To Our Indiana Openwheel Pal Jim Imholte


I know many of you outside of the Southwestern Ohio/Southeastern Indiana area may not know Jim Imholte but, he was a major part of racing history in this area. Jim passed away, suddenly, Tuesday night February 5, 2008 at his winter residence in Miami Beach. He worked as a flagman, scorer and pit steward at both Lawrenceburg and Florence Speedways throughout the 1960's, 70's and 80's. Jim also worked as a crewman for many racers originating in the Sayler Park and Cincinnati, OH area, including teams with Ross Smith, Pat Patrick, Big Bill Osborn, Tom Soudrette, Tommy Mattlin, Jim Bob Luebbert and many others over the years. During his time living in upstate New York, Jim also worked on a road racing team. Racing and being a great and dependable friend and father, was Jim's life. For the last three years, I have been flying down to Miami Beach to hang with Jim for a few days on the beach and then, we would drive up to Tampa (East Bay) together for a few days and enjoy the sprint car races. We had a great time together during those visits. However, due to the fact that the non-wing sprinters were canceled at East Bay and coupled with our problems this past year with two crashed race cars, I opted not to go down and visit Jim this year. I regret that now. Had things been normal, I would've been down there at the time of his death to at least be in his company and hold his hand as he passed. For those of you who knew Jim, you understand the loss to the racing community. Jim loved to work at the tracks. He loved to come down in the pits and mingle with the drivers, car owners and crew members. He had a kind word for everyone and was more than willing to pick up a wheel wrench and help out if he saw you thrashing on a race car. He just loved being around it. He loved all types of racing from pinewood derby to the sprinters to Indy cars to Nascar. If it had wheels on it and you could race it, he'd be there to either watch, or help out any way he could. He was simply a racer. When he wasn't in the pits, Jim could always be found about ten rows up from the flagstand at Lawrenceburg Speedway every Saturday night. He would get there early and tape down his blankets to save seats for our friends and families, so we could sit together and root for my son, Brad. Jim was Brad's biggest fan. On Fridays, Sundays and other nights, you could find Jim in the Stands with friends Keith Wendel and Tim Caldwell at many of the regions race tracks such as Gas City, Eldora, KC, Bloomington, Terre Haute, Kokomo and many others. Late Models, Sprinters, street stocks, whatever, Jim loved'em all! To those of you who didn't know Jim, I will simply ask you to say a prayer for his soul and his loving family, who will miss him enormously! May God Bless a prince of a gentleman and one of the TRUE race fans of this generation, JIM IMHOLTE. To know him is to love him. Jim's name on IOW was Imzie. I will truly miss you my friend!!!!!! Craig Stevens