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Topic: RIP Al Hamilton
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Page 1 of 2 of 35 replies
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December 07, 2020 at
03:46:26 PM
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Renowned Central Pa sprint car owner Al Hamilton has passed. His blood red #77 sprint cars were always the fastest and best looking cars wherever they competed.
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December 07, 2020 at
05:09:03 PM
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The Roger Penske of Sprint Cars.
What a legacy!
Still trying to buy a pic of the trailer with the words:
Bender - Keith
Mender - Moon(?)
Spender - Al
R.I.P. and thank you!
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December 08, 2020 at
05:24:58 AM
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Central pa lost a legend. He and Weikert can never be replaced. May he rest in peace.
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December 08, 2020 at
06:47:10 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: 3799 on December 07 2020 at 03:46:26 PM
Renowned Central Pa sprint car owner Al Hamilton has passed. His blood red #77 sprint cars were always the fastest and best looking cars wherever they competed.
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+1 Best looking and fast race cars. It had to be an honor to drive one. Most of Al's drivers ended up being legends, if you weren't a winner you didn't stay there long.
rip Al
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December 08, 2020 at
07:22:05 AM
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I just remember him push starting Stevie Smith in the parking lot of the Days Inn in Sidney OH with his rental car one Kings Royal weekend.
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December 08, 2020 at
07:35:46 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: wolfie2985 on December 07 2020 at 05:09:03 PM
The Roger Penske of Sprint Cars.
What a legacy!
Still trying to buy a pic of the trailer with the words:
Bender - Keith
Mender - Moon(?)
Spender - Al
R.I.P. and thank you!
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Oh man, I forgot about that. Seen, it in Knoxville at the Nationals
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December 08, 2020 at
08:21:20 AM
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Somebody has to have a photo of the "Bender-Mender-Spender"....somebody. I've tried finding one for years. You're the first person to even respond.
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December 08, 2020 at
10:04:13 AM
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I dealt with Al for over 15 years as his source for SPECTRO Performance Lubricants. i remember the first time going to Al's shop in the middle of the secure Manheim Auto Auction storage facility. When I walked in and saw 5 rollers with engines, 3 or 4 more ready to race set up chassis spares for road trips, and coutless engines, rears, wings etc. I was truly blown away.
In all of my time dealing with Al he was a gentleman and honest businessman who never asked for anything for free. We were never "friends", but were trusted business associates who respected each other. His values were shared by his entire family that I met and also dealt with over the years.
The stories of behind the scenes of his racing and private life were truly amazing and all were typical Al hamilton.
Rest in Peace Al....see you at the races in the sky!
"I was so loose out there that could hardly get back
in line for the restart", Bobby Allen circa 1996 (?)
*****************************************************
"I'm not a driver, I am a racer." Steve Smith 19, 1992
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December 08, 2020 at
10:17:36 AM
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Sorry to hear of his passing, he certainly played a part in elevating sprint car racing.
Did he have anything to do with Manheim Auctions other than a sponsor?
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December 08, 2020 at
12:39:56 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: mongooseman on December 08 2020 at 10:17:36 AM
Sorry to hear of his passing, he certainly played a part in elevating sprint car racing.
Did he have anything to do with Manheim Auctions other than a sponsor?
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Not certain but I think Manhein Auctions was one of Al's business endeavors. He was a self made man, he didn't grow up wealthy, from what I've learned Al started his business hauling coal in his pickup truck, back when people actually and literally had to bust their ass for a living.
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December 08, 2020 at
05:22:20 PM
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What was the last car he owned & raced?
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December 08, 2020 at
06:26:35 PM
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Of the tens of thousands of photos I shot over the years my very first one was of the Hamilton Sprinter in a sidney Hotel parking lot.
Keith Kauffman saw me and offered to pose with the car and I was a fan for life.....
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December 08, 2020 at
09:02:12 PM
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KK along with all the victories will always be recognized as one of the greatest to ever strap in a race car.
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December 08, 2020 at
09:09:25 PM
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RIP Al Hamilton. I was lying in bed last night trying to remember all the great drivers in the Hamilton 77. I came up with:
Lynn Paxton
Keith Kauffman
Stevie Smith
Fred Rahmer
Lance Dewease
Greg Hodnett
Anyone else?
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December 08, 2020 at
10:42:45 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: larsonfan on December 08 2020 at 09:09:25 PM
RIP Al Hamilton. I was lying in bed last night trying to remember all the great drivers in the Hamilton 77. I came up with:
Lynn Paxton
Keith Kauffman
Stevie Smith
Fred Rahmer
Lance Dewease
Greg Hodnett
Anyone else?
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Jeff Shepard, Joe Gaerte, Danny Lasoski, Max Dumesny, Dave Calaman, Bobby Adamson, Billy Cassella, Mitch Smith, Elmer Ruby, Todd Shaffer, Billy Pauch, Johnny Herrera, Jan Opperman, Joey Allen, Rick Schemelyun, Smokey Snellbaker, Kramer Williamson. I know there's a few more but that's just off the top of my head. Mr. Hamilton was a true professional in every sense of the word. His team was always clean and classy and he gave his people everything they needed to win. Make no mistake about it, he was a hard ass. Talk to anyone who drove for him. He expected results. Especially at Williams Grove. He liked to win there more than anywhere. We have already been missing him as a car owner for many years. No doubt, the bar lowered when he hung it up. Now we'll miss him as a person. Al still visited the tracks once in awhile and when he did, someone usually left with extra money in their pockets. He was a very charitable man. If you want to see a prime example, watch the adoption night race at Williams Grove from 2008. He brought a woman to tears in victory lane with a very large donation to the Diakon adoption network. He was a remarkable man. A self made millionaire who never forgot his roots. We'll miss you Al.
