I crossed paths with Tony P a couple times over the arc of my slot racing experience.
The first time in 1970 and I didn't know it. It was the Berwyn, PA, NCC race and the infamous Jerry Brady sabotage story. I was there as a spectator. Tony always said he knew who did it but wouldn't tell anybody. He may have taken it to his grave with him, but I doubt it. He had to have told someone... anyone. LOL. I don't remember who won the race, but I remember that episode.
He and a large contingent from the east coast came to the Springfield Coca-Cola race. They didn't do so well, but the 'other' east coast crowd did. Joel Montague and the Purple Gang. Tony P and friends returned to the midwest for more. This time Parma.
I think he came a couple times to big Parma national races also in the early 1970s. They were monster East vs. West confabs with the midwesterners doing their best to hold their own and did quite well. 'Pro' style racing at its peak in the middle of the nation's heartland.
Fast forward several decades and I'm back in slot racing after a 30+ year absence. I find myself racing a couple Tony P. chassis on loan to me from Gary Adams for the most recent R4. I won one race and finished second in the other I think. I was running in the the bottom third groups of qualifiers so the Tony P chassis and Gary Adams set up made me look fast at that level of competition with peers. The cars ran like they were on rails. Thank you, Tony P... and Gary A. You made a guy operating in the bottom third of the field look fast.
What can you say about Tony P other than his track record of chassis construction and design speaks for itself, He made chassis for decades and never compromised quality. Thanks for being part of all of our lives for so long. You made us 'geeks' better and look fast on the track and in competition and you weren't even there in person. I think people call that a legacy.
