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In my first interview with John Force I said (correctly) that I had a better chance of collecting shadows or taming electricity than to control an interview with John Force. That was months ago, and I've yet to catch a single shadow or tame a simple spark since. That's not unexpected, but while we are on the subject of sparks, follow me, if you will, as we get deeper into energy and seek the makeup of stars…not the stars in the skies, but the stars in our eyes…Human Stars… Familiar faces…those few achievers, who somehow light up our emotions by bringing us the best music, the best sports, the best moves through all facets of entertainment medium. Here we see it as rare space, a spot specifically pointed to Rock n' Roll Stars and Motorsports Stars. Renowned Funny Car driver John Force is also a known Elvis Presley fan. While in Memphis, I had to explore that Memphis connection, that Memphis motivation. This interview is a story about both men.
A retired John Force Funny Car is on display in the Elvis Presley automobile museum at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. provided us access to the Graceland Museum complex for background information and the two photo images below. We are grateful for their courtesy.
{Elvis Presley and Graceland are registered trademarks with the USPTO.}
© EPE
Elvis Presley fans and John Force fans number in countless multitudes. Both Elvis and John had humble beginnings, but both secured stellar accomplishments. Music and Racing has an impact on our culture that cannot be measured, yet Rock n' Roll has never been one voice, one guitar, one set of drums…Rock n' Roll is voices, guitars, drums, electronics and timing. That combination put together properly has lead again and again to throngs of fans. Continuing that beat, this time to the rumble of a big engine, racing is never one driver, never one engine. Racing is a combination of the driver's skills, team leadership, crew chief prowess, skilled crews, multiple engines and cartons of parts. All humans and machines in a racing venture become a costly caravan and have to move frequently, race to race.
Elvis wasn't the only voice in Rock n Roll, and John Force wasn't the only racer to ever rip a burnout and win. What Makes Elvis and John special is substance, a human-glue, available only to a few. It's not just 'Looks n' Hair'. (Sorry John, but we suspect Elvis had the edge on 'Looks'.) It's probably a craving for crowds, a combination of focusing, timing, determination, and something special that no others have…Can't buy it, Can't bottle it. It's never one substance, never all elements, and it's always elusive: a combination that creates stars and champions, a fortunate blend that in proper time also launches legends.
Elvis gave back to his fans, and he took their adoration. John Force gives back to his sport. He takes time for his fans. He takes time for the media. He gives away hats. While at Graceland we learned that Elvis gave away more money in his lifetime than he had left when he died. Before that, Elvis returned to the stage to be closer to his fans.
I'm not sure anyone has the recipe for hero stew, but whatever inner substance brews stars and champions also brews pride. Most ingredients are probably common to all fans, but who knows the proportions, the physical and mental mix it takes to be a star, and remain a star. Elvis had it. John Force has it. Hard work got both far, but how they got to ride a star…nobody really knows.
John Force bonded with Elvis Presley's rise to stardom, and maybe John learned more than most…maybe he acquired more verve, more essence from Elvis' stellar path. Your guess is equal to mine, but we all can know that difficult path to stardom was earned by hard work and high fun. Memphis was a motivation for Elvis Presley as he preferred to live there. Memphis is a motivation for John Force, for not only does John Force enjoy racing there, he seems as close to inspiration as he is a frequent visitor to three hundred miles an hour.
When we were leaving the Graceland's parking lot, a wedding party was breaking up and the bride and groom were being chauffeured in a 55 Cadillac pulling onto Elvis Presley Boulevard. It was a retro moment, a fitting end to our Graceland visit.
When we arrived at the track for the Memphis NHRA Auto Zone Nationals, John Force was busy (normal occurrence), but we were comfortable under his canopy as we waited for our moment with him. John worked his way to us...literally…even under his own canopy John is busy…but after we exchanged greetings, John was ready to respond to my questions…
"Since 1957 when I saw him on the Ed Sullivan show."
Is this race always special because this is Elvis' town?I like Memphis, and I was curious about Tupelo where Elvis was born. When I got involved with The Action Group, doing collectibles with Graceland. I met Priscella Presley in Vegas during a show. Memphis and the 'Blues' have a lot of stuff connected with Elvis.
Elvis was a huge celebrity. You're a celebrity. Is there something about being a celebrity that you and Elvis would understand more than others?"It's probably a love of what you do. You've dedicated your life to it, and you know both sides, your side, the fans side. If you forget where you came from, you are lost. That's what's interesting about Elvis. If you have seen movies or read books about Elvis, you know they drove around the country in cars with guitars in the back seat. They played little clubs and honky-tonks to survive. We did the same thing; we drove from race to race, like going to Odessa, Texas. We ran places that nobody went to, just to build our name, just to get a chance for the big time. You know where you all came from, and that is no difference from an Earnhardt journey. Always though, you better not forget where you came from. As much money as Elvis made in records, when he went into movie business and did Blue Hawaii and more, he came back to the stage, because his real love was singing. I heard him in an interview saying that you can't feel people in a movie theater like you can on the stage because you are not really there…when you are singing, you're really there. He had a love for the fans, and he went back to the fans when he went back on stage. I know they say he did that for money, because his career was up and down, but he truly loved the stage, and he loved what he did…and who wouldn't want thirty-thousand girls screaming at you?"
When did you realize you were a celebrity?"When I stopped bouncing checks. (We all laughed) I'm a celebrity only because someone says so, but I'm only as good as my people or I wouldn't be a celebrity. Everyone has to do his part. I think all drag racers are celebrities, because every one has the one driver they love the best. That's what I like about America. You can grow up to be President Bush and have all the headaches in the world, or you can be the world Champion Funny Car driver, and all you got to do is win a title now and then…and hire the right crew chief."
What's the strongest thread between you and Elvis?"He could sing and I can't. I can drive and he couldn't." John thought and said. "That 'Thank you very much' thing. That was mine. I said that…That's mine… Ha. Ha. Ha." (John jesting again…Now do you see why I'd rather try to catch shadows that anticipate what John Force is going to say?)
What's your favorite Elvis song?"Probably Blue Hawaii, but I love all his songs and I love his gospel the most. The man had a great voice. The Beatles were great. The Beach Boys were great. No one has compared to Elvis…ever…he could sing anything. He could hum anything, and it would sound great."
Do you own any Elvis memorabilia?"I have a lot of his stuff, I've collected a lot of his album covers. Fans have given me a lot of Elvis stuff, but probably the biggest item in my collection is my Elvis Presley car. When I first saw Elvis' face on the hood, I was amazed. Al Hofmann came over and told me they painted his (Al Hofmann's) likeness on my hood. Of course, previously when they painted Frankenstein's likeness on my hood, All Hofmann came over and told me it's about time they put his picture on my hood. You know Al Hofmann.
Additional Comments?"The King Lives!"
As with our first encounter with John Force, we are coming away smiling…As for our exploration of this Memphis connection, this Memphis motivation…we are moved.
Post Interview…Just when we thought it was over…
"Come on in for a minute." John said as he stepped into his bus. "You in a hurry?"
"Yeah, right, John," I said as we followed. "Like we'd ever miss a chance to step into your bus for a chat."
The most-known-fastest-man on the planet asked us if we were pressed for seconds. We're still laughing. More words with John Force will follow soon. …We hope you aren't in a hurry.
