ISF,
Thanks for verifying and commenting on the parade & banquet. Oct 1971 I would have been a soph in high school. I'm gonna have to go up in my attic and find the program. That was the beauty of open wheel trailers back then - you got to see the cars up close. I'm sure many came a long way to support Tatt. I wish my dad had taken me to the banquet. I like how you mention that Dee commented on the parade and banquet. My next trip to Streator I'd like to stop in and see her, plus the shrine mentioned by GS Tours. Dee sure looks good.
You might have enlightened me on the poem. Maybe it was penned on a grocery bag. My dad must have written it at his package liquor store.
I bought a photo of the Streator Speedway at the memorabilia show held every spring in Peotone. It looked like a great track. Ole Bob sounds like he was almost unbeatable there. I'll bet Bob was fun to watch at Mazon and Fairbury, too.
Thanks for sharing you memories.