For any of us that have ever strapped into a push to start car, there are bad memories of our push truck experiences. Most have had a truck drive over our rear tires, been pushed so slowly that the drive line flops challenging the ring and pinion or have been left awaiting a truck to pick us up when we needed to get a hot lap or two before falling in line. A competent pusher is often overlooked but never unappreciated.

For the most part thankfully, most of the push truck folks today are very professional, safety conscious and in some cases become very recognizable. In all probability, Work’N Woody is the most recognizable of any push vehicle in the nation. Work’N Woody” was built by Art Malies in 1978 and was originally operated by he and wife Carol of Carmichael, California. Woody traveled the California highways supporting the now defunct Northern Auto Racing Club for a number of years, until hitting the road with the World Of Outlaws in 1988.

After the 2008 season Art and Carol retired and son Eric took over the operations of “Work’N Woody” and traveled with the World of Outlaws the past two seasons. Once it was announced that Woody wouldn’t return to the WOO trail for the 2011 year, Golden State King of the West members tossed around the idea of bringing the famed push truck back to California. With that in mind an agreement was made and “Work’N Woody” will in fact be returning to its roots as the official Push Truck and Safety Vehicle of the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series.

Another very identifiable traveling push vehicle is the recognizable and competent “Jimmy Jeep”. Jimmy’s yellow 1985 CJ-7 respectfully referred to as the “War Wagon”, has logged over a half a million miles, is on its 4th motor and is believed to be out of factory warranty. It has had a couple of rebuilds on the original transmission and replacement of assorted suspension parts but it is the only Jeep Jimmy has used.

Few people east of the Mississippi, who follow any sprint car organization, have missed coming across Jimmy Jeep. He told me today that his racetrack total is 97 and that he plans to go over the hundred mark this season. He has pushed for WOO, All Star Circuit of Champions, USCS, DIRT, ASCS, USAC, DAARA and a host of others, including Super Dirt Week. He has done the Syracuse mile, the banks of Bristol and Eldora, the Indiana short tracks and the dirt at Charlotte and Talladega to mention a few.

Jim Knapp is a native of the Finger Lakes area of New York and was a ceramic tile professional by trade. He was an avid modified fan while living in NY. While working on a tile project at Disney World in Orlando in the 70’s, Jimmy met sprint car racer Red Stauffer and the rest is history. The sprint car love affair was born. For the next fifteen years Jimmy followed Red throughout the southeast.

Jimmy gives many people credit for keeping him and the “War Wagon” on the road. Some of these are Red Stauffer, Ron Johnson, Mike Cronk, Eddie Luscomb and Eddie’s late father Bob Luscomb, along with many others too numerous to mention. However, if the truth is known it is Jimmy that has made a difference in the lives of many others along the way. Jimmy has mentored several young men and been a positive influence to racers and people in general. Jim’s list of friends is a virtual who’s who in sprint car racing. Jimmy and partner Glenda Lacer have been together since 2008. Glenda is an accomplished photographer as is Jimmy, and they complement each other while spending much of their life on the road. Glenda’s pictures can be found on many web sites across the country and Jimmy is often positioned to get spectacular action shots from his push vehicle. Together they are a welcome duo to see driving through any pit gate.

Racers are known for their heroic exploits and dedication and Jimmy rates up there with the best of them. During the 2011 WOO finals at Charlotte, Jimmy was attacked by an intestinal infection and was very ill throughout the event missing one night. On the final night he was too weak to walk to the Jeep so Glenda wheeled him to the vehicle in a wheel chair borrowed from the motel. He worked the entire night with most people unaware of his physical condition. Dedicated? Yes, with the best of them.

We find many professional and sharp pushers as we visit many tracks during the season with our ministry. These folks invest many hours and dollars as well, into their equipment with little return. Most just love the sport and take pride in being an important part of the show. Those who have been at it a bit do a great job and getting pushed off is one less thing a driver has to worry about. I have had some horrific experiences through the years and am glad there are people such as Jim Knapp who brings professionalism to an important part of our sport.

Probably the only thing better than getting pushed off by Jimmy Jeep is to listen to his great stories of past events, close calls and interesting insights into the people of sprint car racing. If one ever wants to know anything about the art of pushing, how to build a push vehicle or the world of Jimmy Jeep, it can be found on “Jimmy Jeeps Push Truck World” at jimmyjeep.com. If one could find any issue with the jimmyjeep site it would be that Jimmy has been too modest in his accomplishments and importance to the racing family. We are glad to call Jimmy and Glenda friends and hope to see them throughout the 2012 season and for many seasons to come. Nancy hopes to get to ride shotgun again at the Orlando DAARA Spring Nationals. It should also be noted that as an additional responsibility, Jim serves as secretary for the Daytona Antique Auto Racing Assoc.

We hope to have varied and interesting material for our column during the upcoming season. We are working to secure financing for our 2012 tour and plan some unique insights into our sport and its people during the upcoming season. Thanks to Jim for helping get our column push started for the new year.

This 1968 Culbert Automotive Engineering (CAE) Sprint Car and enclosed trailer was stolen from the locked fenced in yard at Import Specialties 2100 Rosewood Dr. Columbia, SC the evening of October 8, 2009.

The race car and equipment was stored inside of a 2007 LA CARGO "FREEDOM" 7x16 foot Enclosed Trailer, Which was also stolen.

The Trailer: Serial #5TTBE16277D001946, white in color, equipped with tandem axles, a walk in door on the curb side and a ramp/door on the back, it may have some damage on the right side .