A Checker-Board Top and a Floppy Leather Hat

  Seeing Wade Knowles and Clint Smith, both of whom I watched making their first laps on a race track, getting inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in Walton, Ky., this weekend has me in a nostalgic mood.

  And it makes me very proud to have followed them from start to finish of their driving careers. And what careers those were.

 In addition to the race wins and championships, both drivers had ways of connecting with fans. Clint carried on his dad’s unique checker-board tops on his race cars, and had a catchy nickname, Cat Daddy.

 Wade, like many others from the Knowles family, used the No. 66 and made it famous across America.

 He also was known, at least in the early years, for the floppy leather hat he wore in many a Victory Lane photo.

 The first time I saw Clint behind the wheel of a race car he was driving his dad Roscoe Smith’s Late Model helping iron the track for a Sunday afternoon race at Senoia Raceway back in the mid-1970s. I wondered at the time if he’d ever be able to follow in his dad’s tire tracks.

 I also witnessed Clint’s first races in his own No. 44 at Senoia, and it wasn’t long before my questions about his potential were answered.

 I also was around for some of his later runs just a year or so ago, and lots in between.

 Most all of those cars carried the checker-board top, and Clint represented the family trademark well.

 It’s been quite a journey for the Smith family, and they’ve provided me with some good stories to write.

 Much of the same is true for Wade. I’ve known his family for years. Jerry and Diane Knowles, his brother and sister-in-law, were in my class in school, so naturally I took notice when Wade started racing.

 My daughter Stephanie took an instant liking to Wade, and he’s been her racing hero from the start. (Maybe she has a better eye for racing talent than I do.)

  Just last week, Wade was inducted into the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. He was the top vote-getter in a class that included some of auto racing’s bigger names.

 I was pleasantly surprised to see him walk up last Saturday night at Senoia. We had a nice visit.

 It’s been quite a year for Knowles and his family. On one side, Wade has gotten some well-deserved recognition. On the other side, his wife Cindy has battled cancer, and their home in Tyrone burned back in the winter and is still not yet liveable again.

 I asked Wade if his trademark hat had survived the fire. He assured me that it did.

 For those who weren’t around back in the day, Knowles was known for wearing the hat, which was similar to the one worn by legendary sprint car racer Jan Opperman.

 Wade said he carried the cap tucked away in his car during races, then wore it for Victory Lane photos.

 I told him that hat should be part of his display at one of the Halls of Fame that has inducted him.

 He wore it well.

 Congratulations to both drivers and their families. I’m mighty proud of y’all.