Biography
a personal story by Matt O'Brien
a personal story by Matt O'Brien
The year was 1981 and I remember it like it was yesterday. Just about every Saturday morning in the summer, I would sit by the picture window of my mother's house waiting to see my Dad's green van and race trailer come around the corner to pick up my brother, Dennis, and I. It was our favorite day of the week - Raceday!...And there was nothing we looked forward to more than spending it with our dad, Jim O'Brien. This is his story...
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Midget racing is a family tradition, actually more of a passion, that began with our grandfather, Jim O'Brien Jr., in the early 1950s. Legend has it he was lounging around the house one day, when my grandmother told him to go out and find a hobby. That's when he went for a ride around the neighborhood and found a group of guys tinkering around with a funny little car in their garage. It was a midget racecar of course, and wasn't long after that my grandfather had one in his garage. Always as a car owner, and on a shoestring budget, he raced sporadically with AAA, ARDC, and NEMA for nearly two decades.
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Jim's father, Jim O'Brien Jr, with the family Midget in 1953.
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It wasn't until after he had a young family of his own and built them a new little house, that our Dad embarked on his childhood dream and began his own midget racing career. In 1970, he made a deal with NEMA legend Dick Naphen for the former Kelley brothers' "Wonder Bread Car", once driven by multi-time NEMA champ, Al Pillion. A young toolmaker by trade and a natural born mechanic, our Dad fitted the old Kurtis Craft chassis for a roll cage, a new suspension, and a ford falcon power plant all in the basement of his Forestville, CT home. To memorialize the new venture with his young family, he named his racing team "Jim O'Brien & Sons Engineering" and numbered the car "16", two trademarks that would forever be scrolled across the hood of a Jim O'Brien midget.
His first full season racing with the Northeastern Midget Association and his very first driver, Jack Ducette, in 1972 did not go as well as he had hoped. They struggled to get the car up to speed and failed to qualify the car for a number features. Rumor has it that Jack's wife was seen in the grandstands waving her arms and yelling at Jack to slow down as he attempted to pick up the pace. It was then that he decided to take a different direction and replace Jack with a very young, up and coming driver, named Johnny Evans.
Earl Grant presents driver, Johnny Evans, the checkered flag in front of a very proud Jim O'Brien at Star Speedway 1973.
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It didn't take long for this new pair to find success. There first night together, Johnny won the Consi. Their first feature win would come on May 27, 1973 on a wet Saturday night at Star Speedway. Starting from the rear twice, Johnny drove to the front of the pack and took the victory. It was around this time, Jim befriended NEMA legendary car owner, Chuck Daniel, who had essentially mastered the Ford Falcon engines. Our dad really looked up to Chuck, and always considered him his greatest mentor. Much of our Dad's knowledge of the Falcon came from Chuck. He always swore the secret to the Falcon's power was in the cam grind, and our dad kept the cam grind card taped to his cupboard in his kitchen up until the day he passed.
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In 1975 New England stock car ace, Hank Stevens, powered the family Falcon to the Coca-Cola dirt track championship. Anyone who remembers Hank would tell you he was a fun guy to be around. One late night while staying at a dormitory near Unity Speedway in Maine, Hank thought it would be fun to light off his fireworks in the dormitory corridor. Fortunately he wasn't arrested, but he made quite an impression on the locals. This did not go over too well with my Dad, and worse with his mother-in-law. She told Hank he was fired and not wanting to get into the middle of a family dispute, Hank quit to the disappointment of our Dad. After that point, the seat was filled with a few different drivers, including Don Keller and Ted Luce, who made quite impression by barrel-rolling the car in Canada. Our Dad had deep respect for Don and was absolutely honored when he won the Don Keller Memorial award later on in 2005.
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In 1976, Dad put his own spin on the "Badger". He fabricated the laydown car in his basement and fitted it for his new Falcon power plant. At the time, our brother Chris' favorite cartoon was the Pink Panther. So to bring joy to his boys, he painted the car pink and named it the Pink Panther. Close friends Gill and Jeff Bechard deserve credit for the beautiful paint job. Bill Bailey who was and still is the most talented sign artist in the Northeast lettered the car. A young driver named Doug Cleveland in his sophomore year was named driver of this popular car. In only the fourth time out of the garage, Doug beat the national midget Legend Bob Cicconi to the finish line in Sanair Canada. Doug tells us he will never forget seeing Dad running down the front stretch towards Victory Lane, jumping up and down, shouting out to the Canadians up in the grandstands, "I built that f*@king car!!...I built that f*@king car!!!"
