Its been awhile since i wrote a blog but i have been busy announcing races at Iowa State Fair Speedway, attending/Announcing races at the Hamilton County Speedway and attending/working races at the Benton County Speedway which means my notes have not been that great but i plan to get things rolling beginning this week if mother nature cooperates just a bit.
One reason I write this blog is because its been a very sad week for everybody in the racing community specially in central Iowa as longtime announcer Tim Trier lost his battle to cancer this week. Tim got his start at Eddyville Raceway Park and Cedar Falls Dragstrip before announcing at Knoxville Raceway in 1979 as infield reporter, the next year Ralph Capitani moved him into the announcers booth, a place he was until 1992. Tim also announced several years at the Iowa State Fair Speedway and Stuart Speedway for his brother Mick, who promotes races currently at the Benton County Speedway. Tim also helped out operating the scoreboard for a few years at Knoxville and was the Voice of Newton Cardinal Football. Tim returned to the booth in 1999 for one year and the last time he filled in at Knoxville was on June 30th, 2012 when he got a call from Toby Kruse, promoter at the time to come fill in.
Tim was always a fun person to talk to and fun guy to work with. I experience the opportunity to work him several times for the last few years his brother Mick was promoter at the Iowa State Fair Speedway and will remember those times every time i step into the Announcer stand at the Iowa State Fair Speedway this year.
Tim worked at Maytag then when Maytag closed down he began working at Iowa Telecom but his true passion was helping kids and so he attended Drake University and got his Master's Degree in Psychology. Tim coached basketball for 30 years during this whole time at Newton and spent the last several years as a Counselor at Aurora Heights Elementary In Newton.
Tim has no idea the number of people he has inspired from young to old. Students through Newton Schools or at the race tracks. Many Announcers that learned some things from Tim include Blake Anderson, Tony Bokhoven, Jerry Van Sickel, Toby Kruse, Scott Watson and myself just to name a few.
Thanks for everything Tim you will be remembered by many and will never be forgotten. When I step in the announcer stand in Des Moines or Stuart, I know you will be looking down and telling me if I am doing something wrong.
My Condolences to the entire Trier Family during this hard time. Visitation is Friday from 5 to 7 pm and Funeral is Saturday at 10 am , both will be at the Wallace Family Funeral Home in Newton. More info at http://www.wallacefamilyfuneralhome.com/notices/RTim-Trier
Until We Meet again Tim!
