James 'Spove' Sproviero, 1950-2026
#1
Posted Yesterday, 09:55 AM
- triggerman likes this
#2
Posted Yesterday, 10:03 AM
I raced with Spove in the Tri-State, always made for a better race when he showed up!
He will be missed, Rest in peace, Jim.
#3
Posted Yesterday, 10:36 AM
Very bad news. Spove was one in a million. Always willing to lend a hand with a smile. He will be missed by many.
RIP, Spove. ![]()
#4
Posted Yesterday, 12:24 PM
This is sad news to hear. I will pass the word on to friends in the Western PA racing community that raced with Spove over the years in Tri-State USRA. His smile and good nature will be missed.
#5
Posted Yesterday, 01:58 PM
Spove dragged me back into slot car racing 20+ years ago after I had quit.
It was at the grand opening of the Motor City Raceway.
He came up to me with a car in his hand and said: "Here, drive this!"
The rest is history.
- Cheater, Mr. HP, NSwanberg and 1 other like this
#6
Posted Yesterday, 02:34 PM
I was there for that race. One of my many comebacks as well...
Jim was there when I started racing slots in the '80s. He mentored me early on, which grew into a forty-year friendship.
I owe a lot to Spove. There are not many out there like him.
- Cheater likes this
#7
Posted Yesterday, 10:20 PM
I raced with Spove in the Tri-State, always made for a better race when he showed up!
He will be missed, Rest in peace, Jim.
That sums it up.
It felt like a better event with Spove there. Always upbeat and funny, you didn't need to beg him to marshal.
He was one of the guys that made you want to get serious about slot cars, and drive five or six hours to a race.
Early in my adult slot car career, Stu Koford and I went to a Detroit area race on a Saturday with the Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday.
When we mentioned we might try to go to the Grand Prix, spur of the moment, Spov warned us wouldn't find a motel room last minute and immediately volunteered to put us up at his house.
At the time, I was a virtual stranger to him. That's how nice of a guy he was.
He was so nice that when I opened my raceway and he came around and would chat up my future wife, I didn't even care. After all, he was Spove. LOL.
May he rest in peace.
- Cheater, mjsh, triggerman and 2 others like this
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
Former IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
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