JACK HEWITT-Crew Chief Bob Hampshire-Memories From Childhood and Beyond

Jack Hewitt opens up about his longtime car owner/crew chief Bob Hampshire and shares memories of his parents reaching back to grade school days...that and so much more. Enjoy Part 3 of the Jack Hewitt Story!
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#RacingLegends #JackHewitt #DirtTracks #racingcrews #racingcrewchief #bobhampshire #racingchamps #nascar #arca #worldofoutlaws #indianapolismotorspeedway #racingtragedies #armamputation #racingtowin #lifelessons #racinglegacies #checkeredflag

[@gregmitchell4619]

Yep, this is the times I ponder on every morning, and expect to wake up driving to the track.

[@gregj831]

Hell yeah Jack! There ain't nothing better than Miami Valley bottomland sweet corn! Best there is or ever will be. Thanks History Man for bringing us more great stories from racers and the heartland.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Hey...who doesn't love America's heartland! Thanks greg...HMM

[@aaronrider4051]

Thanks so much for all of this!

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

You're always welcome Aaron; I appreciate you!

[@slade7354]

As usual...excellent.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks my friend; I appreciate your support!

[@barrybarkley1316]

Great interview!

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks Barry! HMM

[@RA-zl6iw]

History Mystery Man, you are to be commended for all of the great work you have done in these interviews with these racers. They are excellent. I have enjoyed each of them immensely. Thank you very much.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

You are sooo welcome...and I appreciate you taking the time to say so!

[@bobsmyth9776]

You are one of my Hereos & I saw you win your last USAC sprint car race, Wisconson, Angel Park, I lost my voice screaming,

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

I didn't know that Jack won his last USAC Sprint race at Angel Park...that's interesting. Thanks again Bob.

[@joshwocher83]

I have to tell you on Christmas day Insitbhwre watching this 3 part series and my pops birthday (who passed this year ) was a huge JW Hunt fan and Jack ran for him for so long then we bought the silver crown car to run under bixler enterprises I can not believe how connected we are as humans

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

It's a small world Josh; thanks for watching...I appreciate it. HMM

[@SteveNoffke]

Tri-County, Queen City Speedway is just a few miles away. Growing up in Cincy, we went there when it opened and was dirt in the mid 1960's. Saw many a USAC Sprint and Midget car race there. Also the USAC Stock Cars. In 1970, A.J. Foyt won a race we were at starting dead last. I left town in 1969 to go to Ohio State. It then got paved and ARCA ran there, Dick Trickle, etc. As the area grew with homes it was shut down in the 1980's, and as Jack says, was a truck training facility. It was up on a little bit of a hill. When I came back to Cincinnati in 2012 the whole site had been leveled and it was a large office complex. Other than knowing where the track was in relation to the power line which ran along the back stretch you could never tell there was ever a Speedway there. Google Earth it at Cincinnati-Dayton Road and Dimmick Road. It was at the Northwest corner of that intersection. Saw Jack run at the first Eldora 4-crown back in the 1970's. Great video.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks Steve...greatly appreciated. I have fond memories of Tri-County Speedway when I was a kid. Saw it for the first time when it was dirt...USAC Sprint Car race...and saw it when it was paved too. I like the dirt version better. HMM

[@aveorlando7805]

I admire his humility and sentiment as he spoke of his parents so kindly 🙏😊Another winner HMM!!

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks again, Ave! Happy Independence Day...

[@sillygoose2508]

Part 3 you just blew my mind couldn't thank you enough really thanks for the entertainment

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

You're welcome; I appreciate you!

[@geoffpowe5558]

This just keeps getting better and better. Thank you for this brilliant documentary 🇦🇺👍🏻

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

You're always welcome Geoff; thanks for taking the time to watch!

