The Speedway's First Supporter -- Mill Creek Man Helped Get Track Built
Jimmie Collier's quiet reserve quickly gave way the moment he arrived at the back gate of the Evergreen Speedway in Monroe.
In an instant a broad smile spread across his weathered face. His eyes were twinkling, his mood suddenly jovial and extroverted. He stopped to chat with one fellow who'd caught his attention, only to be diverted by several others who also wanted to say hello.
"Well, hi there, Jimmie," said the woman at the ticket office.
Judging by all the attention, one would think Collier was some sort of celebrity. Among the folks at Evergreen Speedway, that's not far off base.
It is, after all, thanks to the 76-year-old Mill Creek resident that the race track even exists.
Today the speedway, which boasts the second-largest paved, oval track in the west, according to its operator Mickey Beadle, draws up to 18,000 spectators during the season's biggest races. Three nicely paved tracks, a top-of-the-line lighting system and covered grandstand all contribute to the track's success.
Though it is mainly used by local racers, professional racers have been known to make an appearance. This year, Davey Allison, the 1992 Daytona 500 winner, and Ken Schrader, a four-time Winston Cup winner, are expected to participate in the 500-lap Winston-West series race June 25-27.
The Evergreen Speedway also happens to be the only race track in the country that runs rain or shine. Having the covered grandstand helps, but Speedway officials say it's mostly a commitment by track operators.
"History says you just don't do that," said manager Tom Glithero. "But we just said, `We're going to do it.' "
A place to race his Model T
The Evergreen Speedway has come a long way from the old, beat-up horse track Collier spotted back in 1954 when he was working as a telephone company lineman. The track was made of dirt which turned to mud at the first sign of rain. The viewing stands consisted of no more than a few rickety wooden bleachers.
Collier, a racing fanatic even back then, wasn't visualizing anything too grand when he first set his sights on the track and went to work convincing Snohomish County to turn it into a place to race cars.. He was just looking for another place to drive his Model T Roadster.
"All I could see right then was we wanted a place to play," said Collier. "That was it. I never thought it (Evergreen Speedway) would be like this."
Collier convinced Snohomish County officials to grade the dirt on the track for auto racing. Enlisting the help of other race-car owners and drivers, a culvert eventually was installed at the back side of the track to drain off excess water.
Despite their efforts, hundreds of spectators had to be turned away during the inaugural race because rain had left the track unusable.
"The track was one big puddle," Collier recalled.
But race supporters weren't discouraged. Largely because of the persistence of men like Collier, a larger, three-eighths of a mile track and a figure-eight track - both paved - were built. The old wooden bleachers were torn down and replaced with a covered grandstand.
Although the track is still owned by the county, the Beadle family took over operation in 1978. Under the Beadles, the track became a NASCAR-sanctioned facility and part of the Winston Cup circuit.
Collier, as the guys at Evergreen Speedway will tell you, is one of the last of the old school of racers. When he started racing in high school there weren't such things as roll cages to keep drivers from getting crushed when their cars rolled over, or nets on the windows to stop arms from flying out. Helmets were made out of leather and did very little when a wreck occurred. The uniforms were not the fire-repellent clothing drivers wear today. The cars were more compact and didn't even have tops on them.
"It was back when men were men and most of them are dead now," said Glithero, in a light, but serious tone. "Those guys were brave. They were also a little dumb."
THE CANDY MAN
Anyone who races at Evergreen Speedway, or even attends the races regularly, knows Collier. He's the guy who makes the rounds in the pit, stopping to give advice to drivers who look like they're having car problems.
Collier no longer races himself, but his words of wisdom aren't taken lightly. After all, he comes to them with 62 years of racing experience.
Since becoming interested in the sport, Collier has been fidgeting around with cars. In his machine shop at home, he has built several from the ground up and is rebuilding an old midget that he recently picked up. He also professes to have invented the Collier Box, a quick-change, rear-end kit that can be crucial in a tight race when a minute or two makes all the difference.
Hang out with Collier long enough and you'll run into plenty of characters, including the likes of "Crazy Wally," who earned his nickname by jumping up and down on top of his car every time he won a race.
Collier also has a reputation as a clock maker. Not just any clock, mind you, but street clocks like the ones you might find in downtown Seattle.
Collier, an admitted collector of odds and ends, was intrigued by the old clocks and purchased one. When a new law prohibited the sale of any more old street clocks, Collier reacted by going into his machine shop and creating his own. Several of the street clocks now sit around Collier's driveway and sell for around $10,000 apiece.
