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Topic: RIP Al Hamilton
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Page 2 of 2 of 35 replies
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December 09, 2020 at
02:17:55 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: beezr2002 on December 09 2020 at 12:04:33 PM
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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My favorite Hamilton look was actually the Mac Tools scheme for some reason. That was probably the worst stretch in the history of the team with Stevie and Al parting ways then Shepard's brush with death at Eldora that almost ended his career entirely.....I would argue that this crash definitely altered the trajectory of his career because prior that, I think he was well on his way to becoming a WoO champion but we'll never know unfortunately. They went through a bunch of drivers in a short period of time before Al finally decided to come home for the 1996 season and thankfully, for good. Speaking of crashes, Calaman had a real shitter at Williams Grove in 1996 in turn 3. I'll never forget that one. He was lucky to walk away.
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December 09, 2020 at
02:23:40 PM
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This message was edited on
December 09, 2020 at
02:47:53 PM by fiXXXer
I just remembered 2 other drivers. Randy Hannagan ran a team car with Fred Rahmer at the 1999 National Open. It was #78. In 2005, Kenny Jacobs ran a team car with Hodnett #77h.
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December 09, 2020 at
04:40:19 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: fiXXXer on December 09 2020 at 02:17:55 PM
My favorite Hamilton look was actually the Mac Tools scheme for some reason. That was probably the worst stretch in the history of the team with Stevie and Al parting ways then Shepard's brush with death at Eldora that almost ended his career entirely.....I would argue that this crash definitely altered the trajectory of his career because prior that, I think he was well on his way to becoming a WoO champion but we'll never know unfortunately. They went through a bunch of drivers in a short period of time before Al finally decided to come home for the 1996 season and thankfully, for good. Speaking of crashes, Calaman had a real shitter at Williams Grove in 1996 in turn 3. I'll never forget that one. He was lucky to walk away.
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What year did Shephard race with Hamilton? I was there at Knoxville for his career-ending crash but didn't know about the Eldora crash.
He was a really underrated talent.
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December 09, 2020 at
04:55:20 PM
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Posted By: dsc1600 on December 09 2020 at 04:40:19 PM
What year did Shephard race with Hamilton? I was there at Knoxville for his career-ending crash but didn't know about the Eldora crash.
He was a really underrated talent.
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I'm not sure of the exact year but I think it was 1994. It was when the car was red & white with the Mac Tools sponsorship
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December 09, 2020 at
05:07:29 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: fiXXXer on December 09 2020 at 02:17:55 PM
My favorite Hamilton look was actually the Mac Tools scheme for some reason. That was probably the worst stretch in the history of the team with Stevie and Al parting ways then Shepard's brush with death at Eldora that almost ended his career entirely.....I would argue that this crash definitely altered the trajectory of his career because prior that, I think he was well on his way to becoming a WoO champion but we'll never know unfortunately. They went through a bunch of drivers in a short period of time before Al finally decided to come home for the 1996 season and thankfully, for good. Speaking of crashes, Calaman had a real shitter at Williams Grove in 1996 in turn 3. I'll never forget that one. He was lucky to walk away.
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Not sure of the year but my cousin said he witnessed Stevie and Al having some words at the Big E. Al wanted Stevie up racing against the wall and there was some bitching Stevie may have chucked a tire at Al. I was only ever at one Royal in 89 so I don't know if that was the year. I remember Calamans crash at the grove, I was suprised to see him driving the car that year. Al had a lot of drivers, I guess the most recent activity was sponsoring Aaron Ott a few years ago.
As far as ole Shep Dog he was pretty awesome even after his Eldora crash. To me Jeff is a hard guy not to like, sure miss "the mouth from mayland days"
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December 09, 2020 at
06:28:41 PM
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This message was edited on
December 09, 2020 at
08:52:17 PM by fiXXXer
Reply to:
Posted By: beezr2002 on December 09 2020 at 05:07:29 PM
Not sure of the year but my cousin said he witnessed Stevie and Al having some words at the Big E. Al wanted Stevie up racing against the wall and there was some bitching Stevie may have chucked a tire at Al. I was only ever at one Royal in 89 so I don't know if that was the year. I remember Calamans crash at the grove, I was suprised to see him driving the car that year. Al had a lot of drivers, I guess the most recent activity was sponsoring Aaron Ott a few years ago.
As far as ole Shep Dog he was pretty awesome even after his Eldora crash. To me Jeff is a hard guy not to like, sure miss "the mouth from mayland days"
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I miss those days as well. Central PA in the 1990's & 2000's was as good as it gets. So many top notch drivers and plenty of quality rides to accommodate them. The characters and personalities of that time period were incredible. We may never see anything like it again.
