Monday, June 6, 2011

Tribute to Barry Kettering, Local Hero, Fearless Racer and Fine Gentleman.....

     This coming Saturday, June 11, 2011 commemorates the 35th anniversary of the passing of our own local hero Barry Kettering, well known in racing circles locally and throughout the mid western USA.  As a young local boy, I had the privilege of meeting and talking with Barry on a number of occasions, at their service station, riding on the Kettering truck down to the races at the CLE, and a few times with his wife Rene( I don't believe they were married yet) at my grandmother's home on Heron St.  Myself and my little friends had built a number of push mobiles with the famous #47 and #57 on the side and proudly brought the car down to Kettering's garage to show Glen and Barry our car.  They always made us feel welcome and never discouraged us from our endeavours.
 As a tribute to Barry, "Hot Rods and Jalopies" is proudly reprinting an incredible article about Barry by the well known racing journalist Marsh Muirhead from "Open Wheel Magazine" originally printed in the November 1984 issue.  "Open Wheel" has since merged with "Stock Car Racing Magazine".  Please click on the article once then twice to enlarge and read the complete story below.....
More about Barry in this blog by clicking on each of the following two links:
http://hotrodsandjalopies.blogspot.com/2009/06/barry-kettering-stock-car-jockey-part-1.html  and
http://hotrodsandjalopies.blogspot.com/2009/06/barry-kettering-stock-car-jockey-part-2.html



A little video memory....
We still miss you Barry and will always remember you!  Thanks to all those who have donated photos to this website through the last two years as noted in the information to the side of the web page, and thanks to the former Open Wheel Magazine and Marsh Muirhead for the inspiring article.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi there, just wanted to say that this is really great! Barry was my great uncle, but unfortunately, I never had the chance to meet him as he passed before I was born. I love reading about him and am loving your blog!

Dave Cano said...

Thanks so much for your comments. My aunt Lorraine and uncle Bob were great friends of Barry and Rene and of course I had met them on a few occasions in my younger years until he moved to Minnesota. Just know that Barry was an incredible race car driver and a fine gentleman.

Anonymous said...

Just wondering why we haven't seen anything new from you for about a month? Keep up the good work Dave!!!

Dave Cano said...

I know who you are and where you live....LOL. It is summer and I do have a complete other life like most people....LOL again. I am working on a number of things though...please be patient! Dave

Sandra Kettering Fisler said...

It is so humbling and overwhelming to see these stories about my father posted so many years after his death. He was an amazing man and I am so proud of his legacy. My Mother is still telling me stories about what a gentleman and sportsman my father was. This Thursday, June 11th will mark 39 years since his passing. It still feels like yesterday.

Abbey said...

Great article. I am Barry's granddaughter and although we never met, I know from reading this as well as many other articles that he was a great man. (And of course from what my mother has told me)

Dave Cano said...

Hi Sandra and thank you so much for your comment. Your dad was my idol as a kid here in Fort William and will always remember the silver #47 and the red and white #57. Barry was also a very good friend of my Uncle Bob Jarvis(my mother was a Jarvis), and your mother is and was a very good friend of my aunt Lorraine Jarvis(Sideen). We all still miss him very much especially each spring when the racing season starts. I can't believe it's been 39 Years.....
Thanks again, Dave

Dave Cano said...

Thank you too Abbey....I noticed your comment after your mothers....We do have some small connection if you read the comment above to your mother. Your Grandfather Barry was a great guy...and passed away at much to young an age.