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Jim speaking with Dick Naphen as Doug Cleveland gets acclimated to his new ride at Thompson in 1977.
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The end of the 1970's was a difficult time for our Dad. My mother divorced him and he found himself living alone in a small 1-bedroom in Plymouth, CT...and to top it off, the Pink Panther was knotted-up at Thompson Speedway in 1979. However, in true O'Brien fashion he soldiered forward. At the start of the next decade he redesigned and rebuilt his laydown, and put the Pink Panther theme to rest. This was the time when my brother, Dennis, and I started working on the racecar for real at 8 and 9 years old. Every weekend we were either at a NEMA race, or working on the racecar with our dad. We were very lucky kids. He continued running his Ford Falcon engine and had drivers Roy Daniel, Doug Cleveland, and Steve Eldridge take turns driving it in the early 80's.
Roy Daniel getting ready to hit the track with the new Jim O'Brien Chevy V6 power plant.
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By the mid 1980’s, our Dad thought it was time for a change in the power plant. With the encouragement from our Uncle Dan, and the help of ace engine man and friend, Gordon Johnstone, he developed a 2.8L Chevy V-6 into a potent midget motor. He was the first in the northeast to experiment with this midget motor. USAC legend Bob Higman ran this motor at Phoenix and ended up lapping the entire field, which resulted in the car being ban in USAC. Taking the helm of the revitalized laydown midget was Roy Daniel. The first time out we had trouble keeping the front wheels on the ground at Thompson Speedway down the chutes. Roy thought he was taking off in 747. Dad solved the problem by simply moving the wing forward. Roy ran the car competitively and managed a few top tens as we worked the bugs out of the new package that season and the next. Racing is always an unpredictable sport, but with Roy at the races, we were always, and still are, guaranteed a fun time.
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Ed Zalonski was a champion motorcycle ice-racer and the most talented machinist we have ever met. Lucky for us, Ed helped out our Dad quite a bit. Whenever our Dad needed something machined for the racecar, Ed was willing to help out. So when Ed decided to make the transition to oval track racing on four wheels, our Dad jumped at the opportunity to give him the ride in 1988. Ed spent the season learning the ropes, but we were honored that he was the last driver to pilot that laydown midget.
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In an effort to stay competitive, Dad decided to fabricated a new laydown midget with my brother and I on the basement floor of his Cheshire, CT home in 1988-89. It was fitted for his Chevy V-6 and boasted a radical 14” rear offset. It was during the tensest era in NEMA’s club history due to the debate between laydowns (Badgers) and uprights. One of the most out spoken anti-badger politicians during the 80’s was NEMA veteran, Paul Stoehr, so it came as a surprise to many when he agreed to drive Dad's new midget. Paul’s history with the club as a driver and supporter is remarkable. He was and still is a dear friend and we were excited and privileged that he was to drive for us. Paul told all the nay-sayers that he was driving a laydown just see what all the fuss was about. Dad was only able to run the car one season before this car and the other laydowns and badgers were ultimately outlawed. The best run that year was at Hudson when Paul led half the feature, but had to settle for 5th in the end.
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Paul Stoehr in the home-built Jim O'Brien lay-down on the banks of Thompson in 1988.
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1989 was a tough time for the Northeastern Midget Association, in addition to the heated arguments over the Badgers, the club lost perhaps one of its greatest members and officials, Wen Kelley. His sad passing left the club without a secretary, handicapper, and a Treasurer. Dad, who was a dedicated Contest Board member at the time, volunteered to take over as Treasurer - a tenure that would last 13 seasons.
In the late 80’s, our Dad had the insight that we might need an up-right in the near future. He also had visions of a dirt car and knew his laydown was just not bread for that. In the late 80’s we made a road trip to Indianapolis to buy an unfinished upright chassis from Mike Saligoe. At that time, Mike was a suspension engineer for Patrick Racing. Former driver and family friend, Roy Daniel, joined us and made it a memorable trip.
Jim and Matt at Star in 1991 - an owner driver combination that lasted over 20 years.
