Re: Dan Hamstra @ East Bay
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DAN HAMSTRA
I was very fortunate to meet with and interview this guy….He is very easy to talk with. He told me he started racing in 1993 at the age of 37.
He said that the person that most influenced him on how he races was his cousin Cary Hamstra…
I asked him what his long term goal was and he told me that he would really like to go to Late Model .. Said he would race til it wasn’t fun anymore.
He started in 1993 with a partner Bill Tesh but that he had since retired from the race scene.
I asked him what he thought it took to be a good race car driver and he answered with the number one response….PATIENCE……
Asked who his toughest competition was and he shook his head saying, “there are just too many to name just a few. The midwest drivers are as tough as you can get.—but if I were to name a few it would have to be Jimmy Owens, Ricky Arms, Denny Schwartz and Chad Kinder…
I asked what had inspired him to start racing and he told me that his ex-brother-in-law raced a Hobby Stock.. It had broke down .. The ex brother-in-law told him that if he could fix the car he cold drive it…. The first night he took it out he won the Feature… HE WAS HOOKED!!!! (thankyou ex-brother-in-law….we fans of racing are happy you gave him that boost)..
He told me his greatest accomplishment was winning the $10,000.00 at Eastbay Raceway Park in 2001.
The one thing he would change like so many others is starting at an earlier age.
His Pit Crew Chief is Bill Tesh and his Pit Crew consists of Bill and himself…
He said his best memories in his career are getting to know his fellow race car drivers. He said they are a really nice group of guys…
He wanted to give a special thanks to Bob and Angie Pierce…
Due to us having to clear the pit area for a short time I was unable to get the sponsors for Dan…SO SPONSORS… this was no neglect on Dan’s part that your names do not appear here..Next time I see his car I will add the names here… I know there was McGunegill Engine Performance and AFCO and of course Pierce Chassis….
Thankyou so much for the interview Dan Hamstra…
Full Version: DAN HAMSTRA...#23H
AT EAST BAY , FLORIDA... JANUARY 24,2004
Dan Hamstra at Kokomo, In
July 17, 2005
July 17, 2005
Hammer is best. I have seen Dan the last Few years at East Bay Raceway Park and he is my favorite, except for my brother, Joey Fowler #19, from St. Charles Michigan.Dan knows me when he sees me, he is the huy who found and picked my eye up at the lounge.
Hope Dan is doing well and hope to see him at East Bay weather he is racing. Dan is a super young man and our prayers go out to him and his family.
Norm Fowler and Group
UMP Modified National Points Leader Dan Hamstra Seriously Injured In Highway Accident
By Kevin Kovac
EVANSVILLE , IN – Sept. 21, 2006 – United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) Modified national points leader Dan Hamstra of Wheatland , Ind. , was seriously injured Wednesday in a highway accident.
One of the Midwest ’s most respected short-track racers, Hamstra was driving to a local hospital to see his daughter, who gave birth to a baby girl on Wednesday, when his vehicle reportedly struck a tree head-on. He was transported to St. Anthony Hospital in Crown Point , Ind. , and later flown to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria , Ill. , for further treatment.
Hamstra, who turns 50 on Oct. 18, suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured vertebra, broken ribs, collapsed lungs and numerous cuts. His most serious injury was a lacerated liver.
Listed in critical but stable condition on Thursday morning, Hamstra was resting under heavy sedation as doctors prepared to operate on his damaged liver. No time-table for his recovery was known.
The accident occurred as Hamstra was finishing up one of the most successful seasons of his long UMP Modified career. His latest victory, on Sept. 16 at Kamp ( Ind. ) Motor Speedway, gave him 20 wins in 2006, and he was heading into this weekend’s action leading the UMP Modified national points standings by 58 points over Denny Schwartz of Ashmore, Ill.