[@bobsmyth9776]

I'm 68, Jack gave me Thee' Most memorable hug of my life-!! EAST BAY Raceway, His wife was serving Strawberry Short cake, she asked," where is she"-( my wife, who was in a wheel chair) I replied with tears, she died, just as Jack was walking from the pits to the stands, she quit working, whispered in Jacks ear, Jack wraped his arms around me, huging me, Not leting go, long long, HEART FELT hug, then looked me in the eyes....I would drive anywhere tomorroow to give that hug back.Fact-!

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Wow! That's an incredible story!...the stuff I'm always looking for. I would have loved to have had you tell that story inside the video. Thanks for sharing your stories here!

[@gregsimon9061]

Great series done I just watched all three of them back to back, Jack is a national treasure, I bet you could’ve sat there another eight hours for more stories. He always was real good to me and Tony.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Sure seems like Jack is good to everyone...part of his gift. I may end up going back down and doing more with him. Thanks again Greg...so appreciated.

[@petecastle5762]

I wish you’d come to east ky and do a show on old racetracks here that have long been forgotten about , the memories still come up but there’s never any pics

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Which race tracks are you talking about? I'm not opposed to coming to eastern Kentucky...thanks!

[@petecastle5762]

@@HistoryMysteryMan Thank you for reading and replying to my comment , One of the tracks I’m talking about is in a little town called Martin, which is in Floyd county , luckily within a stone throwing distance is Twin Bridge Auto Parts and it’s owned/operated by Tony Halbert, he knows a lot about the old track and Tony also is one of the most successful car owners ( dirt late model ) in Eastern Ky, He and Paul Harris ( driver) have won a lot of races through the years, Paul has since retired but Tony still owns a car that Audie Swartz ( Charlie’s son ) races mainly at Portsmouth , so I’m thinking Tony Halbert along with Larry Thornsbury( Shannon Thornsbury dad ) which from what I hear was one of the best back in the day at the Martin track could really be a neat story , Then there’s Perry County Speedway in Hazard Ky , Concord speedway in Paintsville Ky ( Johnson county ) and also a track in Salyersville Ky ( Magoffin county ) The great thing is Tony Halbert has been too and I’m certain won at each of these tracks that have closed, and I just thought about Thunder Ridge just outside of Prestonsburg Ky on route 3 towards Martin county, all of these tracks are within an hour of one another except for Perry county , again thank you for replying and if I can be of any help I’ll gladly do my best, thanks for great content, the jack hewitt story really brought back some memories .

[@markstamper3806]

Outstanding interview series with Jack Hewitt! Thank you HMM for blessing us with it!!!

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

You're always welcome Mark...thanks! HMM

[@michaelvrckoff6966]

The tracks we raced on with Jack are now closed aswell Newcastle motordrome and Parramatta so many tracks in Australia have shut down

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

I hate to hear that. Change is always part of our world, but wish it didn't include those iconic tracks you mentioned.

[@michaelvrckoff6966]

@@HistoryMysteryMan yeah not much you can do about change. I miss the racing but most of all I miss the mates I made and the crowds . Thanks for the interview with Jack he hasn't changed a bit

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

@@michaelvrckoff6966 You're always welcome Michael; thanks again!

[@pennyzufall4148]

thanks to you for saving this knowledge

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks Penny! Always so nice to hear from you. Sure want to come to Spencer and visit!

[@jeffperry7971]

Hey History Mystery Man! I was just re-watching the Jack Hewitt 4 part series! You do such wonderful work! Thank you for all you do for us diet nerds!

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

You're always welcome Jeff; thanks for taking the time to watch! HMM

[@gregembrey2947]

Thanks Don another great one.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

You know it Greg; I appreciate you!

[@slidejobcentral]

Outstanding video. You put these together really well with the interview and images coming in and out. Always loved watching Jack Hewitt!

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thank you so much; I really appreciate it. And thanks for taking the time to check it out. Please stop by anytime! HMM

[@adrianfernandonoya5196]

I am waiting now for the Part 4.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Then I had better get busy! Thanks again, Adrian.

[@Jeff-vi1mu]

Thank you for bringing us these interviews. Jack hasn't changed one bit lol.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

And that's the way we like it...just as you are, Jack. Thanks for watching Jeff!

