GENE MACHINES

BYLINE:    ALAN TAYS, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
DATE: March 5, 2006
PUBLICATION: Palm Beach Post, The (FL)
EDITION: FINAL
SECTION: SPORTS
PAGE: 3B
MEMO: AUTO RACING

The stock car racer was excited about his upcoming race, as all stock car racers are. But Edgar Otto had a different reason than most.
"I get to find out whether Father Time has caught up or not," said Otto, who will race today at Sebring International Raceway. Father Time eventually catches up to everyone, but Otto has kept him in his rear-view mirror longer than most.

How many stock car racers are 76 years old?

And how many can claim their father was one of the pioneers of NASCAR?
Otto, a Boca Raton resident, drives in the stock car division of the Historic Sportscar Racing Series. He continues a family legacy started by his father, Edward Otto, a racing official and promoter who died in 1996 at age 92 and was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame in 2002.

Edward Otto never wanted his son to race. Told him he'd disown him if he did, the story goes."That's true," Edgar said with a laugh. "I didn't start racing until he passed."Edward Otto, whom Edgar describes as "the rich son of a dairy farmer" from Irvington, N.J., had a short-lived racing career. "He got turned over, broke his elbow, punctured his eardrum," Edgar said. "He said, 'Maybe I really don't want to race.' "

He turned to promoting. "He promoted all over the East in the '20s and '30s at fairgrounds."Edward Otto promoted motorcycle races in Yankee Stadium and auto races at the Polo Grounds. He was introduced to NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. by Bill Tuthill, one of France's partners. France, Edgar said, offered Edward Otto a 40 percent stake in NASCAR if Otto would lobby other promoters on France's behalf.

"My father put the 'National' in NASCAR."

According to NASCAR, Edward Otto became its first vice president in 1952.
Edgar said his father sold his NASCAR interest back to France in 1963.
"He got $250,000, which was a lot of money back then."
Edgar Otto says his father is underrepresented in NASCAR history, but adds that it doesn't bother him.” You can only have one legend," he said, referring to Bill France Sr. "I'm fine with it. To me, the Frances have been the best stewards of the sport of auto racing. We're lucky to have the Frances."

Edgar worked for his father until deciding "I just wasn't cut out for it." But he credits his promoting background for teaching him that "anything is possible. I've been in 12 different businesses. I invented the method to make TV dinner dishes."
He also founded National Healing Corporation, a hospital-based wound-care provider. He is working on an automated device to replace the hospital bedpan.
"I've had a great business career and I'm doing what I love, racing."

Otto's love of racing is startlingly displayed inside his house.
"When we built this house my wife said 'You can have one room' " for racing displays, Otto said.Hanging on one wall is a stock car - a full frame, body and wheels, with black paint and a white No. 3 of Dale Earnhardt. A mannequin wearing an Earnhardt uniform and helmet sits at the wheel."I had a guy in Atlanta put up a wall, and then build it right against the wall. It fits perfectly," Otto said."This knocks the socks off a lot of people when they come in.

Today, Otto will climb into his 2002 No. 17 Chevy Monte Carlo, formerly driven in the Busch Series by Matt Kenseth, and try to knock a second or two off his fastest lap times.
"I'm a little apprehensive right now, because I want to go as fast or faster, and in this lifetime you really don't get that much of a chance to see whether Father Time is catching you or not."

al_tays@pbpost.com

Racing at Sebring
Today: Historic Sportscar Series, including Historic Stock Cars
March 15-18: American Le Mans Series Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring (March 18), with support races including the Speed World Challenge GT & Touring Series, Panoz GT Pro Series, Formula Dodge National Championship, Star Mazda, and the Cooper Championship Series. Information/tickets: (800) 626-RACE, www.sebringraceway.com

Illustration: PHOTO (B&W)
BOB SHANLEY/Staff Photographer
Stock car racer Edgar Otto carries on a family legacy started by his father Edward, who was NASCAR's first vice president in 1952.

Copyright (c) 2006 Palm Beach Newspapers, Inc.