A few random memories of Jerry Frantsen:
By Jon McCorkell
I know I hung out at the Frantsen shop when I was little, more that what I can remember. But I thought I would jot down some random memories I can recall of Jerry, the Frantsens and the Shop.
I remember Jerry and Keith always being very nice to me and always were a lot of fun. I think they really tried to make it fun for me, and I always loved stopping in a Frantsen’s because of this.
I remember drinking coffee (at like age 7). I hated it but just because Jerry drank it I did because I wanted to be just like him.
I remember Keith and Jerry let me shoot a hand gun, I wasn't supposed to tell my mom, but I think it was the first thing out of my mouth.
I remember lot of little things, like watching video of races, in the little room just south of where they usually worked on the car. The trophies that had up front in the shop. The shop layout, where they usually worked on the cars.
I remember the year that Jerry couldn’t go in the infield for some reason, and sat with us up in the stands. It was great, I usually got my couple of bucks for the concession stand from my mom and dad, but when Jerry was stuck up in the stands he always bought me what I wanted, so I was making a little money at it! I remember he had a big Walkie Talkie he would be talking to Keith and the others with. Maybe he was only up there a time or two, but I sure remember it well. It was awesome! (Maybe it was not so awesome for Jerry)
I remember oen night we all went to a restaurant after the races, The Waitress did not come and did not come so Jerry paid me a dollar to go and tell the waitress, that if she did not get them coffee right way they were going to start tipping tables over.
I do remember that although I really like Jerry and Keith, I never wanted Jerry or Keith to beat my dad. I always wanted the finish to go Dad, Jerry, Keith. Or Dad, Keith, Jerry. As competitive as they all where, they must have drove really clean, because I don’t every remember being mad at Jerry or Keith.
I remember getting a tour of Jerry and Merriell new house, shortly after they moved in. I remember sleeping over and having a great big cat come and jump on me in the morning!
As I got a little older I remember things a little better,
I think in 1985, my dad had quit racing, but came out of retirement to race the Frantsen car once to try and figure out why it wouldn’t handle right or something. But I remember riding home from wherever the race was in the Frantsen Hauler, Jerry was Driving and the talk about the race on the way home. And I really remember thinking that the Frantsen daughters had to be the hottest chic's in the world!
But the most vivid memory of Jerry was this (I think I remember this partly because I was a little older, or maybe because I really looked up to him, but like the commercial, You never know what kids will remember….)
It was about a year after my dad drove their car, I am guessing I was about 15, my dad and I stopped in at Jerry and Merriell’s for a visit, not sure where we were going or coming from.
I think it would have been about 1986 or 1987. But at that time my dad had just got out of racing and I think the Frantsen car might not have been racing either.
The topic of whether or not I should get into racing came up. I told Jerry I thought it would be really cool, and I remember this VERY distinctly. Jerry said don’t ever think about getting into racing, stick with Baseball (I was really getting into baseball at the time), and he was very serious. He said that baseball is a much better sport, because you can play it and it does not cost you anything. Racing cars you will spend all your time and money on it. I think he had some more reasons, but this is what I remember.
I don’t know if he was truly meaning this, or if maybe he was having a bad day, but I will tell you that it really hit home. I think we were just talking about actually driving a race car. I think this is one reason that I really gave baseball my best shot for years and years, played in college, etc.
Another memory was when I was in college, I was a blackjack dealer at Jackpot Junction, and sometimes Jerry would come to my table. I wanted him to win so bad, but it just never happened. I think every time he sat down at my table, he lost darn near every had.
Anyway, I thought I would post a few of my memories of Jerry.