But what Collier is most broadly known for has nothing to do with auto racing or clocks. To many who frequent the Evergreen Speedway, he is simply known as the "candy man" because of his penchant for passing out sweet treats.
There aren't many who can manage to slip by Collier without receiving a pocketful of Smarties or cinnamon bears. Not that anyone wants to. The race-car drivers have pretty much come to count on the snacks, as do the children and parents who fill the stands.
When he is finished distributing candy down in the pit, he goes up to the stands, wandering from row to row with his plastic bag. When he empties the bag, he hurries back to his car for a refill.
Ask him where his generosity comes from and he'll merely shrug his shoulders. It's only through persistence that you'll get him to answer the question. Then, he passes the credit to someone else.
"My dad was a police captain with the Seattle department for 27 years," explained Collier. "He's always been that way - with a big heart - and I guess it just kind of rubbed off."
Collier and his wife, Barbara, don't have any children. But between the race drivers, the track's staff and fans, Collier feels like he has plenty of offspring.
"Oh, yes," Collier says, pausing a moment to dig in his plastic bag for cinnamon bears to hand to a little boy who happened to pass by. "They are just like a family to me."
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-- This is the racing schedule for NASCAR and Western Washington Racing Association at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe.
Prices unless otherwise noted: NASCAR races (Saturdays, 7 p.m.): $9.50 adults, $3 children 6-11, 5 and under free; Western Washington Racing Association races (Friday, 7 p.m.): $7.50 adult, $3 children 6-11, 5 and under free. Evergreen Speedway, Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe on Highway 2. 776-7802.
May 21 - Western Washington Racing Association.
May 22 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, mini's and figure 8's.
May 28 - WWRA.
May 29 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, mini's and figure 8's
May 30 - Demolition derby, fireworks, WWRA and train race, $10.50 adults, $3 children 6-11, 5 and under free.
June 4 - WWRA.
June 5 - NASCAR Northwest Tour plus NASCAR super stocks, $10.50 adults, $3 children 6-11, 5 and under free.
June 11 - WWRA.
June 12 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, mini's and figure 8's.
June 18 - WWRA.
June 19 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, mini's, figure 8's and train race.
June 25 - Practice for Motorcraft 500, 11 to 4 p.m. Free. Qualifying for Motorcraft 500, 7 p.m. NASCAR bombers, mini's and figure 8's racing at 8 p.m. $10.50 adults, kids 11 and under free.
June 26 - NASCAR Northwest Tour plus NASCAR super stocks 7 p.m. Reserved: Adults, $23.50, $8.50 children 1-11; General: Adults, $18.50, $5.50 children 6-11, five and under free.
June 27 - NASCAR Winston West Series, 12:30 p.m. Reserved: $35.50-$50.50; General: $22.50.
July 2 - WWRA.
July 3 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, mini's, figure 8's, dwarf cars.
July 4 - Demolition derby, fireworks plus figure 8's, train race. $11.50 adults, $3 children 6-11, 5 and under free.
July 9 - WWRA.
July 10 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, mini's and figure 8's. $10.50 adult, $3 children 6-11, 5 and under free.
July 16 - WWRA.
July 17 - Western States super modified tour and NASCAR super stocks.
July 23 - WWRA.
July 24 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, mini's and figure 8's.
July 30 - WWRA.
July 31 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, mini's and figure 8's.
Aug. 6 - WWRA.
Aug. 7 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, mini's and figure 8's. Adults $9.50, children 11 and under free.
Aug. 13 - WWRA.
Aug. 14 - NASCAR Northwest tour plus NASCAR super stocks, 7 p.m. Reserved: $23.50 adult, $8.50 children 1-11; General: $18.50 adult, $5.50 children 6-11, 5 and under free.
Aug. 20 - WWRA.
Aug. 21 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, mini's and figure 8's.
Aug. 27 - Demolition derby, Western Washington Racing Association, train race. $10.50 adult, $3 children 6-11, 5 and under free.
Aug. 28 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, mini's and figure 8's. $10.50 adult, $3 children 6-11, 5 and under free.
Sept. 4 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, mini's and figure 8s. $10.50 adults, $3 children 6-11, 5 and under free.
Sept. 5 - Demolition derby, fireworks, WMRA midgets. $10.50 adults, $3 children 6-11, 5 and under free.
Sept. 6 - WWRA: $10.50 adults, $3 children 6-11, 5 and under free.
Sept. 11 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, mini's and figure 8's.
Sept. 18 - Season championship for NASCAR bombers, mini's plus figure 8's.
Sept. 25 - Season championship for figure 8's plus train race, demo derby. $10.50 adults, $3 children 6-11, 5 and under free.