[@alanpeters9241]

Great video!

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks again, Alan...

[@heyalmo]

I appreciate these interviews. I have watched many of them. I really love the opportunity to hear and see these drivers from a previous era. I do have one question though. Why soil the work with snippets about politics?

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Something to consider...thanks for your input.

[@sillygoose2508]

Relax and become comfortable with all opinions even though they might not be inline with your beliefs intolerance is the shortcomings of the liberal point of view you consider it as being soiled by snippets of his point of view really the funny thing about it is nobody's interviewing you so we can become in lighten bye your beliefs

[@donolbers9446]

I think intolerance is a shortcoming belonging to all. Sure would be nice to see that leave and ne'er return ☺

[@fivecitydirttracker4776]

YES! Jack got a WoO A-main win at Santa Maria Speedway in 1982. Also went to HMM Utube channel. Was pleasently suprised at all your great topics and content. Had subbed when I happened across Karl's interview as l heard an Open Red podcast from WoO's and he was quite entertaining. Now, when convelesing or I have not the abilaty to be outside, as I'd prefer. I'll be back HMM to enjoy what will be an immersive and, informative experience. Also, I'll not need to wait for the next release on a topic....LOL. Thank you Sir. 🏁

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

You're very welcome! I appreciate you sharing your thoughts here...and certainly appreciate you taking the time to watch. Stop by anytime!

[@fivecitydirttracker4776]

@@HistoryMysteryMan 👍👍 🏄✌️🏁🍉🏆🍻

[@2648498]

I feel the same way about potheads that Jack does.

[@2648498]

But I do love Jan Opperman.... I have the famous cover of dialed in tattooed on my arm

[@tjw3999]

that pot head was a pretty awesome driver jack lmao

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Ole Opp could definitely get the job done...thanks!

[@tjw3999]

@@HistoryMysteryMan kinda funny cause jack hewitt and jan opperman are 2 of my fav sprintcar drivers. great interview!!

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

@@tjw3999 I know, right? Two legends! Opperman was amazing...

[@19723020]

And all these years, I thought J W Hunt was the guy building his Magnetos.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

And now you know...the "rest of the story"... Thanks for watching!

[@donolbers9446]

Thinking back 40 years ago, J.W. Hunt showed up at Pennsboro one year, and tossed another 5K into the winner's share of the purse. I can't recall for certain who won, but he sure did help a ton of Late Model racers. His name, and/or the strawberry with his initials in it, graced a lot of race cars back in the day. He was a generous patron of short track racing.

[@sonnyclark5757]

I thought the only thing I had in common with jack was running my mouth I flunked third grade and am a mama's boy

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

You and Hewitt would be peas in a pod...thanks for watching Sonny Clark!

[@donolbers9446]

Hey, back when Jimmie's Old Time Racing was up and running, someone posted that same shot of Don Hewitt with the ambulance in the background. The story that came with it said that Earl would leave and go home, and then Don and friends would take the ambulance out for a few laps. I'm pretty certain beer was involved also. Carry on, sir!

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Ha! Jack was telling me about that photo in a phone call. He said I should come back so he can tell that story! Thanks again Don...

[@donolbers9446]

@@HistoryMysteryMan Hey Don! Don't let me get in the way of a good Jack Hewitt-told story! Waaaaaay back in 1984, our local Skyline Speedway tried to draw in sprint cars, very early in the season, probably mid-April. This track was always the first in the Ohio Valley to open, and would draw huge fields of Late Models at the beginning of the season. Well, the sprinters, on a seperate date, didn't follow suit. It was cold and damp, and only 2 cars showed up, both with drivers, and one with a fuel supply issue that kept it from going, but there in our local pit area, stood the one and only Jack! Always open and friendly, and much more approachable than say, Rich Vogler or Sammy, he hung around yakkin' with everyone, and even tried helping out the fellow with the lean fuel condition.

[@papasmodelcarroom8450]

You brought in politics so I'm outta here

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

See ya!