"Where it all began..."

"Downtown" George Brown Enters Hall in 2003
by SAFER Staff

    Figure 8 racing has evolved a great deal over the last forty years.  From junk your "throw away" cars, to the sophisticated machines we see today. One of the drivers responsible for bringing respectability to Figure 8 racing is none other than "Downtown" George Brown.

    It wasn't always sophistication and glitz for George Brown's automobiles.  When Brown started out in the Figure 8's back in the 70's, he was in the process of building his first car, a 1962 Ford Falcon.  When Brown was asked by a seasoned veteran as to what chassis he would be using, Brown looked at him and said, "Yo man, the chassis the car came with!" Yes, George Brown had come a long way.

    Brown was the 1991 Figure 8 Champion and won 32 Figure 8 Feature events at Riverhead Raceway, with an aggressive style and that all to familiar sliding through the corners. Anyone who ever watched him drive got their monies' worth. Always considered the man to beat.  And when you beat 
George Brown, you earned it.  There is no telling how many more races and championships Brown would have won if not for some shortened seasons and differences of opinions with the officials.

    As hard as Brown was on the track, many people didn't see the softer, gentler George Brown. Brown would quietly supply tires to competitors regularly.  When he was questioned as to why, he would simply say, "I don't want to have this guy on baloney skins wrecking me."

    Then there was the time when the officials didn't like his rims.  So what does Brown do? He gave them away to other drivers and made them 'disappear' as the officials told him to do.

    But Brown will probably be best remembered for climbing the front stretch fence, proclaiming he was number one. At least, that was what he told the officials in the trailer that night.  The fans thought it was part of the show.

    Or maybe the time he 'mooned' the promoters while traveling on the Expressway.  That was George Brown.

    But seriously, "Downtown" George Brown is a well-deserving choice for the S.A.F.E.R. Hall of Fame. He was innovative, a top runner, and he sure knew how to make it fun.  When Brown was at the track, you knew it.  The S.A.F.E.R. Hall of Fame will never be the same.

Reprinted from 1999 SAFER Yearbook