Their love of chuckwagon racing and the western lifestyle will never be forgotten.
The likenesses of competitors Don (Scotty) Chapin, Rod Bullock, Rod Glass, Gordie Bridge, Richard Cosgrove, George Normand and Eugene Jackson have been struck in copper to preserve their legend.
The memorial plaque was unveiled at the Women of the World Professional Chuckwagon Association luncheon July 1 by artist Joe Haywood with the help of chuckwagon veteran Kelly Sutherland, who read a brief biography of the men.
Emblazoned on the massive plaque is: “They left us too soon. Doing what they loved to do. WPCA Racing. Always Remembered Never Forgotten.”
All died while racing.
Haywood said it took more than two months of steady work and “criticizing my own work a couple hundred times” to create the piece.
Haywood started with one piece of copper and drew in the likenesses of the men using photographs as a guide. He then used steel and wooden tools to carve and push out the features in relief. The recesses on backside of the carving are filled with drywall compound and then sprayed with a material similar to undercoating.
The creation was then ready to be framed and boxed.
“I don’t know how much it weighs,” Haywood admitted, “but it takes two men to carry it.”
The piece will likely tour with the WPCA to racing events this summer and then find a home at the WPCA office.