Stockton 99 opener honors track fixture

 

By Scott Linesburgh

Record Staff Writer

April 02, 2011 12:05 AM

Ron Roach, a longtime NASCAR track official at Stockton 99 Speedway, died March 13 at age 64 and will be honored today during the track's season opener.

STOCKTON - Ron Roach spent the better part of his life at Stockton 99 Speedway, enjoying many good times and enduring one terrible incident that changed everything.

But according to his family, he loved the racing and noise on the track, and the camaraderie in the pits. Roach did everything from compete and officiate to paint numbers on the race cars.

Roach, a longtime NASCAR track official, passed away March 13 at the age of 64 after a long illness. The local racing community will return the affection and pay its respects at 6 p.m. today when Stockton 99 opens the 2011 season with a program of Super Stocks, B4s, Pro-4 Modifieds, Legends and the first race of the Enduro Series.

 

TODAY'S RACES

Green flag: 6 p.m.

Racing program: Super Stocks, B4s, Pro-4 Modifieds, Legends and Enduro

Information: (209) 466-9999 , www.stockton99.com

Roach's family will hold a celebration of life at 2 p.m. on April 17, his birthday, at the Stockton Elks Lodge (8900 Thornton Road, Stockton).

"We've had so many people come forth and express their feelings and love for my father. It's been very heartwarming," said Roach's daughter, Chrissy Morris of Modesto.

"He truly loved the track and the people out there."

Stockton 99 promoter Tony Noceti said there will be a memorial program today for Roach, who was nicknamed "Bug" because of his last name.

"Ron was something special," Noceti said. "Guys like that are so important to the track. 'Bug' was out there a long time, and he had a lot of passion for the sport."

Roach began racing at Stockton 99 in the 1970s and later became one of the most respected flag men, or starters, on the West Coast. Roach was the victim of one of the most horrifying incidents at the track. On June 30, 1984, Roach was hit by a race car while officiating from the flagstand, which then was about 4 feet above the track on top of the wall. He was sent flying into the grandstand and was hospitalized for several weeks.

The late Johnny Unger of Stockton was involved in a collision with Kevin Gottula of Modesto, and Unger's car veered up the wall and collided with the stand and Roach.

"My dad saw it coming and tried to jump over the stand, but he didn't make it and the race car caught him," Morris said. "He landed 25 rows deep, and looked like a rag doll going through the air.

"And he never let go of the yellow flag in his hand."

One of Roach's close friends, veteran track official Earl Summers, said he looked "like a helicopter blade going into the stands. It was an ugly day for the track." Roach broke his right leg in 13 places, and had a broken pelvis, thigh and shoulder as well as internal injuries. He spent 34 days in the intensive-care unit and walked with a limp for the rest of his life.

Despite the extent of his injuries, Roach was back at Stockton 99 for the season finale in September, and later designed a taller flagstand that is still in use today.

June Roach, his wife of 44 years, said she was worried when he said he wanted to return to the track, but understood his feelings. But she did make a request that he no longer went on the flagstand.

"Yes, it bothered me, but I would never deny him and say, 'No, you can't do that,' " June Roach said. "It was his choice. It meant a lot to him."

Roach returned to be a starter a few times over the next 25 years, but spent the majority of his time working in the pits at Stockton 99. He also worked at Delta Speedway and at the now-closed Altamont Raceway. He also painted the numbers and lettering on race cars as part of his business, Ron Roach Signs & Designs.

"Ron used to do the numbers and everything by hand, and later went to using a machine," Summers said. "He really enjoyed doing it, and racing was his life. He loved that place."

In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be sent to the Memorial Fund for Ron Roach at Bank of Stockton, Headquarters Branch, account No. 3210009183.

Contact reporter Scott Linesburgh at (209) 546-8281 or slinesburgh@recordnet.com.

 

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Here's Ron in his flag stand during the flag salute and anthem at one of the last races at 99 in 2006.