Photo: Larry Vogelesang
I cant remember when I didnt know Blackie. I remember going to Airport Speedway in Fresno, CA., in the 50 s and watching him race. Always the villain, the “dirty” driver and winning a lot of races. When I became a teenager we became friends and he always encouraged me to do what I wanted to do….be a race driver. I did and I loved it.
The last time I saw Blackie was at the Sacramento Car Show about 3 years ago. He called his friends HOSS .I asked him why he called everyone that and he laughed and said so he didn’t have to remember their names. RIP old friend. –Dennis Johansen
I met Blackie at the Del Mar Goodguys three or four years ago when we were both in kind of a back lot area looking at some Ford flathead engines and accessories. There were few people around and we struck up a conversation. I hate to admit it, but I did not know who he was and so during our getting to know each other I discovered his identity. We were just two guys taking about hot rods and hot rod shows. He was riding an electric cart (like the ones for rent at the show). He was very interesting to talk to and had a lot of opinions about car shows, the state of the hot rod hobby and on and on. I was impressed with his interest in talking with me without any pretense on his part. Obviously a great guy! – Mike Leach
Got to meet up with Blackie at last years Sacramento Autorama. This was before the Event was open to the Public. He was riding around and looking at the cars in the Butch Gardner Club Cavalcade Building. Could not be a nicer person. – Larry Vogelesang
