Respected Lou Blaney ruled roost of racing

Sunday's event at Yankee Lake ballroom to honor their father was organized by sons Dave and Dale.
BROOKFIELD -- You might say Dave Blaney is a chip off the old engine block.
"My brother, Dale and I, watched him race so much growing up that we learned how to race," Dave Blaney said of his father, Lou. "We learned the right way to go about it and do things. We sat back and watched his work ethic and how much he worked on the cars."
The NASCAR Nextel Cup racer from Hartford was talking about his years in a household surrounded by a lumber business, sports and auto racing.
The 43-year-old Blaney made the comments at the Yankee Lake ballroom Sunday evening at a tribute reflecting on the career of his 65-year-old father.
"Thanks for the memories. Over 600 wins from 1958-2004," the banner inside read as people lined up to enter.
The hardware
A display of memorabilia stretched over several tables contained more pictures, articles and awards than any summa cum laude high school graduate could produce.
Granted, it was a 45-year career, but it was fitting.
Over the past four decades, Lou Blaney earned his place as one of the most successful, respected and popular drivers of all-time in the western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio areas. He won more races and track championships than any other driver and he holds the dirt modified all-time win record at four different speedways: Lernerville, Mercer, Raceway 7 and Sharon and is tied for the record at another, Tri-City.
Dave and Dale Blaney were co-hosts of Sunday's tribute.
Dave talked about his dad's strong traits.
"His desire, not only to race, but to win was a huge part of it," he said. "First of all, putting forth enough effort to do it right, then, once you get on the racetrack, the desire to beat the other guy. All things equal, the guy who wants it the most is the guy who's going to get it. We learned some good lessons just by watching him."
Sons' pride
Dave, also speaking for his brother, expressed pride at how successful his father was.
"Not only was he so successful for so many years, but he was one of the most well-liked guys by the fans and most respected by the guys he raced with. That's a hard combination: to get a guy that well-liked and to win that much. That said something about the way he raced and the way he treated other racers."
Rather than force-feeding his auto-racing sons -- Dale in sprint cars -- Lou Blaney had a simple approach.
"When I started racing sprints, it wasn't like he took me aside and gave my all this advice," Dave said. "He gave us some advice when we first started and then kind of cut us loose and watched how it went. If he saw something, he'd jump in and put you back on the right path, but he's never been one to just flood you with information. He's not like that at all. He's got enough experience to know that you've got to let a guy go and get it on his own and that's what he did."
Lou, did, however, provide a good support system.
"He kind of plopped me in the seat and got a good guy to help me take care of the cars," Dave said. "He was busy running a business and racing on his own, but he knew that in order to be successful, you had to [have] someone keeping the cars running good and fast. You can be the best driver out there, but if your equipment isn't cooperating, you can't show it."
Next generation
Lou's legacy is trickling down to the next generation, including Dave's 11-year-old son, Ryan.
"Because Ryan's lived in North Carolina for seven years, he didn't see his grandpa race but a handful of times and he hadn't seen me race dirt that much," he said. "He's kind of grown up with me at the NASCAR level. So it's been a little different for him as far as being hands-on. He's been racing something since he was 9 years old. I didn't even race a go-kart or anything until I was about 15. That was back in the mid-70s when I was that age, but nowadays, there's something for kids to race from 6-years-old on. Pick your class.
"He's learning from that and I see a huge amount of talent in him if he wants to continue."
Dave and Dale, 41, haven't forgotten their mother's part in the family's success.
"Mom loved the racing part of it," Dave said of Katie Blaney. "She was never, never, never ever against us doing it. She knew it was probably going to happen. She's always been supportive and she's the same for the grandkids. She loves racing as much as any of us."