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A Legend Passes – Mike McCreary 1942-2004
by Glenn Hopper

September 24, 2004...Champion driver, car builder, engine builder and innovator, Mike McCreary has succumbed to pancreatic cancer after a brief two-month battle. “Mike left us this morning,” said his wife Carla, “He was ready two days ago, but his heart was stronger than it should have been.”

McCreary’s heart could never be questioned. Perhaps no other racer in history ever had the sustained desire and love of our sport as he. He won sprint car races in cars of his own creation in five consecutive decades. He built his own chassis, components, bodies and engines along with those of countless other competitors. His Oval Chassis Research shop in Placerville, California, has been the unofficial headquarters for more race teams over the years than can be counted.

Even though McCreary always placed championship caliber cars on the track —he won the Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) Drivers Championship in a cageless sprinter in 1968, and again in a caged sprinter of his own design in 1972— he could always be found helping fellow competitors make things tougher on himself. He always had good advise for anyone in need of some, and always seemed to have whatever spare part was required to get a racer back on the track. Along with his own driving accomplishments, one of his greatest satisfactions was repairing crashed racecars deemed junk, and putting them back in the winner’s circle. “I can fix anything except a broken heart,” he would laughingly say.

McCreary is survived by his wife Carla, sons Michael Jr., David W., David Lee, and daughter Debby; his mother Lee, brother Terry and sister, Valerie, as well as his grandchildren, Nicole, Ryan, Logan, Charlie, Cormack, Chelsea, Kristi, Thomas and great-granddaughter Brizsay.

Those who had the pleasure of racing against Mike will never for get him. Those racers closest to him, will forever race with him in their hearts. Godspeed friend…

 

    

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