If you’re paying a visit to this site, it’s because you’re into cars, or racing, or there’s probably a good chance of both. Can you look back and think of the moment that sparked your interest? A special car? A driver? Maybe through a friend? I asked the question to one well-known drag racing star, expecting a colorful story. Instead, he just shrugged his shoulders, saying, “I don’t really remember, it was way too long ago.” I suppose when your life revolves around traveling the country and racing against the best of the best, those small details can be blotted out, and there’s no shame there when you’re living your dream. Sitting nearby was Rick Osburn, a man who is currently well-known for driving his popular, wheel-standing “38 Special” truck, and he was happy to share his story.

Osburn’s young life was not the best of situations. As a result, his grandfather was the one who took care of him. His grandfather was into Indy car racing and circle track cars. He planted the seeds of automotive interest in young Rick by telling him many interesting and cool stories of these races. Those seeds of interest were soon to take a different course, however. There was a young man whose father share-cropped on Rick’s grandfather’s farm. This young man had bought a brand new 1960 Chevrolet and was hot rodding it and racing it at Island Dragway. Rick said, “I remember sitting there and watching those guys work on it on a Saturday morning and off they’d go.” They’d race at nearby Orange County airport, close enough for young Osburn couldn’t see the cars, but could hear them off in the distance. Then came that fateful day when the neighbor asked the grandfather, “can we take him to the track?” His grandfather’s answer would change young Osburn’s life forever; “ Yes, but make sure you keep an eye on him.” Rick was in the neighborhood of being 9 years old at the time, and it was track policy that youngsters couldn’t be on the pit side. As luck would have it, the neighbor knew the owner’s daughter and they were able to get Rick on the pit side, with the neighbor saying, “Stay right there, don’t move.” Ever since that magical day, Rick Osburn dreamed of racing. Fast forward to the present, and you can often find him these weekends, along with wife Terri, making passes in the “38 Special” bringing back memories for the older fans and winning younger ones to the sport. To sum it up, Rick would say in his own words, “Even if you don’t compete, you want to stay around it and stay involved.” And involved he is. Amazing fans with his many wheelstands and through that, getting to meet and become friends with many of his childhood idols. All because a neighbor took him to the races. Maybe more of us can be a neighbor like that.