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PAGE 20, WHFBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER %~ 1990 whi«Ptby Irice'am tg:- Ibgetc>pri~i by JiI Mclntosýh Once again it is "contract time" witb tbe North Ainerican automakers, -- news everywbere, but. especially so here in Durbami Region..1 This year the CAW adniitted being pleased witb the contract tbey* negotiated with theý Ford Motor Company. Strangely enougb, it's an ironic comment, since in the early days of tbe UAW,' the Ford plant was-its bitterest enemy. The United Auto Workers firat made inroads into the industry in February 1937, wben General Motors allowed thein in after a series of sit-ins by workers. In April of tbat year, Chrysler gave in witb barely a figbt. Witb ýtwo already under tbeir belt, union officiaIs targeted May 26, ý1937 as tbe day they would approacb Ford. Only one thing stood in their way, and tbat was Henry Ford bimself. Ford, a stubborn and eccentric man, bad begun the multimillion- dollar company witb a sinal gasoline motor running on his kitcben sink. He bad built bis bomely Model T inte the world's best-selling car and bis company inte a strong and thriving business. He ran it like a cictator, firing, people wbo disagreed with hum and prying inte bis workers' lives te, see if tbey were living tbe way be approved. Needless te say, the tbought of bingng in a governing body that would tell him bow te rua it was against everything be believed in. May 26 became fainous as tbe 'Battle of the Overpase.' On an iiri~ori overpass connecting Ford's plant te its parking lot, union officiaIs stood while Ford employees camne out te greet tbem. The Ford men turned out to be bired thugs wbo .brutally attacked the union men, finuring tbem se'Verely. One suffered a broken back. It was -the first of 30 or so vicious beatings handed out to union supporters by Ford thugs over tbe next four years. That nuxaber included attacks on pro- union sympathizers inside the plant as well. Workers who wanted the union found ways te figbt back. It was not unusual te find dead rats stuffed inside finished car doors or loose parts left te rattle around. The union operated a smali radio station; someone in the radio room pre-programnied aIl of the finisbed radios te pick it Up. (That fact was pointed out te Henry Ford by bis grandson, wbo discovered it one day wbile pîaying inside a newîy built car.) The war went on until 1941. Then witbout wamning, Harry Bennett, Ford's right-band-man, gave in. For some mysterious reason, Henry Ford neyer questioned anytbing Bennett every did, and wbile he grumbled a little, be signed the contract. Ford was immedÏately met with bostility from Chrysler and GM, who aecused him of "selling out." The Ford Motor Company bad not only accepted the union, but bad given tbem the best deal of ail. Ford became tbe first SEEPAGE27 Uary Urawtcord of Whitby could be named rookie .of the year in the Honda-Michelin Racing tour. There were onl] a few races remaining when Crawford stood lOth overaîl, and first among rookies, in the series. At age 13, Crawford bought a go-kart and raced out at the Family Kartways' track - go-kart experience that ultimately bene- fited other successful Whitby racers such as Arnie Bray and Tom Clark. "I've always been interested in racing," says Crawford, 24, who saw a Honda series car for sale and decided to enter the series. He attended Honda racing sehool where he received his racing licence, and then corn- peted in two regional races. Crawford made noise in the first race of the season at Mos- port, finishing sixth despite hav- in to quai f in the ramn. "nthe pace lap I was nerv- ous, but once you get runninq you're too busy te bhe nervous, Crawford said. The only other racer who stands in the way of Crawford's bid for top rookiê- honors is Scar- borough driver Paul Maskos. But Maskos, as of the latest stand- ings, had 407 points, 97 behind Crawford and with littie chance to moving Up. Similarly, Crawford appears entrenched in lOth place as he was 146 points behind the ninth- place driver, and had missed the past few races. A win is worth 300 points, second 240 and third 190. Marc Lancose of Quebec bas won six of the nine races and Normand Boyer of Quebec bas won once and finished second five times, as the two dominate the series. In the seventh race of the season, Crawford was ahead of points leader Dancose. Going inte a corner, Dancose tried te pass just as Crawford went down on the line. The two cars teuched and Dancose went off the track while Crawford captured second place. «After the race I gt quite a lecture about that Ir was the rookie and what he bas done.» Crawford says he wants to race Formula 1600 next year and will soon be lookin for a care With the splash he has made thisyear, sponsorship should be alot easier to flind. How far would, he like te, take bis racing career? ai dont' know, Formula I mýaybe. But it's way out of reach btr.now.» -RICHARD SPENARD was one of the top Canadian auto racers who, took part in the 'Fuel-off last week to mark the start of the United Way cami- paign for Oshawa, Whitby and Newcastle. Motors- port is the theme of this year's campairh aBve ht There's more to a 1990 Jetta than outstanding value. Like an outstanding list of standard features. In tact, Jetta cornes equipped with more standard features than last year's model. And it cosis Iess. Just test-drive a Jetta once and feel the difference *~ German engineering makes. You'l discover just how far ahead Jetta can take you. 1990 Jetta. A great value trom your nearest TForonto and area Volkswagen dealer. ( etta $13900 OWASCO VOLKSWAGEN INC. 1425 Dundas St. East, Whitby Oshawa/Whitby 668-9383, AjaxlPickeringlToronto 683-3235. ToIl Free 1-800-263-2676 Experience thse0Owasco Feeling - ft's been proven since 1972. An "I CARE" and O.M.L. SERVICIEAWARD WUNNER Leasing aiso available. 1 35 MIN. FROM TORONTO M-J