Four New Inductees into Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame
Saturday, June 18, 2005
The 27th annual Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame inductions will take place in trackside ceremonies during the evening of the Justice Brothers Midseason Championships on Saturday June 18. New inductees for 2005 are Al Cole, Don Lamberti, Lee Nelson and Tim Trier.
2005 Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame Inductees
June 18, 2005
Al Cole , Des Moines, Iowa - Al was in partnership with Bob Tuttle (1983-1988) and Guy Forbrook (1989-1996) providing engines and in some instances cars. These relationships provided his racing corporation, C & S Enterprises with 61 feature event wins. That is the all-time record at Knoxville Raceway for a car co-owner. During his successful run with Guy Forbrook they garnered track championships in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995 and 1996. That is seven track titles in an eight year period. Al received the Taylor "Pappy" Weld Memorial Award in 1996 and he has recently returned to the board of directors of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum where he was a past president.
Don Lamberti, Des Moines, Iowa - Don found his early interest in racing as a youngster hanging out around his father's service station. Race teams often stayed in the cabins that were on the property when they came to Des Moines. In the early '50s during the jalopy/stock car era, he and life-long friend, Gilbert Sonner became involved in racing. It was during the 1976 season that Don began his involvement with the Sonner racing team. That relationship still exists to this day. Don has also sponsored cars in USAC, the Busch series and the World of Outlaws. The Casey's General Stores logo follows the Lonnie Parsons/Tim Shaffer efforts on the WoO trail again this year. He was the founding board member and past treasurer of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum. His personal and professional contributions to the project date back to 1985. Today, the first floor collection of sprint cars and memorabilia is known as the Donald Lamberti National Sprint Car Museum in recognition of his lifetime contribution to the preservation of sprint car racing. Donald F. Lamberti is chairman emeritus of the board and a director of Casey's General Stores, Inc.
Lee Nelson, Ankeny, Iowa - Lee follows his father, track announcer Skip Nelson (a 1989 inductee) into the Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame. As a youngster Lee would come along with Skip to Knoxville while his dad worked the races here at the track. After a stint in the service and a background in drag racing engines, Lee returned to Iowa and began to build racing engines in 1988. One year later he began driving in the Knoxville 360 class. From 1992-1995 he teamed with Bob Brody and much success was realized with their efforts. Lee won the 1994 360 Nationals as well as the track championship that year. He has seven career feature event wins on Knoxville soil. In 1998 he received the Hard Charger award in the 410 class at the season-ending awards banquet. 1999 saw Lee successfully take over at Ostrich engines. His engines have won three 360 Nationals as well as the last two Tournament of Champions events.
Tim Trier, Newton, Iowa - Tim gained his childhood interest in racing from his uncle and Knoxville Raceway Hall of Famer, Johnny Babb (a 1981 inductee). His early announcing found him calling high school athletic events. By the middle '70s he had worked his way into the drag racing scene at Eddyville Dragway and later the NEITA Dragway in Cedar Falls. It was the 1979 season that Tim became an announcer at Knoxville Raceway, a position he would hold for fifteen years. Additionally Tim has announced racing throughout central Iowa at such tracks as Webster City, Mason City, Boone, Marshalltown, Oskaloosa, North Liberty, Donnellson, Harlan, Jefferson, Boone, Davenport, Audubon and Eldon. He currently runs the computer at Stuart Speedway, a position he held at Knoxville during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Tim is currently the regular announcer at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Tim will be remembered for his phrases "It's Showtime!" which he attributes to a friend and for "Racetime in the Valley" a phrase borrowed from announcer Don Warren.
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