Most of the stuff that happens in the world of cars and hot rodding is not just the handiwork of one person. Normally, it’s at least two people who have designed, created, or fabricated something cool or memorable. Basically, the sidekick is an integral part of this world we love to hang in and around.
I’ve always relished the role of sidekick. Whether it was working with my dad as a kid or working as a “color guy” on a two-man announcing crew, the part of sidekick always felt comfy for me. Make no mistake about it, there’s not one drop of shame in the role. There are guys who have made successful livings as sidekicks, and they’re laughing their way to the bank, even today.
When I first started to actively pursue this wacky world of automotive journalism in college, my wife was my sidekick, sometimes willingly, sometimes not. She accompanied me to far-off race tracks in exotic destinations like Ohio, Kentucky, and the Carolinas. We’d pile in my pickup truck on a Thursday night and drive all night to get to a race. She’d read a book or take the truck around to see what the local area was like while I was at the track. Come Sunday afternoon, we pack up, drive all night and try to make it back for class on Monday morning. In hindsight, I needed a sidekick back then, just someone to spur me on when it seemed everything I was doing was a waste of time. We did have our moments though, like the time I decided we’d head to a road race and camp out, in March, in New England. It was misery and there was no denying it, but we stayed long enough to get the job done. Without knowing that someone, anyone, had my back, I don’t think I’d have ever gotten that plane off the ground.
With the addition of the two boys to our family, I’ve gone from sidekick to front man in a lot of ways. I guess it’s a natural progression, and frankly, it’s a pretty cool feeling to teach my son Tom things, like how to identify tractors by their color, how to tell the difference between a big- and small-block Chevy, and how to operate a fork. He’s officially my new sidekick as my ever-present companion on many adventures and gearheaded missions. I look forward to the days when both of the boys are old enough to be active participants, and not just along for the ride on our adventures.
The true sidekick is a perfect foil for the lead man. Smokey Yunick had Ralph Johnson, John Force has Austin Coil, and Don Garlits has TC Lemon. The main factor in all those relationships is that both parties are very comfortable with where they are. There’s no power struggle or animosity. It’s a realization that the mojo is working and there’s no reason to screw around with that kind of cosmic gearhead goodness.
What got me to thinking about this topic in the first place is this whole Red Ball Express madness that is currently underway. On several legs of the trip, people who have never met will be rolling down the highway together, moving the Javelin from point to point. It’s the perfect union, a driver and a sidekick to man the maps, keep the conversation moving and jump in to help with the grunt work, better yet, they’ll be happy to be there.
Lots of people have trouble playing “second fiddle” as the old expression goes. I think that’s their loss because they are excluding themselves from opportunities and experiences that they otherwise could be involved in. Part of being involved with a team is sharing in the success, even if it’s just between two people. Look at the competitors on Drag Week. Lots of the racers travel with their right hand man, or to overuse the term, their sidekick. They confront challenges together, solve problems together, and ultimately succeed or fail together. It’s yet another neat factor that makes that event so special.
You never outgrow the role either. When I go to the track with dad, it feels that same as it did when I was 17, and frankly I love it. There’s security in those feelings and a happiness of knowing your role and your job.
Never let your ego get in the way of a good time or memorable opportunity. Take whatever role you can to be involved. Who knows, you may just relish it for the rest of your life.
