Wayne Reutimann Sr.

Since Dade City had the only hospital in the area, the second son of Agnes and Emil Reutimann was born in Dade City on January 1, 1945. My earliest memories of Wayne put him in elementary school. He was the only elementary student who had a motorized vehicle to drive to school. The vehicle was a Cushman Eagle scooter with a modified motor. In the years to follow, he would drive a Crosley rail job down to Zephyr Lake and then come roaring down the back street and broadslide the corner behind Reutimann Chevrolet. He spent countless hours working in the garage helping his dad or Buzzie on the race cars. I have pictures that I took with a 620 box camera showing Wayne as the crew for his dad’s modified.

            Wayne got his chance to drive in a similar way that Buzzie did. His car was a nice ’35 Chevy Coupe with 00 Jr. as the number. Wayne called the car “Ole Left Over” as it was one of his dad’s old cars and the motor was given to him by Buzzie. This particular GMC six cylinder was built by Buzzie, but would not run to expectations, and was given to Wayne. For some time, the engine would sputter at high RPM and could be heard over the other Sportsman cars. We teased Wayne about all kinds of things. Even though he used the 00 Jr. number, we called his car the W00 car (as Buzzie’s car was B00) and the GMC sounded like “Woooo” until it started breaking up. We teased that if the car ever ran right, it would blow up. Wayne and Mr. Reutimann found that the needle and seat was too small to let in enough fuel into the carb at high RPM’s. The problem was corrected and the W00 car ran great.

            Wayne had a different style of driving than Buzzie or his dad. He was smooth and steady, but would try things other drivers wouldn’t do. He would drive harder into the turns, run closer to the wall and take a few extra chances. Maybe some of this driving style is what has helped him to be one of the best sprint car drivers in the country. Even at this writing, he was second in points in the TBARA for 2000.

            Buzzie claims that Wayne is the most versatile driver in the business. He can win in a modified or late model and get into a sprint car and win during the same race bill. Wayne feels that his greatest achievement is winning points championships in modifieds, late models and sprint cars. While sprints are his favorite, he kiddingly says that he would race “anything with wheels”. His list of accomplishments is a long one, but includes wins at twenty seven tracks in eight states as well as being Tampa Tribune Driver of the Year and Area Auto Racing News Driver of the Month. His time in the northeast racing modifieds with and against Buzzie is well documented. His accomplishments being a two time Orange County Fair (Middletown, NY) track champion, and an Eastern States 200 winner.

            In looking through my folder of news clippings, two articles of many were particularly interesting. In one, writer Frank Benson said that “many people may strongly suspect that the Zephyrhills veteran must carry the title to both tracks around in his hip pocket”. Wayne had just won the 25 lap sprint car final at East Bay Raceway as well as the 25 lap feature for late models on Saturday night. The previous night he had won the 15 lap sprint car feature and was leading the late model event when his engine broke a rod. How about that for versatility and consistency! The second article was a Tampa Tribune feature of Wayne dated August 3, 1993 by Greg Doyel. The family history of racing and how Wayne started teaching “Fundamentals of Power Technology” are presented, but an experience of racing against Bobby Allison was featured. Wayne beat Bobby Allison by half car-length to win the 200 lap Florida State Late Model Championship at Golden Gate Speedway. Allison was reported to have said that "it is no shame to lose to a driver who will soon be a fixture on the Grand National circuit" (later known as NASCAR Winston Cup). The reason why Wayne (and Buzzie, too) did not progress to the Winston Cup level was that they were just too nice and didn't push themselves on people or “promote” themselves.

            Wayne is very personable and easy to talk to. I enjoy his descriptions of events and his humor at the serious side of racing. For example, while describing a wreck in progress that he was involved in, he remembered turning the ignition off and thinking “this is going to hurt”.

            Unlike his older brother, Wayne will tell you quickly that Buzzie was the best and toughest driver he has competed against. He found it difficult to race against family members because he didn’t want anything to upset the close relationship and family closeness that he takes pride in. He also takes pride and enjoys the fact that his sons are interested in and involved in racing.

            A skillful and talented driver into his mid 50’s, Wayne is a gentleman, family man and all around nice guy.  

"Go First Class"

                                               Wayne & author Ben Smith