#1 JACK COOK
Gentleman Jack Cook is one of the true racers who helped develope the modified class at Norway Pines Speedway.Always a fan favorite Jack had a way of working himself up to the front without using unnesisary roughness to get there earning him the name of Gentleman Jack Cook.The kids loved Jack and always lined up to get a ride in that pretty little #1 coupe.Jacks roots were from the Lakes region ice racing association where he is a very well known name.He came to Norway pines shortly after the coupe class started bringing with him several of the other guys associated with the club.These guys were used to the slippin and sliddin of the ice and adapted to the dirt like penquins on a iceberg.Jack Cook put that little coupe in victory lane many many times beating the best dirt drivers in the northeast . His little coupe sported a chevy v six that sounded like bumble bees, and with his automatic transmission the thing was very snappy.You knew when he was coming up beside you by the different bark that car had.If he had to get up on the outside a run that little thing got wicked bite.Of course having somebody who was fearless like Jack Cook sure did help.Although in his fifties now ( he probrably wouldnt admit it ) Jack still runs the Modified class at Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford Vermont. He still con tinues to pull of wins and holds his own like the true racer he is.And he is still a fan favorite right till this day!!! .
# 25 Donnie Sharp
Donnie Sharp sr got his racing ability from running the old logging roads of his hometown of Alexandria NH.Being from a big logging family Donnie spent a lot of his younger days in the woods on the old back road where he he learned about such things as drifting and plowing and such. When he decided to go racing on saturday nights he already had a good grip on how to set up a dirt car to get it to handle through the turns. Not being afraid also played a big part in his sucsess.Donnie wasnt a bit intimidated by the rougher more aggresive drivers,but if he got an intentional hit he wouldnt hesitate in the least to give it right back to the individual.Donnie had a series of feature wins to his credit while all the time racking up the experiance he would need to carry out his future plans, which would include his young son Donnie Sharpe jr one of the most sucessful drivers to come out of the granite state.After running several years in what was called the late model class in the eighties, Donnie hung up his helmet after a very sucessful run to crew chief for his son in the modified class.Donnie had prepared his son a beautiful six cylinder modified for his first ride.Little Donnie got off to a rough start in the beggining but after a few weeks in the mix it was like a magic race fairy blew some angel dust in the boy and he founfd the groove.In the next few years Donnie jr had quite a sucsessful career and he came along just around the time the mod guys wanted v eights. Donnie jr transformed to the extra power rather nicely so big Donnie being the competition lover he is became bored with the modified racing and he and Junior took off to go sprint car racing in New York.The team ran the ESS for several years and had a good run of it. Eventually Junior was ready to slow down for a spell and Big Donnie jumped right in and ran a season with the scone guys from NH.After a few years off rumor has it their off to rac e more sprint cars this year.
Donnie Sharp sr will always be remembered for his contribution to the history of Norway Pines. A true sportsman....
Donnie Sharp sr will always be remembered for his contribution to the history of Norway Pines. A true sportsman....
