Racers' Tribute to Joe
DiGangi
With the Super Pro Truck race tonight scheduled to be a memorial
to both Carl Rackoff and Joe DiGangi, we at LongIslandJam.com
thought it would be a fitting time to post the following tribute
to Joe DiGangi, compiled from racers, fans, and crew members -
the people who were Joe's family.
[Pit Bill Interview with Lou
Maestri and Joe DiGangi - 2005] (wmv)
[Lou
Maestri Tribute to Joe DiGangi] (pdf)
In the early years of modified racing with Chris Young, our
budget meant Joe and I would go through the junk pile at the
Goodyear truck, pick the best of the used tires. We won a race
with the everfast Flying Dutchman, Fred Harbach, behind us. It
was fun to watch Joe as he got Freddy over to the car after the
races, to point out that we beat him with his throw aways!
One night that same Fred Harbach schooled me and Joe on
fixing some handling issues with Chris’ car. The one and only
time we did something to Chris’ car without his knowledge, we
made the shock adjustments Freddy suggested. Chris went out and
won the race. Boy, am I in trouble now!
-Sam Young
About 3 races ago I broke the rear in my truck in practice.
As soon as we jacked up the truck Joe saw that something was
wrong and came over and offered to help. He was willing to lend
me one of Lou's spare trannys, before we actually found out what
was wrong. He didn't have to do that, we were only 8 points
behind Lou, and that would have helped us in the points
race, but he didn't mind. That's what kind of guy he was. When
we were rushing around putting the rear back in a few of my
blank set up sheets blew over into their pit spot. As Joe was
picking them up and realizing that they were blank he says to
me, “Damn, we almost found out why you’re so fast," then he
laughs and hands them to me. Hell of a nice guy and will be
missed.
-Wayne Meyer
Joe made quite the impression on a lot of folks at the old
Oakwood Inn across from Riverhead one night. Patient, calm,
friendly. These were all the qualities that made Joe so
special. On this particular night though, a man was physically
harassing a girl (some might remember Betty Brown), and Joe
simply leveled him with one good shot. For a period after that
(much to Joe’s chagrin) he was known as “Spaghetti Joe Tyson”.
-Sam Young
When I was a kid my dad took me to Riverhead for the 1st
time, it was 1996. Louie's parents are very good friends with my
grandparents so my dad wanted me to watch Lou race, and that was
the night I fell in love with racing. Of course like at the end
of any night at "the head" we went into the pits and I met Lou
and Joe. From than on I was cheering them on and helping anyway
I could. Joe knew everything and anything that had to do with a
car. He never lost his composure and if there were problems he
just let them go over his head. That was just the way Joe was.
He concentrated on the car or truck, and getting it a win and/or
a championship, it's always the BIG PICTURE. No matter who you
were he would lend a hand, even if you were 1-2 in points with
Lou. It didn't matter.
I was driving down I-77 in NC with my boy Rob when I received
the call. It was one of those things that doesn't hit you right
away, it hurts but doesn't set in. I walked in the door when I
got back to my dad's and when I looked at him all we could do
was look and do sort of a shoulder shrug. It was one of those
moments that everyone was at a loss of words. We gave each other
a hug and asked each other if we were ok, all we both said was
is that we were hurting.... That’s it....
August 30th is going to be one of those Saturdays that are
going to hurt. It's going to be the first time I go to
that track for a truck race and not see Joe smiling, shaking my
hand, and saying hey how are you doing? He will be there in
spirit though. I for one will save him a spot on the fence up
in turn 4 so he can stand and watch over Louie like he did for
20 something years.
See you in Victory Lane Joe.
-Matt Greenan
Some of you remember, Chris Young had a 1937 International he
converted to carry a race car. You could still crank start
it. After a few, Chris would get Joe to round up a couple peeps
to see if they could crank start the old 37. Joe would turn the
key off, and these boys would crank and crank to no avail, and
then Chris would get the crank, and magically start the truck
with one crank. Joe was just as much a fun loving guy, as he was
a dedicated racer.
-Sam Young
I can remember all the times talking about bowling smiling
and laughing. I will always remember the person you were and I
will keep that with me forever. You will always live on in my
eyes because I will keep a picture of you in my heart. You will
live on forever.
-Chris Turbush
His legacy is not as a fighter, or a prankster, but as one
who simply could make you go faster. If you listened to Joe,
followed what he suggested, you WOULD go faster. Riverhead
Raceway, its drivers, wrenches, and fans, were Joe’s family. He
touched my life just as he touched so many others. I will never
forget you bro!
-Sam Young
Source: Compiled by
LongIslandJam.com
Posted:
September 13, 2008
