Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 15, 1995 TAG: 9507170007
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
For automobile racer Jimmy Hinkley, the time-worn phrase ``he's back'' has taken on meaning both literal and figurative.
Hinkley, a Christiansburg native, has been forced out of racing for the past two years because of chronic back pain and the ensuing surgery. Nearing the halfway point of the 1995 season, it appears as if Hinkley may have defeated his spinal demons.
Despite experiencing a marginal amount of pain that the doctor says will be with him the rest of his life, Hinkley has made a successful return to racing. The 44-year-old has one victory and was second in the point standings for the season. He is only eight points out of the lead for the track championship in the Modified Mini Stock Division.
With most of his back problems apparently behind him as he makes his return to the New River Valley Speedway circuit a successful one, it would be reasonable to assume Hinkley might have his eye on the future.
He does.
Like a boxer who has been knocked out one too many times, he promises this year will be his last.
``I kind of promised my wife I would retire after this season,'' he said. ``She is afraid I will get hurt.''
Despite her husband's love of motor sports, Linda Hinkley may be the voice of reason. Over the past four years, Jimmy Hinkley has had surgery five times in an attempt to cure his ailing back. The pain reached a peak prior to operation No.4. Hinkley said he was unable to do anything without pain - neither sitting nor standing nor lying down. The pain was constant.
The problem was in a disk in Hinkley's lower back. Its nucleus (the jelly-like interior) would come into contact with nerves surrounding the spinal cord
Hinkley thinks the condition started when he injured himself using heavy machinery. After leaving the heavy machinery business and enduring numerous operations, Hinkley now thinks his back is as good as its going to be.
The nucleus in the disk that gave Hinkley trouble has completely seeped out. The result has been bearable discomfort.
So he decided to return to racing.
``It's just in my blood,'' said Hinkley, when asked why he would crawl behind the wheel of a race car again. He noted that he has never injured his back in a race.
Hinkley began racing after his wife won tickets to Franklin County Speedway.
After participating in two Any Car races at FCS, which were similar to the enduros at NRVS, Hinkley went to NRVS and hung around the garage afterward. He inquired how to get started in the sport. From there, his involvement developed.
``I went to the junkyard and bought a car for $75 that had a motor and a rear end,'' said Hinkley, who works at Big Z Tire & Appliance in Radford. ``I ran that car for almost half a year in Mini Stock.''
In 1989, Hinkley raced for the first time in the Modified Mini Stock Division. He has been there ever since. During that time he has collected four victories, including one in the first race of this season.
Hinkley says no amount of success, not even a track championship, will prevent him from leaving the circuit at the completion of this year. But if his son, Jimmy Hinkley Jr., has anything to say about it, the elder Hinkley's days at the track may not end after this season.
Jimmy Hinkley Jr., would like to race next year, a prospect that doesn't appeal to his father. When Jimmy Hinkley Sr., leaves the garage area for the last time, he doesn't want to be tempted by the paved oval. He fears that being around the track and the action will get his competitive juices flowing again. Neither he nor his wife wants that to happen.
Next year, Jimmy Hinkley Sr., doesn't want anybody saying, ``He's back.''
But that would be superior to ``It's his back.''
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB