more respect everyday
 

Think back about Jan for awhile. First off he got to live his dream, his way. First as a hippy, then as a Jesus supporter. He seen the highest of highs and obviously the lowest too. His trademark leather hat, a hand down from his fallen brother was his favorite thing on earth. As a side note, if I could pick any thing from any racer to have it'd be that beatup hat not some million dolllar car. Anyhow and now I'm no expert but just the fact that he competed in what during it's time was the most demanding racing there was one year after a severe head trama is beyond brave it's really super human. Now my own injury was 5 years ago. I still have a moment of brillance now and then and I think on a rare good day I'm still way fast and a better rider then ever. Problem is them good days dont come along often and how Jan raced after just one year off just blows my mind, I promise you there were days it must have been near impossible and still he strapped in. Odd's are he'd be alive today if he wasnt fearless, and didnt suffer his eventually life taking second major head trama. Always my hero and the original "outlaw" :9:

Re: more respect everyday
 

Jan was one of my favorites growing up. I feel privileged that I got to see him and Kenny Weld put on some fantastic battles back here in the east. I always felt his life story would make a good movie.

http://davidm.smugmug.com/Other/80/B...88_ZDVNV-L.jpg

Re: more respect everyday
 

Never had the honor of watching him race live in person...missed it by one year age wise...but thanks to the internet and Dick Wallen I have got to watch him work his magic.....

And thanks to Indy Screen Print I have a really nice shirt with the Bogar car on the back of it.

Re: more respect everyday
 

‪...
I think this is a really good tribute. I also think "The Rain Song" was an excellent choice as background music.

Jerry

Re: more respect everyday
 

wonder what happened to that old hat :11:

It's in the Hall of Fame.One of my favorite exhibits.
.
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Re: more respect everyday
 

A photo that I took of Jan at IMS in 1975.

Originally Posted by Koonzee:
It's in the Hall of Fame.One of my favorite exhibits.
.
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I have a picture of it under glass. I use it for my twitter profile picture.

I would have never thought a hat would validate an entire place, but seeing it at the Hall of Fame went a long way toward that.
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Re: more respect everyday
 

Another of Jan. From the 500 back in 1976.

Re: more respect everyday
 

I met his son Jan Jr at a track outside Atlanta on his 1st night in a sprint car. He looked just like his Dad, had the same type of hat on.
Anyone know where he is now?:11: