RPW’s “Hot Mic” … Remembering Ted Christopher

Column By: RYAN HILL / RPW – HYDE PARK, NY – RPW’S ‘HOT MIC” presented by Blue Cord Media is our column where drivers share their thoughts on a topic, speaking directly to the fans. Today’s topic consists of remembrances of short track legend Ted Christopher who lost his life in a plane crash on Saturday en route to race at Riverhead Raceway.

Mike, Joey, and Todd all have raced with Ted and wanted to share their thoughts on the man, the racer, and the friend he was to them.

MIKE KEELER:
“Racing has lost one of its biggest talents, whether you loved him or not if TC was in the race you always watched to see where he was. In 2004 he helped us get going in the SK division and often gave me advice.

One of my fondest moments during that season was racing side by side with him for several laps in a heat race, obviously with him prevailing in the end, but afterwards he came over and told me what a great job I did and how hard he worked to get by me.

I raced with him off and on in different Divisions since then and anytime I saw him I always got “hey Keeler” with that smirk followed with a short discussion about what’s going on and some piece of advice. He definitely made his mark in racing and will never be forgotten, racing will never be the same without him and the pits will never be the same without that big grin.”

JOEY PAYNE:
“I met TC years ago while driving the famed Angelillo 45 NEMA Midget. I was filling in for Drew Fornoro with 5 other drivers getting Gene the 1990 car owner’s championship. After that I had a friendship with Teddy and whenever we saw each other at various NE tracks we would talk about our racing.

In the late 90s I was one of the guys to beat on the ISMA tour, Teddy got to drive the Dunigan #26 for the 1999 Thompson for the World Series. I was leading the race and had a good lead when the engine started to go sour with 12 laps to go. The caution came out and I looked over and saw the #26 second on the score board when all of a sudden BANG my helmet snapped up then down… it was TC letting me know he was behind me!! I put my arm up through the cage and waved backwards at him. He would wind up beating me on that day and it was a big win for him!!

In 2003 I made some starts in the Bob Parker SK Modified at Stafford and the first time I was on the track for warm ups I got slammed in the left nerf bar before we got the green… It was TC being TC!!! After that warm up he came over and said “Welcome to my house Jet” we would battle a few times that year and he made sure he hit me every time he had the chance.

Moving ahead to the indoor years we had some royal battles… he was a tough SOB and indoor bumping and shoving was his game. I swear he lived for it!!

In any kind of car beating the KING TC meant you did well. I was fortunate to say I beat TC a bunch of times indoors and as well as him beating me… we had a good run for a few years when it was either TC, Liquid Lou, or Me in victory lane.

A couple classic TC battles indoors:
Providence: I was in Alan Mollot’s freshly painted and redone Linblad Badger…this thing looked cherry….. until we were on track for practice… scuffing tires and bang, TC blows his RF into my freshly painted nerf bar sheet metal cover .As the warm up ended I followed TC into the pits and when he stopped I blasted his back bumper…Tony Mottola was at the car and said what the hell Joey?! I lifted my shield and said he drove into me before the green… Tony smiled and said yea that’s Teddy

Atlantic City: We raced on a Friday night and I was in the Timex Morgans #45. I broke the track record that day in time trials …. TC beat me to the front and I was on his ass for 30 laps, but my car wasn’t strong enough to get by him, but I made sure for 30 laps I hit him every entry and exit in every corner. TC won and I was second, so in victory lane he said WTF Joey…I told him that was the Jet being TC…. how does it feel? We both laughed and went onto Saturday night’s race. Saturday night I was leading and he was second when a front end part broke on my car sending me head on into the wall knocking me out…. who was the first to me after the race- TC…

Baltimore: In the heat race TC is leading, I’m second, I get by TC now we’re 1-2 as the yellow flies. We double up and get the green and he tries to chop me into a tire going into turn 1, I kept my foot in it and drove over his hood and won the heat race… after he comes over and says WTF Joey… I laughed and smiled and said if you didn’t run me into a tire I wouldn’t drive over your hood.

Over the years TC and I have had our battles and moments on the race track but left it out there, never carrying into the pits, not once getting mad at each other. We’ve been friends for years and had a mutual respect for each other.

When my son Anthony started racing NEMA Midgets he would check in with me on Anthony’s progress and as a dad it was really cool TC was asking about my kid. In 2015 Anthony won the NEMA Lite championship at Thompson at age 16. The first call I got Monday morning was a call from TC with a big congrats to us.. That was the TC not everyone got to see.

The racing world lost a GIANT this weekend. I was at Wall Stadium with Jimmy Blewett crewing for him that night when I received the call saying TC was killed in a plane crash. As I told jimmy we both gave each other a hug and he got in his own race car in that “Gotta Race” mode. I feel that as race car drivers many of us feel this is the way to show respect and deal with the grief of losing a fellow competitor as well as a friend.

I consider myself a lucky guy who had the opportunity to share a friendship as well as enjoying the hell out of racing against TC.

He was a fierce competitor and one hell of a Wheelman- if you were lucky enough to beat TC, you could honestly say you beat the BEST or the KING as everyone calls him… Racing won’t be the same without him but we all know racing must go on.
I will always miss our talks, battles and laughs my friend.

My Thoughts and Prayers go out to Quinn, brother Mike, the Christopher family and the TC Crew guys RIP CHAMP 13”

TODD SZEGEDY:
“Teddy was by far one of the most talented drivers out there! He always gave 110% and left nothing on the table EVER. He raced hard but fair and once he made a decision he went for it, with no regrets. Teddy was confident and never seemed to question his moves on the track.

I felt he always respected me as a fellow competitor. The respect was mutual as I knew I needed to be on my game with no mistakes while racing against Teddy. He will definitely be missed and I can assure you racing won’t be the same without TC.”