Valley racing and running communities lose a voice. Ken Takeuchi dies at age 92
His voice was familiar to those who crossed finish lines — both in cars and on foot.
With a microphone and notepad in hand, Ken Takeuchi kept close track of racers. He remembered names and faces well.
In his decades as a speedway announcer and organizer of running races throughout the San Joaquin Valley, Takeuchi became a well-known figure among speed fanatics and those most active. He was most loved for his caring attitude.
His decades-long career took him far, and he was inducted more than once to hall of fames.
Takeuchi died Friday, according to friends. He was 92.
In his life, racers didn’t just pass Takeuchi by.
“He was the person that if you saw him you would make sure to stop and say, ‘Hi,’” says Sean Delk, a car racer nicknamed by Takeuchi “Orange Demon.” “He always had something encouraging to say and it won’t be the same at the track.”
In July, Takeuchi was inducted into the Clovis Hall of Fame and was hailed as a “voice of the valley” on all things car racing. Giving him the plaque was Paul Hinkle, chairman of the Clovis Motor Sports Hall of Fame.
“If you knew Ken, you knew that you could find out anything that you wanted to know about motor sports in the West Coast,” Hinkle said.
In 2017, Takeuchi was inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. In 1995, he was inducted into the San Jose Speedway Hall of Fame. He became known at different racing events in central and northern California since his start at the Selma Speedway in the late 1950s. He belonged to several groups in the Valley dedicated to racing.
During one of his last public appearances, Takeuchi helped unveil a marker dedicated to the legendary Indianapolis 500 racing family, the Vukoviches, outside Selland Arena in November.
Founded Runner of the Year series
Not just auto racing, Takeuchi was also an advocate of foot racing. A longtime runner, he maintained a healthy lifestyle, which he encouraged others to do, as well. In the late 1960s, he founded the Valley Runner of the Year series. It featured races of various distances and for different age groups.
He once credited his own fitness for a fast recovery from an open-heart surgery he underwent in 2010. How many races he ran as a competitor is unclear, but news reports had him competing in 97 marathons and 12 ultra marathons by 1990.
He once remarked that his motivation for his lifestyle came from his upbringing.
In his earlier life, Takeuchi worked on his parents’ northwest Fresno farm, then was drafted into the military. When he returned he worked for the Fresno County Parks Department before his voice radiated in different parts of the state.
Sent to internment camp
But a piece of history in between which he rarely discussed was Takeuchi’s internment during World War II. His family was sent to Jerome, Arkansas, before he was drafted into the military with his five brothers, according to news records. One of his brothers was the late Dan Takeuchi, a famous competitive weightlifter.
In his later years, Takeuchi worked with Special Olympians, who inspired him and likely shaped his outlook and revved his motivation as he became involved in different causes in the Valley.
“When you work with the people like I do, not only the handicapped youngsters but the adults, too, it really hits to the heart,” he once told The Bee. “We [able-bodied] are really lucky that we are able to do certain things.”
Great listener
Throughout his life, his friends remember, Takeuchi listened intently. He always made sure others’ voices were heard.
“He wasn’t a talker unless he was at a race or at the podium and it was his turn to talk,” said Ron Sundquist, historian and photographer for the City of Clovis. “He would always let you verbalize. He enjoyed listening.”
That characteristic made Takeuchi more friendly.
“You just wanted to put your arm around him. He was the kind of person we all should be,” Sundquist added.
This story was originally published December 8, 2019 at 5:03 PM.
