Joy Fair |
When you talk about the true pioneers of the early years of stock car racing, Joy Fair's name goes right on the "A" list of those that helped pave the way for today's obvious prosperity and wealth! "Back when I started in 1949," explains Joy, "you would always be almost afraid to walk through the pits at a race track at night! It was like that for a long time!" Beginning a highly successful career when Harry S Truman was President, Fair dominated midwest short track racing, cleaning up at places like Sandusky (OH), Toledo (OH) and Flat Rock (MI). However, Fair also drove in many sanctioning bodies: NASCAR, ARCA, ASA, USAC and various others! His best NASCAR finish was a ninth at Soldier Field in Chicago in the 1950's! |
Aside from Fair's competitive nature, he is also a very gifted mechanic, running "Fair's Autocraft" in Pontiac, MI (north of Detroit) until retiring recently. "I always thought being a good mechanic made me a better racer. But I also had great equipment. "I always thought that racing was the wildest thing you could ever do without sinning!" |
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This page was last updated on: 7/22/05
Joy Fair raced for over 50 years and he has a lot of stories to tell! And he does so in the fantastic 84 page book, "My Name Is Joy Fair"! National Speed Sport News' Jim Martin's book review says, "you'll find it difficult to put this book down!" Joy does all the telling, from the start to the finish, and see rare photos when you order! Don't delay -- do it today! Send only $11.50, and please allow four to six weeks for delivery (price includes shipping and handling). PLEASE SEND TO: PayPal account: hiepublishing@go.com or, check or money order to: H.I.E. Publishing P.O. Box 4572 Troy, MI 48099 (248) 548-7599 Order now! And, thanks! |
Joy's Career Highlights: -Born September 10th, 1930 -Harry S Truman was President of the United States when Joy started his career! Fair drove in six decades -- and has made hints he wants to try for his seventh! -First race was Pardington's Pastures Speedway in Sterling Heights, MI (14 Mile and Dequindre area)! -Won at the International Exposition Fairgrounds in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. -Champion, 1965 Baer Field in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. -Champion, six years running, Toledo Speedway, Ohio, 1967-1972, then again in 1974, late model division. -Late Model Champion ten times, Flat Rock Speedway, Michigan. -1977 Mt. Clemens Race Track, Michigan late model champion. -Late Model Champion at Flat Rock, Mt. Clemens and Toledo, all in 1981 (at the time, Mt. Clemens was a NASCAR sanctioned track). -Won inaugural Glass City "200" at Toledo, 1968 (Joe Ruttman also won this race, driving Joy's four-door Maverick). Joy won the race again in 1975 and 1976. -Won nine out of 14 features at Flat Rock Speedway in 1969, including 100 lap invitational where he lapped the entire field; also won 10 of 14 features at Toledo. -Won the 1974 Ohio State "500" championship. -Won two ARCA Supercar (ReMAX) Series races at Toledo and at Sun Valley (now Anderson) Speedway in Indiana in 1972. -Won over 700 short track features in 12 states and Canada. Winningest driver in state of Michigan with over 600 victories. -Two NASCAR Grand National (now Nextel Cup) Series starts, both coming in 1956. Best finish ninth at Soldier Field, Chicago, IL. Other start was on Daytona's Beach course where he experienced a DNF (clutch). -Won dirt all-star race inside the Pontiac Silverdome (former home of the NFL's Detroit Lions) in 1982, beating NASCAR greats David Pearson (second place), Neil Bonnett and Kyle Petty and short track ace Bob Senneker, among others. -Inducted into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1987. -Car #1 retired from ARCA competition in 1999 -- first and only driver in series history to receive such an honor. Also that year given honorary ARCA lifetime membership. -Won almost every event he finished; dominant on various types of tracks rarely seen from any other stock car driver. -Many articles on Joy in "Stock Car Racing Magazine", "Late model Digest" and others. -Prepared cars for some of the best short track and NASCAR drivers in the country, including: Ruttman, Dave Marcis, as well as Rick Sheppard and Dick Price, to name a few. -Best known as, "The Fair One". |
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