Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy). Jim Croce. (1974)

[@cherriphelps0108]

We lost Jim way too soon. 💔💖

[@Busy-After-60]

That's my husband Ed Van Wie in the #111 car with the checkered flag in Florida with Collier Transmission sponsor in 1979! Thanks for finding it online and including it!

[@espernova228]

Pardon me but your husband's name is hilarious

[@billbill9392]

did he ever race up in Indiana at the speedrome that name sounds familiar

[@kelbychesshir1606]

@@billbill9392 indiana boy right here!!!@ 😆 my pops got me hooked on Croce

[@luvbnamom11]

Do you mean the one that the line says Oh Rapid Roy that stock car boy He’s the best driver in the land

[@luvbnamom11]

Brenda Van Wie, your husband is a really good driver

[@1ltles420]

My late great uncle, Stash Kullman is in this video!!!!! Watch for the 60 Impala number 4U with checkered flag at paved Raceway Park Chicago track in 1964!!!!

[@harrycarter4980]

Wow l used to race with your uncle at raceway park from 1970>1973. He could drive his ass off. I drove in the super 6 div. He used to give my pointers sometimes. He was a real great guy. I could drive my ass off too. We all could. I go to the reunions every year. Call me around may of '21 and I'll give you the info. It'll be in the so surburbs. All the old timers will be there. Harry carter car#23 [708.227.2297]

[@greychampion3075]

My Goodness!! Dirt? Mud?

[@greychampion3075]

Miss a good Circle 8

[@jtroopa]

I love the lyrical cadence of this song. Really makes it catchy and memorable.

[@V4nh4K3ttu]

@Fred Google One could make good movie about Roy. I would like to see it.

[@Blue4uNowicka]

I was in Oklahoma City tonight and had the pleasure of singing this to a race car driver who had never heard it. Croce's songs sure stand the test of time.

[@VinnyMartello]

+Debbie Henning That's awesome.

[@psychopath5788]

That unstoppable guitar solo that you don't ever want it to finish...

[@Craigstern73]

Never heard this one before, I like it. Songs like these were always cool, telling a story having fun. Reminds me of Jerry Reed. Wasn't born till 73 so that's probably why I missed it.. Good fun!

[@9682482]

I was born in '73 also- I had Jim's greatest hits on cassette so I knew this song. Jim was killed in a plane crash the year we were born, he was only 30. One of the truly great artists, especially for his genre. He did sound like Jerry Reed, you're right.

[@OliverOlinger]

My favorite Croce tune! I could listen to it on repeat all day.

[@hutchmorel2082]

Same

[@bwilliams463]

Car #12 at 2:15 is a 1948 Tucker Torpedo. One of only 51 ever made. One of the rarest, most innovative, most VALUABLE American cars ever made, and they tore it down to use as a stock car. Somebody should STILL be kicking themselves in the ass, over that one.

[@---bp8jd]

Gotta admit, it must have been some character to have done that deed.

[@gxk]

Yes sir. Rear engine, rear wheeled beast with a 3rd headlight! Worth about $4 million today (in mint condition).

[@gxk]

Your comment led me to research this vehicle and see that it's still around and doing quite well, indeed! It's Tucker Model #1004 (the 4th production model of 50) which was originally Grey(Silver)/500, but was painted Maroon/600 when it was restored in 1978. It currently resides in Toyota's Automobile Museum in Nagikute City in the Aichi Prefecture region of Japan.

[@kennethlarson5532]

Saw him in Philly about a month before he was killed. An extraordinary talent gone way too early!!

[@kayellee7202]

I liked this song even more after I found out my maternal grandfather and his younger brother operated a still during Prohibition! There was liquid gold being made in them thar hills and someone had to run it down to thirsty folks in the flatlands. So many Rapid Roys they founded NASCAR. Now NASCAR is foundering, but they had a good run.

