Newspaper Page Text
Jewish beauty supplier
is a weekend warrior
by Lisa Redacted
Gene Felton???i life changes gears
constantly.
During the week he heads
Felton Beauty Supply Company in
Atlanta. But on weekends he
changes his tune and drives race
cars.
Felton???s career in beauty has
been a lot longer than in racing.
His father started Felton Beauty
Supply Company in 1930 and
Felton began working there at the
???tender age of 10,??? sweeping floors
and working during his summer
vacations. He later went to the
University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill and graduated with a
Uene Felton
degree in political science. From
there he went into the military.
???When I was in college getting
into the family business was the
furthest thing from my mind. But I
really find it enjoyable and 1 have
never looked back since," he said.
But in his racing career he has
looked back plenty of times,
particularly to see the cars behind
him in a race Having won over I SO
trophies, he is now leading in the
American Challenge Class. In 1977
he was the national champion and
in 1976 he was runner up to the
champion.
And so you might ask: do beauty
supplies and racing really go
together and what is a nice Jewish
boy doing driving race cars up to
200 miles per hour? Well, Felton
has the answer.
???You would be amazed at the
Jewish people involved in racing.
Many doctors and lawyers have
taken it up. It???s no longer for
greasy illiterates. It takes a lot of
intelligence to< drive a race car
successfully. Sure any dummy can
floorboard it but it takes more
than that,??? he said.
Felton became interested in
racing in the early 60s when he
bought his wife a small sports car.
???One day I told her I was going
to drive her car to see a race. I
snuck away to Bainbridge, Ga.,
and entered the race myself and
won. You see, back then you could
take the car you drove on the
street, take off the hub caps, the
spare tire, make other minor
adjustments and enter a race.
Racing was more relaxed back
then as far as required equipment
^L/cMCLlj??? ??
j j Photography j [
I I ??? Weddings ] j
??? Announcements 11
II ??? Invitations 11
I | tyanciy 1 or ATLANTA. INC. I I
I | 221i LA VIST A HOAD. N.C. | |
| | ATLANTA. OCOROIA 3032* | |
i | 321-0130 | |
was concerned. Then after you
finished the racing you could drive
the same car to work and to the
grocery store,??? he said with a grin.
After that first race and after
Felton got the ???bug,??? as he termed
it, he decided to go from smaller
cars to larger ones.
???I was impatient and wanted to
go straight to the top so I started
racing Mustangs,??? he said.
Felton has raced many different
kinds of cars but now is racing two
Buick Skylarks.
Racing is a weekend thing for
Felton but it occupies most of his
spare time.
???After 12 years of struggling I
am now totally subsidized by
various sponsors. A heavier car
like the Buick is more difficult to
control than a smaller one but I'm
enjoying winning,??? he said.
Racing is expensive and if
Felton was not sponsored he said
he would have to give up the sport.
???The tires are $100 a piece and
the engine is $10,000 by itself. I
spend 15 weekends a year racing,
usually against the same people.
We???re one big family, a traveling
troupe,??? he said.
Felton's Buicks hit speeds up to
200 miles per hour, so the natural
question is whether he ever has any
fears about racing?
???It would be stupid to say I don???t
have fears. But fear is secondary. If
1 were really afraid, I would quit. 1
happen to think it???s safer out there
on the race track than driving a
regular car on the highway. Race
cars are really built for safety,??? he
added.
At the age of 42, has Felton ever
thought of giving racing up
altogether?
???I have quit every year for the
last ten years," he laughed, ???but
then at the beginning of the next
year I go back. 1 guess 1 quit
mentally. Race drivers continue to
improve with age up to a certain
point...I???ll continue as long as I???m
physically and financially able,??? he
said.
And Felton points out that
physical conditioning is a big part
of racing.
???I???m out there competing with
kids in their 20s and outdoing them
mainly because of my experience,???
he said. ???The average person
thinks a driver sits in the race car
and steers it around the track. You
wouldn't believe it. The
temperature in the race car can
reach 160 degrees. You have to be
in good shape, as if you were out
playing football or hockey. The
suspension is firm, the tracks are
FRESH
PARVE WHITE AND
NATURAL WHEAT BREAD
From Shomer Shabbat Bakery
In Williamsburg, New York
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
Call Miriam or Chuck
325-7058
(no calls on Shabbat)
OTHER PARVE PRODUCTS:
??? WHOLE WHEAT BREAD
??? CHOCOLATE DOUGHNUTS
??? 1 LB. BOX ASS???T. COOKIES
??? HAMBURGER & HOT DOG ROLLS
rough and holding the car to the
jroad is hard,??? he said.
