2007 Living Legend Award

Living Legends are those that will forever be held in high respect by those that enjoyed their excellence.  Think of our seven past recipients…Buddy Cochran, Ralph Quarterson, Ed Schaffer, Vic George, Mike Kristyak, Keith Morrow, Skinny Hall, and Ron Eperthener, Sr. and I’m sure the memories they gave us all will immediately encompass your thoughts. 

These people stand above the rest for their accomplishments, abilities, and the images they portray the moment you hear their names.

This year’s Living Legend recipient’s legacy will remain for years and years to come. 

His racing career began way back in 1949, two years before Mercer ran its first race, in a Ford Flathead on a small quarter-mile track.  He deemed his first season a success and was very excited about the sport and look forwarded to the future.

Racing continued to grow as the years went by as he raced four to five nights per week with great success.  Over the course of his career, which ended in 1983, he raced at over 40 different speedways. 

He was a winner at all of the area tracks he competed at such as Butler, Blanket Hill, Tri-City, Hickory, Lernerville, Sharon, and of course Mercer. 

While our records at Mercer only go back to the 1966 season, we still have 32 wins for him with 22 of them coming in the modified division, 4 in a late model, and 3 each in the semi lates and six cylinders.  He was also the 1969 Modified Champion and more importantly was the first driver in the history of the speedway to win in 4 different divisions.  Since his great accomplishment, only 3 drivers have been able to match that feat in Alan Dellinger, Frank Guidace, and Lonny Riggs.

He has so many cherished memories over the years that it makes him wonder what else is comparable to this sport of auto racing that he truly enjoyed.  He hopes that upcoming drivers can share the many wonderful experiences he had.

Tonight we are proud to add Yip Robinson as our next Living Legend at Mercer Raceway Park.

Yip currently resides in South Carolina and was unable to make it up for our banquet.  However, we are thrilled tonight to have all of his children present, his three sons Chris, Larry, and Duane and daughter Patricia.  His nephew Tom also came up from Florida to be with us.

Would the Robinson Family please come forward to accept on Yip’s behalf?

(When applause dies down and before acceptance speech…also attending on behalf of Yip is Robert Skrak, a former pit crew member, along with Chris’ wife Ruth and Patricia’s finance Doug Kienast.)