Though it has been almost 40 years, former auto racer Tim Gee remembers the night of Could 13, 1983, as if it have been yesterday.
“We received our first World of Outlaws race, nevertheless it wasn’t acknowledged for some time as a result of it was the primary evening in a two-day occasion,” the 65-year-old not too long ago informed SPEED SPORT of the victory at US 131 Speedway in Martin, Michigan. “That was a really large achievement for us.
“Again then they took the six quickest automobiles, reversed them and put them in entrance of the function – there was no sprint. We pulled it off (fourth qualifying) and I believe we began third. I am behind Sammy Swindell and Shane Carson, and we received that race, so I really feel That it was a really reputable win.
“I took the lead from Carson on lap three, and I keep in mind it was lap 15 and I hadn’t handed but. I used to be gritting my enamel, crunching the wheel and slamming the throttle as onerous as I might. Considering, ‘I’ve 5 extra laps and I am not going to cross.’ And I managed. of not passing.”
With the victory in his household’s No. 88 Yukon Friet entry, Gee, who was born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, grew to become the primary Canadian driver to win a World of Outlaws Dash Automotive Collection function. He added a second victory two months later at Paragon Speedway in Indiana. Gee solely held the excellence till July 28, 2015, when fellow Canadian Stuart Friesen joined the elite membership.
Gee’s father, Jordi, was launched to the game by sponsoring an area racer, and later grew to become a driver and automotive proprietor.
“As a child, I used to be at all times fascinated about racing. Do not ask me how I thought of racing for a dwelling as a result of there weren’t any races in my hometown once I was younger,” J.J. Anyway, I made a decision I needed to be a race automotive driver and I spotted I could not do it from Whitehorse, so I needed to journey south.
“I selected Edmonton, Alberta, which was 1,300 miles from Whitehorse,” Gee added. “There have been a number of tracks within the space; largely asphalt races. Our neighboring province – British Columbia – has in all probability had a dozen races this manner. My dad owned a trucking enterprise and I drove a truck for my dad once I was youthful, so I moved from Whitehorse to Edmonton to start out My dream is to race.
“Exterior of Edmonton, we used to journey to Skagit, Washington, to race. We raced in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Down in Nice Falls, Mont.; And the World of Outlaws drivers have been proper there, working the sector row. That is once we noticed skilled grime automotive racing for the primary time and we mentioned, “That is it. That is the place we need to be.”
“So we began touring slightly bit farther south on a regular basis,” J.J. continued. “We ended up racing on the West Coast in 1980. We acquired to know Ted Johnson slightly bit and he invited us to comply with the group. In 1981 we began in Florida and continued on and off the world of outlaws for the following seven years.”
Statistics offered by World of Outlaws present Gee has made 276 streaks, with 2 wins, 20 prime 5 finishes, and 100 prime 10 hits. His finest season in factors was 1986 when he completed seventh.
“The race for World of Outlaws was extremely robust, nevertheless it wasn’t simply Steve Kinser. He was undoubtedly the king on the time, however in the event you might beat Steve Kinser you additionally needed to beat Sammy Swindell, Doug Wolfgang, Ronnie Showman, And Shane Carson, “It was actually onerous. It has been a really steep studying curve.
“Round yr three or 4, we began catching up slightly bit on find out how to make our automobiles run higher and find out how to be slightly bit higher race automotive driver. Sadly, the value of racing on the time was highly regarded and really aggressive, and the finances appeared to double from yr to yr.”
The economics of racing finally pressured Gee to desert his hometown of Jamestown, Indiana, and return to Canada.
“It was 1990 and I wasn’t racing a lot. I could not afford to race my very own stuff. I really managed to drive a couple of race automobiles on the native stage and could not make a dwelling doing it,” famous J.J. “A good friend of mine came to visit from Edmonton for a PRI present. He was telling me a few model new racetrack he was concerned with they usually have been constructing in Edmonton, Alberta — on the worldwide airport there. It was a giant racing facility — drag strip, grime oval, highway course, the entire deal.
“I used to be fascinated about going again to Canada and I assumed it will be an excellent alternative to return there and do some racing,” J.J. continued. “I’ve at all times needed to have my very own racing store, promote race automotive components and do some work on race automobiles, and that is what we finally did.”
In 1991 Gee and his spouse Ruth opened Gee and Gee Racing in Leduc, Alberta. Varied corporations have operated beneath that umbrella for greater than three a long time.
“We determined about 4 years in the past that we would been on this enterprise lengthy sufficient that possibly it was time to close it down and do one thing else,” Ji mentioned. “After that, the oil disaster subsided and the following yr COVID got here and that ruined issues for a couple of years. It wasn’t the appropriate time to promote or shut a enterprise, however we determined it was time to do one thing else.
“Our son, Skyler, has been right here (within the US) racing for 4 years now. So we have at all times needed to come back down and spend a while with him.”
The Gees offered their racing store and Hoosier Tire distribution enterprise, and closed their components retailer in Could. This fall, they loaded up the motorhome and headed to Hillsboro, Ohio, to be with their 23-year-old son, who drives a winged race automotive for Logan Fenton Racing.
“I am glad he loves quick automotive racing as a lot as I do. It undoubtedly offers us some frequent floor for a father-son relationship,” Tim G famous. “We’re right here with him and we’re in it. This has rather more worth to me than simply persevering with our household racing custom. My spouse and I actually benefit from the time we spend with him.”
Gee says the journey again to Whitehorse is on schedule throughout the winter months.
“My mother nonetheless has a spot there and my spouse Ruth, her entire household is from Whitehorse too,” Gee mentioned. “We’re semi-retired now, and coming residence to Whitehorse was at all times one thing we talked about. We do not have a spot there but, however we’re wanting—a pleasant, quiet place to retire to.”
This story appeared within the December twenty eighth version of SPEED SPORT Insider.
