HOME

PHOTOS FROM THE COLLECTION OF:

ED ESSER

Meet "Big Ed" Esser, a S. Florida racing veteran from Miami.

Here is a look at his Anglia that he ran in the modified "A" class.

Bob Forman and Ed were good friends and racing partners for many years. They often kept their cars in the same shop.

Bob tells a good story about the night that Ed had just got his car back together and decided to test it by flying up and down the parking lot outside the shop. He comes Ed, full speed, when one of his "helpers" rolls a tire out in front of the car! Adios radiator!

There was another night, Ed and Bob were working in the back of shop when 2 of their buddys got on the roof of the warehouse. These nuts started dropping lighted rockets in the warehouse door. Ed and Bob were pinned down by unfriendly fire, did I mention the shop was full of gas cans, solvents etc? Don't try this at home!

One of the offending parties was Bob "Roach" Bazer. He drove the "Vomit Wagon" VW, but that is a whole different story

Ed, Bob and Dana ran at FCS, but they didn't hesitate to race wherever minis were on the schedule across the state: Tampa, St. Petersburg, Melbourne, Ft. Pierce and Naples were common destinations

Here is Ed after a Hialeah win.

This car was a potent Cortina.

Hollywood ran a varied schedule of Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons.

Ed runs at Hialeah against two FCS veterans: Wayne Varner #9 and Sam Kerr #27.

More Hialeah action with Bob Williams in the #17 and Mark Koegel #46.

Back at Hollywood and racing with Sam Kerr and Don Edgar in the #6.

I believe the 72 is Dennis Butler driving a car bought from Miles Cole. The building in the background is the tower for the drag strip.

Ed and George Sweeting went at it on this day.

Ed spent several years in Late Models and Limited Late Models. He concentrated on running for the points championships Hialeah, but would travel to Palm Beach and other tracks.

When we lost Ed a few years ago, we lost a dedicated racer, and good friend to the sport.

Dirt trackin' his late model around Naples Speedway!

This looks like a good night at the races!

Ed congratulates the race winner Wayne Varner.