Felton feels a lot of his success in
racing has stemmed from his
Jewish upbringing.
???The fact that I have this
burning desire to be just as good as
the next guy has something to do
with my religion. We as Jews have
to stand up and fight. Since we???re a
minority, we have to try a little
harder to succeed. Everyone
knows we???re astute businesmen but
we have to prove we???re also
athletic, which 1 consider racing,???
he said.
Felton's Judaism means
something to him and he has found
he is most religious when ???I hear a
Felton???s winning Buick
derogatory remark about
Judaism." v
None of his experiences with
anti-Semitic remarks have been on
the race track, however.
These remarks came when
Felton attended Northside High
School.
???When 1 went to Northside I was
one of five Jews in the Mhool. It
really happened a lot even though I
was ???one of the boys.??? I knew it was
out of ignorance. I always would
stand up and explain. I never was
one for keeping quiet,??? he said.
At college Felton had no
problems but then in the service he
ran into the same remarks and
reacted the same way.
But on the race track Felton
hears nothing derogatory.
???I think it???s because we???re all
doing the same thing together
week in and week out. ,People
know I???m Jewish but I think they
respect me for my ability and know
that I???m as good as they are or
better,??? he said.
As Gene Felton settles back ip
his chair at Felton Beauty Supply
Company, he is obviously a man at
ease with himself and perhaps is
living proof that driving race cars
at high speeds might be a job for a
Jewish boy after all.
Are You Young At Heart?
Do You Like Young People?
HOUSEMOTHER NEEDED
For September, 1978
For Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority at the
University ol Florida in Gainesville It's a
beautiful house and a great group ot girls
For more information, call Mrs Stem,
261 3949 after 6 30 p m
Send resume and references to: 1
AEPhi Sorority !
??/o Mrs. Sam Proctor
2235 N Ik 9th Place ]
Gainesville. Fla. 32605
We???re taking a Bath Sale
Save 20% through May 27
&a/Jt
SHOPPE
4407 Roswell Road
In the Roswell-Wieuca Shopping Center
256-0614
???Bedspreads
???Bath Accessories
??? Towels
???Shower Curtains
??? Bath Rugs
??? Kitchen Accessories
??? Placemats
???Gift Shop
A rthur???s???fi^3 Meats'!
Prices Good May 22 - May 26
EMPIRE SPECIALS
FRESH FRYERS
Whole or Cut up
Turkey???s io-m ibs.
Chopped Liver 7 02. cont.
.99 lb.
.99 lb.
.79
Delicious New Soups is oz. pkg. .75
DELICIOUS PASTRAMI
By the Piece
(APPROX. Wght. 2% Ibs. each)
2.49 lb.
All Blintzes pkg. ot 6
.99
We Carry A Full Line of
Horowitz-Margareten Products.
ALL SPECIALS WHILE THEY LAST
1IM ???rlarcllff M. N.E. Atlaau 6a. MUf
If.S.D.A. Establishment 7)31
OeNvwy in JL ??? W. Ship Throughout
. Aflwrl. Arsa D34'V9o1 th.South.sat A
8 07 OR
/OMORE
Tax Free Municipal Bonds
Interest Income Exempt
From Federal Income Tax
Medical Facility, Best Personal Care Home, Inc., 1st Mortage and
Revenue Bond. Minimum investment $5,000. For further details and an
official statement ??? call our Atlanta office ??? Outside of Georgia Toll
Free 1-800-247-1471 - In Georgia Call Collect (404) 952-0051 or mail the
coupon below
Name
Address
City State
Zip Telephone
Hereth, Orr & Jones, Inc.
1775 The Exchange, Suite 680
Atlanta, Georgia 30339 (404) 952-0051
Underwriters and Distributors
of Municipal Bonds Exclusively
Psgc 7 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE Msy 19, 1978
