Year:  1982
Driver:   Donald "Bubba" Tanner
Photos Contributed by:   The Tanner Family Photo Credits:   John Libby Photos
The Back Story: 

Mystery Driver #13 Bubba Tanner

A Much overdue addition to the LVC site is that of Bubba Tanner.  Bubba earned his nickname in a way you probably wouldn’t think.  Bubba comes from when he was a toddler, and his siblings couldn’t pronounce “Brother”, and Bubba fell out of their lips.  The Nickname stuck.

Bubba owned and operated the family business, Center St. Sunoco, which he acquired from his Dad Donald, which afforded him the knowledge of cars and finances to start racing at LV in the early 80’s.  I’m not a 100% sure, but I think this yellow #23 is Bubba’s first car, which spawned some of the fastest street stocks of that decade to grace the High Banks.  Bubba was of course more than a good racer, he was also pretty crafty on how he “interpreted” the rules, and more importantly, was a fan favorite with his out going personality and infectious enthusiasm for racing with his victory lane antics.  Bubba was a promoters dream for his fan appeal and he loved being in the limelight, often times with his beautiful wife Maryellen and kids DJ and Ginella by his side.

Bubba raced well into the 90’s and 00’s, winning almost everywhere he went, until a major illness sidelined him, unfortunately succumbing to that illness a few years ago.  His memory will live on, as the annual 23 lap “Bubba Tanner Classic” run in his honor every year promises to only get bigger and better.

This was by far the most responses we have received to date for this weeks Mystery Driver.  I wonder just how many would have correctly guessed the answer this week had we taken off the Center St. Sunoco lettering on the quarter panel, which was a dead giveaway, but we left it on in honor of Bubba Tanner, in light of this weeks 23 lap Bubba Tanner Classic Pro Stock race at Lebanon Valley.

Those who got it right were:

Gary Virgilio

Stephen Forward

Dave Hambro

Arnie Ainsworth

Mike Visconti

Lenny Fields Jr.

Ed Forfa

 

 

Additional Comments:  

We are looking for information and photos about the Valley's history.

If you would like to add to our project, Please contact us at:

hotrod@lebanonvalleyclassics.com

Lebanon Valley Classics