Sunday, March 29, 2009
Contact: Brian Liskai
liskai2x@cros.net

ELMORE, Ohio - Racing and Fremont Speedway have been in Jim Ford's blood his 
entire adult life. He drove race cars, owned race cars and even promoted 
"The Track That Action Built." Now the racing community is mourning the loss 
of this Northwest Ohio racing icon.

Jim Ford passed away at his Elmore, Ohio home surrounded by his family on 
Saturday morning, March 28, after a courageous fight against cancer. He was 
73 - his 74th birthday just a few days away on April 1.

Ford leaves behind his loving wife, Joanne; daughters, Becky (Bob) Kayden 
and Vicki Ford; sons, Doug and Randy (Deb); and numerous grandchildren, 
nieces and nephews and an entire racing community who respected and admired 
him.

Jim Ford began racing modifieds at Fremont Speedway in 1954. From 1954 
through 1963, he drove for three different car owners including the Meyers 
A-Station ride, Marv Mock in the M&M car and the Burmeister #16. In 1964 he 
purchased his own race car and continued to race until 1971. His biggest 
victory came during the Fremont Speedway fair race in 1968 - at that time 
one of the biggest racing events in Ohio.

Jim hung up his helmet in 1972 and became a sprint car owner. From 1972 
through 1986, Jim Ford owned sprint cars won over 60 features including a 
World of Outlaw victory at Eldora with his son, Randy, behind the wheel, and 
All Star Circuit of Champion wins. Ford's cars won track championships at 
Atomic Speedway (now K-C Raceway) in Chillicothe, Ohio; Eldora Speedway and 
Fremont Speedway.

The drivers who piloted Jim Ford's sprint cars reads like a "who's who" in 
racing: Rick Ferkel, Bill Cicanese, Tim Dussel, J.D. Lease, Jim Linder, Al 
Daugherty, Jim Darley Sr., Al Beale, Johnny Beaber and Randy Ford.

But perhaps Jim Ford's greatest racing legacy happened in 2000. The 
historical Fremont Speedway in the Sandusky County Fairgrounds - which 
opened 58 years ago - was in danger of closing. Ford put together a business 
plan to bring "The Track That Action Built" back to life. He promoted racing 
at Fremont Speedway through 2007, making many, many improvements to the 
facility including new lighting, soft-wall safety technology, new restrooms 
and bigger weekly purses. He created the dirt truck division to give drivers 
a more affordable entry level into dirt track racing.

However, if you asked Jim Ford his greatest accomplishment it would be his 
family. They were all involved with the race cars he drove and owned and 
when he took over the promotion of Fremont Speedway, every family member was 
involved from the ticket booth to the concession stand to track preparations 
to race procedures.

Visitation for Jim Ford will be held Tuesday, March 31, from 2-4 and 6-8 
p.m. at the Crosser Funeral Home, 451 Rice St., Elmore, Ohio 43416. Funeral 
services will be held Wednesday, April 1, at 11 a.m.at the Grace Lutheran 
Church on St. Rt. 51, north of Elmore.

Those wishing to make memorial contributions may do so to the Grace Lutheran 
Church Building Fund; Hospice of Northwest Ohio, the Harris-Elmore EMS; or 
Racers Racing For the Cure, 1040 Cleveland Ave., Fremont, Ohio 43420.