RPW Column: I’m Glad I Got To Know Don Davies; He Was Who I Always Wanted To Be As A Writer
Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – ADAMS, MA – I can’t write this. It’s too painful.
Every time I’ve tried to put pen to paper to write about him over the last few days, what he’s meant to me, as a mentor, as someone I idolized in the media world, and as a friend, I’ve lost my nerve.
I haven’t been able to do it, but here goes.
On Sunday, the world lost a great man, and I personally lost someone who, as a journalist, I always tried to emulate. Don Davies passed away due to a courageous battle with Cancer.
When I was a young racer, turning laps around the dirt tracks up here in the northeast, I always wanted to see my name in New York Modifieds, the column Don and his wife, Jo Ann, penned in Area Auto Racing News. Every Thursday, when that paper hit my mailbox, I hoped I was lucky enough to see even a small burb about me in it.
That’s why, back in 2000, when I started Race Pro Weekly, Mr. and Mrs. Davies were two of the first people I talked with. They were also the first I tried to have as part of RPW.
Of course they never wrote a word for the magazine, but from the numerous phone calls I received over the years, Don sure was a reader.
I loved to hear his voice on the other end of the line. Sometimes, he’d give me a compliment about something I’d written. Other times, he may have been critical. However, no matter what, I learned from what he said, and I learned from one of the best.
He always had words of wisdom for me. It wasn’t ever ‘why’ from him. When he’d talk to me, he’d tell me ‘this is why.’ He always made sure I understood. He never left me guessing as to what he meant.
I don’t know if he knew it but Don was an amazing teacher. However, with all he taught me over the years, you want to know what I’m going to miss the most? I’m going to miss just sitting around, at a race track, talking to him.
Don had an astonishing ability of grabbing your attention through the spoken word. That’s probably one of the main reasons he and Jo Ann were such a great team. They complimented each other so well.
On plenty of occasions, their golf cart would pull up alongside me as I stood, for example, during early inspection at Super DIRT Week, and I’d hear Don’s voice say, “Hello Mr. Chalmers.”
That’s when I knew I was in for a great conversation…or I’d done something wrong…HAHA. I can still hear that right now…and it makes me smile.
No matter what, Don Davies taught me so much about this sport over the years. Mostly, it was how to be a better writer. He also showed me how to be a better fan. He simply loved auto racing and all the people in it.
Through my writing classes during college, my professors taught me the value of being honest with those your telling the story about and how important it was to be factual. From day one, though, Don instilled in me that having drivers, or owners, or officials believe you’d tell the ‘right story’ meant everything.
Telling ‘the right story’ was more important than telling ‘the story.’ Everyone trusted Don (and Jo Ann, too. Can’t forget her) that he’d do that, but even more importantly, everyone loved him for who he was. He was just an amazing man.
As I started this piece, I said how it was going to be very hard to write. I truly don’t know how I’ve even put together these words about Don because I can’t believe I won’t hear him call out my name again. However, I hold comfort in the fact that, right now, he knows just how many people’s lives he touched.
I hold comfort in knowing he now has the best seat in the house for every, single race he could possibly ever want to watch. I hold comfort in believing he’ll be keeping an eye on all of us to make sure we are as safe as possible.
Most importantly, I smile in believing every word I write will be getting the best critique possible by a man I always tried to be like as a journalist.
Thank you, Mr. Davies. I hope you enjoy the show. I hope I can make you proud. I hope we all can make you proud.
I’ll see you again someday. You’ll always be one of the best!
