Jim McCallum Passes at 69
Jim McCallum, 69, of Fall River, MA passed away on September 20 after a long illness.
Born on January 14, 1944, McCallum’s four-decade racing career began in the mid-1960s. He was the 1969 Sportsman champion at Stafford. He added back-to-back titles at Westboro in the Grand American division in 1971-72.
McCallum will perhaps best be remembered for his contributions to Pro Stock racing. With New England tracks adding the division in the early 1980s, McCallum excelled as a car builder and driver. McCallum won Pro Stock championships in 1985 at the old Riverside Park Speedway and at Thompson. He also captured Stafford’s Pro Stock honors in 1991.
With over 80 career victories to his credit, McCallum won at Lee USA, Norwood, Monadnock, Riverside Park, Seekonk, Spud, Stafford, Thompson, Westboro and Wiscasset. He competed on a variety of regional tours as well: ACT Pro Stock Tour, International Pro Stock Challenge, NASCAR Kamp;N Pro Series East, NASCAR North, NEPSA, and PASS North.
Former Seekonk and Thompson Pro Stock champion Dick Houlihan of Bridgewater, MA reflected on McCallum’s accomplishments. “Jim McCallum was probably one of the best Pro Stock drivers there ever were,” said Houlihan. “I learned a lot from him. I was fortunate enough to drive a car that he had built twice. Actually my first Pro Stock car was one of Jim McCallum’s cars, and the guy was a master behind the wheel and a master car builder. I have nothing but good things to say about Jim McCallum.”
“He just had that talent. He had that natural ability. At any race track he’d show up at he was a threat. He probably won at almost every track he ever raced at, at least once, which is an accomplishment in itself, and he’s just a super driver and I feel bad for his wife Judy but he’s in a better place right now and life goes on.”
Sources: Nicholas Teto