It’s intentional for sure. Dumbocrats want open boarders, give the illegals housing, food, a trip to any spot they wish as long it’s not in their backyard in hopes they will vote Dumbocrat in order to stay in power. All the resources going to illegals is costing the taxpayers high inflation and still our veterans are getting fucked by the same government they protected.
My husband and I were good friends of Jan and Jay. We went to most of their races in California before they moved east. Jan had a natural talent for racing motorcycles, sprint cars and indy cars. We always loved our halloween parties 🥳 🎉 miss him!
I just found this tribute to THE Best Driver who ever strapped on a sprint car. I had the pleasure to see him drive the Bogar car at selinsgrove and Williams Grove
We called he and Jay daredevils. It turns out that several of the Watts family members had that spirit of adventure. A different breed of cat. And, the world has always needed them. They were explorers, adventurers, creative and danced to a different drummer. I remember when I was about 9 and they were living in Orting, Wàshington. His mom, June, my mom and I and my little sister had gone into town . When we got back, Jan and some of the other kids had tied up Jay in the bathtub with the water running, giving him a Mohawk. They played with snakes and did heaven knows what else. That seemed fine with Jim and June. Our Grandma Ruby was a sweet refined lady who no doubt worried about their fate.
Jan Opperman was my father I was born April 21st 1964 in Castro Valley California. Jan went to Hayward High and so did my mother Elizabeth Jones.... obviously that's how they met. I went to see my grandparents June and Jim in my early twenties and that's where I met Jan Jr. During that visit I watched Jan Jr win his first motorcycle race...... there's so much more to say I can write about this forever. Any related relatives if you want to get in touch with me feel free at rossopperman69@gmail.com
I only saw him race once but he was everything they say about him. A tough, fierce competitor for sure. Talking with him in the dimly lit pits after you could feel the Holy Spirit.
As a little boy at age 9 I sat in the number 4 Hank's Auto Parts that Jan first drove when he came to the East Coast. It was the beginning of great friendship (He mainly had with my dad) but I was mesmerized by this "hippie" who we later found out was great Christian example. Such a sad way to lose him. I too miss him! Look forward to seeing him again in Heaven!
He was as talented as any driver I have ever seen. I say driver, because he ran anything. I met him in tulsa when he was making his ill fated comeback. He won that night and always the optimist, thought he was 100% back. After a few years, I have come to the conclusion that the odds of coming back 100% from a severe head injury are slim at best. It seems like God is telling us to get out of the race car. It seems like even the ones that seem to get it completely back have a sad ending to their saga. The only one I can think of that came back completely with no ill effects was Lee Kunzman in the late 60's or 1970. The others I think of that suffered severe head trauma were Rich Vogler. He came back but it ended the night before his first cup start. At that time, he and his father were the only two people to get killed on ESPN's thunder series. I think of Stan Fox, he got killed on the road in NZ. He couldn't have a DL here due to seizures. Jack Hewitt. Came all the way back and got hurt again. Wolfgang, even though his head injury wasn't the most serious. I could name others, but why?
Great Tribute! I grew up in Indianapolis and watched him at the Indy 500 and at the Hoosier 100 as a kid in 1973 and 74. My dad sold to petroleum to refinery buyers for a fortune 500 company so he had passes to the pit stop, gasoline alley, and race day tickets. My childhood friend's older brother was a mechanic and amateur sprint car racer. He used the Gasoline alley pass to jobs with Mike Mosley one year and Jan Opperman the next year. He loved Jan and talked fondly of him.
