Bob Markos Historical Scrapbook
My phone calls with one of racing's all-time best
Larry Moore (left) and Bob Markos (right). (Bobby Markos)
Editor's note: DirtonDirt asked dirt racing historian Bob Markos to discuss his long relationship with Hall of Fame racer Larry Moore, the sport's first three-time World 100 winner.
I've been so fortunate to have grown up my entire life around the world of motorsports and eventually became involved through the years in the writing and historical end of the pastime I adore. I've also been extremely fortunate to have met and been able to work with so many wonderful and personable people throughout my 70-year journey here.
One who was always near the very top of my list was Mr. Larry Moore. Not only somebody to look up to, but also call my good buddy.
Many years back I began documenting and scribing Dirt Late Model history and the multitalented Larry Moore would almost immediately become one of my most favorite subjects to write about. His passing last week at the age of 83 was a significant loss for the sport.
At first glance, Larry gave the impression of just a good-time, back-home hick. But with further investigation, you'd quickly realize that he was a highly intelligent self-made genius when it came to the sweet science of racing tires, suspension setups and the world of Dirt Late Model Racing in general. It's something I recognized immediately.
So for many years, the phone lines between myself in Northern Indiana — first to Dayton Ohio, then to Ocala, Fla., and back to Ohio — lit up for hours at a time. Our conversations were a universal study in the history of the sport, as Larry took me each time through an intricate account of his on- and off-track experiences. They were fascinating conversations that I will cherish forever, as Larry explained each episode so meticulously precise, but of course always sprinkled about with doses of his typical humor and colorful anecdotes.
In time as our chats continued, I realized that there was much more here than someone just having the God-given talent of circling race courses faster than the next fella. Larry had the total package: talent, perseverance and a magnetic personality adored by all. He fell into that ever-dwindling category of gifted individuals who, with a steering wheel in hand, would not only compete, but also succeed on any type of speedway surface, be it dirt or asphalt.
As we flipped, over and over again, through the pages of Larry's illustrious past he reminisced of his days when rather crude looking, wide-open coupes circled the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds in Warsaw, Ind., where it all began for him. We spoke of his barnstorming days of the big Chevrolets powered by gargantuan iron, kicking up rooster tales around Bill Redwine's pristine Tri-County Speedway near Cincinnati or roller-coaster riding through Winchester, Ind.'s high-flying early Dri-Powr 400 days. For a race historian, it was absolutely heaven on earth.
We chatted so many times of when he starred in the headlines in those somewhat enchanted National Dirt Racing Association years, when late promoter Robert Smawley worked his magic, turning backwoods Dirt Late Model Racing into a national phenomenon with the NDRA. Whenever Smawley's traveling band of desperadoes hit town, Larry Moore was expected not only to enter, but to triumph.
We spoke of his striving United States Auto Club stock and sprint car endeavors and his expulsion from USAC, bringing about his celebrated reputation as one of the sport's all-time best full-fendered dirt racing nomads.
As time went on, I realized that his affliction at making a living on natural short track surfaces had quite possibly deprived the racing world, as a whole, of another of NASCAR's legendary history makers. Like other exceptionally accomplished individuals from that period who decided against pursuing loftier aspirations, his feelings teetered upon this subject. At the conclusion of his driving days Larry explained to me that there was a Betty Ford Clinic for those with a chemical dependent addiction, but nothing for the long time racer in his waning years. When we discussed the ending of his career, you could hear it in his voice. The withdrawal. The anguish.
So many wonderful things in life never last forever, and in recent years I could feel the end of our road together was slowly approaching, as our usual all-night conversations began drawing shorter and shorter. I could sense his remarkable memory was slowly fading away so sadly as dementia took hold. Just another of those cruel tricks that can be so unfortunately casted upon us.
Larry passed away in a nursing facility April 23. For life lasts but a short while, yet the memories of it will continue on forever. So may it never, ever be forgotten that Larry Moore was most certainly one of the greatest ever to strap into a Dirt Late Model stock race car.
