Pro Race-Car Driver Visits Grand Avenue Kids

Professional race car driver Bob “Kermit” Wilson asked kids at Grand Avenue summer camp on Thursday morning what NASCAR stands for.

None of the kids knew so Kermit helped them out: “National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing.” Kermit let the children sit inside of a real racecar, as well as ask him questions about the sport.

The summer camp children were fueled with energy as they asked Kermit questions ranging from whether racecar driving is like it is in “Tallageda Nights” to if he gets scared driving at such fast speeds.

The children were particularly excited as they are building their own soap box racecars and having a race next week at Spring Rock Park.  There will be 3 separate competitions with 10 teams.

Owner and director of Grand Avenue, Dan Rizzardini, elaborated: “Each team builds their car. Then they vote on which car is the ‘coolest.’  They are also judged by the teachers on their teamwork as they build their cars.  Finally, the team picks its best driver and then each car goes down the hill one final time. The car that rolls the farthest wins.”

As far as advice for the youngsters as they begin building their soap box race cars, Kermit noted: “The lighter the car is, the faster is goes. Remember that.”

Wilson is the grandfather of a former Grand Avenue student. He grew up in Lexington, where he began racing at a very young age. Wilson goes by “Kermit” because his kids called his green car (a bug-eyed Austin Healey Sprite) “Kermit;” eventually, the driver gained the moniker as well.

“I started racing at age 14, ha ha—I lied about my age,” Wison said; and, in fact, he still has a bumper sticker on his race car that says: “my mom thinks I’m at the movies.” Kermit learned to drive through his friends who were older than him.

Kermit still participates in races; he even rode in a race two weeks ago. He does not race cars like the one pictured, but instead with vintage/historic cars.

As much as he loves racing, for Kermit it is merely sport.

“To some people it is a profession, but to me it is a game," he said.

Kermit has been in the truck business, built garbage trucks, and has been a columnist for car magazines over the years.

“To make this a career, Jeff Gordon and similar people started out racing go karts then upgraded to shifter karts and continued moving up the ladder. You kind of work your way up the system and it sorts itself out. The good guys migrate out.”

Kermit let the children take turns sitting inside the car, as well as let them try on an official helmet and racing uniform.  He concluded with fire safety about the vehicle and uniform.

(For information on Grand Avenue programs, visit here.)