This was my Dad's car. He rebuilt it from the ground up as a hobby. Over the years it was bought & sold among his friends. When dad was working on it, he and Mom used to go to swap meets on the weekends and search for parts needed to finish the job. I think that was the most enjoyable part of the project for both of them. It feels good to see it in perfect condition today at the local auto shows. The man that owns it today is also named Ron. Collecting and restoring old cars is his hobby too.

I hope that he has as much fun with it as my dad did.

Dad loved to spend time at Santa Fe Speedway. It was a half mile dirt track in Hinsdale that took its name from the Santa Fe railroad tracks nearby. My Dad just loved that place. He had lots of friends there and this was his place to really unwind. On weekends he would sometimes take us kids. Now and then, Mom would go along to make it a family affair. I think my Mom just put up with the place out of respect for Dad. It really wasn’t her thing.

I will never forget one of those weekends. The track presented a featured race called the “Oval Drags.” My Dad and I both entered our vehicles. As the event progressed, it pared down to Dad and me in the final race.

The announcer really played up the father and son thing with the crowd. That night my Mom was there cheering us on from the grandstands and said later that it was the most exciting thing that she had ever seen; her husband and son in a race. She was really nervous. I drove my best and didn’t give an inch and; in the end I won the race. It was the first thing that I had ever beaten him at! I will always wonder though if the old man let the kid win. I got to know Dad best at the track. We would watch the races, hang out together, talk with friends & drink some beer. I will always cherish the memories and be grateful for sharing this part of his life. Santa Fe Speedway saw its last checkered flag in 1995. A subdivision of homes was built in its place.


A few weeks ago the Illinois Vintage Racing Club held the first annual Ron Jessup Memorial Vintage Stock Car Race in my Dad’s honor. The event was held at Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Illinois. It was great fun and it gave me the chance to get together with my family, my cousins Tom, Brian, & Uncle Jerry and some of Dad’s very best friends. It felt like old times.

Mike Jessup receives the checkered flag and a trophy for winning the Oval Drag event from track announcer Jan Gabriel at Santa Fe Speedway on July 17, 1981.