Just three weekends remain in the 2006 UMP Modified national points chase, which wraps up with the UMP Nationals on Oct. 6-7 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg , Ohio . Hamstra has spent the season focused on winning his first career UMP Modified national title, and with the end near he could taste the $20,000 champion’s award.
“Dan has really been pursuing the national championship,” said UMP director Sam Driggers. “He’s been calling the (UMP) office two or three times a week to ask about the points (standings) so he can really stay on top of them.
“All of us with DIRT MotorSports and UMP send our best wishes and prayers to Dan and his family.”
Hamstra, who finished fourth in last year’s UMP Modified national points race, has 49 UMP starts under his belt this season. In addition to his regular stops of Kamp and Kankakee ( Ill. ) Motor Speedway, he’s also won features at Farmer City ( Ill. ) Raceway, Brownstown ( Ind. ) Speedway , Kokomo ( Ind. ) Speedway and Vermillion County ( Ill. ) Speedway .
Cards can reach Hamstra at 12249 North 400 West, Wheatfield , IL , 46392 .
By Kevin Kovac
EVANSVILLE , IN – Sept. 21, 2006 – United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) Modified national points leader Dan Hamstra of Wheatland , Ind. , was seriously injured Wednesday in a highway accident.
One of the Midwest ’s most respected short-track racers, Hamstra was driving to a local hospital to see his daughter, who gave birth to a baby girl on Wednesday, when his vehicle reportedly struck a tree head-on. He was transported to St. Anthony Hospital in Crown Point , Ind. , and later flown to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria , Ill. , for further treatment.
Hamstra, who turns 50 on Oct. 18, suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured vertebra, broken ribs, collapsed lungs and numerous cuts. His most serious injury was a lacerated liver.
Listed in critical but stable condition on Thursday morning, Hamstra was resting under heavy sedation as doctors prepared to operate on his damaged liver. No time-table for his recovery was known.
The accident occurred as Hamstra was finishing up one of the most successful seasons of his long UMP Modified career. His latest victory, on Sept. 16 at Kamp ( Ind. ) Motor Speedway, gave him 20 wins in 2006, and he was heading into this weekend’s action leading the UMP Modified national points standings by 58 points over Denny Schwartz of Ashmore, Ill.
Just three weekends remain in the 2006 UMP Modified national points chase, which wraps up with the UMP Nationals on Oct. 6-7 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg , Ohio . Hamstra has spent the season focused on winning his first career UMP Modified national title, and with the end near he could taste the $20,000 champion’s award.
“Dan has really been pursuing the national championship,” said UMP director Sam Driggers. “He’s been calling the (UMP) office two or three times a week to ask about the points (standings) so he can really stay on top of them.
“All of us with DIRT MotorSports and UMP send our best wishes and prayers to Dan and his family.”
Hamstra, who finished fourth in last year’s UMP Modified national points race, has 49 UMP starts under his belt this season. In addition to his regular stops of Kamp and Kankakee ( Ill. ) Motor Speedway, he’s also won features at Farmer City ( Ill. ) Raceway, Brownstown ( Ind. ) Speedway , Kokomo ( Ind. ) Speedway and Vermillion County ( Ill. ) Speedway .
Cards can reach Hamstra at 12249 North 400 West, Wheatfield , IL , 46392 .
interview updated june 6th, 2010 , danville, illinois...vermillion county
Pierce Party, TOYOTA OF DANVILLE 50 ..$5000 to win
Vermillion County Speedway, Danville, Illinois
June 6th, 2010
Dan Hamstra is 53 years old and lives in Demotte, Indiana....
Dan was involved in a very serious car accident in September of 2006 which has caused him to limit his racing time.... He told me he raced a couple of times last year and plan on doing the same this year.....
tonight he was racing Gary Cook,jr's backup car....
He told me it was really hard not being able to race... he told me that he certainly misses the adrenolin that he gets when he races but more then that he misses the comradery of his fellow racers....said you can't find a better group of guys then you do at the racetrack....
