FONDA, N.Y. — Last Saturday evening at the “Track of Champions,” Fonda Speedway, there were many special moments during opening ceremonies for the 30th edition of the Fonda 200.
The starting field lined up on the front straightaway, driver introductions occurred as usual, there was a four wide salute by the starting field and the vintage race cars of CD Coville, Jack Johnson and Dave Lape paced the field.
But the special moment that touched the hearts of all of the fans and everyone in attendance was the tribute to Lape who recently passed away. The following paragraphs are the thoughts of two of Lape’s family members and two of his friends who spoke about Lape on victory lane.
MIMI LAZZARO
“Last week we lost a hero, a legend, a friend,” Lazzaro said to the crowd. “Mr. Dave Lape left us before we completed our 2022 racing season. Dave was a friend to all of us and we thank Dave for all of the memories and thrills that he gave us. He will continue to live through us because legends never die.”
JESSICA LAPE-SCHWAB
“I was born on a Sunday after a rain out and I was back here six days old the next Saturday,” Lape-Schwab said. “We won the track championship that year so clearly, I’m a good luck charm. I would like to share the perspective of a driver’s daughter. Others may see a driver, a promoter, a Champ Car Fabricator, a speed shop owner, a competitor, but truly I just see my dad.
“Growing up in my family was so different than other people that I knew. Typically, people would go to work and come home at the end of the day. My dad worked from home in the garage so he could make my school lunches, remind me to pick up my room and welcome me home after school.
“My parents worked as a team with the same goal and success. In my house, I learned to be part of a team. My mother Jackie was a significant team member to my dad. On Saturday nights, when we were here at Fonda and able to celebrate together, that made the most precious memories. My parents modeled how marriage and life is a team sport.
“Racing has taught me the significance of kindness, gratitude, help, communication and the value of relationships that are developed during a life. Racing is a family, let’s keep working together towards a goal to keep this sport alive and thriving.”
JACKIE LAPE
“David’s goal when he wasn’t as competitive as he wished he could be, was to just be here at Fonda, and there are probably a few people that got a little sick on the one lap Lape,” she said. “But he didn’t care because he was here, he wanted to make it to 50 years at his home away from home, so we kept going and we made the best of it and I’m glad we did that.
“What I want to say is that we were most excited and happy that Fonda Speedway was back. We watched it for years going downhill but look at what Brett (Deyo) has done, look at this track, look at this place. Brett, I hope that you are here for 50 years and thank you, I am so proud.”
ED BIITTIG SR.
“With Dave being here for 50 years, one of the drivers that never left, he never went out on the road or somewhere else on a Saturday night, the only time he left was when there was a race somewhere else,” Biittig Sr. said. “Otherwise, David Lape was here, if David Lape had chosen to race rough like others, he may have had 200 wins. But he chose to drive his car in the hauler every night and not have it in pieces.
“He had respect for everyone that was involved in racing. As far as I’m concerned, there were three amigos here and now they are all in heaven. Lou (Lazzaro), Jack (Johnson) and David (Lape), those three did so much for this speedway, they are the history of this speedway.”
“If you want to know something that you can do in memory of David Lape between now and next spring when we return to this racetrack, get a piece of paper out and write 1-22 on it. Then do 22 acts of random kindness of any kind whether it be to shovel a person’s sidewalk, walk a person’s dog, making sure that a neighbor has groceries, anything.
“It is one of those things that we can do for the memory of David Lape and that is very important because he was so very important to this place Fonda Speedway. David Lape was this speedway, and he gave so much of his life to it.”
Keyword: A Tribute To Dave Lape