[@ziffcantrell4678]

YES

[@matty7006]

One of the greatest to ever strum a tune

[@robertleanzo9809]

Reminds me of my own stock car days. Great memories and great friends

[@jrobbin24]

Jim Croce will live forever in our hearts and radios

[@gxk]

The flip side to this song ("Operator") is soooo good that it haunts me to this day. 🤷‍♂smh

[@truthseeker4841]

Rapid Roy is probably my favorite Jim Croce song. I think the groovy bass line really propels the song in a very subtle way.

[@79tazman]

I love this song Jim Croce is a bad ass song writer there is just so many tunes I love of this guy. It's just too bad he was just getting started

[@deanvaughan5288]

In my life my heroes have been different renditions of rapid Roy,they were wild guys who always had time for the kids after the races

[@daesmith3274]

Here in central Idaho my step dad is one of the local legends, championship after championship and win after win. Friendly guy, everyone likes him, and his name is Roy. Needless to say those in my part of Idaho heard this song alot lol

[@paxhumana2015]

@Dae Smith, I wonder if Jim Croce was actually making that song about your stepfather?

[@nickdebenedictis2728]

Me n. Mickey had so much fun luv n mis ya, know what I mean, IL never forget ya , bro...

[@Lawrence047]

Great photos to a great song.

[@jamiehalifax4954]

This is hilarious..reminds me of my kline heights inlaws ..😂😂😂

[@communityracecar]

❤❤❤❤ ❤love it!! ❤❤❤️❤️❤️

[@cameronbrown6635]

Nice tucker torpedo picture!

[@vinny5459]

I miss this man. I grew up with him while in the USN. Great stuff.

[@leonardflurnoy5337]

I miss dale Sr

[@1958RBS]

Such a brilliantly evocative song. Jim Croce was a great song writer.

[@benzell4]

One of my favorite songs ever!

[@carlydelvecchio2287]

Great video ! gotta love them old classics

[@mc2mc277]

When I was growing up, we had a dirt track near me on Long Island…Islip Speedway. My dad took me to demo derbies and races as a kid. One of the old drivers, Marty Hines, kept a museum of artifacts and a few cars but he’s gone now….I bought a place in central TN and damned if they down have a dirt racetrack in town that holds demo derbies and races!

[@WaveMurray]

"he got another one that just say hey"

[@vinnygi]

One of my all-time favorite lyrics.

[@slovecrochet2044]

Just came here to comment that line cracks me up every damn time.

[@dariusdribbles.3981]

What a freaking voice

[@f100sCUSTOMSCLASSICS]

September 2024. Music is still goooooood!

[@Biden_Cult_Dipsticks]

Your the best Jim. You always were. RIP

[@ronwatson4135]

*_Rest In Peace Jim & Maury_* *_Job Well Done, Gentlemen_*

[@jimmydgaf5369]

Roysocoolthatracinfool

[@VinnyMartello]

Great slide show! Those old photos ignite a fire in my belly.

[@JeffFischer-p4e]

I love this song

[@FerretJohn]

One of Croce's lesser known songs, it was the B-side to his more memorable hit Operator

[@70galaxie]

1974? Passed away in '73.. sux ta be old 23Jan'25

[@richceglinski7543]

Anyone know more about the rare Tucker at 2:18 . Perhaps it competed in the Mobil economy runs? History puzzle to me. Love the song, grew up watching 50s chevys at the local dirt track.

[@ClassicRockDJdotcom]

Love the old stock car photos o go along with a great tune! Thanks!!!!!!

[@winifredogilvie4179]

Use to watch the the Stock car races on TV. Loved it! Told to slow down all the time.

[@justinellison4214]

Yahhhh love it!

[@chasemorris2171]

who here in 2021

[@gxk]

Not me. I'm here in 2022. 😁

[@the8419]

You can’t mistake this song for being anything but American.

