Don
Nonneman
When I first started racing
there was an unlimited class with 2 carts one was a black champ cart
with a big #38 on it. That was Don or as others would say “you mean
the guy who talks about Jesus I had a misshape placing me into the wall
bending the kart bad at the time we thought we where done, we where
given the name Don Nonneman. Don had a jig and had the cart back to
normal in a short time maybe even better than before. This is how we got
to know the Nonneman’s. Over Don’s ministry career he has talked
with many drivers, Danny Lasoski would call him “The Preacher Man”.
If you raced at Little Greenwood speedway or Selinensgrove speedway you
no doubt heard Don give the blessing. Or if you had the misfortune of
getting in a wreck Don was there to lend a hand and say a prayer for
you. Narrow Road ministry was invited to Eldora speedway, and after that
weekend you could tell Don was excited to be there.
Don was a
racer also, the Winged Kart Outlaws was one of the classes he was
instrumental in forming and trying to keep going thru the years, and he
would come off the track with a smile on his face. At Port Royals
Tuscarora 50 the “Winged Kart Outlaw would put on an exhibition at
intermission. One of my most memorable moments racing with Don was we
were side by side on the backstretch
and both dipped into the corner the Karts where close to hitting
each other, after the race I said to Don “that was real close” Don
replied “there was nothing
to worry about”.
When Don was
diagnosed with leukemia we all thought for sure he would kick its butt
and he did for awhile, it was good to see him back at the track.
Unfortunately we had received a call one evening that Don had gone home,
he will be missed at the track, in the back of the black race trailer
sitting and talking after having a bad evening racing and the talks we
had in his garage.
Written
by Zach