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December 11, 2020 at
11:33:30 AM
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Posted By: alum.427 on December 08 2020 at 05:24:58 AM
Central pa lost a legend. He and Weikert can never be replaced. May he rest in peace.
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God speed
They don't even know how to spell sprint car
much less chromoly...http://www.ycmco.com
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December 11, 2020 at
11:43:56 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: beezr2002 on December 09 2020 at 05:07:29 PM
Not sure of the year but my cousin said he witnessed Stevie and Al having some words at the Big E. Al wanted Stevie up racing against the wall and there was some bitching Stevie may have chucked a tire at Al. I was only ever at one Royal in 89 so I don't know if that was the year. I remember Calamans crash at the grove, I was suprised to see him driving the car that year. Al had a lot of drivers, I guess the most recent activity was sponsoring Aaron Ott a few years ago.
As far as ole Shep Dog he was pretty awesome even after his Eldora crash. To me Jeff is a hard guy not to like, sure miss "the mouth from mayland days"
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"I guess the most recent activity was sponsoring Aaron Ott a few years ago"
Was that his last car? Aso a 77? What years?
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December 11, 2020 at
11:45:17 AM
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It would be cool to have a list of all the drivers in chronological order with the years they drove for him. Same with Weikert.
I'm sure there is someone that can provide so info on that.
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December 11, 2020 at
11:53:57 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: revjimk on December 11 2020 at 11:43:56 AM
"I guess the most recent activity was sponsoring Aaron Ott a few years ago"
Was that his last car? Aso a 77? What years?
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It was just a sponsorship deal, it was Don's car. it was a red 77, it was only for a year maybe like 5 years ago
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December 11, 2020 at
11:58:44 AM
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Posted By: RickYohn on December 11 2020 at 11:45:17 AM
It would be cool to have a list of all the drivers in chronological order with the years they drove for him. Same with Weikert.
I'm sure there is someone that can provide so info on that.
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Yeah I'd like to see the lists of drivers for both Hamilton and Weikert, just gotta be a boat load of them. A bit off topic but I'd also like to see a list of drivers that Davey Brown has worked with. I know he made a lot of champions and hall of famers.
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December 11, 2020 at
04:57:10 PM
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Lee Osborne also ran the Hamilton car a time or two.
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December 11, 2020 at
05:12:39 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: fiXXXer on December 09 2020 at 06:28:41 PM
I miss those days as well. Central PA in the 1990's & 2000's was as good as it gets. So many top notch drivers and plenty of quality rides to accommodate them. The characters and personalities of that time period were incredible. We may never see anything like it again.
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Those days were great if you get excited about beating the Outlaws. I said at the time that our weekly racing would be better without they high finance teams. When you went to the races then only 3 or 4 cars had a realistic chance at winning, every one else was running for 3rd or 4th. I think that I have been proven right and that the racing is better now. It was great history and those teams put Pa. on the racing map but at least now you don't know who will win before you go.
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December 11, 2020 at
07:09:34 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: beezr2002 on December 11 2020 at 11:53:57 AM
It was just a sponsorship deal, it was Don's car. it was a red 77, it was only for a year maybe like 5 years ago
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Thanks Beezr
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December 11, 2020 at
08:09:47 PM
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RIP Mr Hamilton.
Always looked forward to getting Speed Sport and reading about PA results between the Weikert and Hamilton cars. Or Dean Thompson and Bubby Jones at Ascot. Getting old it seems. Also recalling reading that Sammy Swindell drove one night only for Hamilton, and got canned. Would love it if some one had the story
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December 12, 2020 at
04:13:35 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: bbqking on December 11 2020 at 08:09:47 PM
RIP Mr Hamilton.
Always looked forward to getting Speed Sport and reading about PA results between the Weikert and Hamilton cars. Or Dean Thompson and Bubby Jones at Ascot. Getting old it seems. Also recalling reading that Sammy Swindell drove one night only for Hamilton, and got canned. Would love it if some one had the story
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Yeah that was the Williams Grove National Open mid 2000's when Sammy drove then 77. He struggled and then quit the ride after the heat race because he was frustrated with the handling/set-up. Al's former driver, Lance Dewease, was also struggling that night with mecahnical issues in the 25 I think, so he jumped into the 77 and had to start scratch at the back of the C main. Lance raced his way to the front of the C and into the top 4 of the B to put it into the A main. Lance came forward in the A, but I think stalled around 10th or so. That's my somewhat sketchy recollection of that night.
RIP Al Hamilton, Thanks for the memories!
A
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