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Phil Combs of Shelby receives national-level motorsports award
Combs with Mikey Kiser, winner of the inaugural Phil Combs 390 go kart race in Daytona
Ellenboro, Lincolnton, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Darlington, Combs and the go kart he raced as a kid. That’s him in the photo Atlanta, Barnesville, and of as a child. (Photos by Alan Hodge and provided) course, Daytona. In 1972 he became a charter that, but he is also one of the Mikey Kiser who proudly hoisted best kart racing announcers to the huge trophy which was fes- member of the World Karting Association. ever touch a microphone.” tooned with photos of Phil. By the way, all of this action Combs was also honored at Combs traces his go kart days took place years before Combs Daytona on Dec. 29 with a race back to 1970 when he began named for him- the 1st annual competing as a youthful driver graduated high school in 1976. Never one to sit still, Combs Phil Combs 390 Classic. Adding at the Shelby Kartland track. went on to start the Naskart Kid’s to the excitement, Combs was Combs was a natural behind the Class of racing. He also started in the press box announcing the go kart wheel and took the track a school to teach youngsters the contest. The race was won by championship that year. art of kart racing. In the following years, Combs “Most of your great drivers like burned up go kart tracks across Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and the southeast. He raced and others started out racing karts as won at circuits including ones at kids,” Combs says, Combs credits his father for getting him into the karting scene. “We went to a couple of races, and he got me a kart,” he said. Combs still has that very kart in his museum. Shifting gears, Some of Combs’ go kart association and in 2000 Combs Combs as a teenage kart racer. membership patches and cards. began announc-
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The plaque that Combs was awarded at his World Karting Association Hall of Fame induction. ing kart races. His first try at this new phase of his karting life was at Cliffside, N.C. when the regular announcer had been a no-show. Combs was a hit and ended up being the announcer there for two seasons. Other announcing gigs Combs took saw him travel See COMBS, Page 2
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By Alan Hodge Auto racing aficionado Phil Combs of Shelby was recently honored in Daytona Beach, Florida on Dec. 29 with induction into the World Karting Association Hall of Fame. Combs was lauded for his half century of involvement, especially race announcing, with the sport of go kart racing. Combs, who is perhaps best known for the voluminous collection of auto racing memorabilia housed in his backyard Combs Family Museum, was thrilled at the go kart racing recognition. “It was a huge surprise and the biggest honor of my life,” Combs said. “If you are a karter, this is as good as it gets.” As you might expect, over the years Combs has made a multitude of go kart and other types of four-wheeled racing friends. One of them, Tim Ellison, who was an owner of one of the first kart tracks, Possum Kingdom Super Speedway in Belton, S.C., that Phil announced for, shared his thoughts regarding the Combs award. “I am very happy and thrilled for my buddy Phil Combs to be honored at the World Karting Association Daytona Kart Week,” Ellison said, “There is not another person alive with his knowledge of karting history. Not only