HALL OF FAME DADS
Fri, 2008-03-14 07:00
Two sons react to having Dads inducted into the Drag Racing Hall of Fame …
Up until the 2008 International Drag Racing Hall of Fame ceremony, Mike Bucher and Todd Veney had little in common except their dads drag raced quick, fast and successfully. During the annual gala gathering at the Paradise Resort, the two added one more common denominator.
The late Jim Bucher and legendary Pro Comp icon and noted nitro tuner Ken Veney were among the 2008 inductees for the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame hosted by the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum. Their sons basked in the glow of their respective dad's accomplishments.
Jim Bucher was lauded for his efficiency in campaigning a Chevrolet-powered Top Fuel dragster following his storied graduation into Top Fuel after a successful stint in the Top Gas ranks. His finest hour would later prove to be his final as he rose as high as the No. 1 position in the NHRA Top Fuel ranks at mid-season 1975 but later forfeited the ranking when he was weakened with cancer. Two sons react to having Dads inducted into the Drag Racing Hall of Fame …
Up until the 2008 International Drag Racing Hall of Fame ceremony, Mike Bucher and Todd Veney had little in common except their dads drag raced quick, fast and successfully. During the annual gala gathering at the Paradise Resort, the two added one more common denominator.
The late Jim Bucher and legendary Pro Comp icon and noted nitro tuner Ken Veney were among the 2008 inductees for the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame hosted by the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum. Their sons basked in the glow of their respective dad's accomplishments.
Jim Bucher was lauded for his efficiency in campaigning a Chevrolet-powered Top Fuel dragster following his storied graduation into Top Fuel after a successful stint in the Top Gas ranks. His finest hour would later prove to be his final as he rose as high as the No. 1 position in the NHRA Top Fuel ranks at mid-season 1975 but later forfeited the ranking when he was weakened with cancer.
“Dad made a big impact in such a short amount of time,” explained Mike BucHer, now an ordained minister and chaplain for the Racers for Christ racing ministry. “He reached a lot of people and was an example. Once he passed away, God filled the role of being a father. It’s hard to say but dad always wanted more for me than racing.”
As for Mike, he wanted more recognition for his dad’s efforts. He incorporated his elder’s testimony into his ministry.
“The thing that always burned in my heart is that he was at the top of his game when he went down,” added Bucker. “He got sick and then lost the lead he’d worked so hard to get. But, then in his last days I always remember him telling me how the success was so empty.
“I’ve used that message to get his testimony out. He was searching and I believe he became a Christian before he died. My dad had reached the top and felt it was empty. That was the message I’ve always carried forth in his name.”
Ken Veney was more than a pioneer in the Pro Comp [now Top Alcohol] division. Not only was he a world champion and a multi-time national event winner, Veney quickly amassed the status of icon. He later advanced into the nitro ranks where he first drove and later earned a reputation as a tuner.
“I couldn’t be any more proud of him,” said Todd Veney, who is now a crew man for the Gotham City Racing Funny Car driven by Frank Hawley. “I always thought he was one of the greats and still do. He is so humble that he’d never want something like this for himself.
“Case in point, he knew about this 2 months ago and never let anyone know about it. He just didn’t want to make a big deal of it.”
Up until the 2008 International Drag Racing Hall of Fame ceremony, Mike Bucher and Todd Veney had little in common except their dads drag raced quick, fast and successfully. During the annual gala gathering at the Paradise Resort, the two added one more common denominator.
The late Jim Bucher and legendary Pro Comp icon and noted nitro tuner Ken Veney were among the 2008 inductees for the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame hosted by the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum. Their sons basked in the glow of their respective dad's accomplishments.
Jim Bucher was lauded for his efficiency in campaigning a Chevrolet-powered Top Fuel dragster following his storied graduation into Top Fuel after a successful stint in the Top Gas ranks. His finest hour would later prove to be his final as he rose as high as the No. 1 position in the NHRA Top Fuel ranks at mid-season 1975 but later forfeited the ranking when he was weakened with cancer. Two sons react to having Dads inducted into the Drag Racing Hall of Fame …
Mike Bucher [left] and Todd Veney both witnessed their dads being inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
The late Jim Bucher and legendary Pro Comp icon and noted nitro tuner Ken Veney were among the 2008 inductees for the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame hosted by the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum. Their sons basked in the glow of their respective dad's accomplishments.
Jim Bucher was lauded for his efficiency in campaigning a Chevrolet-powered Top Fuel dragster following his storied graduation into Top Fuel after a successful stint in the Top Gas ranks. His finest hour would later prove to be his final as he rose as high as the No. 1 position in the NHRA Top Fuel ranks at mid-season 1975 but later forfeited the ranking when he was weakened with cancer.
“Dad made a big impact in such a short amount of time,” explained Mike BucHer, now an ordained minister and chaplain for the Racers for Christ racing ministry. “He reached a lot of people and was an example. Once he passed away, God filled the role of being a father. It’s hard to say but dad always wanted more for me than racing.”
As for Mike, he wanted more recognition for his dad’s efforts. He incorporated his elder’s testimony into his ministry.
“The thing that always burned in my heart is that he was at the top of his game when he went down,” added Bucker. “He got sick and then lost the lead he’d worked so hard to get. But, then in his last days I always remember him telling me how the success was so empty.
“I’ve used that message to get his testimony out. He was searching and I believe he became a Christian before he died. My dad had reached the top and felt it was empty. That was the message I’ve always carried forth in his name.”
Ken Veney was more than a pioneer in the Pro Comp [now Top Alcohol] division. Not only was he a world champion and a multi-time national event winner, Veney quickly amassed the status of icon. He later advanced into the nitro ranks where he first drove and later earned a reputation as a tuner.
“I couldn’t be any more proud of him,” said Todd Veney, who is now a crew man for the Gotham City Racing Funny Car driven by Frank Hawley. “I always thought he was one of the greats and still do. He is so humble that he’d never want something like this for himself.
“Case in point, he knew about this 2 months ago and never let anyone know about it. He just didn’t want to make a big deal of it.”
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