By Steve Waid
Growing up in Mississippi, Lake Speed fed his need for speed racing go-karts.
Not that 25 mph stuff in a store-bought kart, mind you. Lake was a regular competitor in major league, high-speed, international karting. Races were staged all over the world – from Europe to New Zealand. Fan attendance numbered well into the thousands.
In 1978, Lake entered the World Karting Championship for the sixth time. Improving his finishing position steadily each year, Lake went up against some of the most talented kart racers in the world. To give you an idea of the caliber of competitor he would go up against, consider that one of them was Ayrton Senna.
Of the 100 or so racers entered in the event, Lake was the only American. Repeat – the only American. The odds were stacked against him.
Well ….
Guess what? He won … which meant he had to go find another impossible challenge to conquer.
For more than 32 years, Grand National/Winston Cup/NASCAR Scene writers and photographers were there to record NASCAR history as it was being made. Join hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid each week on The Scene Vault Podcast Presented by Q Ware as they take a look back at the extraordinary people, places and events woven into the rich tapestry that is our sport.
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