Merced Raceway
Ageless California driver still turning circles at 82
By Mike Adaskaveg
Merced Raceway
Larry Damitz
The top driver in the super stock division at California's Merced and Antioch racetracks is no spring chicken. He’s Larry Damitz, who will be celebrating his 82nd birthday this weekend.
Damitz, who spent part of his career racing Dirt Late Models, began his racing career when Dwight Eisenhower took office. Back then, admission to the races was $1, and gas was 20 cents a gallon.
“I quit counting the years about 40 years ago,” Damitz said. “I’ll keep driving as long as I feel young.”
Damitz was known as the “Sun Drop Kid” because he sold the popular soda when he worked for the old Rodgers Bottling Company in Vallejo, Calif. The brand disappeared years ago, but has recently reappeared. Many racers drink it because they feel it is Damitz’s “Fountain of Youth.”
“When they stopped bottling it here, I drove to the Southeast to get my supply,” Damitz said. “I’m glad it is back. I drink it every day.”
The real reason for Damitz’s health isn’t only the soda.
“I believe in exercise,” explained the slender driver who could pass for someone under retirement age. “I walk 4 miles every day. I do my exercises. I never stopped. If you want to keep driving, you have to keep exercising.
Damitz has multiple track champions over a career of more than 50 years, and among his victories Silver Cup victories at Silver Dollar Speedway, the Bill Baker Memorial at Santa Maria Speedway, and the Budweiser Firecracker 87 at Petaluma Speedway in '87. But he remembers racing long before the '70s and '80s.
“Back then you had to pick junkyard parts and modify them to suit your needs,” Damitz said. “Now, you just fork over the money and buy your horsepower at the speed shop.”
Drivers haven’t changed much, though, since the old days. “Some are clean drivers," he said. “Some you can’t race with.”
