While Gerry was going to school, he made ends meet by working as a mechanic at a Chrysler, Plymouth, GMC dealership. Gerry raced NHRA Stock eliminator from 1968 to 1970 then moved up to the very competitive NHRA D/Altered in a 61 Vette until 1973. It was about this time that Gerry figured out he had an obligation to his new wife Pattie and their new born son Gerard so he hung up his helmet to be a better father and husband.
Gerry advanced on in life and became an Aerospace executive CEO rebuilding flight and land-based turbines engines for 47 years, but racing was still in his blood all this time.
In the 1990's his son Gerard got into Drag racing and by the year 2000 Gerry had become the car owner for Gerard's Top Sportsman car. They bracket race it in Top Sportsman until 2008 when Gerry retired from his job and from racing yet again. Gerard raced one more year but said it just wasn't the same with out his dad being involved so he hung it up also.
10 years later, Gerry seen a you tube video of the Southeast Gassers Association and it sparked his interest because it was racing the way he raced back in the 60's and 70's before bracket / index racing took the sport over.
So, Gerry and Gerard did some research and found where the SEGA would be racing so they made the very long trip from Connecticut to Shelby NC to check it out in person. Once there he felt like he went back in time to his racing heyday. Before the race was over, he had made friends with many SEGA racers including Tj York and Larry Noël. At this point the racing blood had boiled back to the top and Gerry was looking for a SEGA legal Gasser for the father and son team.
Once he found out Larry Noel would be selling the 1956 Chevy he had piloted to the 2018 SEGA championship, Gerry made a deal to buy it on the spot.
Gerry plans make some test runs Friday night before the SEGA race at Lyons Indiana to mark his first time back in a 4 speed drag car in 47 years.
Now here's where it gets interesting. Since his son Gerard has been the pilot for the family drag cars for the last several years he wants to drive also. So, there is going to be a contest Friday night July 24th to see who will be driving the car for the SEGA race Saturday July 25th.
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