DaveW is 80 !!!!!

[Purple Frog]

Sportsfans,

The legend turns 80 On October 25th. (Being a scorpio explains a lot. ) But let that 80 number soak in for a minute, then realize that just a few days ago he was racing in the FRP Series at Pitt Race... Then grasp the fact that he has already sent out emails detailing the adjustments he plans to make to the car for 2023! 80 for him is just a number.

Yeah, yeah... everybody knows he has 7 national championships in multiple open wheel classes, and has won the June Sprints who knows how many times. But, tonight lets focus on his continued contribution to the sport, and especially on this forum. Over 20 years ago when this was F2000.com Dave was already on board readily helping any competitor with a problem. He has always been ready and willing to offer solutions to any one posting a problem that needed solving. Before F2000.com, and folks like Dave, if you were a newbie trying to get any info to help you get into the sport it was almost impossible.

The obvious example for me was back in 2003 when I was trying to win the SARRC Championship. It seemed like daily Dave was emailing suggestions to me as we tried to develop the car. I believe his suggestion of tire choice was the winning ingredient. It still seems hard to believe that the guy i was watching win Runoffs at Road Atlanta when i was dreaming of getting into the sport, would actually take time to answer my crazy questions. Turns out he has been willing to help everyone that asked.

Second important example: in 2005, early in the season Dave told me it was important to get myself a HANS device. Most of you know the rest of the story, because I'm still here posting stuff.

There is a reason that he, and most importantly his constant support person, and love of his life, Sherrie, are in the SCCA Hall of Fame. They have not only been active in the sport for like 60 years but also constant cheerleaders and supporters for that whole time. Together they make up one of the great racing teams in the history of the sport.

Its an honor to call Sherrie and Dave dear friends.

Happy Birthday Dave!

[stonebridge20]

Happy birthday Dave.

You're truly an inspiration.

Keep on gettin at it!

[Garey Guzman]

Dave on one of his common post-Runoffs laps....

[Steve Davis]

Thanks, Dave for your dedication to the sport .. and a wonderful propensity to KEEP WINNING as long as humanly possible. Keep on, keepin' at it!

Steve, FV80

[problemchild]

Happy Birthday Dave!

[Robins Ken]

Happy Birthday dave!

Mind over matter. Cheers Dave.

[DaveW]

Thanks for all the posts and kudos. It's nice (and a bit embarrassing) to see this kind of thing when all I'm doing is stuff I really love to do.

I've always been competitive at anything I try, sometimes successfully, sometimes not, but I love the competition and the process of trying to be better at it. Competing is what keeps my blood flowing, and I'll be competing at something as long as I'm able to do it. Sherrie is a huge part of that, in more ways than I can say.

As Froggy says, we'll be back at the track next year and for as long as we can.

[Rick Kirchner]

You've helped me so many times. Congrats on another lap and many more.

[scott fairchild]

Happy birthday, Dave! Thank you for all the wisdom and setting the bar as high as you have.

[Joefisherff]

Happy Birthday Dave, thank you for all of your posts in response to questions and being a great mentor for all of us over the years!

[M.Sauce]

Happy Birthday Dave. Have a great day!

[zcars]

Happy Birthday Dave ! Continued success to your racing and all your other activities !!!

[John LaRue]

Happy 80th Dave! Here's to many more!!

[EYERACE]

At 80, to sometimes have an average lap speed greater than one's age is a great accomplishment.

According to the theory of Relativity, as one approaches the speed of light, time slows..... so I guess Dave races to not age too fast. Smart!

[swiftdrivr]

Many thanks for all the advice and help through the years, [particularly the time you advised me not to run the car that probably saved my engine] I hope you have a great birthday party and a successful race season!

[Chris Robson]

Happy Birthday Dave,

I have a specific folder on my computer labeled "Dave's words of Wisdom" which contains all of our conversations over the years and anything else I have been able to gleen from an Apexspeed post that you have responded to.

Thank you for all that you have done for so many, wether you knew it or not! See you at the races!

[Roland V. Johnson]

Happy Birthday Dave. You are an inspiration. It is certain that if I see a post with DaveW on it, I am reading it and trying to learn something else.

