Name: Tim Herbst

Age: 50 easier to type than to admit

Family: My wife Chris and I was married 1-1-2000 in Grapevine Texas, I have a son from my first marriage, Kyle (27), and I have two lovely granddaughters’ Behylee (6) and Urijah (3)

Hometown: Born and raised in Breese IL, but unfortunately where we live has a Greenville Address

How did you get involved with racing? My neighbors in Breese, were the local gearheads and taught me the mechanics of the small block Chevy; they now own and operate D&M Machine in Breese


Did you race and if so what class and where did you race? I started out street racing a 57 Chevy, Then a big block ’68 El Camino. In the late 70’s I bracket raced a ’66 427 Biscayne. That was the last car I drove myself on the strip. I then partnered up with a friend from Breese on a ’67 Nova and later had one of the first F body Camaros to run a NHRA (National Hot Rod Assoc.) event. Both cars ran in the NHRA C/Supermod class.


Any family members race? Nope, My grandfather on my Mom’s side was a mechanic but hated car racing, The rest of the family is into stick and ball sports, I’m sorta the black sheep.


Did you ever work on a pit crew for a team? I was talked out of racing retirement in the late 80’s by my friends at D&M to give Highland streetstock racer Johnny Pate a hand in tuning his car. That’s where I caught the circle track bug. I later helped Brian Schrage in winning a streetstock championship at Brownstown.

What tracks have you worked at, promoted, etc.? The first track I worked at was Highland where I was on the Board of Directors of SARA (Southwestern Auto Racing Assoc.) for 7 years. During that time I was the tech man, ran the push truck, and worked the gate at turn 4. I also filled in one night as the announcer and occasionally worked as a corner safetyman. After Highland, I was the President and Race Director of CIDRA (Central Illinois Dirt Racing Assoc.). We conducted the races at the Bond County Fair Grounds in Greenville. That lasted two years until the City shut down weekly races on account of the noise. From Greenville I worked at the Tri City Speedway in Granite City IL where I was the Weekly Event Co-ordinator. Also during the 2004 season along with my wife, we promoted the Steve Schmitt Super Summer Series at the Bond County Raceway, a five race series that averaged nearly 100 cars per night.

What are some things that you have accomplished? Oh boy…I have been apart of many things in my racing career. With the drag car we held National Records in both the IHRA (International Hot Rod Assoc.), D/MP, and the NHRA, C/SM. During the SARA days we averaged nearly 100 cars per night running only 4 classes, and we had over a $12000 points fund for the last year we (SARA) ran Highland. Being part of the re-opening of the track in Greenville after it sat idle for awhile and running as a non-sanctioned Saturday night track was another. Then being a part of Tri City last year was neat, as it was its’ best year in a long time. By the way, it was unsanctioned also.

What do you think it takes to make a track successful? In the above two questions I always refer to the fact that I was a part of something. To make a track successful you need to surround yourself with good people. Something I always try to do. A racetrack is just like a race team you must have good people that work together in the same positive manner to make it successful.

What do you think in the racing field that needs to be changed? The ratio of money the weekly racer is spending compared to the nightly payouts is completely out of kilter. The tracks are tapped out as far how much it can return nightly to the racers. The rules need to adjust so the weekly racer can compete and the local track can stay in business. Easier said than done. BUT might come to a head sooner than we think.

What over the years have you seen change the most? I guess, as it is in life, the Internet. It has changed how we discuss the happenings at the local tracks. What used to be hashed over a beer at a tavern, sitting around someone’s race garage or at the local Speed Shop during the week, now happens almost before the dust settles at the track. Enclosed trailers,while it isn’t so earth shattering, I find it amusing. We now see Hornets show up at the track in them. Something less than ten years ago only the travailing pros had.

And …what do you expect in this coming year at Mt.Vernon? I am hoping to bring the family atmosphere back. I didn’t attend any races this past year because of my commitment to TCS. I did follow the results etc. and the racer count was pretty decent so I am hoping to build on that. I hope everyone will realize that I took this position after a lot of things were already set up. The people that I have met that worked at the track last season are very dedicated to Mt.Vernon Raceway. I am looking forward to the 2005 season and meeting ALL the crew, racers and fans. My phone is always on if anyone has a question please call me at 618-304-5256.

Thanks CJ for the interview

Tim Herbst