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| Photo ID # | K01.10.14_017_KEL_HOF_2013V_1 |
| Car #: | #17 |
| Driver (s) : | Dave Kelly |
| Location: | North Carolina |
| Date: | April, 2013 |
| Photographer: | Don Hoffman |
| Photo provided by: | Don Hoffman |
| Comments: |
Comment from Don: Hi Joe - You wanted a little info on this project: When I first started racing, Late Models at Dorney Park, I bought my racing gas from Dave Kelly. George Fowler and Dave had started a racing fuel business. I would go to his garage every Sat. morning to get fuel & would stare at his modifieds & sprint car. I started working the fuel trucks that supplied fuel at the race tracks at either Penn National or Nazareth on Sun. nights. In 1982 I sold all my late model equip. & started traveling with Dave & his crew learning about sprint cars. In 1984 they ask me if I wanted to run one of their cars knowing I couldn't afford to do it on my own. What a great opportunity that was. The car was a 1979 Nance & the car I restored is a '79 Nance. I wasn't really looking for a sprint car but the price was right. Not real sure of the plans for it when I bought it & even had thoughts of selling it. One night I was sitting around with some Buddies with a few beers & that's when I decided it was going to be a black #17. It's to say thanks & show my appreciation to Dave, His cousin Earl & the mechanic, Leroy Silvius. Dennis Smith lettered the car. I have been friends with him for a long time also. He has done work for me in the past & when I did my '56 Chevy late model I called on him. He always does an excellent job & when he came to N.C. to do the car & Dave came up from Fla. it was the first time they seen each other since the late 80's. I'll tell you, it was one heck of a reunion. In 1994 I had the opportunity to go to work for Kenny Schrader. What a great person to work for. He & his wife are not only people I work for but we became great friends also. Kenny also has a love & passion for old race cars. So when I started my first project I asked him If I could work on it there at his shop & he was all for it. That's where the sprint car is & also my '56 Chevy. |