[@Uutbusters]

Earthbound music was inspired by this

[@truckinfam2207]

Excellent pictures

[@scmorson]

Love photos

[@tomt9543]

In the 1973 movie “The Last American Hero”, a film starring Jeff Bridges about racing legend Junior Johnson, Croce’s “Movin Me Down the Highway “ was used at places. I wonder if this song is in that film also? I haven’t seen it since ‘74, so I’m a little foggy!

[@AUNTELOISE]

love it

[@kevinobrien9626]

I have known this song since about 1979, and it's time I admitted I don't understand this reference to a man in Oklahoma City with a 500 gallon tank.

[@gxk]

Jim is referring to the moving of an empty 500 gallon metal moonshine tank from one place to another (perhaps in a pickup truck or other larger, not so maneuverable vehicle) through the streets of Oklahoma City (where the tank was manufactured) to Alabama (where the shine was produced), all the while trying to avoid Law Enforcement ("The Man").

[@kevinobrien9626]

@@gxk I SEE THE LIGHT! It's not 'the man in Oklahoma city.' It's The Man, in Oklahoma city. And "The Man" does not have a 500-gallon tank; it is Roy himself who is toting that tank, all the while outrunning law enforcement. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, SAM I AM. A 50-year mystery, solved. If you like, I will explain what STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER really means, and we'll call it even.

[@joedroc1]

So strawberry fields?

[@leonardflurnoy5337]

Dale Sr first car was pink

[@stevenmassey7586]

Only caught one name on a car Buck Baker, dad to Buddy Baker. Nascar history right there 😁

[@joestephan1111]

Buck Baker was one of the early NASCAR greats. He also developed early driver training courses for law enforcement in the southern states. Since he, when young, was a "rum runner" did he train them well?😎

[@keitholdham3593]

GOD NEVER MAKES COPIES.

[@knockoutrat4065]

Grouse video, thanks.

[@grousetheghoul2754]

I like it too

[@warsawsrevenge6876]

Love the video. Thanks man!

[@danashby9597]

When racer's were racer's! New boys would be crying first lap, I got dirt in my eyes😂

[@ArmyBoiSweat]

Dirt racing is crazy, i race street stocks on asphalt now but i used to race wingless sprints on dirt. I dicided it was best not to die before my 16th birthday

[@kenny4504]

Nice! Stash appears in a 1960 Chevy at the 2:07 mark.

[@knuckles1206]

This sound really reminds me of Franky's theme from Earthbound, maybe he used to be a stock car driver?

[@maggieotsuka1266]

King of the Strip.

[@aloraelaine7342]

This comment section slaps I love the community

[@Dbrom25]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@alcoburn888]

i'm just here to see the cars

[@aaronlane8405]

Do we love Jim or what?

[@stevegabbert9626]

2:20 Someone actually raced a Tucker?

[@shawnfreeoftyranny8849]

Number 6 at 2:06, the one guy looks like he's on a cell phone. Time traveler.

[@gxk]

Yes, he's calling Geico! 🦎

[@urbana11229]

nice job, enjoyed that. In Freeport, NY we had this. Was this song actually a single? I don't remember it doing much in the weekly countdown?

[@tomt9543]

I don’t think it was released as a single. I can’t remember which album it was on either! Loooooong time ago!

[@jamesvignali6074]

In the future all diamond drones shall be transparent, all cocaine drones shall be white, all marijuana drones shall be green, all gold drones shall be yellow, all silver drones silver and all police drones blue.

[@youlikejazz4499]

this was not released in 1974 it was off his album you don't mess around with jim in 1972

[@kijekuyo9494]

Is the Tucker (2:18) some kind of joke?

[@joestephan1111]

It's the only one known to have raced. It was run by a car dealership in Pittsburgh and involved in the racing around there, including early NASCAR at Heidelberg raceway.

[@StvMcQueen1]

Hey 12mulligan, you can go back and edit anything you want. So why don't you change that '74 to '72. Some of us have heart conditions. Thanks!

[@oldermusiclover]

does anyone know who played drums on this

[@luckyluke-ni9ml]

But jim croce died in 1973 in a plane crash what was the song released in 1974 or did you just get the years wrong.

