Walt Bazemore and his Modified Sportsman - NVRA

Member profile: Walt Bazemore
Walt Bazemore has been attending
races for 31 years, since age 4, when his
dad took him to Thunderbowl Speedway
(GA). At twelve, the Valdosta, Georgia, native
left the grandstands to race go-karts.
He recalls racing two or three seasons finishing
well but never winning a feature. The
senior Bazemore insisted Walt build all his
own engines and prepare the go-kart himself.
Ronnie Lieupo and his Chevelle with young Bazemore
Walt Bazemore and his Modified Sportsman
Thunderbowl raced "skeeter cars"
until the late 80's and they were always
Walt s favorite. Dad was a crew chief for a
very fast 1970 Chevelle late model driven
by Ronnie Lieupo. They won the 1976 4th
of July race at Thunderbowl Speedway in
Valdosta and many others at Lake City
(FL), Waycross (GA) and Brunswick (GA).
A few years later dad and Uncle Joe
Walker built a 62 Chevy II 6-pack and raced in the 6 cylinder class at Thunderbowl
Speedway where they won 17 races in a row.
Dad & Uncle Joes Chevy II Nova 6-cylinder
timing chain broke ending his night. All went
well the next week and Bazemore found
himself in victory lane. Walt went on to win
nine races in the Camaro his first year at
Lake City and Thunderbowl Speedway.
Bazemore s biggest purse was $800 at
Thunderbowl in 1997. That winning Camaro
as well as the #44 Modified Sportsman vintage
car he currently drives have been
The young Bazemore bought a
75 Camaro roller in 1997 and built an
engine for it. (Walt has built all his own
engines.) His first race was at the dirt
track in Lake City. He started last in the
feature due to a late spin in the heat.
The feature went well until Walt was
passing the 2nd place car and the
Walt s Camaro won 9 races in a row in his 1st year
owned by Walt and his dad and Walt recalls that dad is, always thinking of a way to
make the car faster. I am VERY fortunate to have him as a partner. On nights we run
good I own the car. When we run bad, it s Dads (You might say Walt has a dry sense
of humor.) The Camaro was sold on, what Walt remembers as, a sad day shortly after
Thunderbowl Speedway closed in 1998.

Walt and girl friend Hebra in the winners circle
Oil from the blown engine the week before
had the brakes soaked. I found out they didn't
work when I went into turn 1 a little too hot on
the start and went flying off the end and
straight to a last place finish in the heat. I
started last in the 20 lap feature and was able
to get 3rd place by lap 17. The 1st and 2nd
place cars were about a straightaway ahead
of me when we got the first caution of the
night giving me a chance to race for the win.
With 3 laps left, I was able to get by both cars
and take the car to victory. Great story, Walt!
Bazemore got hooked on vintage racing
after visiting Cooley Hobdy s shop and
says he has had vintage racing fever ever
since. He bought a 34 Chevy that had been
owned previously by Bill Rolader and started
racing with the National Vintage Racing Association
in April of 2006.
We asked Walt about his most
memorable moment in racing. The
night that is most memorable in racing
is from our 1997 season at Thunderbowl.
We had blown an engine the previous
week and I didn't get to start assembling
the new engine until the morning
of the race. Even with everyone
helping, we were late getting to the
track and there was a long line of cars
waiting to get in the pits. I unloaded the
car on the highway and drove the car
onto the track just as my heat race took
the field.
Walt and Walter in Lanier Winners Circle