Racing lost a legend this week end with the passing of Terry Dickenson. Nonie and I were among dozens of racing families close to the Dickenson’s through the 70’s. It was a memorable moment to see Terry with a host of the Hobby hero’s at the CVM “Old Timers Night” on June 21st 2007. Hobby stars such as Bill Lyons, Fred Poets, Bill Wakish, Merv Colling, George McLeod, Keith and Bill Barton, Bob Fields, Bob Kurtin, John Hasselfeldt, Ken Jorgenson and Rich Harris were just a few who raced with Terry at the CNE, or Flamboro, Speedway Park and other Ontario race tracks. Most were in attendance for the CVM organized reunion. He was #64 at the CNE and #92 when he came back to run Flamboro Speedway in the 70's.
Terry was tall, hansom and easy going, a John Wayne kind of guy. He was my favourite Hobby driver as a kid, who later became a mentor to me when I started in the Hobby division teaching me many things about my car, philosophy in dealing with most racers and tons about our engines.
Terry was a steady, hard charging competitor. He would glue himself to the car in front until a mistake was made allowing him to get by. There may never have been a racer as cool as he was, before or after a race.
This charismatic racer prompted a few rule changes. The first, maybe the most significant, was brought on perhaps by his pre race prep. This was Terry’s routine. We’d be cruising around under caution, getting ready for the white to come out. Most drivers would glance to the right or left and give the driver beside them a thumbs up. It was a tradition we did before every race as soon as we were through adjusting our seat belts and getting fitted snug in our seats. On one occasion I looked to the white #92 beside me. I was ready to motion a safe race, but Terry was pre occupied with something on his dash. I thought maybe his ignition switch was giving him trouble, or some other issue. As he was messing with it I wondered “what is he doing”? Then with a big mischievous smile, he looked at me, nodded with his cigarette lighter in hand and lighting his smoke started to laugh as we headed into turn three about to take the green. It was unbelievable, I was messed up, still shaking my head as the green came out. Before I could gather my composure, before one lap was in the books I lost three positions. That was the wildest pre race thing I’d ever seen, in spite of the fact in those days, we smoked in the house, in the car, in movie theaters, it was no big deal to see people smoking everywhere.... but in a race car?...and at the start of a race? Wow! After the feature my crew may have said to me “good run”, but still in a stunned state, I probably said “did you know that Terry lights up a smoke before the race”?
The other rule change inspired by Mr. Dickenson was right after the 1976 Twin 25’s. In the first feature a huge wreck coming off turn two eliminated a lot of the field. Terry’s white Coupe got hit very hard in the trunk area smashing his gas tank quite severely. This die-hard went to the pits under the long caution and returned with his fuel tank removed and a “jerry can” in it’s place. Secured with bungee chords and tape, the warrior returned to the track only to be confronted by the Flamboro staff letting him know what he was doing was next to insane. Terry argued with them longer than the time it took to get the cars towed off….“I’m here to race, I’ll be okay”. A jerry-can not secured properly, the thought of a cigarette likely been lit in the very near future made the track convince Terry that he shouldn’t race. In the pits after, we talked about that wreck, listening to Terry laugh as he told how he fixed the car temporarily, trying to get back out and almost pulling it off. He didn’t win that battle, but the club did, by soon making it mandatory to install “fuel cells”.
Terry goes down in history as the last winner of the Hobby points at the CNE in 1966. He served as President of the OARC, was on the committee for many years and always fought for justice for all racers. He was a caring person helping me for many of my early years when I struggled the most.
This Hobby Hall of Fame member will surely be missed. All of us at Elliott racing extended our deepest sympathies to Marilyn and the Dickenson family, we thank the Lord for allowing us to know this awesome man.

Visitation will be at the Turner & Porter "Peel" Chapel, 2180 Hurontario St. Mississauga (Hwy. 10 N of QEW) on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. Funeral Service will be held in the Chapel on Wednesday, August 12 at 1.00 pm.

There's a picture of Terry and his car on our web site www.elliottracingteam.com