Daughter takes up racing to honor late father
Ginger Nelson made her third start in her late father Mike Becker's No. 42 vintage race car Saturday night at Berlin Raceway. The Vintage Racing Organization of America hosted a memorial race in honor of Mr. Becker. (Photo courtesy of Randy Ellen Photography)
MARNE – The 2013 Vintage Racing Organization of America season would have been Mike Becker’s 42nd year of racing, but the Rockford stock car driver never got the chance.
Mr. Becker died from cancer this past Feb. 27 at the age of 63.
However, West Michigan area race fans are still having the opportunity to cheer on Mr. Becker’s No. 42 vintage hot rod this summer. His daughter, Ginger Nelson of Cedar Springs, has made sure of that.
Nelson decided this season that she was going to race the car herself, even though she had never turned a lap in her life. She was well aware how much her father wanted to race this season – it was going to be year No. 42 for the driver of the No. 42 car.
It was Nelson behind the wheel of Mr. Becker’s car during Saturday night’s Mike Becker Memorial Race, which was contested at the Berlin Raceway in Marne.
“He is my hero, and if I can do this to honor him and have fun, too, than what better way is there to honor him?” Nelson said. “He has seen me race every time because he is right in the car with me. I believe God has him in heaven watching over us.
“I’m sure he is proud to see his No. 42 back out on the track. Not only is his No. 42, but this would have been 42nd year racing. That’s pretty special to us.”
Saturday’s race marked Nelson’s third start in the car, and she finished 16th in the 42-lap race. It was divided into a pair of 21-lap segments, and it was Lou Caposey taking the checkered flag at the race’s conclusion.
Nelson said she isn’t that concerned about her finishes at this point. All she wants to do is continue to improve.
“I’ve never been in the car before, maybe to move it out of the garage. But that’s about it,” Nelson said. “I have been in the car for three weeks, and I have made progress of 11 seconds around the track, so I guess I’m doing alright.”
Mr. Becker graduated from Rockford High School in 1967 and started racing weekly at Berlin in the early 1970s. He continued to race stock cars in Marne until he joined VROA in the early 2000s. The series races a number of times each year at Berlin, so Mr. Becker continued to be a Grand Rapids area fan favorite after he joined the traveling series.
“On the memorial sticker, it says, ‘A friend to everyone,’” Nelson said. “That’s so true. He is my hero, and I’m he sure he is to many others, too.
“It means a great deal that they cared enough (to host Saturday’s memorial race) and thought enough to remember him. To put him in the category with so many other great drivers out there is just phenomenal.”
Nelson said she isn’t sure what her plans are as far as racing is concerned after this year. Don’t be surprised to see her behind the wheel for seasons to come, though.
“Right now I’m racing for this season, and we will see after that,” Nelson said. “I think I know why he never let me in the car. He would have never gotten me back out.”
Mr. Becker died from cancer this past Feb. 27 at the age of 63.
It was Nelson behind the wheel of Mr. Becker’s car during Saturday night’s Mike Becker Memorial Race, which was contested at the Berlin Raceway in Marne.
“He is my hero, and if I can do this to honor him and have fun, too, than what better way is there to honor him?” Nelson said. “He has seen me race every time because he is right in the car with me. I believe God has him in heaven watching over us.
“I’m sure he is proud to see his No. 42 back out on the track. Not only is his No. 42, but this would have been 42nd year racing. That’s pretty special to us.”
Saturday’s race marked Nelson’s third start in the car, and she finished 16th in the 42-lap race. It was divided into a pair of 21-lap segments, and it was Lou Caposey taking the checkered flag at the race’s conclusion.
Nelson said she isn’t that concerned about her finishes at this point. All she wants to do is continue to improve.
“I’ve never been in the car before, maybe to move it out of the garage. But that’s about it,” Nelson said. “I have been in the car for three weeks, and I have made progress of 11 seconds around the track, so I guess I’m doing alright.”
Mr. Becker graduated from Rockford High School in 1967 and started racing weekly at Berlin in the early 1970s. He continued to race stock cars in Marne until he joined VROA in the early 2000s. The series races a number of times each year at Berlin, so Mr. Becker continued to be a Grand Rapids area fan favorite after he joined the traveling series.
“On the memorial sticker, it says, ‘A friend to everyone,’” Nelson said. “That’s so true. He is my hero, and I’m he sure he is to many others, too.
“It means a great deal that they cared enough (to host Saturday’s memorial race) and thought enough to remember him. To put him in the category with so many other great drivers out there is just phenomenal.”
Nelson said she isn’t sure what her plans are as far as racing is concerned after this year. Don’t be surprised to see her behind the wheel for seasons to come, though.
“Right now I’m racing for this season, and we will see after that,” Nelson said. “I think I know why he never let me in the car. He would have never gotten me back out.”
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