with the help of some lawyers .

I remember Tim had a suit made (Armani I think it was , I know he owned some) that he was saving to wear to the NASCAR awards banquet when he won the championship (yeah , he was that cocky) . His crew chief Barry Dotson wore the suit to the banquet in Tims honor , and gave a short tearful speach about him , much to NASCAR's chagrin . I also remember that due to their propensity for , um , "sharing" , there were many worried people around the NASCAR garage when it was finally known that Tim had AIDS .


It's a shame he left such a terrible legacy . He was a nice guy by all accounts , whether you liked him or not . NASCAR would just as soon everyone forget about Tim Richmond , and he never be mentioned in the same sentence as their name .

[Direct Drive]

Now that is amazing. Why are these redneck bimbos calling a race track rather than their doctors??? I knew that the France family is all controlling, but in the medical area as well as racing?
Tom

I think that's a little strong. Aren't there chasers, which you call bimbos, all over F1, trolling the bazillionaire row of boats in Monte Carlo, the hotel lobbies all over the world, working as "hostesses" and pit babes for sponsors of all kinds, and the like? I've not known many drivers in all my years who weren't "players," and that includes many very famous names, World Champions, 24-hour winners, Indy winners, NASCAR champions, etc.

One reason NASCAR was so worried is one of the UNION Oil girls, some beautiful young thing, of course, also died of AIDS around the same time as Tim.

Odious disease, but one of which little was known in those days.

Edited by Direct Drive, 08 May 2009 - 23:47.

[lanciaman]

Your certainly entitled to your opinion . But you could at least open the link and read the story about it before you pass judgement .

http://www.jakessite...eece/reece.html

I read the article and am spitting crow feathers. The car sounds legit, the circumstances plausible.
And it begs another question: why hasn't anyone else built an asymetrical chassis without an inside front wheel?

[canon1753]

He was good, darn good in 1986. Then he got sick.... Missed some races. Came back at Pocono and won, fairly dominantly. I was there. He ran well at the Glen. He was a talent lost.

[TrackDog]

Yes , he was ROY at Indy . And CART did lose out on a good draw when he left . I always thought he was a better fit for the Open Wheel ranks , possibly even Formula One with his flamboyant lifestyle .

He was a good driver , but I wouldn't rank him very high . One thing I never liked about him was that I considered him more of a playboy than a serious competitor . He had a penchant for doing some wild things . I remember at one race , Darlington I believe , the hood of his car flew up , folding back over the windshield . He continued on like that for a long time , ignoring the blackflag , basically driving blind . It prompted one Crew Chief , I don't remember which one , Jr Johnson I think , to refer to him as "That squirell in the 25 car" . That was kinda my opinion of him also .

He had already alienated some of the rank and file at NASCAR with his flamboyant playboy lifestyle . He didn't really fit in the "Good ol' boy" club . NASCAR gave him hell late in his career , when the truth about his situation was coming out . I remember something about him failing a drug test and not being allowed to compete . He was supposedly the first driver NASCAR had ever tested . It turned out he had actually passed the drug test , and was reinstated , I think with the help of some lawyers .

I remember Tim had a suit made (Armani I think it was , I know he owned some) that he was saving to wear to the NASCAR awards banquet when he won the championship (yeah , he was that cocky) . His crew chief Barry Dotson wore the suit to the banquet in Tims honor , and gave a short tearful speach about him , much to NASCAR's chagrin . I also remember that due to their propensity for , um , "sharing" , there were many worried people around the NASCAR garage when it was finally known that Tim had AIDS .


It's a shame he left such a terrible legacy . He was a nice guy by all accounts , whether you liked him or not . NASCAR would just as soon everyone forget about Tim Richmond , and he never be mentioned in the same sentence as their name .

Tim's drug test revealed an unusually high amount of Pseudophedrine and Ibuprofen in his bloodstream, IIRC. One reporter wrote that he had been blackballed for Sudafed and Advil overdose. The main reason NASCAR was concerned was because of the possibility that since even a normal dose of either of those medications could cause drowsiness, the amount of those drugs(seems really silly to call Advil a drug...but it really is...) as found in Richmond's bloodstream would surely be cause for alarm. It could also be a plausible explanation for Tim's erratic behavior at Michigan in August of '87.

