Comments on: Darrell Dake – My All-Time Favorite

By: Randy Lewis

Randy Lewis — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 15:48:55 +0000

In reply to Jamie Heintz. Hi Jamie, Thanks for your note. Darrell was driving a convertible the very first time I ever saw him race. That would have been in either 1965 or 1966 at Sterling Speedbowl Park. I think he might have sold that car to Roger Dolan when he switched over to the seemingly big Ford Torino.

By: Jamie Heintz

Jamie Heintz — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 05:02:02 +0000

I have fond memories of watching Darrell race every week at the Iowa State Fair Speedway. He was always in or near the lead. I loved his convertible and that mouse logo he used. A great driver.

By: Randy Lewis

Randy Lewis — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 14:48:30 +0000

In reply to James. Yes, from the tales of that accident it was a very bad one. I'm sure we were as some of the very same races. Outstanding racing in the 1960s and 70s at those tracks.

By: James

James — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 05:04:28 +0000

I was at the Friday night Hawkeye Downs race when Dake flipped and rolled his Nova down the backstretch. I heard crew members and race officials sat the car turned over 17 times. We watched him in the air as drivers went under and around. We were friends with an owner and driver in that race. The driver said all he saw was Dake’s car up in the air and that he drove under the 8 because he had no where to go. I remember the race officials removing the car very quickly from the view of the spectators. I was horrible to see him rolling and flipping down the backstretch. It was a miracle that he wasn’t injured more seriously.

I was a huge dirt fan in the 70’s and traveled to West Liberty, HD, and Osky to watch great drivers and awesome tracks. Race in Peace 8.

By: Mary Burrack Torres

Mary Burrack Torres — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 20:26:48 +0000

What a nice tribute to Daryl Dake. In 1968 I went to Paris Academy of Beauty Culture in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, straight out of High School. Mrs. Dake was one of my instructors. Sophie Loren look alike for sure. She worshipped her husband and was a nervous wreck on Fridays when he was off racing. I met him a few times through the school and what a nice man. They had such a loving relationship/marriage and she was devastated when he passed. Recently I had caught up with her on Facebook and enjoyed chatting with her. She always said her and Daryl were joined at the hip and she so missed him. She now has passed on as well. I guess they are both going to the races in the sky, flying high.
Hawkeye Downs was a lot of fun in those days, get all dolled up and pick the dirt out of your teeth on the way out. HA!!!

By: Steve Nolan

Steve Nolan — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 21:50:19 +0000

Wow, this is a great memorial to the late Darrell Dake. I too remember going to Speed Bowl Park in Sterling and watching him in that 62 Ford convertible, looked like he was out for a Sunday afternoon drive when he was out front leading in the feature, night after night. Roger Dolan also drove that car to many feature wins after Darrell sold it to him. I also remember seeing him run at Freeport Ill in that 66/67 Ford Fairlane, when Darrell pulled in you knew that Ford was going to be out front, I remember a lot of nights the wins being between him and Don Bohlander. These guys were two of the greats from the 60’s and this brings back a flood of memories.
May they rest in peace.

By: Randy Lewis

Randy Lewis — Sun, 31 May 2015 22:26:44 +0000

May 31, 2015 – This message was received from Mark Z. regarding his experiences following Darrell Dake. I thought you might enjoy reading about Mark’s remembrances. Randy Lewis

“Thanks so much for the trip down memory lane! I grew up near Cedar Rapids, Iowa and as a young kid went with my family to Hawkeye Downs Speedway on a regular basis during the mid-to-late ’70s. Kenny Walton was my favorite driver but there were a number of other good drivers who were regulars at Hawkeye Downs and I think everyone liked and respected Darrell Dake. I wore out an 02 (Walton) t-shirt but collected plenty of Darrell Dake autographs in the pits after the races!

I was there the night of Dake’s big crash and I remember cars tangling in the middle of the backstretch, Dake’s car rolling over and over and ending up on its roof in turn 3. I may not be remembering correctly but it seems to me that he lost fingers from his left hand in that crash, I seem to remember hearing that he tended to drive with his right hand, with his left arm resting on the door. I do remember that it was a long time before he raced again.

The Lighthouse Inn that sponsored his later cars was a restaurant on Mt. Vernon Road not far from Dake’s shop. Whenever we were out that way we would look for DD’s car hauler as we went by the shop, and if we were lucky his car might be outside too.

Still sad that Hawkeye Downs was paved near the close of the ’80s. I attended a number of races there in the 1990s before moving out of the state, but I much prefer dirt racing to asphalt. To each his own, as they say…”

By: Calvin Myatt

Calvin Myatt — Tue, 05 May 2015 01:35:41 +0000

Randy—- I also remember Darrell Dake from Speedbowl Park in Sterling Illinois when I was younger. I had 2 favorite drivers and Darrell was one. The other was Benny Hofer number 50. When Darrell and Benny showed up the other drivers knew they were racing for 3rd place. I raced in Freeport myself but raced in the sportsman division and never got a chance to race against Darrell. When you say Darrell was a gentleman, that an understatement. Its one thing to be a race car driver, but when you have the repore with the fans that Darrell had you were something special. Darrell Dake was a very special race car driver and human being also. God Bless him and his family and may the number 8 with the rat live forever in the hearts and minds of the fans.

By: Shawn Manson

Shawn Manson — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 16:30:14 +0000

It’s so great that you devote this page remembering my grandfather. As a little boy I ALWAYS looked forward to visiting Grandpa in his garage and look at his race car.

I completely understand being ‘tongue tied’ around him. To me he was larger than life and I miss him every day.

By: Gregg Raih

Gregg Raih — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 20:45:27 +0000

I grew up in Freeport Il.in the 1970’s I spent every Sunday night possible at Freeport Raceway,Darrell was the man! thanks so much for sharing this Randy!