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Topic: UMSS Names Joe Kouba Technical Director
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Page 2 of 2 of 21 replies
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December 12, 2010 at
06:31:41 PM
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Joined:
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12/02/2004
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Posts:
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148
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Reply to:
Posted By: grp on December 10 2010 at 09:37:53 AM
Excellent post Stan! As soon as the UMSS has such a person in place, Joe will gladly move to what his role was intended to be from the onset, that of directing and kind of overseeing the activities of the head tech person and continuing to draw upon his lifetime of experience in providing helpful ideas and suggestions regarding the mechanical makeup of the cars and engines used in the series. Joe has been the backbone of the UMSS in that respect the first two years, and without someone of his caliber (knowledge in the sport), I highly doubt the UMSS would have gotten very far. Joe was in on the ground-floor of this deal from the beginning, helping found the UMSS and get it off the ground so it could take flight. In the early formative years, the UMSS has had to rely on Joe for help in these matters, as no one else was willing to do what it takes. Next time I see Joe, which should be soon, I will definitely shake his hand and say thanks!
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Joe Kouba in this position is not the first time for such an occurance. A gentleman named Bill France, the original 'Big' Bill France, had ownership in cars that were in competition with others in early day NASCAR runs and in fact the car that won the first Southern 500 was co-owned by France and another man, or Tom Cherry who was the owner/promoter of a touring 'big' car series in the 1950's called the AARC, or the All American Racing Club, this group ran mostly in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio and Cherry owned two cars one of which he drove himself and the other was driven by Wayne Alspaugh, so he was the promoter-driver-car owner-series owner and, as a side note, either he or Alspaugh won most the events! The popular BCRA midget series, the Bay City Racing Association, had a gentleman named Jack London who owned cars for over 25 years and 20 of those years he served as an official of the BCRA and finally in 1937 a young man named Lloyd Axel was listed as the 'assistant tech inspector' at the Merchants Park Midget Speedway near Denver, Colorado Lloyd held that position as well as launch his driving career and it was a position he held in 1939 when a gentleman named Earl Kouba won the championship.
I knew both Earl and Ethel Kouba and admired not only their devotion to midget and sprint car racing but they apparently made parenting the most important of all skills. Earl and Ethel were non assuming folks, they were blue collared God fearing and hard working, they settled deals with a smile and a handshake and staked their reputations on either or both. Earl and Ethel were never known to complain but were first to assist, they knew and raced against some of the greats but were as loyal and trustworthy with the locals as any of the big timers and they were honest, reliable and genuinely true folks. They passed these traits to Joe, Jim and Judy. Joe Kouba serving as the tech inspector for any organization should not even rate a blip on the radar screen. I also will shake his hand the next time I see him.
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December 13, 2010 at
12:10:21 PM
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Joined:
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06/10/2007
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31
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If we are so certain with the integrity of all involved with the UMSS, why do we even need rules?
Perhaps all we really need is a hand shake and a gentleman's agreement?
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