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« on: April 04, 2012, 09:26:57 pm »
The loss of Jim will leave a huge void in lawn mower racing. The IMOW races will never be the same. Jim was great for giving advice to his competors, he wanted everybody to have a fair race and be competive. Many a race Jim and I went wheel to wheel and bumber to bumper. Jim gave me a pep talk at my first national event in Genoa City, WI. I was scared to death, and Jim grabbed me and siad " listen, you have been getting good starts all year, you get on that tractor and stay to right of the track and blow right by everybody". Sure enough sitting at 14th position on the start I thought about what Jim said, the flag dropped and I drove just how Jim said. Ended up third place in the first corner. Never would have done it without Jim's coaching. After the race Jim told Bruce he expected me to be the next IMOW national points champion and Jim was right. Jim really saw something in alot of us that most people would take for granted. With a tear in my eye and a ache in the heart I know at one point Jim touched all of us. Mow on jim , love you buddy!