Don MacTavish
Encyclopedia
Donald Charles MacTavish (August 22, 1942 – February 22, 1969) started his racing career at the age of 15 racing in nearby Norwood, Massachusetts
at the Norwood Arena. He quickly earned popularity for driving demolition derby
cars, and appeared on ABC’s Wide World of Sports
. He competed in more than 100 Sportsman Car Series races on the East Coast. In 1963 he progressed to NASCAR’s Sportsman Division and in 1966 he won the NASCAR National Sportsman Division Championship, a precursor to today's Nationwide Series, by beating out Ralph Earnhardt among others.
In the late 1960s MacTavish set his sights on competing in NASCAR's top series, The Grand National Series (now Sprint Cup Series). On February 22, 1969 MacTavish made his debut at the Daytona International Speedway
, driving the number 5 1966 Mercury Comet
in the Permatex 300 Sportsman (now Nationwide series) race. On lap 9 of the race, his vehicle tangled with a car driven by Bob James. Out of control, MacTavish's car hit the outside crash wall at a point where a metal guard rail covered an opening in the wall. The impact with the butt end of the concrete sheared off the whole front of the car, up to the firewall; its engine was thrown 100 feet from the wreck. The Mercury then spun around and wound up facing oncoming cars in the middle of the track surface, with MacTavish completely exposed in the drivers seat. It was then struck by Sam Sommers. At the speed the cars were traveling, it would have been impossible for Sommers to avoid contact. This second impact severed MacTavish's legs completely off and sent his car bouncing into the grass on the inside of the track. MacTavish was pronounced dead at the spot of the accident.http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2007/May-18-Fri-2007/sports/14377635.html
Three months after his death the first annual 100-lap "Don MacTavish Memorial Race" was organized at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Race-winner Richie Evans
was presented the winner's trophy by Mrs. Dorothy MacTavish and Miss Marcia MacTavish, mother and sister of the late driver for whom the event was named.
Each year the American Canadian Tour
racing series awards one driver with the prestigious MacTavish Award at their annual year-end Banquet of Champions. The award is given for outstanding contribution in the field of stock car racing and named in honor of MacTavish for his contributions to New England
racing. Past recipients of the award have included Bill France, Sr. (1969) and Ken Squier
(1972).
In 2001 MacTavish was posthumously inducted into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame
.
Norwood, Massachusetts
Norwood is a town and census-designated place in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,602. The community was named after Norwood, England...
at the Norwood Arena. He quickly earned popularity for driving demolition derby
Demolition derby
Demolition derby is a motorsport usually presented at county fairs and festivals. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another...
cars, and appeared on ABC’s Wide World of Sports
Wide World of Sports
Wide World of Sports can refer to:*Wide World of Sports , screened on the Nine Network*Wide World of Sports , screened on the American Broadcasting Company...
. He competed in more than 100 Sportsman Car Series races on the East Coast. In 1963 he progressed to NASCAR’s Sportsman Division and in 1966 he won the NASCAR National Sportsman Division Championship, a precursor to today's Nationwide Series, by beating out Ralph Earnhardt among others.
In the late 1960s MacTavish set his sights on competing in NASCAR's top series, The Grand National Series (now Sprint Cup Series). On February 22, 1969 MacTavish made his debut at the Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
, driving the number 5 1966 Mercury Comet
Mercury Comet
The Mercury Comet is an automobile produced by the Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company from 1960–1969 and 1971-1977 — variously as either a compact or an intermediate car.The Comet was based on the compact Ford Falcon and later the Ford Maverick...
in the Permatex 300 Sportsman (now Nationwide series) race. On lap 9 of the race, his vehicle tangled with a car driven by Bob James. Out of control, MacTavish's car hit the outside crash wall at a point where a metal guard rail covered an opening in the wall. The impact with the butt end of the concrete sheared off the whole front of the car, up to the firewall; its engine was thrown 100 feet from the wreck. The Mercury then spun around and wound up facing oncoming cars in the middle of the track surface, with MacTavish completely exposed in the drivers seat. It was then struck by Sam Sommers. At the speed the cars were traveling, it would have been impossible for Sommers to avoid contact. This second impact severed MacTavish's legs completely off and sent his car bouncing into the grass on the inside of the track. MacTavish was pronounced dead at the spot of the accident.http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2007/May-18-Fri-2007/sports/14377635.html
Three months after his death the first annual 100-lap "Don MacTavish Memorial Race" was organized at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Race-winner Richie Evans
Richie Evans
Richard Ernest Evans , was an American racing driver who won nine NASCAR National Modified Championships, including eight in a row from 1978 to 1985. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame lists this achievement as "one of the supreme accomplishments in motorsports"...
was presented the winner's trophy by Mrs. Dorothy MacTavish and Miss Marcia MacTavish, mother and sister of the late driver for whom the event was named.
Each year the American Canadian Tour
American Canadian Tour
The American Canadian Tour is a late model racing series based in the Northeast United States, Southern Ontario and Quebec, Canada. The American Canada Tour has two different late model divisions: the ACT Tour, formerly known as the "ACT Coors Tour", founded in 1986 and the ACT Castrol Series,...
racing series awards one driver with the prestigious MacTavish Award at their annual year-end Banquet of Champions. The award is given for outstanding contribution in the field of stock car racing and named in honor of MacTavish for his contributions to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
racing. Past recipients of the award have included Bill France, Sr. (1969) and Ken Squier
Ken Squier
Ken Squier is an American sportscaster and motorsports editor from Waterbury, Vermont. From 1979-1997, he was the lap-by-lap commentator for NASCAR on CBS, and was also a lap-by-lap commentator for TBS from the time they had rights to NASCAR until 2000. Squier was the first announcer to give...
(1972).
In 2001 MacTavish was posthumously inducted into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame
New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame
The New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for racing-related people in the New England region of the United States. NEAR was established in 1981. The New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame was established in 1998 by the New England Antique Racers.-New England Antique Racers:The...
.