Tiny never had a lot of money, but he had a love for racing like not many others. From his days of going to see the early greats at local tracks with his dad in the early 60's, to the late 60's and early 70's when he helped a friend with his race team building Saturday Night Specials, to the mid 70's when he found that he was a pretty good photographer and could make a few bucks selling his racing photos to the Southern racing papers, he just plain loved racing. Spent a life time running to the nearby tracks on weekends (after working his regular job) to take photos of all those legends that many of you only heard about in old books and classic racing films. Trips to South Boston, Martinsville, Charlotte, Orange County, the Caraways, the Rock, Atlanta, North Wilkesboro to take photos that were sold to and printed in old Grand National/Winston/Nextel Cup Scene (I have 'em to prove it, Photo by James Crabtree!), Southern Racing News, Speed Sport News, Stock Car Magazine, Charlotte programs, and many others.

Unfortunately for Tiny, he had diabetes and never took care of himself. Being a diabetic is a life long thing that many don't worry about until it is too late. Tiny was finally forced to give up his love of photography at the races and take to photography of hummingbirds on his front porch. You see, diabetes was stealing his sight and then beginning to destroy parts of his body. He finally became wheelchair bound but was not ready to give up his love of racing.

He found the world of internet NASCAR worship. By living through his computer screen he could continue his love of racing. About 8 years ago he found his way to my website. See, Tiny and I been following this racing stuff a long time. Grew up with the same heroes ('cept his first few were a little before my time). He stumbled on my site checking out some of my old pics and began reading my weekly race reports. He sent me an email one day, introducing himself and told me he could help me with my never ending search for old pics. He also mentioned that he liked my writing style because I didn't pull punches, just "called 'em likes I sees 'em." Straight up, just like Tiny. As we communicated back and forth for a while (before many of us had ever heard of a forum) I found that this guy was as big a fan as I was and shared the same sense of humor and wit.

In one of the reincarnations of my website back about 98 he talked me into opening a chat room on my first message board. No matter whether anyone else showed up he was there every Monday nite for our scheduled chat. Many nites he and I just sat and told old racing stories. We found out that we had probably crossed paths a few times. I know that we were both at the same race at Charlotte when I was working with Hamby's team as we both remembered the frog choking storm that hit on the cool down lap after the race. He was taking photos from the 4th turn and we were pitting that day in one of the last pits on pit road. He probably walked right past me that day as I was setting up the pit. But I for sure don't remember him and he had more important people to photo that day then a volunteer hand on a low budget team. I could tell a bunch of stories that we bantered back and forth in our little private chats but that close encounter brings me to what I want to say here.

I never met Tiny in person. But he was family. He followed me around on the internet from site to site when I made the venture to a nationally sponsored site. When the internet bust came along and that website went belly up I became disillusioned. Tiny talked me into re-opening my original site, gave me that "go get 'em" speech and reminded me that our little family needed a place to hang out. I soon opened a forum so that we could all have a meeting place and keep up with each other. Tiny took to posting the race times in my forum but as with all forums, that thread kept slipping down the page and everybody had to search for it. So I offered Tiny a page at my website, a banner at the top of the forum, gave him a quick lesson on html and my password and so began "Tiny's TV Times." As he spread around to more forums he would cut and paste his TV Times on each. Hundreds, then thousands of people started looking for Tiny's Times every week. A legend was in the making. With all his time at home in a wheelchair he could spend time at many forums. Many learned what I had learned long ago. Here was a gentleman, a friend, a race fan. Quick to offer up a friendly jibe when your favorite driver messed up or a word of encouragement when you messed up.

He helped me through some rough personal times when I wanted to give it all up and close down shop. I decided I needed to return to school and worried how I could keep our little forum going. Tiny offered to police it and so he became my administrator. All the powers that I had. Delete 'em, kick 'em, whatever you want Tiny. You got my passwords, "go get 'em." There came times when he would suddenly disappear and we would all hit panic mode wondering where he went. After the first time we gave him so much grief that he decided to make sure his sister let us know when he went back into the hospital. But through it all he never complained. As they took more pieces off him he made jokes about it (Stumpy). He went to dialysis twice a week, never cried about it once.

And then in September he fell from his wheelchair. He was back to the hospital for another amputation. We all figured he'd be back again in no time like he had the previous 3 or 4 times. But this time when his sister Sara contacts us to let us know how he's doing the news is terrible. It seems, this time our good friend Tiny wasn't coming back. He wasn't going to be there to run our forum, he wasn't going to be there to fill in the TV Times. But worst of all, he wasn't going to be there to be my friend, to offer words of encouragement, to offer a funny one liner, to offer an insightful NASCAR story.

I type these last few lines through blurry tear filled eyes. No, he wasn't a famous driver. No he never had a race team. No, he'll never be written about in NASCAR history books. But his legend will live on among those of us whose lives he touched. And in his passing we will remember him with fondness, with love, with respect. Tiny's TV Times will live on at my site. They will be filled in by a different member of our "family." But they will always be Tiny's TV Times. God rest your soul, big guy. You will live forever in our hearts.

In lieu of cards and flowers the family requests that donations be made in James Crabtree's name (in the memo part of the check) to the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Address and links to be posted shortly.
For donations by check please place Tiny's name (James Crabtree) in the memo and mail to:
The Victory Junction Gang Camp
4500 Adam's Way
Randleman, NC 27317

For more info on The VJGC please visit:
Victory Junction Gang
There is a link there for credit card donations. Please tell them that you are donating in Tiny's name.