[@robweiss5590]

Who raced the Tucker Torpedo you see at the end??? I wonder if it exists still?

[@kijekuyo9494]

I noticed that too. I thought they were all accounted for.

[@robweiss5590]

@@kijekuyo9494 it's in a museum from what I can see. Looks just like the pic in the video.

[@joestephan1111]

It was from a car dealership in Pittsburgh where my family roots are. They were heavily involved with the Pittsburgh Racing Assn, one of NASCAR's first regional sanctions. Heidelberg Raceway there hosted the sixth ever "strictly stock" race. Cars weren't worth anything then, why a Tucker would be raced.

[@jakenasewich490]

Where did you get these pictures?

[@jamesvignali6074]

I suppose I will have marry my fiancee at the Picnic Shelter in Ochsner's Park in Baraboo,Wisconsin.

[@kaanberber4677]

It's great song but Jim Croce died in 1973. How he could sing this song in 1974 ?

[@12mulligan]

Hmm. I went through the same problem with an old Patsy Cline tune. So, I'll explain. All the songs that I post on youtube are dated by release date not the date recorded.

[@waynedemunn1797]

+Kaan Berber The song was on the Dont Mess Around With Jim album which was released in April 1972.

[@carlahendricks09]

no he didn't he died 1974😵😵😱

[@bubbletronhoy2724]

+carla hendricks no he died September 11 1973 in an airplane crash.

[@butchknouse8316]

+carla hendricks He died in the fall of 1973. There is some confusion because his last album wasn't released until spring of 1974.

[@timcarriker9615]

tunes from 1972, not 74

[@v.e.7236]

Not to break your balls too much, but at 5:54 you've got " . . . too much too believe." That second "too" . . . C'mon! Does no one understand the concept of "proofreading" any more? To believe that is too much to bear. hint, hint RIP Jim Croce

[@v.e.7236]

Another fine musician lost to stupid pilot errors - all starting w/ Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper, J.P. Richardson - the day the music died.

[@luckyluke-ni9ml]

If i was a singer i would avoid planes.

[@harrycarter4980]

I'm a private pilot, and a retired short track racer. you had to know your stuff to safely race a stock car, and the same goes for an airplane. Especially an airplane. One thing out of 500 things to do RIGHT on even a short flight; and your on the 10pm news! Both professions taught me the importance of training, concentration, and lastly., as dirty harry once said; a man must know his limitations! I use all those principles daily in my life, and they have served me well. As for those Stupid pilots, [and don't forget Aliya's moronic cocaine head pilot, or Kobe's non instrument rated 'pilot' flying into KNOWN foggy conditions, l can only scratch my head. 1] the co. owners should be sued into oblivion, and [2] the for hire industry standards should be greatly increased.

[@arud555]

definitely not '74. Croce died in '73.

[@TerrieLReed]

You know what's worse than 4 letter words? 3 letter words those things I just don't say....

[@ericchapman8956]

How is it 1974? He died in 1973??

[@grousetheghoul2754]

The " You don't mess around with Jim " album was released posthumously. It was done before he died, and by agreement of all the parties concerned ,it was released afterwards.

[@ericchapman8956]

@@grousetheghoul2754 gotcha, cool.

[@gailkelly7359]

I get off on 57 Chevies..and screaming guitars

[@autumnsapphiremarcum2151]

+

[@lucasgoncalves560]

But Jim dies in 73

[@trentfox6100]

Its not 1974 stupid he didnt even live that long...he died in 73

[@jimmieroan9881]

i promised my self i wouldn't do this tonight but too many of you display your stupidity for the world to see, i can't even contribute it to ignorance because it's right there in black and white in the intro, maybe you can get someone to read it to you and the other morons repeating it. photographs and memories -his greatest hits , hopefully you aren't so stupid that you don't know music is released years and years after an artist dies . i think i lowered my iq a point or two by stooping to this level.

[@jeffreybaker100]

NASCAR theme!