In Lapped Traffic, Part Two
Monday, June 20, 2005
by Kathy Bell - Don Lamberti is another man well known in the world of sprint car racing. Don and his long-time friend, Gil Sonner, put a race car together from a scrap pile when Don was 17 and Gilly was 20. They fielded cars as far back as Pioneer Raceway and the Chariton Raceway before Knoxville was even established.
As Don was beginning a partnership with Gil Sonner in the racing industry he was also beginning what was to become a business empire. He leased his father’s store, a gas station and convenience store in Des Moines, which was a forerunner to the business he worked so hard to establish, Casey’s General Stores.
Don and Gil worked together for years, there were several years in there that Don pulled back as he strove to build his business. Don said around 1969 or ’70, he and Gil fielded a car for Gil’s brother, Burt Sonner. As Casey’s was beginning to make nice revenues for Don, he once again had the opportunity to pick up the reins to his racing investments. He fielded a car for the short lived Slick 50 Series in Arizona, which ran throughout the winter months for about three years and which had a live television package with it. Kenny Jacobs was the driver for the Casey’s car at that time. Don’s car became a regular with the World of Outlaws series with Danny Lasoski as Gil and crew took the show on the road, full time. The Casey’s car also won the King’s Royal with driver Johnny Herrera. When it was discovered that Gil needed heart surgery, Don sold the car to Lonnie Parsons, who retired from his Casey’s administrative job for the opportunity.
Don’s racing has always been his hobby and his expense. “I have always made sure that my racing hobby was that, my hobby at my expense. I did not think it was right for the Casey’s share holders to have to pay for the fun I was having with my racing hobby,” he said. At this time, Don continues to sponsor the #6 Casey’s sprinter on the WoO series with driver Tim Shaffer, who he believes is a good fit for their team. They already have two wins on the WoO circuit this season, which is about par. No one has won much more than two races, except Steve Kinser, this season.
Don said to be successful in racing you have to run your own plan, not the plan of the driver. “Tim is involved in the input of our plan but it is our plan which is the way it needs to be because it is also our business,” he said. He said the toughest part of his racing involvement was in the early years of raising money for the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum. An endeavor he was very much involved with. He credits the good effort between the NSCHoF Board, the Marion County Fair Board and men like himself and Cary Agajanian, Robert McCloskey and Harrold Annett, as reasons why the facility made it, all those years ago. He said he feels the NSCHoF&M has been very good for sprint car racing and he is proud as to what it has become. Don said he’s continued his involvement in racing because Gil still wants to race, Gil and his son Donnie Sonner field the Casey’s #47 car driven by Matt Moro, weekly at Knoxville, and Lonnie (Parson’s) still wants to race and it was Don who talked Lonnie into early retirement to buy the car, now the #6 Casey’s car following the WoO circuit. As long as they want to race, he plans on being part of the team.
Although Don’s been retired for two years now, he’s still involved with other business endeavors. He and former Iowa Governor, Robert Ray, co-founded “Keep Iowa Beautiful” which now has 13 affiliates in Iowa. “The first impression people have of a state is that which they see when they drive through it,” he said. “I feel litter can give people a bad first impression.” As a devote Catholic, his second endeavor is also close to his heart. “Bridges of Iowa” is a prisoner release treatment and aftercare facility in Fort Des Moines, directed by Kip Kautzky. The program is endowed by a grant and had its first graduation, two weeks ago. The faith based program has three phases in which they help prisoners return to society by getting their lives back in order, obtaining a job and caring for their families. Sadly, people know of Don Lamberti for his building of a convenience store empire or his involvement in racing. Less, know of him in the true sense of his philanthropy as a man who is concerned with the well being of others. Don would also like to begin a diversion program, meaning if a judge sentences a man to prison for 3-5 years, he would like to see them diverted to a six month facility for rehabilitation, for those who would qualify for the program. “I am doing this because I feel it is my calling. When God guides, he provides whether it’s resources or people, he provides,” Don said. Don and his wife, Charlene have been married for 48 years. They have four children, 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Their son Jeff Lamberti is a State Senator and son Tony has proven to them how important a prison release program is as he has gone through rehabilitation, turned his life around and now has established his own Lamberti Construction business. My complete stories on the four Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame Inductees will appear throughout the next four weeks in the Hometown Newspaper in Knoxville and Race Talk.
Remember, the World of Outlaws invade Knoxville this coming weekend, June 24-25 and tickets are still available by calling 641-842-5431. Until next time, stay safe and keep on turning left. I can be reached for comments at kbel@iowatelecom.net.
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