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Wow, i was so bummed out to read this earlier today. I did not know Chuck very well, but met him a number of times with my Dad over the years. He was just one of those guys who always put a smile on your face.
I think i first heard about Chuck in a story told to me by my dad about when he drove my grandfathers midget at Manzanita the week before Turkey Night in 1970. Chuck was wearing a bubble shield on his helmet, kind of like the ones some of the motorcycle racers wore at the time. I don't know if he had worn it before, but apparently Dad and Grandpa agreed that it was not the right thing for a midget on a fast half mile. As the story goes Chuck came to the same conclusion after hot laps when it basically tried to yank his head off the whole time he was on the gas. Dad said the shield came off as soon as he got out of the car and ended up in a trash can in the Manzy infield shortly after.
The last time I talked with Chuck was at an indoor race at Duquion last winter. it was the first time i had been to a race since my Dad passed away in January. I was walking in from the pit area to watch hotlaps and saw Chuck in the grandstand and decided to grab a seat by him. We talked a bit before and after hotlaps. nothing really significant was said, it was just your typical quick Racer to Racer conversation, but somehow it made me feel a little better on a tough night. i think that was just part of the magic or charisma that alot of the other posters had mentioned when talking about him. He was just one of those guys that had a little something extra that is so rare to find.
The racing community has lost a great driver, but Heaven has gained a helluva Racer.
Steve
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