Dick Trickle the greatest WI short track driver killed himself today. I grew up watching Dick at the Track My father was a flagman at and spent some great times laughing with him at Dor's Door in Slinger.
You'll be missed Dick.
http://www.cbssports.com/general/blog/eye-on-sports/22256692/nascar-driver-dick-trickle-dies-of-selfinflicted-gunshot
I know it is a decision he made privately but you sure wish you knew why/what he was thinking.
Very sad day!
Never like to see someone go this way.
Grew up watching Dick in his purple 99 car win every Friday night in Wisconsin Dells. Very sad news..
I remember there would be weeks you could see him run WIR or Wausau on Thursday; Golden Sands or Capital on Friday and Dells or LaX on Saturday and Slinger on Sunday. He raced a lot of specials and seems like most tracks in Wisconsin, IL, some in MN and Iowa. the specials would take him all over the Midwest and throughout the country and Canada. Lots a great memories and talks with him. If I remember right the last win was at Slinger in a last chance race and in the feature he worked his way through the field before a part failure. He was on his way to another Slinger National win.
Quote from: dad 2 5 on May 17, 2013, 10:30:03 AM
I remember there would be weeks you could see him run WIR or Wausau on Thursday; Golden Sands or Capital on Friday and Dells or LaX on Saturday and Slinger on Sunday. He raced a lot of specials and seems like most tracks in Wisconsin, IL, some in MN and Iowa. the specials would take him all over the Midwest and throughout the country and Canada. Lots a great memories and talks with him. If I remember right the last win was at Slinger in a last chance race and in the feature he worked his way through the field before a part failure. He was on his way to another Slinger National win.
That's exactly right Dad, I was at that race and the last time I saw him in person. I also got a chance to do the mini Dick Trickle tour that you pointed out when My dad was the Chief Starter at WIR and Slinger.
One night at Dor's Door after Slinger, my friend and I were hanging out with my dad and talking with Dick. My friend said something that annoyed Dick and he said "Whatever John Cougar Mellancamp hippie". He never pulled punches and had a great dry sense of humor. When I was in the Navy and would drive to Charlotte or Bristol he would make time to say hi and ask how my dad was (he had cancer and dialisis) Dick was incredibly kind too after my dad passed away.
I wonder if Dick was sick and didn't want to go out with a long drawn out illness.
Unfortunately, that's the rumor I'm hearing....
He had pain in his chest (I believe) and was suppose to go to doc today I heard.
Sorry to see anyone go out this way... :'(
Quote from: howavi on May 17, 2013, 08:37:03 PM
He had pain in his chest (I believe) and was suppose to go to doc today I heard.
He also struggled with the death of his grandchild who was killed in a car accident about 10 years ago.