Dan said that when he raced he considered Shady Hills his hometrack... His favorite track to run was Kamp in Boswell, Indiana but added that he also liked Vermillion County..
Dan told me that he had started racing at a later age then most drivers do...He started at age 35 in a hobby stock... He told me that his friend owned one and let him drive it once.... he said that was all it took to hook him... He went out and bought one and raced it til they eliminated the class .....amounted to about two years...
He then went into a modified and raced it from 1996 til his accident in 2006..
When Dan raced his car number was #23h... I asked him if there was a special reason behind the number.
He told me that he had always used that number in everything he did from the time he was in grade school..
When I asked him who he admired most in racing he told me there were too many to name...said it is one of the hardest things for him...."not being around his friends"....
I asked Dan what he thought it took to be a good driver.... He said he believes you have to have a natural ability..have that little extra touch... and then of course he said you need good equipment...
I asked who had been his toughest competitor and he said..... man... I can't name just one... there was way too many good drivers when I was driving to pick out one....
Racing highlight for Dan was winning over 200 features in his career.....
In racing the high groove or low groove he told me he would race where he needed to be but said he prefered the bottom...said he didin't like a big cushion...
On racing a dry slick track or a tacky track he said he liked racing a dry slick track and added that anyone can go fast on a tacky track.....
****** In 2006 , the year of his accident he was leading the UMP National Points and he went on to take the Championship that year...
Chad Kinder raced the famous #23h Hamstra car at Eldora for Dan .... it was a very moving tribute to a great racer ....*****
Dan... it is always a treat to run into you at a track...always the gentleman ... so glad I got to know you....
cj
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Pierce Party, TOYOTA OF DANVILLE 50 ..$5000 to win
Vermillion County Speedway, Danville, Illinois
June 6th, 2010
Dan Hamstra is 53 years old and lives in Demotte, Indiana....
Dan was involved in a very serious car accident in September of 2006 which has caused him to limit his racing time.... He told me he raced a couple of times last year and plan on doing the same this year.....
tonight he was racing Gary Cook,jr's backup car....
He told me it was really hard not being able to race... he told me that he certainly misses the adrenolin that he gets when he races but more then that he misses the comradery of his fellow racers....said you can't find a better group of guys then you do at the racetrack....
Dan said that when he raced he considered Shady Hills his hometrack... His favorite track to run was Kamp in Boswell, Indiana but added that he also liked Vermillion County..
Dan told me that he had started racing at a later age then most drivers do...He started at age 35 in a hobby stock... He told me that his friend owned one and let him drive it once.... he said that was all it took to hook him... He went out and bought one and raced it til they eliminated the class .....amounted to about two years...
He then went into a modified and raced it from 1996 til his accident in 2006..
When Dan raced his car number was #23h... I asked him if there was a special reason behind the number.
He told me that he had always used that number in everything he did from the time he was in grade school..
When I asked him who he admired most in racing he told me there were too many to name...said it is one of the hardest things for him...."not being around his friends"....
I asked Dan what he thought it took to be a good driver.... He said he believes you have to have a natural ability..have that little extra touch... and then of course he said you need good equipment...
I asked who had been his toughest competitor and he said..... man... I can't name just one... there was way too many good drivers when I was driving to pick out one....
Racing highlight for Dan was winning over 200 features in his career.....
In racing the high groove or low groove he told me he would race where he needed to be but said he prefered the bottom...said he didin't like a big cushion...
On racing a dry slick track or a tacky track he said he liked racing a dry slick track and added that anyone can go fast on a tacky track.....
****** In 2006 , the year of his accident he was leading the UMP National Points and he went on to take the Championship that year...
Chad Kinder raced the famous #23h Hamstra car at Eldora for Dan .... it was a very moving tribute to a great racer ....*****
Dan... it is always a treat to run into you at a track...always the gentleman ... so glad I got to know you....
cj
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