[Steve Demeter]

80 is just a number. Remember: "age is experience"

Happy Birthday and many many more!!!

[R. Pare]

[Rick Iverson]

Dave, an inspiration and mentor to all of us. We are blessed.

I have an old article from AutoWeek you wrote, circa early 1970s, providing gear selections per track and the technique on arriving at the proper gear selections.

It is my surmise that you will have a few more years on the track, and considerably longer to guide us all through the no-man’s land of our own good intentions.

Happy birthday, Friend.

[John Green]

Happy Birthday,
At my very first FF race at Mid Ohio in the early 80's I was passed by Dave going in to turn 1. I thought great I'll just follow him through and go faster...... well after I gathered up the car from sliding into the grass outside turn I realized I had a lot to learn!
At 70 I am still learning!

[bassracer]

Happy Birthday Dave
I'm still kicking myself for not making time to introduce myself at one of the FRP events I was at this year; hopefully we'll cross paths next year. I do want to specifically thank you for all of your contributions to Apexspeed. Those of us that are still building our experience and constantly searching for details on prep/setup/construction have a sense of confidence when we read information posted by "DaveW" and it's a true testament to how you continue to pay it forward in this sport over the years.

[grapefarmeral]

Happy Birthday Dave...

[HazelNut]

Happy 80th Dave!

[DaveW]

To still be racing at 90 !!

Thanks,

[lucky13]

Happy Birthday, Dave!

[Brian Graham]

Without even knowing it, Dave has taught more than a few of us plenty over the years. Thank you Dave and hope you have a great BD!

Brian

[DaveW]

As I said, thank you all for the compliments. But it works both ways. I've learned a huge amount from other folks' posts and comments. It's amazing how often something somebody posts can switch on the lightbulb for a new train of thought.

[Rick Iverson]

Sportsfans

The Great Santini?

[mark defer]

Happy Birthday old friend. Give Sherri a hug for me and say hi to Mojo.

[DaveW]

Happy Birthday old friend. Give Sherri a hug for me and say hi to Mojo.

Will do. MOJO says "Hi" back to you. He's sitting on the day-bed in my home office watching while I type this.

[BLS]

A bit late, but Happy Birthday! As a 20 year old just starting to race a FV in 1973 you were an inspiration then and you continue to be one for everyone involved in this sport.

[t walgamuth]

I am inspired too. At 73 I have been thinking of giving up the open wheel racer.

[DaveW]

I am inspired too. At 73 I have been thinking of giving up the open wheel racer.

As long as you're enjoying driving and aren't a moving chicane on the track, why give up driving open wheel? Are the SCCA's multi-class groups turning you off? That's a major reason why I'm running the FRP series.

[t walgamuth]

As long as you're enjoying driving and aren't a moving chicane on the track, why give up driving open wheel? Are the SCCA's multi-class groups turning you off? That's a major reason why I'm running the FRP series.

I am an autocrosser so the moving chicane does not apply. I seem to have suffered various health related issues lately and it is getting me down I guess.

[Steve Demeter]

Do not let stuff get in your way. Just work through it

[DaveW]

I am an autocrosser so the moving chicane does not apply. I seem to have suffered various health related issues lately and it is getting me down I guess.

Sorry to hear that - hope you can overcome them and continue on !

[Davidcaruso77]

Happy birthday Dave! I was going through some of my dad’s old racing documents and found these.

[DaveW]

Happy birthday Dave! I was going through some of my dad’s old racing documents and found these.

Thanks. Sure a bunch of familiar names there !

[TimH]

Ok, I'm only 66 but some serious health issues came to a head last week. I had prepped the car for the weekend's event, and was by-damxed not going to miss it. It got to the track Friday early evening, slept in the motorhome through most of Saturday, just coming out to watch the EFF sessions. Didn't need much help from friends unloading Sunday, and by the Feature Race I was able to start from pit lane. Exhausted after 6 laps but in that time I had set a lap about equal to what the other guys qualified, and this on a track I'd never seen before. Attrition got me a 3rd place trophy. Maybe not my best weekend racing ever, but definitely better than most weekends not racing.

Thanks for listening...., Now back to our regular programming.

And again, thank you Dave for everything.