[Fot] Duck Waddle

Wed Mar 20 13:51:55 MDT 2019

I’ve known Duck since I began going to SCCA races in the ‘70s. Sometimes G Production (my Spitfire) and D Sports Racing would be in the same race together, so I can say I’ve raced “with” Duck. Of course the question was how many times did he lap me? Actually such occasions were few because I usually ran Regionals and he usually ran Nationals. Sue was a timer. My wife and I have four memory stopwatches we bought from Sue, with which we could time up to 10 cars at a time back in the day before transponders.

More often I was working Timing & Scoring when Duck was racing the succession of homebuilt cars he called “Li’l Duck” in  the DSR class. In that capacity, I’m the one who called his mayday when he crashed at Lake Afton. Thing is, I was on the radio net listening for corner calls for T&S (located just past pit-out) and the protocol was I listened, usually didn’t speak, and I had no response capability, so I really could not call “Mayday.” Duck hit the end of the barrel wall guarding pit lane, too far up the straight for Turn 10 to be aware or Turn 1 to see it. “Uh, Timing to Chief Steward, there’s a lot of yellow plastic scattered across the track on the main straight and drivers are going to the grass to avoid it.” CS’s motorhome was just upstream from T&S, his head pops out the window, and then he called the red flag. I didn’t learn it was Duck until later.

I think my favorite of Duck’s cars was, IIRC, Li’l Duck VII, shaped like a cheese wedge. Not sure but I want to say that was the car he drove when he returned to racing. 

If you’re a fan of “NCIS,” the character Ducky Mallard always reminded me of Duck Waddle. Same name genesis. Same genial character. It was years before I learned his real name was Gordon, although I’d seen race results of him as “G.C. ‘Duck’ Waddle.” Green flags forever, old friend.

--Rocky Entriken

From: Rick Parent via Fot 
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2019 12:20 PM
To: Friends of Triumph ; Paul Ricco 
Subject: Re: [Fot] Duck Waddle

Well said Paul, thanks!

On Wednesday, March 20, 2019, 12:28:09 PM EDT, Paul Ricco via Fot <fot at autox.team.net> wrote: 

Rick,

We will miss our time with Duck at Road America.  Seeing him each year at the SVRA Spring Vintage Festival and catching-up with him was always a great start to our season.  We would usually spend a good hour together at the start of the event  I originally met Duck at Skip Barber Driving School and at events that I participated in.   That was when Skip Barber was really rolling as an organization and doing well.  Before the last owners destroyed it. 

Duck was always willing to share what he knew about a track, track maps that he had put together and videos that he made.  If you ever did a van ride with Duck at Road America, you got to learn some really good stuff from him.  He would teach you things and never make you feel dumb because he knew more than you.  That is a rare quality these days.

Rick is correct about Duck going fast in little cars.  I have a video that Duck did in a Bobsy and he could really fly in that little car.  He really liked Bobsy’s.  When I asked him about Bobsy one day, he called them “honest little cars.”  He was very comfortable driving them.  

We will miss seeing Duck driving around the paddock on a scooter, or in his car with his dog.

Duck helped me a lot and I am sure that he will be missed by many.

Paul Ricco

  On Mar 20, 2019, at 6:28 AM, Rick Parent via Fot <fot at autox.team.net> wrote:

  Too bad, he was a fun guy and always had a great attitude plus he drive funky but cool little cars, he will be missed.

  On Wednesday, March 20, 2019, 12:48:54 AM EDT, Joe Alexander via Fot <fot at autox.team.net> wrote: 

  I just got a report that Duck Waddle passed away.

  Joe Alexander

  4505 Donald Dr

  Cedar Falls, IA 50613

  The-vintage-racer.com

  Gasketinnovations.com

  Cell:  319.464.4711

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