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American Speedway  

Photographer and Journalist

California Speedway

Captain Methane
Sam Watts Photo

Dorcey Wingo Drawing

 

Dorcey Wingo

2009 Dorcey WingoDorcey Wingo learned to ride motorbikes in the high deserts of New Mexico and was keen on going fast: no helmet, bugs in his teeth, a bona fide motorcycle maniac. After a long drive to a hell of a TT race in Albuquerque, Wingo brought home his first trophy and was hooked on racing.

Then practically overnight, came LBJ and the Vietnam war, and a Draft Notice in the mail. Dorcey shuffled his cards and took a battery of tests, eventually earning a ticket into the Army's coveted helicopter pilot training program. Wingo quickly discovered an alternate source for his adrenalin rushes by twisting the throttle of an OH-23D [Hiller] Raven and wrangling the unwieldy contraption into the air. Three years of service in the Army followed, including Vietnam and learning first hand what it feels like to fly a poorly armored, slow moving, thin-skinned aluminum fuel-bomb into combat.

After his military obligations were met, Wingo became a gypsy in the young commercial helicopter business. Flying turbine-powered Hueys in the jungles of Peru, the remote areas of Alaska, and mountainous Old Mexico, "Captain Methane" flew with a passion to help extinguish wildfires, explore for oil, and eradicate illegal crops. During all this time, Wingo never lost his love for two-wheeled racing.

Soon after moving to southern California, Wingo attended his first race at the historic IMS track in San Bernardino. Wednesday nights soon became a ritual for the Captain and his crew. Among his activities, Dorcey helped pit for First Division Speedway rider Curt Stromer.

Working with Promoter John LaDoucher and Announcer Bruce Flanders, Wingo flew World Champion Bruce Penhall into special races at the old IMS Speedway track [as recorded in the1985 photo below by JT Thorn] and again at the Glen Helen facility.

The author of three books on aviation, Wingo has retired from flying but is still very involved with SoCal Speedway as a backstage promoter, photo journalist, and occasional beer fetcher for the legendary announcer, Mr. Flanders.

 

 

 

Dorcey Wingo
Industry Racing August 24, 2016
Robert Hargraves Photography

Amazon Web Site Bush Pilot Amazon Web Site

Wind Loggers 2015 Edition
Dust Jacket Hardcover

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Hardcover
Paperback

Wind Loggers

Wind Loggers 2015 Edition
Perfect Bound Softcover

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Hardcover
Paperback

     

The Rise and Fall of Captain Methane
Hardback

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Kindle

Captain Methane

The Rise and Fall of Captain Methane
Paperback

Amazon Web Site
Hardcover
Paperback
Kindle

Profile Photo by: Jon Alan Wingo 2009

For anyone interested in buying my *three nonfiction anthologies*, there are quick links to both.

For *Speedway* motorcycle enthusiasts, check the *Speedway* link for my racing reports and photos.

I'd be interested in your comments about the site, and hope you'll refer me to a friend!

Thanks! *Dorcey*

Video Page is here.


Dorcey Wingo

The Captain's Wheels are Fancy Now
Dorcey Wingo Dorcey Wingo

Dorcey Wingo

Dorcey Wingo
Dorcey bringing in World Champion Bruce Penhall

Dorcey and Bobby
Dorcey and Bobby Schwartz 2003

California Speedway
Dorcey Preflighting Left Bank's Bird

1985 IMS Speedway Photo by JT Thorn Army Pilot Dorcey with OH-23D
circa 1970 (USAF Photo)
1985 Dorcey Wingo circa 1970