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Following the ban of the laydowns and badgers, Dad was crushed by the choice the club made, but just like others who had to park there racecars - great racers like Gene Angelillo, Carl Kibbe, and Mike Favulli just to name a few, he respected the decision and loved NEMA too much to just quit. Therefore in 1990, we completed building a V6 powered upright and he let me fulfill my childhood dream by becoming the driver. Our Dad, our rookie racecar and I, a high school senior at the time, made our debut that season at Star Speedway and marked the beginning of our new journey together, one that would last over 20 years. One of Dad's most favorite memories, was seeing the incredible smile on my face the first time I took my helmet off.
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In 1991, we did well enough to the earn the Joe Csiki Memorial Award for Most Improved Driver. The most memorable race of that season came at Oswego when we cracked the top ten, but Dad’s accomplishment was even better. In a time crunch, Dad rebuilt the Chevy V6 motor with stock rods and cast pistons. The engine survived the entire race and we finished a respectable 10th place. We'd chuckle for years following – the thought of his little stock Chevy motor running with the big dollar dogs around the big “O”!
My brother Dennis began his fendered-racecar driving adventures at Hudson Speedway with the Road Runners in a Ford Pinto he built himself in 1994. It wasn’t long before he would turn some heads and start racking up some great finishes. Dad began building motors for Dennis a year later. The first night out with a Jim O'Brien motor – a motor assembled in Dennis’ apartment kitchen, Dennis won the race by nearly a lap.
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Dennis ran the Road Runner division for years at Hudson, Star, and Lee USA Speedway, racking up victories at each. In 1997, a racing season in which our Dad was recovering from eight-bypass heart surgery, Dennis earned the track championship at Lee. At the annual Lee banquet Dennis gave a very memorable speech thanking his hero, our Dad, for all his help. It was one of our Dad’s most proud moments. Following Dennis’ Championship he had a respectful run in the Street Stock division at Star Speedway in a Camaro owned by a local Ford dealer, however, the small block Chevy's under the hood was "Jim O'Brien" power. For over sixteen years, on a weekend there wasn't a NEMA race, you could guarantee Dad was at the races helping Dennis.
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Jim's son Dennis aboard the his own Jim O'Brien powered road runner.
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In our two decades of racing together, our favorite moment came at the 1998 Boston Louie Memorial. It was there that we earned our first victory together, winning a thirteen-car heat race. Witnesses say they saw our Dad practically ripping the fence down cheering me on. We earned another heat race win in 1999, but that was also the year we had our most forgettable moment. At the Oswego Classic, I took a tremendous hit into the second turn wall knocking me out cold and cracking my wrist and some ribs. I remember waking up in the ER and asking Dad, what happened? How bad is the car? I'll never forget his response..."F*@k the car, all I car about is you". After that accident, and the horror of seeing me carried away in the ambulance, Dad contemplated quitting. He had always said to me prior to then..."The day you go off the track to the hospital is my last race". He asked me what I wanted to do and my response was to fix the damn car and get back out there. Not wanting to disappoint me, he reluctantly said okay and we soldiered forward. With the help of fellow racer Ed Breault, who also was involved in the big wreck, we were able to fix the car and be ready for the new millennium.
In 2003, Dad decided he was treasurer long enough and yearned to be able to go to the races and just enjoy the day with his sons - without the added responsibilities of a NEMA officer. At the 2003 NEMA Banquet, he was inducted into the Dick Gallagher Memorial Hall of Fame. My brother's and I, two of his sisters, and his brother flew in from all over the country to be there and to honor him. He was honored for the induction, but was even more moved that his family was there to celebrate. He also earned the Wen Kelly Memorial Award and the Lifetime Membership the same evening.
Our Dad looked forward to the 2004 racing season. It was the first time in many, many, years that he could go to the races and not worry about the politics of the club. He just wanted to spend time at the races with his boys and so he did. He helped Dennis tear up the track in his stock car, and helped Matt earn a top ten in points for a very consistent year, which included a memorable run at the Oswego Classic.
Our Dad looked forward to the 2004 racing season. It was the first time in many, many, years that he could go to the races and not worry about the politics of the club. He just wanted to spend time at the races with his boys and so he did. He helped Dennis tear up the track in his stock car, and helped Matt earn a top ten in points for a very consistent year, which included a memorable run at the Oswego Classic.