Richmond didn't start the '87 NASCAR season...he developed some serious respiratory problems around the end of the 1986 season that quickly worsened and prevented him from being able to race until June of 1987. He won at Pocono, which I think was his first race of the '87 season. He ran well at Michigan in June...I saw him battle with Earnhardt there; but by Watkins Glen in early August, he was having serious difficulties staying on-form. The Glen was postponed for a day because of rain, and several drivers commented that if it hadn't been so, Tim wouldn't have been able to race there...he was in pretty bad shape on Sunday, but by Monday, he was fine. Then came the debacle at Michigan in mid-August...he was asleep in his motorhome during qualifying and had to be awakened by his pit crew; he made it to the lineup in the nick of time. And on race day, we all knew something was wrong.

Tim was an in-car reporter for a race broadcast once, it might have been Martinsville or maybe Darlington...and was called upon for some comments during a caution. He continued to talk after the race went green again, casually speaking his mind during the restart and for a couple of laps of very close competition. The network guys were astounded by his willingness to do that, and the fact that it didn't seem to distract him at all from his driving.

Somebody mentioned Tim's girlfriend possibly dying from AIDS in an earlier post...I believe her name was Lejeana Luckerbill; and she was featured in a segment of a TV newsmagazine show. Tim didn't tell her he was infected with the virus; they were intimate(a wedding was planned) and she contracted the AIDS virus from that. She had a much more difficult struggle with the disease than Tim did...some of the medications she had to take had some serious side-effects that were almost as devastating as the illness itself. The newsmagazine profile of her struggle was very revealing and hard-hitting. Nothing much was spared, even her relationships with family members that had to care for her was examined, and it was painful to watch...but she wanted it to be that way, so that others wouldn't make the same mistake. Lejeana asked NASCAR if she could talk to the Racestoppers and Winston girls at the beginning of the season and tell her story along with a plea for the girls to be careful and prudent in their conduct with all the persuasive and powerful men they'd be in close contact with. NASCAR jumped at the chance. She was a very special lady to do what she did for others after what happened to her. I don't recall when she passed away, but I seem to remember that it was about 2-3 years or so after Tim's death.


Getting back to Tim's career, he won the most races in 1986; and nearly everybody thought he would be a shoo-in for the 1987 Championship. If he hadn't contracted AIDS, it probably would have been.


Dan

[Buford]

Tim was an in-car reporter for a race broadcast once, it might have been Martinsville or maybe Darlington...and was called upon for some comments during a caution. He continued to talk after the race went green again, casually speaking his mind during the restart and for a couple of laps of very close competition. The network guys were astounded by his willingness to do that, and the fact that it didn't seem to distract him at all from his driving.

Dan

Yeah that was amazing. Martinsville or one of the short tracks so not very fast but in heavy traffic and he just went on like he was sitting in a rocking chair.

[ReWind]

Here's a LINK to a Charlotte Observer article by the late David Poole from 2006 (and some comments...).

Edited by ReWind, 09 May 2009 - 17:56.

[Jim Thurman]

Somebody mentioned Tim's girlfriend possibly dying from AIDS in an earlier post...I believe her name was Lejeana Luckerbill; and she was featured in a segment of a TV newsmagazine show.

I don't recall when she passed away, but I seem to remember that it was about 2-3 years or so after Tim's death.

LaGena Lookabill...and she's still living, at least last I heard. A quick search turns up an interview with her from July 2008.

Edited by Jim Thurman, 09 May 2009 - 23:02.

[mwphoto]

Had thought that I 'd only seen Tim race once, that being in 1986@MIS

But it was brought to my attention that Tim also raced at the 24 hours of Daytona in 1984 in a Camaro with
Joe Ruttman, Mike Laws and Don Schoenfeld.


Anyone recall any other sports car races Tim might have be in????

Edited by mwphoto, 10 May 2009 - 14:20.

[Direct Drive]

Tim, I believe, won the first "new" Super Vee event at Phoenix, which I also think was a road course. The guy was multi talented, fearless and a real star in the making.

[TrackDog]

LaGena Lookabill...and she's still living, at least last I heard. A quick search turns up an interview with her from July 2008.

My apologies...glad to know she's still with us.


Dan

[WGD706]

During the winter of 1986, Richmond was diagnosed with HIV and became so sick that he was not able to run a full race again until June of 1987, at Pocono, the very track where his NASCAR career started. He won that race in emotional fashion, crossing the finish line in tears and unable to speak in victory lane. And then he won again the following week, in what was to be his last Cup win, ironically at the same track where he had recorded his first win, Riverside. And by August of that year NASCAR, not knowing the nature of Richmond's illness, a sickness that was sapping his health, concluded that he "was in no shape to drive a car."

