Sep 2, 2021

Aussie Wide Open - Expressions From Wade Aunger / A Visit With Doug To Doug's (Doug Wolfgang)

This morning was really, REALLY special for me.

I got to take a ride out with my amazing friend Doug Clark and meet his lifelong best friend Doug.

Wolfgang.

One of the greatest Sprint Car drivers of all time (Just don't try to tell HIM that).

And a man who shoots directly from the hip, without filter and without hesitation on any given topic.

"When you meet Wolfgang," Doug warned as we rode over there, "he don't BS. He'll tell you from the hip and from the heart."

I can't tell you what a thrill it was for me to finally meet "Wolfie."

I was a little in awe of the guy.

And then I heard him say in our interview how uncomfortable he is with fan adulation.

And I had to check the fan-boy at the sidewalk and give him a stern talking to.

If I turn this into a dirt track worship session then I'm not respecting all the things he told me today.

When I met him I shook his hand and said "It's really cool to meet you Sir," and he burst out laughing.

"There it is," he said, referring to my accent, "now I hear you speaking I know we got a real Aussie here."

Man that was cool hearing him say that - he immediately put me at ease.

His perspective is razor sharp.

He shies away from the sport these days.

Being at the track makes him feel awkward.

He doesn't want to be celebrated like some kind of God.

"I got paid well for something I'd have done for free," he explained, "hell all I did was drive race-cars in a circle and do what I loved. I ain't nothing special."

The thirty minutes here is only part of my morning on the outskirts of Sioux Falls, but it took me 40 minutes to interrupt our conversation in the garage and pluck up the courage to ask if I could record some of it.

For most of the visit it was just three race fans bench racing and telling stories.

Stick a fork in me and turn me over...

Doug Wolfgang and Doug Clark - and me.

God Bless America...

Thank you Doug Clark. Thank you.