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In an effort to keep up with the Jones'...actually the Angelillos, Cabrals, and the Bertrands, Dad decided it was time for another change. He purchased a Hawk Chassis from a racer named JD Turner out in Ohio. Impressed with the success of a 4 cylinder engine raced by Glen and Randy Cabral, he decided to put together a similar power plant. The engine bottom was a performance copy of a Pontiac Iron Duke by Kansas Racing Products, but the caveat was that it was cast for most any GM cylinder head. Dads head if choice was a Gaerte. He and I fitted the Hawk for his latest creation and completed the build in the basement of his small house in Cheshire, CT. Hoping to bring back some good luck from the past, he decided to resurrect the Pink Panther theme. And so, the new Jim O'Brien midget was named "Revenge of the Pink Panther".
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Jim and Matt at Beech Ridge with their fairly new KRP/Gaerte Hawk in 2007.
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Around the same time, Dennis teamed up with northern New Hampshire stock car racer, Skip Trudeau, and began racing Dwarf cars. As always, Dad was behind the scenes to provide support, inspiration, and to share the enjoyment of Dennis's success. Dennis drove to victories at Groveton and White Mountain and even though he did a majority of the wrenching himself along with his sons, he would be the first to say none of it would be possible without his mentor - our Dad.
Dennis victorious at Riverside Speedway in Groveton, NH
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Dennis recalls one race day at his home in Deerfield, NH trying to get the tow rig fixed in time to make the Dwarf Car race almost 3 hours away at Groveton. It was him and our Dad and was raining with no sunshine in sight. Frustration was growing as it was getting late and the forecast up north was not helping. Dennis decided "the hell with it...it will probably get rained out anyway. Let's just finish this in the morning". He headed into the house to wash up and soon realized Dad was still outside. As Dennis went back out there he saw Dad still wrenching on the truck in the rain and when he asked what he was doing, Dad's reply was "We're making a run for it...what the hell else are we going to do tonight? Sit on our ass and watch TV?". They finished the truck, headed north for the track where the clouds had parted and ended the night with a second place finish.
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That's just the kind of guy our Dad was. He loved racing for sure, but he loved racing with his family and friends more than anything. Even the weekend before he passed away in April of 2011, I asked him if he really wanted to race the Waterford opener just a day before his scheduled surgery. His response was an emphatic "absolutely! this could be my last shot" he said with a smile. Well our day ended quickly on Saturday as it literally went up in flames, so we packed it up and headed home to get ready for his appointment in New York City that Monday. But in hind site, at least he had the opportunity for one more weekend to share his passion with his boys. We lost him that Monday from heart failure following surgery to repair an aneurysm on his aorta. He was only 69 years old.
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Our Dad lived a great life. Outside of racing, he was an accomplished engineer, recognized by the FAA for his contributions to the jet engine turbine business. My mother left him when I was five, but he never let that be a burden on his relationship with his sons. In racing, he was a dedicated NEMA car owner for 40 years. He loved the craft of building his own motors and cars and took such great pride in seeing them on the racetrack. He loved being an important part of NEMA and took pride in all his contributions as Board Member, Vice President, and of course Treasurer. He understood what it meant to be a "club" and proudly argued for fairness and cost effectiveness throughout the decades. He loved all the friends he made in racing and always considered any racers "My kind of people!". Sure, he was dedicated to NEMA, and to racing, but his dedication and pride in my brothers and I is what we would like him to be remembered for the most. For that reason we honor him annually with the "Jim O'Brien Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to Family and Racing" so that his spirit is never forgotten.
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The Life and Times of Jim O'Brien
A Eulogy written & shared by his little brother, Dan O'Brien Dan was an important part of igniting Jim's midget career and even raced with NEMA himself from the late sixties into the early seventies with his own Kurtis midget. One of his most proudest moments was seeing his big brother Jim be inducted into the Dick Gallagher Memorial Hall of Fame.
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Dan and his sister surprised Jim with there attendance at the NEMA banquet in 2003.
