REMEMBERING RONNIE SOX

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Comment by Walt Mentzer on September 30, 2009 at 10:19am

I had Ronnie in for a best of 3 race against The" Grump" at Keystone. It was late 69. Ronnie had his 1969 car, and Grumpy had both his 69, and a new 1970, that he had a few bugs to workout. The 69 was running best so Bill decided to run the 69. needless Ronnie took all three runs. Ronnie came to me after the event and said Walt you should buy this Hemi from me and get on the other side of Drag Racing. The price, get this $12K . I passed ,one of the many mistakes I made in my life. I could always count on S and M to deliver a top rated show when they came into town. Ronnie will totally be missed. Walt Mentzer

Comment by Bill Hupp on August 31, 2009 at 5:43am

My fondest memory was when Thompson Dragway here in Ohio hosted a Pro Stock match race, and all the big guys showed up, Landy, Nicholson, Schartman. In the final, Sox daylighted Grumpy for the win. I never knew what caused Jenkins to be so slow in that run, hard to believe he was distracted or anything so perhaps something mechanical.

Comment by Patrick Fogel on June 5, 2009 at 1:23pm

Thanks for doing this, J.C.
I loved Ronnie. He was my hero before I met him in '68 and he and Jake King just kind of let me into their world. All I did was show myself friendly and offered to help and that was the beginning of a great relationship. When I graduated from UK, I moved to Florida and began a family and career. Those things kept me from enjoying those great adventures I had with them from '68 to '72. I learned a lot from those guys. They were some of the best days of my life. I am so glad that I am friends with Ronnie's son, Dean, now. I remember Dean when he was just a kid wiping down the car (like I did) and he had a kind of "Afro"-do! It chokes me up when Dean says, "I take Dad with me every time I go down the track....I know he is there." Maybe I'll get to tell of a few experiences.
Pat Fogel