Post by ricklou on Feb 26, 2010 17:26:34 GMT -5
Earlier this week we lost one of the greatest figures in the history of Nascar.
Suitcase Jake Elder passed away this week at the age of 73. He will be remembered as one of the best crew chiefs ever. Elder could not read or write with only a third grade education but what he could do emdodies the roots of stock car racing. There are two sayings that come to mind when thinking of Jake, "Old School" and "The Sweet Spot".
When it came to setting up or building a race car there were none better. Elder used a tape measure that had no lines or measurements on it but rather he marked it with a pen. Everything else was in his head. During his time in Nascar Jake groomed just about every young driver and if you did not like his way it was the highway and he would be on it.
The list of drivers Suitcase helped over the years is too long to list but some of the best ever are in it including David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip and Terry Labonte. Rusty Wallace once said that if he was struggling or out to lunch Jake would fix him right up.
His respect was such that when other teams saw him walking toward's their stall in the garage area they would drop the car so as to not let him see in the wheel wells because at a glance Elder would know what they had.
The secrets of success are far reaching and Richard Petty knows a few of them as Jake worked for Petty Enterprises during the 60's. It is no surprise that the Petty cars were so damn good thanks to Jake Elder.
Jake has packed his suitcase for the last time
Suitcase Jake Elder passed away this week at the age of 73. He will be remembered as one of the best crew chiefs ever. Elder could not read or write with only a third grade education but what he could do emdodies the roots of stock car racing. There are two sayings that come to mind when thinking of Jake, "Old School" and "The Sweet Spot".
When it came to setting up or building a race car there were none better. Elder used a tape measure that had no lines or measurements on it but rather he marked it with a pen. Everything else was in his head. During his time in Nascar Jake groomed just about every young driver and if you did not like his way it was the highway and he would be on it.
The list of drivers Suitcase helped over the years is too long to list but some of the best ever are in it including David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip and Terry Labonte. Rusty Wallace once said that if he was struggling or out to lunch Jake would fix him right up.
His respect was such that when other teams saw him walking toward's their stall in the garage area they would drop the car so as to not let him see in the wheel wells because at a glance Elder would know what they had.
The secrets of success are far reaching and Richard Petty knows a few of them as Jake worked for Petty Enterprises during the 60's. It is no surprise that the Petty cars were so damn good thanks to Jake Elder.
Jake has packed his suitcase for the last time
I have Richard petty cars 1/18 1/24 scales! Etc...
