Mississippi’s Racing Historian
Ronald Dearman
Not often in life do we find something that sparks our passion like no other. For Ronald Dearman, it seems to have happened at least twice.
Back in the early 1960's, Ronald discovered a passion for racing. He purchased an old race car from a neighbor for $25. It was an old sportsman body on a frame with the roll cage intact. It had been spray painted black but you could see some impressions of numbers on the side. Turns out it was one of Chicken McCombs' race cars from 1960. With a lot of help from friends, Ronald started rebuilding the old car. He had the car ready for the start of the 1963 racing season at Jackson Sports Arena. Ronald successfully raced the 6-Pac for a couple of years and became well known in the racing community.
Over the years, Ronald has developed some serious medical problems. These problems have made it difficult for him to get out and about. He found himself with a lot of time and little to do. One day he decided to build a model of his beloved “6 Pac”. He quickly discovered that not only was he very good at making model race cars, he also had a driving passion for it.
Using his memory and pictures on the Miss Chicken website, he started building very accurate models of the race cars from back in his racing days. Many of those old race cars had cut down or homemade bodies and frames. That didn’t stop Mr. Dearman. He takes models and cuts them down just as the original builders did. He has even created his own molds of hard-to-find models and manufactured his own kits. I’m absolutely convinced that there is nothing he could not reproduce in a model.
The past several years, he has been sharing his model collection with everyone by bringing them to the Mississippi Racing Extravaganza and Mississippi Racers Reunion. His cars have been a huge hit and he has sold many of his cars at these shows. He has also been contacted by many other drivers and owners requesting he build models of their cars.
I’m simply amazed at how accurate these cars appear, and his attention to detail is outstanding. I call his cars “Mary Poppins Cars” because they are practically perfect in every way. I was very young when dad was racing. I don't remember many of these old race cars. I've only seen then in black and white pictures from the website. It’s so neat to see them in living color. He even crated a Miss Chicken “Modified” race car. It’s now proudly being displayed on my fireplace mantel.
Ronald’s health is continuing to deteriorate and he’s not sure how much longer he will be able to make his models. If you would like him to recreate a car from your past, he can be contacted at Rode6pac@aol.com or by phone at 601-656-3704.
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2012 Mississippi Racing Extravaganza
Man… What fun !! Bill Bissell packed in more than 150 cars in the Mississippi Trademart building and put on one outstanding show. This years Extravaganza had everything from vintage racecars to modern racecars, speedboats to go-karts and rock climbers to street rods. He even had a monster truck and Dale Earnhardt Jr’s 2012 NASCAR #88 racecar. Everyone had a large time.
There were quite a few vintage racecars there this year. Tony Barker was there with his Chevelle stock car and it was looking good. Tony takes it to asphalts tracks around the southeast just to show it off and go fast.
Coming up from Mobile Alabama was Buddy Bielarski. Buddy was a fan favorite at Jackson International Speedway back in the 1970’s. He had his restored #91 Supermodified in-tow along with his nephew, NASCAR Truck Series driver Rick "The Iron Man" Crawford. Rick came along to promote Mobile International Speedway and an upcoming ARCA race there on March 10th. Rick is planning several special events this year at MIS. Sounds like a lot of excitement is coming to Alabama's fasest 1/2 mile asphalt tract.
Others making the Extravaganza this year were Mr. JD Parker with his #12 restored Supermodified race car. Mr Parker and family came up from Lizana MS on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It was good to spend some quality time with old friends. Mr. Bud Patterson and the Little Widow were also there from Canton MS along with Buddy Taylor and Miss Chicken from Morton MS. A special thanks to Bobby Gray for sharing his Buck Baker Grand National race car for the weekend.
Next Year will be the 25th anniversary of the Racing Vehicle Extravaganza. Bill Bissell has promised to pull out all the stops and have the biggest show ever. He said that plans are to have Ellis Palasina and the V8 Black Widow there next year. I can’t wait !!
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Mississippi Racing Pioneer Passes Away
Lawrence "Roundman" Chambless
Lawrence “Roundman” Chambless, early Mississippi racer car builder and longtime Jackson street rodder passed away July 3rd after a lengthy hospital stay. He has been involved with street rods and racing his entire life. Roundman build the 00 that raced on the Jackson area dirt tracks in the early 60’s. Like many racers of that era, he not only had fun racing but was willing to lend a hand or parts to help other racers. These characteristics carried over when he moved to building street rods. Roundman earned the respect of many racers and street rodders through the years. He was Street Rodder of the Year in 1999 and elected to the Mississippi Street Rodder Hall of Fame in 2006. At the 2008 Pelahatchie Car show, he received the Pioneer Aware from the Mid State Rodders. This award was given in reconnection of his ability to think outside the box and to do things that had never been done before. He was called “Friend” by many and will be truly missed.
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