MEMPHIS TRACK GRANTS FAN’S FINAL REQUEST

At every opportunity, Memphis Motorsports Park does what it can to say “yes” to their race fans. Just ask Barbara Dunn, who, with the track’s blessing and a lift from WMC-TV’s Chopper 5, was able to honor her late husband’s wish to have his ashes scattered over his home track.
Charlie “Chuck” Dunn had been a drag racing fan since his time in Colorado near Bandimere Speedway. The Dunns’ recent move to the Mid-South was made easier by the fact that they would only be a short drive from another national event track – Memphis Motorsports Park. Dunn was quick to adopt the championship drag strip as his “new” home track and attended the O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals three years in a row – 2004-2006 – to see his hero, drag racing icon John Force.

Mr. Dunn passed away in the winter of 2007, and Memphis Motorsports Park received a call this spring from his widow, requesting that she be able to spread her husband’s ashes at the race track. She said they had talked about it several times, and she was sure he had included it in his will, but she could not locate the specific instructions. Without that, it appeared to be impossible. A long shot at best. But a closer look at the Tennessee statutes governing such an act revealed that it might be possible “by air.”
Track officials turned to WMC-TV5 news director Tracey Rogers, who turned it over to reporter and weekend anchor Anna Marie Hartman, and within days, the news crew arranged to meet Mrs. Dunn at General DeWitt Spain Airport on June 11 to begin the emotional flight.
For Action News 5’s special report see video.

While the request for a “final disposition of remains” was a first for the Memphis track, it is also indicative of the passion that race fans display for their sport on a daily basis, as well as the track’s ability to grant requests that may be too controversial, costly or otherwise off-limits at other facilities. [7/22/2008]

ROMINE’S AA/FC BUILD ON SCHEDULE!

Mike Spitzer, who is building the Romine-Spitzer-Burk ’79 Mustang AA/FC in his Mt. Comfort, IN, shop, is right on schedule in getting the rolling chassis ready for a late season debut. The body plug is completed and the first ’79 Mustang body should be pulled soon. In the meantime Paul Romine was in for a fitting after the new Strange 10.5” rear, carbon fiber brakes and steering had been installed.

Romine has also nearly completed complete assembly of one engine and is just awaiting a few parts to finish both. New 6-71 superchargers from DMPE’s Darren Mayer are just a few weeks away and only a few bits and pieces are needed to complete the engine. In the meantime the team has picked up its New Gold Rush trailer. (photos courtesy Paul Romine) [7/22/2008]