Appearances ...

They certainly can be deceiving. No doubt we have all heard stories about people or things that were not what they appeared to be. We’ve even coined a special phrase for such situations: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
    
Perhaps you have known some unassuming person who turned out to be far more famous or accomplished than you ever imagined. For example, if you had met Bill Gates 30 years ago, would you ever suspect that such a geeky-looking guy would become one of the wealthiest people in the world? Who would have guessed?
    
As a newcomer to the wild and furious world of championship drag racing, would you ever guess that a cute little girl named Angelle would become the winningest female in our sport’s history? Or if you were being introduced to Bob Frey for the first time, would you ever suspect … well, I’ll let you create your own scenario on that one.

Appearances ...

They certainly can be deceiving. No doubt we have all heard stories about people or things that were not what they appeared to be. We’ve even coined a special phrase for such situations: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
    
Perhaps you have known some unassuming person who turned out to be far more famous or accomplished than you ever imagined. For example, if you had met Bill Gates 30 years ago, would you ever suspect that such a geeky-looking guy would become one of the wealthiest people in the world? Who would have guessed?
    
As a newcomer to the wild and furious world of championship drag racing, would you ever guess that a cute little girl named Angelle would become the winningest female in our sport’s history? Or if you were being introduced to Bob Frey for the first time, would you ever suspect … well, I’ll let you create your own scenario on that one.
    
Over the years I have heard many of the current stars in our sport talk about the days when—as unassuming youngsters—they would spend every free moment of their lives hanging around some racer’s garage or race shop as innocuous gawkers.
    
I remember hearing John Force talk about the days when he would stop at various race shops back when he was driving a truck for Garrett Freight Lines. He would finish his route as quickly as possible so he could stop at whatever race shop happened to be in the area that day. He would even stop at some places on his lunch break. From Downey to Southgate to East Los Angeles, this unassuming truck driver with a passion for drag racing always found a special place to stop and be around his racing heroes. Who would have guessed what John would one day become our sport’s winningest driver?
    
I can still vividly remember a cool spring day in the 1960s at Fremont Raceway in California when my buddies and I were running through the dirt chasing jack rabbits, when suddenly we were joined by a tall lanky kid from Southern California who was driving a little yellow dragster. I believe his name was Prudhomme. As in Don the Snake. Who would have guessed?
    
There is a verse in the Bible that says …“Despise not the day of small beginnings.” Perhaps this is one reason why so many of our current drag racers are so thoughtful and considerate with their fans, as they remember their own humble beginnings. I feel proud of our sport when I see any of our racers take a moment of time to invest in some young eager race fan. Who knows what these unassuming youngsters might become in a few years?
    
Even the greatest superstars began as unassuming and unknown individuals. Regardless of talent or financial resources, almost every accomplished racer started out with modest beginnings. Perhaps some of our drivers remember a day in their youth when one of their heroes took the time to pay a little attention to them. And perhaps that investment of time ultimately led to their involvement in racing.
    
There’s a message here for all of us. For drag racing to succeed, it will require the interest, the dedication and the resources of new people in the years ahead. Many of those people are already among us, roaming the pits of race tracks around the country wearing baggy pants and riding skateboards as they religiously follow their racing heroes.
    
The John Forces and Don Prudhommes of the next generation already exist. Let’s trust that they are receiving from us the positive attention and quality of time that is so necessary in the preparation of their lives as future champions.
    
Some of those kids will grow to become businessmen and businesswomen. Some will become owners of their own company. Some will become leaders of major corporations. Let’s trust that they will have fond memories of their younger years as excited fans of drag racing.
    
If we treat these people well today and pay them the attention that they desire and deserve, then perhaps a day will come when some of these once unassuming kids will choose our sport for the pursuit of their passion and become the superstars of our next generation.
    
And those of us old enough to remember will look back one day and say … Wow, who would have guessed?
    
Now, if we can just find a way to get that Gates fellow involved.