[Big Ed]

I don't usually like to post my Michigan Racing Scene column, but I have been asked to today because of the content, and the man.




Howdy Racefans.

There is no other sport that I love more than local short track racing. There is no other feeling I hate more than the one inside me now as I try and write this column. As a race fan, we get to watch our hero's, cheer for them, follow their career's, watch them compete, and actually feel like they have become part of our immediate family. As an announcer, or a writer, I get a chance to not only meet these hero's, but get to hang around with them, get to really know them, ask them intimate questions. Most of these hero's are so genuine. Most WANT to talk to me, to make sure I have all their sponsors, or any other updates to their racing resume.

But then there are the ones that want to talk to you, just because your you. That was my friend Stan Perry. He had sponsors, but you never really seen them prominently on his car. He mostly handled all the expenses himself. When he seen me in the pits, and yelled, "Hey Big Ed!!" It wasn't to update me on trivial information. It was to TALK to me. And I mean TALK to me. He cared, he really wanted to know how things were going with ME. Not at the track, or how the track was doing. But about MY life. My wife. My real job. He knew her name, and he knew what I did for a living. I don't know many other drivers that know that much about me, or even care. Stan did. And I wasn't the only one. I dare any of you reading this column to come to Spartan Speedway this Friday night and find ONE, ONE person who didn't like, love, or care for this man!!! I dare you!!! I know you won't find one. Stan made the rounds every Friday night. You may only get a minute or so, but you DID get some time with him. Sometimes just a quick hello, but most of the time, in depth conversation that would always leave you feeling good about him, and everything he stood for. I can even remember going back and forth with him, and his wonderful son Bud, about our big Michigan/Ohio State rivalry. The comments that we threw back and forth at each other are not fit to be print in this paper, and might make a sailor blush, but every word was said in fun, and never did either of us hold it against the other one. I mean I still admired them all, the Ohio Posse, even though they were Ohio State fans. That says a lot right there!!!!!

I know I'm not alone here when I say I'm going to miss Stan. Everyone that ever had the pleasure of meeting him is going to miss him. He was in the same class as Charlie Ryan Jr. when it comes to beloved racer's from Spartan Speedway, and that's one hell of a class folks!!!

I could go on and on here about Stan, and his accolades, but I'm going to be honest, this is just too tough to try and continue. At the first Spartan Speedway banquet I emceed, Jack Landis (Stan's son-in-law) won the track championship in the Supers, and Bud Perry in the Mods. The one thing that Jack, Bud, and Stan wanted me to do, was my wave lap. I was honored then, and I feel it only fitting now.

In honor of Stan Perry, I'd like to give him one more wave lap, to send him off. "It's time for the wave lap folks, everybody up!!! Stan's going to wave to you, and you need to wave back at him. But he can't see you if your sitting down... SO GET UP, GET UP, GET UP. Get your hands in the air like you just don't care. Wave your hat, wave your coat, wave your Ohio Posse flags. We're up in the tower, and he can't see us, but we don't care. Do you know why??? Because we're waving to you Stan!!!!!! Always and forever.

God Speed my friend!!!!

That's the word from The "IN" Crowd!!!!

Big Ed Inloes

[Mrs. T2]

Thanks Big Ed, I needed that, I think we all needed that

Love Ya Stan!!!
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Don't Sing It, Just Bring It!

www.myspace.com/prplecindy

[Shirley Ryan]

Big Ed, no truer words have been spoken than what you have said right here about Stan. We have always said that we can`t ever remember a time that anyone ever had a bad word to say about Stan, if they did you will never find them, cause there just wasn`t anything about him that you couldn`t like. He was one in a million and this earth was a better place because of him. I think everyone should take just one thing you knew about him and live by it. They say that God only takes the good ones, well he certainly took a couple of good ones from our Spartan family thats for sure. I thank-you also for the kind words you said about our Charlie jr. too. It will be 3 years since we lost him the 29th and it is always great when someone remembers him in a special way as you have. We feel him and Stan are comparing notes and we can just hear both of them laughing in their own little devilish ways. We will miss him just as we have Charlie from the racing world that they made so special for all of us. Thanks again, Mom Ryan
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