| Photo ID # | c02.04.06__8x_MYS_FLM_0077_3 |
| Car #: | #8X |
| Driver (s) : | Mike McNamara |
| Location: | Flemington |
| Date: | 1977 |
| Photographer: | Ace Lane Jr. |
| Photo provided by: | Ace Lane Jr. |
| Comments: | I don't ever remember seeing this driver win a
Modified Feature... But it really doesn't matter. The history books show the win totals... and the Champions... But for some of us...the sport will always mean more to us than the statistics will ever reveal. There was a time when there was room in our sport for those willing to be different. And for those of us who had an eye for those cars that were special... (those that stood apart from the norm... those that just flat out looked "COOL")... we noticed. It was because of those cars and the innovators who built and drove them, that we returned week after week... year after year. Forever.. or so we thought. Sadly, career ending injuries suffered in a accident at Flemington never gave us the chance to see the little silver #8X pull into victory lane... o give us all a chance to let the driver know how many of us did notice... (We are told that Mike suffered a serious neck injury in an accident while driving this car in 1977 at Flemington). T His cars are among some of our all time favorites, and it's that innovation and individual spirit - the ability of men to create a car, put it to the test... and return another day if able with new ideas and more innovation - that our site is dedicated to. |
| Visitor's Comments | To add your comments about THIS PHOTO - Click Here | |
| Date: | Visitor's Name: | Comment: |
| 01/12/06 | John Cornell | This car was one of Mike McNamara's innovative and light weight racercars. It was all hand fabricated but due to the class specs from back then we had to put a steel roof on the car. Mike did recover from the injuries and later moved to Texas. |
| 02/11/06 | Mike McNamara (Mike's son) | He ran Gary Kolenz's Sportsman #19 about a year after his accident and said "This sh** ain't like it used to be." I think he meant it kind of scared him... Dad won a boatload of heats and consi's, but never a Modified Feature. He had them covered at Flemington twice with at least a 2 turn lead when #1 threw a driveshaft over the 2nd turn fence.. and #2 exploded the 467 in turn 3 both on the last lap! They say Big Blocks run the best just before Mission Impossible.. He also finished 2nd in the feature a few times at EWS, twice to Stan the Man, once to Sammy, and once to Buzzie that I can remember." Mike |
| 02/11/06 | 3-Wide | I 've seen pictures of the #30 Sportsman that Mike ran and another picture of him in the Spivey #600 Modified, but it was always the silver and black #8X's that caught my eye. |
| 01.29.09 | 3-Wide | Hey John... If possible, could you email me the original of this photo again? THANKS! 3wide@optonline.net |
| 12.13.12 |
Joe Gercie |
I saw this car wrecked during a super Sunday show. I don't believe that there was a piece on the car that wasn't bent including the steering wheel. |
| 12.13.12 | 3-Wide | I wasn't there that day because I'd remember it for sure. I rooted for Mike, as did the whole crowd that we sat with up in turn 1. He was an underdog for sure, but he was also fast and as a fan, that's a great combination to root for. |
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