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Tom Ericksen has passed away


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#1 HowieB

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Posted 12 July 2015 - 01:58 PM

I just got word that former asphalt and dirt winner Tom Ericksen has passed away! Rip in peace buddy!



 

#2 Skull

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Posted 12 July 2015 - 02:51 PM

I remember Tom winning a Sportsman LM feature at Lernerville in the mid 80's. He gave the trophy to a little girl standing by the fence near the flag stand. I think the trophy was bigger than she was. I always thought he was a good, smooth driver. After that night, I always thought he was a good guy, too. RIP, Tom.


#3 bhhracing

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Posted 12 July 2015 - 03:24 PM

Thoughts and prayers.




#4 fordblueoval

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Posted 12 July 2015 - 06:42 PM

Howie, do u know the reason for his passing?




#5 racer111

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Posted 12 July 2015 - 06:50 PM

Facebook post said that he was in Mexico and passed away in his sleep. Not sure if he was battling something or not, picture that was on FB was a much smaller Eriksen that I remember.




#6 8BallRW7

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Posted 15 July 2015 - 04:50 PM

Any funeral updates 




#7 racer111

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Posted 16 July 2015 - 07:05 PM

Probably laid to rest by now...strange there were no more posts about Tom than these few...has been around a long time, and was one heck of a driver.




#8 Express Man

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Posted 17 July 2015 - 04:16 AM

Probably laid to rest by now...strange there were no more posts about Tom than these few...has been around a long time, and was one heck of a driver.

None of these Kids today remember what Hero's and Stars these older guys were to a generation back then!  Time moves on!  I'll bet you could go to PMS Saturday night, or Bedford Friday night and ask around????  Who remembers Bob Wearing   ..or Gerald Chamberlain???  Wouldn't find ten people that do!  And By far...Two Icons in the sport!  Two of the best ever to race!  Sadley Forgoten!




#9 The Legend

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Posted 17 July 2015 - 05:05 AM

They would know bob wearing ..... If been going since 1985 and I've never heard of Gerald chamberlain


#10 Skull

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Posted 17 July 2015 - 05:51 AM

They would know bob wearing ..... If been going since 1985 and I've never heard of Gerald chamberlain

 

Gerald (The Everett Express), primarily drove Big Block Modifieds and dabbled in LM's. He didn't venture to W. Pa. much; he mostly drove out east. Flemington, Reading, Nazareth, etc. I don't know for sure if anyone knows how many features he won, but it's a big number according to those who watched him for years. He also won many big money races and was well liked and universally respected.

 

Walt might know for sure, but I think Gerald was pretty much retired by the early 80's.




#11 The Legend

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Posted 17 July 2015 - 06:03 AM

Skull that may all be true but to expect people who weren't even born when he retired to know a guy who raced as a hobby 5 hours away is a stretch


#12 Skull

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Posted 17 July 2015 - 09:34 AM

Skull that may all be true but to expect people who weren't even born when he retired to know a guy who raced as a hobby 5 hours away is a stretch



Yeah I get that, that's why I tried to provide some background info. Put in perspective, many of our young fans around here have no idea who Bob Wearing, Sr. or Herb Scott were, either.


#13 BaconBits

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Posted 17 July 2015 - 10:03 AM

Skull that may all be true but to expect people who weren't even born when he retired to know a guy who raced as a hobby 5 hours away is a stretch

 

I know of him because I'm from New Jersey and he mostly ran out that way, but he was hardly a hobby racer. He ran in the days when guys like Buzzie Reuitimann, Will Cagle and Gary Balough came up from Florida every summer because the purses were so much better in northeast modified racing than any place else, and they could run damn near every night of the week if they wanted. Tons of guys made a good living driving big blocks back then.



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#14 Express Man

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Posted 17 July 2015 - 09:49 PM

 

I know of him because I'm from New Jersey and he mostly ran out that way, but he was hardly a hobby racer. He ran in the days when guys like Buzzie Reuitimann, Will Cagle and Gary Balough came up from Florida every summer because the purses were so much better in northeast modified racing than any place else, and they could run damn near every night of the week if they wanted. Tons of guys made a good living driving big blocks back then.

My hat is off!  The First Knowledgeable, Intelligent,Correct Post I have seen you make on here.




#15 Express Man

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Posted 17 July 2015 - 09:50 PM

Gerald (The Everett Express), primarily drove Big Block Modifieds and dabbled in LM's. He didn't venture to W. Pa. much; he mostly drove out east. Flemington, Reading, Nazareth, etc. I don't know for sure if anyone knows how many features he won, but it's a big number according to those who watched him for years. He also won many big money races and was well liked and universally respected.

 

Walt might know for sure, but I think Gerald was pretty much retired by the early 80's.

Unofficial  942  But no one really knows not even him




#16 racer111

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Posted 17 July 2015 - 10:13 PM

Article concerning Gus Frear and Gerald Chamberlain...definitely not a hobby racer.

 

Known throughout the Northeast as the "Bedford Brain", Gus Frear became a household name as the crew chief, car builder, engine builder and head mechanic for Hall of Fame driver Gerald Chamberlain. The combination of Chamberlain and Frear won over 600 races from the late 50's to early 80's in various dirt racing divisions from New York to Virginia.

 

Here is link to the entire article: http://bedfordcounty...m/gusfrear.html







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