12/1/2017
Devil's Bowl Speedway
DRIVER PROFILE: Ron Proctor
Driver: Ron Proctor
Hometown: West Crescent, N.Y.
Residence: Charlton, N.Y.
Date of Birth: 6/09/53
Family: Wife – Marcy; Daughter – Kirsten
Favorite Food: Steak
Started Racing: 1976
Accomplishments: Devil's Bowl Speedway John Bruno Award Winner (2016); Devil’s Bowl Speedway Asphalt Modified Champion (2011, 2012); Albany-Saratoga Speedway Asphalt Modified Champion (2011); NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Vermont State Champion (2011, 2012); NASCAR Vermont State and New York State Rookie of the Year (2011); won the CVRA Shootout at Albany-Saratoga in 1985
Division: Sportsman Modified
Car No.: 27
Car: 2008 Teo Pro Car
Car Owner: Debbie Eddy
Crew Chief: Al DiCarlo
Team Members: Marcy Proctor, Perry Eddy, George Proctor
Sponsors: Timco Transportation (Scotia, NY), Charlton Oil Co. (Charlton, NY)
Ron Proctor in victory lane after winning on "Topless Night" at Devil's Bowl Speedway on June 17, 2017. (Barry Snelling/Devil's Bowl Speedway photo)How did you get your start in racing?
“My father (George Proctor) raced before I was born. He started in 1951, so I’ve been going my whole life. I helped him for a bunch of years, and then started driving when I was 21 or 22. I bought a Late Model, then I built my first Late Model – a ’67 Chevelle. My father got hurt at Fonda in ’81 and broke his back and stopped racing, and he asked if I wanted to try Modifieds in ’82. I’ve been at it ever since.”
Do you have a favorite driver besides yourself?
“My father was always the one for me. He won a lot of races when I was a kid, so it was easy to cheer for him, but I always admired Kenny Brightbill, too. He could make anything work. He had so many different creations and he won with all of them. He’s definitely one of my heroes.”
What is your favorite moment of your racing career?
“Back at the old Victoria 200 (at Fulton), we brought our old Harry Peek chassis with a Pontiac motor. There were over 100 cars trying to qualify, and the guys we were pitted next to were looking at our car and laughing. We built it all ourselves – I mean, we even made our own headers – so it wasn’t a real showpiece, but I was flying in the heat race and got up to third place and qualified. That other guy with his shiny new equipment didn’t make show. That was a great moment for us – to bring our own stuff and run well against all the best teams. We made it up to the top 10 during the feature but we broke the transmission, which was out of a 1948 Ford truck that we found in a junkyard. That type of thing was a big issue my whole career with running used equipment, until the last several years with good sponsors and car owners like Ron White & Debbie Eddy. Even now our car is almost 10 years old, but the parts are all new and that has definitely paid off – we’ve won some championships.”
What is your most embarrassing moment?
“Years ago, I was leading a feature at Devil’s Bowl on the last lap, but I hit an implement tire that C.J. Richards had put in the inside of the corner. It broke the steering, and the car went right over the bank and out of the track. That was bad, but then I had to come in and face my team. I had the race in the bag and one mental error cost me big time. If it had happened on the first lap nobody would have cared!”
Who is your biggest rival, past or present?
“Bob Savoie was a big rival of mine in the ‘80s on the CVRA circuit, racing three nights a week, and C.D. Coville was, too. On the asphalt it seemed to always be Vince Quenneville, but I guess there’s been lots of guys because I’ve been racing for so long.”
Ron Proctor in victory lane at Devil's Bowl Speedway after winning the 2012 track championship. (MemorEvents photo)If you couldn’t drive your car, who would you want to be your substitute?
“Maybe Ray Hoard. I raced against him and I’ve always thought that he does a good job with lesser equipment. He drove for Ron White before me and he knows what it’s like to have to kind of do more with less. He does a good job, he’s a clean racer, and I wouldn’t be afraid to have him in my car, put it that way.”
Are you looking forward to the new ½-mile dirt track at Devil’s Bowl?
“The asphalt definitely spoils you… maybe because I’ve done it for 35 years. It’s a lot of extra work on dirt with stuff like tire prep and stripping the body panels off to pressure wash every week. I’ve been talking to the dirt guys, and I guess it’s more work than I remembered. On asphalt, you really just maintain the car – the heim joints and everything last longer because they’re not getting beat up. But I will say, it is more fun at times as a driver to bank it in sideways and stand on it all the way around the corner. On asphalt it’s a different challenge – you have to hit your marks and be so precise, which I also like – but there’s that little extra thrill on dirt when you can powerslide it and ride all the way around on that cushion.”
What are your racing goals for 2018?
“We’re just going to try to have a good time and win some races next year. I’m not going to worry about points. We haven’t been on dirt in years so we’re gonna take one step at a time. If we come out really strong then we’ll look for more, but we’re going into it just wanting to learn and have some fun and maybe try to win a couple.”