BUFFALO TWP - Larry Peters' obituary read that "he enjoyed working on cars."

The line was as much an understatement as Peters' approach to his own life.

"He always put other people first, before himself," said Todd Hoak of Cabot. "That's pretty rare these days."

Peters died June 18 at Allegheny Valley Hospital, shortly after suffering a heart attack at Lernerville Speedway earlier that night. He was 65.

"This is where he liked to be," Late Model driver Rob Kosecki said. "He loved racing."

The Cabot man contributed to racing as well. He retired from Armco Steel after working 38 years as a hydraulic specialist and machinist, but also owned Peters Automotive and Larry Peters Racing.

He owned the chassis in Kosecki's car, was helping out Jeff Bastin's No. 0 Pure Stock and was building a Late Model for 22-year-old Brandon Wearing of Renfrew at the time of his death.

Peters also helped to build and maintain a car for Late Model driver Jim Pitkavish.

Before last Friday's race show at Lernerville, Hoak - a member of Bastin's pit crew - Kosecki and Wearing drove the respective cars side-by-side around the track in a ceremonial tribute to Peters.

His career in racing dates back to 1964, when he prepared a 1956 Ford, car No. 70, driven by Bill Barber and Dick Swartzlander.

He went on to prepare a 1957 Ford, car No. 73, for Swartzlander that won 42 races in one year.

Peters built a few cars for Swartzlander and Blackie Watt that consistently finished in the top five.

"You wonder why the nice people are taken from us early," Watt said. "I was with Larry in racing for four or five years or so and never saw him unhappy.

"That man always had a smile on his face."

The car Peters was building for Wearing is No. 73, the same number Swartzlander drove to the aforementioned 42 victories.

Wearing is fifth in points in the E-Mod division at Sharon Speedway this year and has not had a regular ride at Lernerville.

"Larry helped me with the (Late Model) I drove here in 2001," Wearing said. "He was building this car and asked me if I wanted to drive it for him. I didn't hesitate.

"I was looking forward to working with him again. Now it's not going to happen.

"I guess I can't rule out driving it, depending on who buys it, whether they're interested in finding a driver. If everything worked out that way, I'd be interested, but it's a long shot," Wearing added.

Kosecki's race team got together and finished the No. 73 after Peters died. The Peters family is selling the car.

"Larry had it about a week away," Kosecki said of completing the car.

"It's still unbelievable he's gone. There's nothing that man wouldn't do for anybody. Finishing that car was the least we could do for him."

Hoak said Peters wouldn't settle for giving advice on the phone.

"You call to ask him a question and he'd say, 'hold on, I'll just come down,' no matter where he was," Hoak said. "Larry didn't tell you, he showed you.

"We're all gonna miss that guy. If you were in racing, it didn't matter who you were, because Larry Peters supported racing."

Lernerville Points Standings

(top 15 through June 25)

Sprints

Chad Hill 207, Ed Lynch Jr. 191, Rod George 175, Kevin Schaeffer 168, Gary Rankin 159, Dan Shetler 152, Arnie Kent 149, Scott Bonnell 121, Gary Kriess, Jr. 114, Mike Shearer 104, Charlie Holben 97, Jerry Matus 97, Brent Matus 95, Mike Dehner 90, William Kiley 87

Late Models

John Flinner 191, Gary Lyle 171, Lynn Geisler 154, Nick Jones 153, Doug Eck 150, Chuck Kennedy 150, Ken Schaltenbrand 142, David Scott 121, Rob Kosecki 111, Spanky Dougherty 107, Tom Kitchen 106, Jeff Henry 99, Chris Schneider 91, Bob Wearing Jr. 89, Ron Davies 76

Modifieds

Dave Murdick 215, Jim Weller Jr. 207, Brian Swartzlander 202, Kevin Bolland 167, Lonny Riggs 155, Tommy Marshall 147, Gary Risch Jr. 145, Tom Winkle 141, Carl Murdick 125, J.R. McGinley 117, Eddie Brown 98, Justin Broerman 79, Gary Risch Sr. 75, Carl Weatherby 71, John Durci 71

Pure Stocks

Joe Kelley 201, Rob Shook 199, Greg Beach 197, Butch Lambert 178, Paul Schreckengost 157, Bob Lipinski 135, Scott Bochek 131, Bob Egley 128, Jason Fosnaught 127, Mike Turner 125, Dave Spangler 113, Nick Reges 105, Herman Bertolini 101, Jeff Bastin 94, Doug Graham 94