Stewart Reamer, a voice to motor-sports fans

The friend and advocate of auto racing announced races and founded the RPM trade publication.

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: September 12, 2009 - 10:39 PM

Stewart Reamer's fascination with cars was evident when as a 3-year-old he could identify the makes and models of vehicles that went past his house on a busy south Minneapolis street. Combined with his rich vocabulary and skillful artist's hands, that skill helped him carve out a 50-year career in the motorsports industry, in which he designed programs for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), announced races at the Minnesota State Fair and other local tracks, and founded Racing Promotion Monthly (RPM), a trade publication for track owners.

"He developed a reputation as a leading authority on short-track auto racing," said his wife of 44 years, Karen.

Reamer died of natural causes Aug. 29 at his home in St. Bonifacius.

Reamer attended Minneapolis West High School, where he honed his artistic skills by drawing cartoon characters and had Pokémon-style "cartoon wars" with a friend, Karen said. He left school after 10th grade to join the Navy when World War II broke out and was stationed in Hawaii, where he edited the base newspaper. After the war, Reamer studied broadcasting at Brown Institute in Minneapolis, she said.

He was able to put that voice training to work when "somebody got sick" and International Motor Car Association promoter Frank Winkley needed a track announcer, Karen said. Winkley hired Reamer, who became the regular public address announcer for stock-car races at the Minnesota State Fair in the 1950s and '60s, and at Raceway Speedway in Shakopee and the Elko Speedway in the 1960s and '70s, Karen said.

In the early 1950s, Stewart designed programs for NASCAR events, including pages that explained to fans what the various colored flags meant. They appeared in programs for more than 50 years.

His biggest contribution to the racing world came when he founded RPM in 1971. In conjunction with the newsletter, he organized a convention in which track owners came together to share ideas on how to keep tracks afloat at a time when gas prices were rising and the sport was under attack.

"It was quite a success for its time," said Stew Doty, who took over as editor of RPM when Reamer stepped down in 1991. "His passion was to keep racing affordable so promoters could make a buck to feed their family. He was a true advocate for the little guy, a great advocate and defender of grassroots motor sports."

The annual conventions now draw more than 700 track owners, Doty said.

Even in retirement, Reamer continued to write columns on an array of topics for several racing publications, including his widely read column "Cynic in the Stands," which appeared in National Speed Sport News. With his vast knowledge of the racing industry, he often was called upon as an expert witness when tracks were sued, Karen said.

In his years at the track, he amassed a large collection of car badges and hubcaps, mostly from vehicles made in 1930 and before.

His career also included working in public relations and sales for Maico, a manufacturer of hearing devices.

In addition to his wife, Reamer is survived by a brother, Robert, of Minneapolis.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 7110 France Av. S., Edina. A reception will follow the service.

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