In 1988, NASCAR would begin to treat Tim like some kind of drug addict. They defamed his integrity by making him take a drug test because of his deteriorating health, then going out and suspending him indefinitely because NASCAR said that he had tested positive for a controlled substance. Richmond demanded another test, and when those results came back… they were negative. NASCAR would later admit that the first test that Tim took was also negative; the only substance that showed up was Sudafed and Advil.

Little by little NASCAR was trying to not only defame Richmond, but they also wanted him out of the Cup series acting like some modern day western day lynch mob. NASCAR went as far as to not let him race until he came up with all of his medical records. Richmond filed a defamation of character lawsuit, but he would eventually withdraw it and leave the sport. Richmond would move back to Florida where he eventually died in 1989. NASCAR to this day has not apologized for the brash and disrespectable way that Tim was treated. But in typical France fashion, they have chosen to not mention it, and basically sweep it under the rug.

To celebrate Richmond’s life, he will be honored near his hometown of Ashland in Mansfield, Ohio on June 20. The inaugural Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA RE/MAX 200 will be presented at Mansfield Motorsports Park. Richmond was a winner in ARCA competition in the ARCA 200 at Daytona in his first series start in February 1981.

[brabhamBT19]

It seems NASCAR has always been a nasty organization. Now the are destroying Jeremy Mayfield, by keeping the supstance in secret. I am not supporting Mayfield, and I despise drug and pill abusers, but it is completely unfair towards Mayfield because his reputation is tarnished forever because simply we do not know what he took. It can be anything from legal (legal in terms of US law, illegal in terms of Nascar) OTC painkiller to cracked heroin. I say ban him, but also tell the public what the supstance was. Because if you keep it secret than people always think of the worst.

[lil'chris]

It seems NASCAR has always been a nasty organization. Now the are destroying Jeremy Mayfield, by keeping the supstance in secret. I am not supporting Mayfield, and I despise drug and pill abusers, but it is completely unfair towards Mayfield because his reputation is tarnished forever because simply we do not know what he took. It can be anything from legal (legal in terms of US law, illegal in terms of Nascar) OTC painkiller to cracked heroin. I say ban him, but also tell the public what the supstance was. Because if you keep it secret than people always think of the worst.

I agree with you about NASCAR and what it's doing here ( & with Tim Richmond ) but don't understand how you can say that Mayfield should be banned when by your own admission no one outside NASCAR knows what he has tested positive for ?!?!

Surely he's innocent until proven guilty ?

Mind you if it's alcohol related and involves one of their sponsors such as Budweiser or Miller then he should be banned for life for drinking the sort of p!sswater that falsely advertises itself as beer !! .

I've not come across cracked heroin before, but anyone using that or crack cocaine would be an idiot knowing that drug testing exists in their industry.

[ghinzani]

20 years ago today. What a long time this disease has been with us, yet the world has almost seemed to live with it and forget it almost, with no sign of a cure in sight.

Just as an aside would Tim Richmond have faced the same drug tests if he been in Indycar at the time, or even F1? I dont recall hearing about drug tests in F1 at the time but I guess they may have been about. I remember being shocked at the time Nascar had them, when they let the drivers race in open face helmets, the better for them to spit their chewing tobacco..

[Disco Stu]

Here's an article about him that came out today:

http://sports.espn.g...c...&id=4394325

[OfficeLinebacker]

Tim was an in-car reporter for a race broadcast once, it might have been Martinsville or maybe Darlington...and was called upon for some comments during a caution. He continued to talk after the race went green again, casually speaking his mind during the restart and for a couple of laps of very close competition. The network guys were astounded by his willingness to do that, and the fact that it didn't seem to distract him at all from his driving.

Whoa. I gotta find that race!

[TrackDog]

Whoa. I gotta find that race!

I think it was Martinsville or maybe North Wilkesboro...and it was most likely during the 1986 season. I'm pretty sure that ESPN was the network, and Bob Jenkins was the anchorman. It could have been Darlington, but I'd rather think it was Martinsville in September.


Dan

[Lee Towers]

There was a short film about Richmond on ESPN recently, here it on on you tube if anyone is interested.

http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

It's in 6 parts.

[Les]

There was a short film about Richmond on ESPN recently, here it on on you tube if anyone is interested.

http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

It's in 6 parts.

Incredible documentary but such a sad tale, thanks a lot for sharing Lee.