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December 09, 2020 at
12:19:06 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: fiXXXer on December 08 2020 at 10:42:45 PM
Jeff Shepard, Joe Gaerte, Danny Lasoski, Max Dumesny, Dave Calaman, Bobby Adamson, Billy Cassella, Mitch Smith, Elmer Ruby, Todd Shaffer, Billy Pauch, Johnny Herrera, Jan Opperman, Joey Allen, Rick Schemelyun, Smokey Snellbaker, Kramer Williamson. I know there's a few more but that's just off the top of my head. Mr. Hamilton was a true professional in every sense of the word. His team was always clean and classy and he gave his people everything they needed to win. Make no mistake about it, he was a hard ass. Talk to anyone who drove for him. He expected results. Especially at Williams Grove. He liked to win there more than anywhere. We have already been missing him as a car owner for many years. No doubt, the bar lowered when he hung it up. Now we'll miss him as a person. Al still visited the tracks once in awhile and when he did, someone usually left with extra money in their pockets. He was a very charitable man. If you want to see a prime example, watch the adoption night race at Williams Grove from 2008. He brought a woman to tears in victory lane with a very large donation to the Diakon adoption network. He was a remarkable man. A self made millionaire who never forgot his roots. We'll miss you Al.
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Holy cats, that's a lot of great drivers in his car through the years.
Also, very well said fiXXXer.
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December 09, 2020 at
04:37:52 AM
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12/02/2004
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945
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Reply to:
Posted By: fiXXXer on December 08 2020 at 10:42:45 PM
Jeff Shepard, Joe Gaerte, Danny Lasoski, Max Dumesny, Dave Calaman, Bobby Adamson, Billy Cassella, Mitch Smith, Elmer Ruby, Todd Shaffer, Billy Pauch, Johnny Herrera, Jan Opperman, Joey Allen, Rick Schemelyun, Smokey Snellbaker, Kramer Williamson. I know there's a few more but that's just off the top of my head. Mr. Hamilton was a true professional in every sense of the word. His team was always clean and classy and he gave his people everything they needed to win. Make no mistake about it, he was a hard ass. Talk to anyone who drove for him. He expected results. Especially at Williams Grove. He liked to win there more than anywhere. We have already been missing him as a car owner for many years. No doubt, the bar lowered when he hung it up. Now we'll miss him as a person. Al still visited the tracks once in awhile and when he did, someone usually left with extra money in their pockets. He was a very charitable man. If you want to see a prime example, watch the adoption night race at Williams Grove from 2008. He brought a woman to tears in victory lane with a very large donation to the Diakon adoption network. He was a remarkable man. A self made millionaire who never forgot his roots. We'll miss you Al.
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Lance Dewease, Fred Rhamer, Hodnett there are more.
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December 09, 2020 at
10:19:57 AM
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11/15/2008
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611
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Reply to:
Posted By: larsonfan on December 08 2020 at 09:09:25 PM
RIP Al Hamilton. I was lying in bed last night trying to remember all the great drivers in the Hamilton 77. I came up with:
Lynn Paxton
Keith Kauffman
Stevie Smith
Fred Rahmer
Lance Dewease
Greg Hodnett
Anyone else?
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Bobbie Adamson for starters.
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December 09, 2020 at
12:04:33 PM
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1212
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Reply to:
Posted By: fiXXXer on December 08 2020 at 10:42:45 PM
Jeff Shepard, Joe Gaerte, Danny Lasoski, Max Dumesny, Dave Calaman, Bobby Adamson, Billy Cassella, Mitch Smith, Elmer Ruby, Todd Shaffer, Billy Pauch, Johnny Herrera, Jan Opperman, Joey Allen, Rick Schemelyun, Smokey Snellbaker, Kramer Williamson. I know there's a few more but that's just off the top of my head. Mr. Hamilton was a true professional in every sense of the word. His team was always clean and classy and he gave his people everything they needed to win. Make no mistake about it, he was a hard ass. Talk to anyone who drove for him. He expected results. Especially at Williams Grove. He liked to win there more than anywhere. We have already been missing him as a car owner for many years. No doubt, the bar lowered when he hung it up. Now we'll miss him as a person. Al still visited the tracks once in awhile and when he did, someone usually left with extra money in their pockets. He was a very charitable man. If you want to see a prime example, watch the adoption night race at Williams Grove from 2008. He brought a woman to tears in victory lane with a very large donation to the Diakon adoption network. He was a remarkable man. A self made millionaire who never forgot his roots. We'll miss you Al.
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Good history lesson for the fans, there was a few names on your list that slipped my mind. I know the 77 had different paint schemes but the red 77 was always my favorite.
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December 09, 2020 at
02:11:54 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: longtimefan on December 09 2020 at 04:37:52 AM
Lance Dewease, Fred Rhamer, Hodnett there are more.
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He'd already mentioned them.
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