I was a long time subscriber to national Speed Sport News back when I used to follow the Sprint Cars and East Coast small dirt tracks that I used to visit often. Sure, it wasn't NY Times caliber writing but no one covered every corner of the racing world like Chris did. His insight and attention to giving a voice to every one will be missed.
Never forget listening to him and Carrol Shelby rattling back and forth during the vintage races at VIR a few years back, most thought as I did that they both had been sipping the juice a good bit as they almost forgot they were on the loud speaker, telling jokes and laughing to the point that they hardly could be understood....Felt like I was privy to a private conversation between two legends. Still can hear Chris's unique voice being broadcast through the paddock that day!
Many, many Saturday afternoons watching ABC Wide World of Sports, Chris E. providing informed commentary, seemed like so often from pit row, "way back when".
When I first got the opportunity to hang around racing in the early 60s, I discovered National Speed Sport News. I read it until the end. The new Speed Sport is good, but different. We will never bring back the times when we waited for the mail man to deliver our copy so we could decide where to race that weekend. Chris set the agenda. Chris made it interesting. Chris made us understand the human element. Chris made our hero’s.
Truly a legend in Motorsports Broadcasting. There's not enough Halls of Fame for him to have been inducted. What a privalage to have been able to enjoy his love for racing throughout the years. Thanks Chris!
