Little Bill was the first driver who ever let me ride in his car when they packed the track in, a ritual which is no longer used. I was about 8 I guess. He rocked.
L.D. Ottinger was my favorite on dirt. I've seen him do things on a dirt track that I could not believe. I remember him once at Volunteer, coming out of turn two, splitting two other cars to take the lead and win the race. After the race, my dad (who built some parts for L.D.'s cars) and I were in the pits, and asked him about it. As God is my witness, his reply was, "What two cars? I led the whole damn race, didn't I?" L.D.'s eyeglasses were about an inch thick, and he swears he never saw those cars.
I also remember him "assisting" H.E. Vineyard one night. Assisting him right into the wall. It was one of the big NDRA races, and L.D. moved H.E. (too many initials!) real early. H.E. and his rather sizeable mechanic, Smitty, each stood inside turn one and threw a clod at L.D. every lap for the rest of the race. After the race, we were again in the pit area, when H.E. and Smitty came toward L.D. as he reclined on the back of his car. They were not happy people. A comment was made to L.D. to the effect of "I know karate", to which the diminutive L.D. replied with (as he reached over to his truck and grabbed one), "Yeah, and I know LEAD PIPE too."
God I miss watching him drive.