Blackie's back on track
BUFFALO TWP — After racing on dirt tracks for decades, Blackie Watt thought he had seen everything.
Last Friday, he couldn't see anything.
Watt, 72, a retired Late Model and Modified driver who competed in his first Lernerville feature in more six years, ran from the back of the field during the Late Model heat race and the feature due because of a problem with the steering.
"The track was wet (in the heat race), and the cars were throwing mud in my face," said Watt, who was driving Jimmie Pitkavish's car. "In the heat race, I didn't figure the problem was that bad. I couldn't see where I was going. It was almost a shame to perform.
"I tried to find out a way of steering it out there. I looked like an amateur. I felt bad because it was such a poor showing," added Watt.
Watt, who still takes part in senior and bus races, finished 12th in the feature race. He also sparked an accident when he hit Tony Burke of Sarver inadvertently.
"He made contact with Tony Burke on the back straightaway," said Pitkavish. "After that, the steering was not the same.
"Things just didn't work out the way we wanted. He could have done better if not for the steering problem. As Blackie says, 'Things work out because that's how things are supposed to,'" Pitkavish added.
The evening was a perfect setting for Watt, who began racing in 1950. It was the fourth annual Joe Pitkavish Memorial Modified race, and Joe's grandson, Jimmie Pitkavish, was going to let Watt drive his Late Model car.
"We've wanted him to drive for a long time," said Pitkavish. "It just never worked out. Me, my dad and (car owner)Bob Peterson knew my grandfather's memorial night was coming up, and that would be the best night."
Watt had driven for Joe Pitkavish for 25 years up until 1986 and the duo teamed up for an incredible run of success.
At Lernerville, they won the Late Models championships in 1982 and 1987, and the Modifieds in 1972, 1974-75, 1982 and 1984.
They won championships at three different tracks in 1974, finishing the year with 36 feature wins, including 14 at Lernerville.
Watt is ranked third in all-time Modified wins at Lernerville with 61 and sits behind Lou Blaney (69) and Bob Wearing Sr. (62).
"They made it look so easy," said Pitkavish, 40, of Tarentum. "My grandpap and Blackie won so many races, and it's not easy at all. They'd run three to four times a week and win every race every week. They'd walk around smiling and happy."
Watt had run some hot laps at Lernerville the week before in preparation of last Friday's race.
"I feel honored with the relationship I have with the Pitkavishes," said Watt. "(Joe) was like a father to me.
"It was always a team effort. If something wasn't right, Joe always fixed it, made it better and it never broke again. Joe was fantastic,"Watt added.
In his sixth decade around racing, Watt, who also competed in NASCAR during the 1966 season and had nine top-10 finishes in his 20 races, has seen a lot of changes, particularly in the cars.
"They're more bought cars today. We used to build them ourselves," said Watt. "They say speed costs money. It depends on how much you spend. It's a money thing right now."
"I idolize Blackie Watt," said Pitkavish. "I told him numerous times, if he came out of retirement, he could drive my car. I get more enjoyment watching him do it than to ride myself."
