Inspirational Father-Son Story about Jim and James Fontana

SS/1230 · 07-06-2016, 08:30 AM

Story on NHRA.com "The Sports Report" about my father Jim Fontana and his recent ups and downs with cancer.

http://www.nhra.com/blog/the-sports-report/

I want to thank Kevin McKenna for taking the time to write this story about my father and myself. It means a lot to both of us and to our family. Anyone who gets a chance to read this, please check it out.

- James Fontana II

Bobby Fazio · 07-06-2016, 08:50 AM

Great story about a great family. Very nice people and thank you for serving our country as well.

SSGT Mustang · 07-06-2016, 08:59 AM

Great story for sure. Thanks for sharing and best wishes to you and your dad.

SSGT Mustang · 07-06-2016, 09:04 AM

By the way, I was at the summer nationals in 2014. I was leaving to go home and heard the announcer say that you won the final.

A big smile came over my face. I was very happy to hear that you and your dad had won.

Kevin J. McHugh · 07-06-2016, 09:29 AM

Great story, great family! Best wishes to your dad.

Mark Howes · 07-06-2016, 11:57 AM

James. Thank you for sharing this.

Jim is always one of my favorite people to see at the track.

Keep fighting Jim. See you soon!

Gary M · 07-06-2016, 12:34 PM

Sorry to hear this wishing your dad the best. It's been years since I left WNY, saw him run this car all the time at Lancaster, Cayuga and Empire, also at the Nationals we used to attend back in the late eighties/early nineties. Car was red if I recall back in the day. Your dad I believe bought pictures from me, was a really nice guys as I recall.
I should be cautious about this as spare time doesn't exist lately for me but I know I have pictures of the car back then, maybe your dad too, used to shoot for all the area WNY tracks in the late seventies-early eighties, maybe I can look through my stuff (Thousands of negatives and slides) and see what I have. Just don't hold your breath.....

SS/1230 · 07-06-2016, 01:00 PM

My father and I want to thank everyone for their kind words and positive thoughts and prayers.

Gary, that would be great if you could find some old shots of the car back then... and yes it was most certainly red lol. If you cant, that's ok, but taking the time to try and find them is very nice of you. let me know if you do..

- James Fontana II

Ed McLawhorn Jr. · 07-06-2016, 01:30 PM

Great story! Should be an inspiration for us all. I enjoyed the long phone conversation from your dad ( I believe early 15) about the old 283. He was very helpful and insightful. Racing with family makes memories for a lifetime. Hope your dad continues the good fight and more success on the track.

Ed

FED 387 · 07-06-2016, 01:59 PM

Great story---Never met either of them the father or the son however they are both WINNERS in my book regardless of their exploits on the track..More people should strive to be like them !!!!. Continued success to them both. FED 387

07-06-2016, 08:30 AM	#1
SS/1230 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 127 Likes: 2 Liked 61 Times in 16 Posts	Inspirational Father-Son Story about Jim and James Fontana Story on NHRA.com "The Sports Report" about my father Jim Fontana and his recent ups and downs with cancer. http://www.nhra.com/blog/the-sports-report/ I want to thank Kevin McKenna for taking the time to write this story about my father and myself. It means a lot to both of us and to our family. Anyone who gets a chance to read this, please check it out. - James Fontana II

07-06-2016, 08:50 AM	#2
Bobby Fazio VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Egg Harbor Township, NJ Posts: 1,467 Likes: 1,441 Liked 4,365 Times in 501 Posts	Re: Inspirational Father-Son Story about Jim and James Fonta Great story about a great family. Very nice people and thank you for serving our country as well. __________________ '65 Mustang SS/L & L/SA DriverInterviews.com \| App.DragInsights.com

07-06-2016, 08:59 AM	#3
SSGT Mustang Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jersey Posts: 359 Likes: 35 Liked 204 Times in 54 Posts	Re: Inspirational Father-Son Story about Jim and James Fonta Great story for sure. Thanks for sharing and best wishes to you and your dad.

07-06-2016, 09:04 AM	#4
SSGT Mustang Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jersey Posts: 359 Likes: 35 Liked 204 Times in 54 Posts	Re: Inspirational Father-Son Story about Jim and James Fonta By the way, I was at the summer nationals in 2014. I was leaving to go home and heard the announcer say that you won the final. A big smile came over my face. I was very happy to hear that you and your dad had won.

07-06-2016, 09:29 AM	#5
Kevin J. McHugh Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 43 Likes: 73 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Inspirational Father-Son Story about Jim and James Fonta Great story, great family! Best wishes to your dad.

07-06-2016, 11:57 AM	#6
Mark Howes Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Saint John, NB Canada Posts: 126 Likes: 345 Liked 80 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Inspirational Father-Son Story about Jim and James Fonta James. Thank you for sharing this. Jim is always one of my favorite people to see at the track. Keep fighting Jim. See you soon!

07-06-2016, 12:34 PM	#7
Gary M Junior Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 5 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Inspirational Father-Son Story about Jim and James Fonta Sorry to hear this wishing your dad the best. It's been years since I left WNY, saw him run this car all the time at Lancaster, Cayuga and Empire, also at the Nationals we used to attend back in the late eighties/early nineties. Car was red if I recall back in the day. Your dad I believe bought pictures from me, was a really nice guys as I recall. I should be cautious about this as spare time doesn't exist lately for me but I know I have pictures of the car back then, maybe your dad too, used to shoot for all the area WNY tracks in the late seventies-early eighties, maybe I can look through my stuff (Thousands of negatives and slides) and see what I have. Just don't hold your breath.....

07-06-2016, 01:00 PM	#8
SS/1230 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 127 Likes: 2 Liked 61 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Inspirational Father-Son Story about Jim and James Fonta My father and I want to thank everyone for their kind words and positive thoughts and prayers. Gary, that would be great if you could find some old shots of the car back then... and yes it was most certainly red lol. If you cant, that's ok, but taking the time to try and find them is very nice of you. let me know if you do.. - James Fontana II

07-06-2016, 01:30 PM	#9
Ed McLawhorn Jr. Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 306 Likes: 3 Liked 19 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Inspirational Father-Son Story about Jim and James Fonta Great story! Should be an inspiration for us all. I enjoyed the long phone conversation from your dad ( I believe early 15) about the old 283. He was very helpful and insightful. Racing with family makes memories for a lifetime. Hope your dad continues the good fight and more success on the track. Ed

07-06-2016, 01:59 PM	#10
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,410 Likes: 507 Liked 329 Times in 177 Posts	Re: Inspirational Father-Son Story about Jim and James Fonta Great story---Never met either of them the father or the son however they are both WINNERS in my book regardless of their exploits on the track..More people should strive to be like them !!!!. Continued success to them both. FED 387