Mike Fitzsimmons, KSPO, Spokane International Bed Race, 1980

Photo credit: SpokanePlanner.com

Former Seattle TV hydroplane announcer Mike Fitzsimmons calls the bed racing action with KSPO’s Shawn DeLong and Tom Stecher along the course. The first race includes McDonald’s, Safeway and KREM-FM; then Pacific Northwest Bell challenges Pizza Hut…so place your bets. The best quote from this clip is when Mike asks “How do you win by a nose with a bed?”

Runtime: 6:56

Sam Lawson

Student engineer at pioneer Nathan Hale radio station KNH 1210 in 1970 (prior to KNHC). Also attended North Seattle Community College and L.H. Bates in Tacoma (KTOY-FM). Sam’s career began as a KJR request line operator in 1970, with his first on-air job at KRKO in 1972. In 1976 he segued to overnights at KTAC as Cory Landon, then weekends at KING. In 1978 he moved to Lewiston, Idaho for afternoons on KOZE and KRLC. Throughout the ‘80s he was an announcer and/or engineer at "the best mix and biggest variety" of Spokane radio stations; including 97KREM, KZUN, KGA, KKER (The Sam & Pam Show), KZZU, PD of KJRB, 98 KISS-FM, and the voice of KAYU-TV. In 1989 he moved to Los Angeles as Assistant Chief Engineer and weekends at KZLA/KLAC. Also engineered for KBIG, KFI, Premiere Radio Networks, CBS Radio, and others. "After avoiding any actual work for nearly 45 years, now happily retired and very appreciatively back in the great Pacific Northwest!" ---Click here for other Sam Lawson articles ---and here for Sam Lawson airchecks

Next Jesse Jones, KIRO 7 Consumer Reporter Recovering From Heart Surgery »

Previous « The First Rock & Roll Record

View Comments

Jason Remington says:

April 7, 2021 at QZVX at

I say bring back bed races here in the Puget Sound area, for events like the 4th of July on Ruston Way in Tacoma. I suggest hot air balloon fly-overs and maybe skydiving from those hot air balloons.