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Photos from 1970's
Photos from 1980's
Photos from 1990's
Photos from 2000's
Remembering Jim
"...The new drivers and owners of NEMA need to realize the significance of people like your Dad, Gene, Wen, Steve Eldridge, all of them. Right now they're standing on the broad shoulders of that racing generation that came before them. I'm proud to have known you and your family throughout my racing life. We love and miss you Jim, Godspeed." -Derek Pernesiglio
"...your dad was one great guy and a true "NEMA racer". We will miss him." -Mike & Lu Jarret
"... the reason I love racing so much is the people and friends I am able to make ...your dad was an inspiration to me and a true gentelman" - Russell Stoehr
"...Another legend has gone to eternal rest...I must say that your Dad was a true gentleman and I am proud to say that I knew him..." -Nokie Fornoro
"...your Dad was a true gentleman and I am proud to say he was friend I will miss him. The older generation is fading out and another era of racing is watching the sun set. I miss the fun times we used to have..." -Drew Fornoro
"...He was a true legend, - and one of the last "true" racers - who built their own car, motor, etc. Although I did not know your Father well - I have had the utmost respect for him over the 20 years that I have been following NEMA. I will never forget the V6 midget and all of the good times you guys had with that car..." - Tim Bertrand
"...He was truly one of the nicest and most sincere people i ever met. He was one of the people i always sought out when i came north....Take solace in knowing that he and my brother are most likely sitting around telling racing stories and watching down on us." -Brian Suchy
"...your dad was one great guy and a true "NEMA racer". We will miss him." -Mike & Lu Jarret
"... the reason I love racing so much is the people and friends I am able to make ...your dad was an inspiration to me and a true gentelman" - Russell Stoehr
"...Another legend has gone to eternal rest...I must say that your Dad was a true gentleman and I am proud to say that I knew him..." -Nokie Fornoro
"...your Dad was a true gentleman and I am proud to say he was friend I will miss him. The older generation is fading out and another era of racing is watching the sun set. I miss the fun times we used to have..." -Drew Fornoro
"...He was a true legend, - and one of the last "true" racers - who built their own car, motor, etc. Although I did not know your Father well - I have had the utmost respect for him over the 20 years that I have been following NEMA. I will never forget the V6 midget and all of the good times you guys had with that car..." - Tim Bertrand
"...He was truly one of the nicest and most sincere people i ever met. He was one of the people i always sought out when i came north....Take solace in knowing that he and my brother are most likely sitting around telling racing stories and watching down on us." -Brian Suchy
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Carrying on His Legacy...
Jim's sons Matt, Dennis, and Chris continue his legacy by continuing to do what they love - sharing this incredible passion with each other and their family and friends.
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The O'Brien's stand with their very first, and well deserved inductee, Glenn Cabral in 2011.
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Jim O'Brien Memorial Award
For Outstanding Contributions to Family & Racing As a car owner and officer, O’Brien helped write over four decades of NEMA history. O’Brien, a NEMA member since 1970, embodied the spirit of NEMA "family". Since 2011, The O'Brien Family honors his memory with the Jim O’Brien Memorial Award for “Outstanding Contributions to the Family and to Racing”.
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The Jim O'Brien Memorial
Race for the Lites
Next race September 30, 2017 at Star Speedway!
Race for the Lites
Next race September 30, 2017 at Star Speedway!
In the same spirit of Jim O’Brien, the NEMA Lites were created with two principals ‐ cost effectiveness and fair
competition. While the NEMA midgets are considered the fastest midgets in the world, the NEMA Lites boast to be
“lite” on the wallet, making them the perfect fit to highlight the Jim O'Brien memorial race. Starting in 2015, NEMA began running this annual special race to not only honor a NEMA Legend, but to celebrate and appreciate the NEMA Lite competitors!
competition. While the NEMA midgets are considered the fastest midgets in the world, the NEMA Lites boast to be
“lite” on the wallet, making them the perfect fit to highlight the Jim O'Brien memorial race. Starting in 2015, NEMA began running this annual special race to not only honor a NEMA Legend, but to celebrate and appreciate the NEMA Lite competitors!
"Jim was such a good guy, and always thought about the little guy. Maybe we aren't considered the little guys anymore, but for many years when we were showing up with a 1979 Edmunds on a snow mobile trailer, Jim was always there to greet us with a smile. It would be such an honor to win this race," said five time champion, Randy Cabral. "He did so much for the club, I'd like all of the younger generation to understand who he was, and the impact he had on what we have today"
Randy Cabral, winner of the inaugral Jim O'Brien Memorial stands with 10th and 11th place finishers, Dennis and Matt O'Brien at Waterford in 2015.
The entire O'Brien family would like to thank all the sponsors and supporters who make this race possible!
Mike and Lu Jarret
Seymour Performance Racing
Motor Cars International
United Consultants
R.E. Dinneen Architects
Mike and Lu Jarret
Seymour Performance Racing
Motor Cars International
United Consultants
R.E. Dinneen Architects
