REMEMBERING TOM ISCH The recent passing of veteran promoter Tom Isch sure brought back a lot of memories! Tom purchased the Plymouth Speedway in 1989 and started out running Friday nights which was the same night South Bend was running. So, predictably, neither did well. One Friday night we had some rain and Mike Bird quickly called it as was his style. But when Bird called it he said Plymouth was running and would wait on us. So at once a caravan formed to head to Plymouth from South Bend. After that show of cooperation Tom switched Plymouth back to its traditional Sunday nights. And from there on Tom and Mike got along very well. Tom was usually at SBMS on Friday and Mike was usually at Plymouth on Sunday. Plymouth back in 1989 had some unique features! No wall on the backstretch or turns 3 and 4 and only a wood wall in turns 1 and 2! So Tom put water barrels in turns 1 and 2 and when a car would hit them water would go everywhere giving the crowd a big thrill! If a car went off the backstretch we said it went into the “alligator pit.” Now moving on, its early May, 1990. I was no longer racing and Judith and I had just returned from an insurance convention in Houston, Texas. It was early Sunday afternoon and I was dead tired! In fact I was in bed on that fateful day when Dick Humes called me and told me Plymouth needed an announcer because Jerry Cannon was sick. I first I turned him down but of all things Judith actually talked me into it so I called them back, got dressed and headed the 24 miles to Plymouth. I remember Dean Speicher was the timer and Mary Speicher was the scorer. So I announced my first race ever. Then headed home and figured that was it. But Monday Tom called me and wanted to meet me at the Holiday Inn in Plymouth, that was kind of Tom’s home away from home during the racing season. After meeting with Tom he hired me to be a co-announcer with Jerry and there was no turning back! 2 or 3 weeks later Tom called me back to the Holiday Inn and made me public relations director, doing the press releases and advertising. I did not do the results, however, as Sherry Dupoy did those. Tom would put together a big show real quick! This was in the days prior to the internet! The primary source of communication with the drivers was the Marc Times Racing News. Tom would call me sometimes as late as Tuesday with his idea for a special show the coming Sunday! We would have to hustle because the MTRN had a noon Tuesday deadline! I have seen Tom set down with a paper and pencil and put together a special in 10 minutes max! During the course of the year Tom showed me how much he had made in 1989. He said he wanted to double that in 1990 and I am happy to say he did! Tom was going to bring sprints in for a special. Now in those days not every track ran sprint specials. So to introduce the sprints Tom got Hank Laurer to bring his sprint car down and run laps at intermission. So Hank runs the sprint car and we (Jerry and myself) are to announce his time on each lap. We did but Tom was not happy with the times! So by radio (Tom only very rarely ever came to the tower) Tom starts telling us what times to announce! Jerry and I looked at each other but quickly decided the boss is the boss and we dutifully announce the times Tom told us to! I remember for the sprint shows Tom brought in extra bleachers. Tom absolutely could not stand any silence on the pa during the night! “Make some noise” he would shout to Jerry and myself! Despite all Tom’s many successes I always remember his one huge failure! Tom decided to book the NAMAR Midgets of Ed Adair for a Saturday afternoon show! Street Stocks would be the supporting class. It was a certified disaster! In fact I personally saw Tom write checks to each midget driver because we did not take in enough cash! Tom said he would never make that mistake again! Tom was the last of the old time promoters who did nothing but promote racing-no other job! Tom was all about entertainment. I remember he would bring in the monster trucks several times a year. Of course he would go on to start a modified traveling series and a sprint traveling series. For awhile Tom had Baer Field on Friday, Avilla on Saturday and Plymouth on Sunday. Tom and Baer Field were a match made in heaven! Large metro area where you could draw a big crowd. Tom sure figured out how to make money at Baer Field where so many others had failed! He built the 3/8 mile track inside the ½ mile, added the Kart track and the motocross track. But Tom was very traditional in that he opened in May and closed in early September. The last time I saw Tom was for the International Harvester Gold Cup one August. I really am not sure what year that was. Jim Benson was still alive and announcing and the place was packed for modifieds and stock cars! To those of us who knew Tom well during his Plymouth days, we are amazed that he managed to live about 18 years after selling Plymouth because at Plymouth he would often go to the ambulance and take oxygen. But I will say this Tom Isch was one tough bird! When they made Tom they threw away the mold! I am glad I had that one season working for Tom and I know I will never forget him!
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 18:56:32 +0000
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