Ody Fellows

[TheFastForester]

Not sure if anybody posted this yet, or saw this in the Denver Post yesterday. Thought it was a pretty interesting read:

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_12926830

[wildchildss1550]

thats cool, id like to meet him someday.

[Hellcat17]

Sounds like a really neat guy, i'd love to meet him just to hear some of his "glory days" stories

[Don Holbrook]

Driver's seat perfect place for daredevil
Reporter Irv Moss writes about stars from the past
By Irv Moss
The Denver Post
Posted: 07/28/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT


An appropriate middle name for Ody Fellows would be Daredevil.

Some might consider him reckless, but in any case, he was plenty bold on his first parachute jump. He remembers sitting on the floor of an airplane with his legs hanging out the door, looking at the ground far below and wondering what the heck he was doing there. Then he jumped. He had one lesson on how to land, and he soon would be testing his recall.

Or how about building an aerobatic airplane and flying it, doing the loops and everything that might discourage a less adventurous soul?

Keep in mind, those activities were well before the historic July 20, 1969, lunar landing and astronaut Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon that changed the meaning of adventure. Fellows was jumping out of airplanes (about 70 times in all) and flying stunt planes at a time when the two-lane road between Denver and Colorado Springs was called the "Ribbon of Death," a name that packed enough adventure.

"The only place I'm crippled was in my mind," Fellows said, looking back to his glory days. "If it sounded like it was interesting, I'd try it. Why not? The only thing I didn't like was scuba diving. I didn't mind swimming, but I couldn't scuba dive."

Fellows didn't live all the time over the top. When he wasn't feeling too daredevilish, he drove race cars. He piloted stock cars, midgets, big cars, modified stock cars, anything that circled an oval. He became a familiar name at Englewood Speedway, Lakeside Speedway and just about every other track in the state.

"I started driving at Englewood when it was a dirt track," Fellows said. "They paved it later. I drove midgets at Lakeside. I drove in some big car races in California from 1955-61 and raced against Parnelli Jones. I flew to California in 1981 to drive in a sprint car race. It was hard to get rides. I didn't have the money to buy a car. I was getting pretty old at the time and everybody wanted the younger drivers."

Fellows remembers auto racing in its heyday in Colorado. He was in a line of drivers who were the sports heroes of the time. Lloyd Axel, Johnny Tolan, Buddy Shay, Foster Campbell Earl Kouba, Joe Giba, Sonny Coleman and Sammy Sauer were names that filled the main-event headlines.

"We attracted pretty big crowds and at one time, auto racing seemed to be the main sports attraction in Colorado," Fellows said. "I drove here into the 1970s, but most of the tracks are closed. I think there are only one or two tracks left in the whole state."

He drove almost 50 years and in June was inducted into the Big Car Racing Association Hall of Fame, located in Lincoln, Neb.

Fellows on occasion will drive past Lakeside Amusement Park and see the skeleton of the old speedway.

"There are weeds growing up through the track and the grandstand isn't in good shape," Fellows said. "Somebody should restore it."

Racing got into Fellows' blood early as a child during the Great Depression.

"I remember watching auto racing as I was growing up and thinking I could drive with those guys," Fellows said. "The first time out, you think you're going 100 miles an hour but you're barely moving. All the guys going by are really hauling butt and they're outrunning your butt."

His adventure has become driving vintage cars — restored cars that ran in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. The races don't mean much except it keeps his hand in the game.

"I still work on race cars," Fellows said. "I like to restore old midget cars and I have four in my shop right now. I still mess around with it. You never get over it."

The stories continue. Fellows and some of the drivers who are left in the area meet twice a month for lunch. It's best to show up, so you're not lapped.

Fellows bio
Born: Jan. 14, 1930, in Englewood

High school: Denver West

Family: Daughters Norma, Devona (deceased); sons Kevin, Jerry, Owen

Hobby: Building airplanes

Future: Flying the airplane he's still working on

[Joe Starr]

I have seen Odie at the Racers Reunion in the past. Maybe he will be there this year also.

Racers Reunion

[ghubrex]

Ody is an active member of CVOR. I am sure he will be attending both the CVOR intermission exhibition on the Hall of Fame Night, August 29, and the Racer's Reunion on the 30th. Ody has driven either a sprinter or midget in the past couple of CVOR events at CNS, but I'm not sure he has a car ready for this year. He can still get a car around the track, no mistake about it. If you have the chance, strike up a conversation with him; you'll be amazed at the stories he has to tell.

[TrackSide]

It would be fun to have him come up to our race car show on October 25th to share some of his stories!! WITH ONE OF HIS RESTORED CARS!! as ou all know, the vintage cars always seem to be our biggest division!!

[ghubrex]

If you might like to meet Ody in person, there will be a couple of opportunities ito do so in the next few weeks. CVOR will be running at I-76 this Saturday (the 8th) and participate in the Fan Appraeciation Night at the track. On the 29th and 30th, we will be part of CNS "Race of Champions" night and support the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies, followed by the Colorado Racer's Reunion at CNS on the next day (Sunday). Ody will most likely be at all of these events, and we hope you will, too!

[Hellcat17]

sounds good ty ghubrex and joe

[frankie estes]

I met Ody a few times at Dave Chambers house where he works on restoring cars. really great guy. can't stop listening. still does great work.
Dave told me today that both him and Ody plan on coming to the racers reunion.

[ghubrex]

I know Dave will be at I-76 THIS SATURDAY NIGHT!! for the CVOR vintage exhibition and participation in the track's Fan Appreciation Night. I'd bet that Ody will be there as well. C'mon out and meet Mr. Fellows in person! Mr. Chambers is a pretty interesting guy himself, you can meet him as well!

[Bev Stayart]

I'm glad he and his friends still get together twice a month to discuss old times!