Bobo And Tim Part Two

As I left you ... Bobo and Tim Hampton had driven from Benton Harbor going to Washington D.C. to wrestle. Tim had done most of the driving in his new 1966 Chevy. They were just outside Hagerstown, Maryland.

Bobo had tapped Tim, who was in the back seat sleeping, and stated, "Hey, Tim … You’re gonna have to take it, kid ... I got something in my eye, and I can't see too good." Tim reluctantly climbed out of the back seat and started to drive. Hunger took over, and they stopped at the next place to eat. Bobo was still rubbing his eyes but went in and ordered a big steak with all the trimmings, and Tim had a Hot Turkey sandwich.

As they went outside ... Tim asked Bobo how he was feeling, and Bobo started to rub his eyes again ... Bobo said, “Just take it for a little while, and I will get us into D.C. later.” Bobo never ended up driving ... he slept in the front seat next to Tim, who fought sleep all the way.

The D.C. Arena was packed, and fans were being turned away by the hundreds ... The main event was Bobo & Tim Hampton, Tag Team Champions, against Skull Murphy & Brute Bernard. What a knock down, drag out battle they had. Bobo and Tim just barely hung onto the titles by the time limit of 60 minutes running out and each team scoring only one fall.

When they went back to the dressing room after their match, promoter Vince McMahon, Sr. met them at the door and said, "Guys, I know that you've come a long ways getting here, and I know that you were going to have the next few days off before going to Portland, Oregon ... but an emergency has come up, and you need to go to Akron, Ohio for tomorrow’s card and replace the guys in the main event ... The Brunnetti Brothers. They had a death in their family, and I know damned well you would do the same for them ... How about it?”

Bobo looked at Tim and said, "You know, that Guy and Joe are two of the best in our business, and we owe them a favor from a couple of years ago ... lets help them out ... it's on our way back anyways” ... Tim shook his head yes, and Vince called Matchmaker Pedro Martinez to confirm ... everybody was happy. Tim was exhausted from all the driving and no sleep for a couple of days but didn't do too much complaining … Bobo was in great spirits and well rested.

As they got to the parking lot ... Bobo spoke up ... “Tim, why don't we take 100-mile drives for the trip to Akron ... that way, neither of us will get too tired.” Tim's face had a big smile on it, as he was really caught up in travel. Bobo said, "Hey kid ... why don't I take the first drive, and you get some sleep." Bobo had no more than said that, and Tim was out like a light in the back seat ... little did he know that his best friend in the whole wide world was about to do him in again.

On the dashboard was hooked a small odometer that the guys used to measure their distances for tax purposes. Bobo had driven only 42 miles from D.C. when he reached up and set the odometer to read 100 miles driven on it. He grabbed Tim by the arm and said, "Come on kid, I did my hundred ... It's your turn now." Tim didn't even flinch and didn't give any indication that he was aware of his surroundings; he just climbed behind the wheel.

Tim fought sleep ... he almost ran off the road two times ... while Bobo snored loudly in the back seat. Finally, in the mountains of Pennsylvania, he pulled off the road in the darkness and got Bobo up for the next part of their journey. Bobo climbed behind the wheel and started his hundred. Tim was really tired; he had no more than put his head down and was snoring again, just like Bobo had done.

Bobo had driven 38 miles and turned the odometer up to read 100 miles and pulled off the road. He shook Tim and said, "Come on, kid, it's your turn again." Tim couldn't believe his eyes, nor did it feel like he had been sleeping all that long. He was rubbing his eyes and yawning and quietly saying prayers that he would not fall asleep until his 100 miles were in.

As they pulled into Breezewood, Tim stopped and got gas. He had gone 96 miles and asked Bobo to come up and do his 100. Bobo got a coffee from the truck stop and started driving again. This time, Bobo drove 56 miles and pulled over and set the odometer again to read 100 miles driven. It was about 4:30 in the morning and in the darkest of nights. Tim got behind the wheel again.

Tim was an excellent driver, as was Bobo. They had both driven fruit trucks in Benton Harbor before getting into the wrestling business. Tim was dead tired, but he wanted to keep up with his end of the deal and fought sleep until 6 a.m. Bobo, in the meantime, had been sleeping almost all evening, except for the few miles he had driven. Tim pulled off the side of the road just outside Pittsburgh. He said "Bobo, I can't go any more ... I did my 100 ... get your butt up here and drive. I just have to get some sleep. It doesn't feel like I've slept all night."

A huge smile came across Bobo's face, and he said, "Sure, kid ... I will take it for my hundred, just let me get a coffee.” ... They had stopped at one of the Turnpike Oasis stops that had facilities. Bobo went in and got a big coffee and returned to the car, where Tim was snoring even louder then he had all night.

Climbing back behind the wheel, Bobo looked back at his best friend in the world. An evil grin came across his face, and his eyes gleamed as he started to drive towards the Ohio border, just 60 miles away. At 6:20, Bobo shook Tim and said, "COME ON KID ... I DID MY 100 ... IT'S YOUR TURN." Just like clockwork and out of habit, Tim climbed behind the wheel while Bobo sat next to him and started sipping on the hot coffee he had bought just 20 minutes ago. Tim was rubbing his eyes and trying to stay on the road but had some difficulty in doing so....

Suddenly, he pulled the car off on the shoulder and screamed at Bobo, "How long have you been doing it to me?" Bobo, trying to shield the laughter that was coming from his face, said, "What are you talking about ... Look at the carpets, they have coffee all over them" … Tim said, "You no good dirty S.O.B. … How long have you been doing it to me?" Bobo said, "What are you talking about, Tim?" ... trying to hold back the laughter...

Tim shot back with, "You took over at 6 a.m., right? And it's 6:25 right now ... There ain't no way in HELL you could have driven 100 miles in no 20 minutes ... You dirty no good ... Just get over here and drive us the rest of the way into Akron ... It’s about 100 miles. You should make it okay, with all the sleep you've had ... I'm tired, and I am going to sleep.” ... Bobo drove the rest of the way to Akron, quietly laughing at the whole thing and, that night after the matches, almost all the way back to Benton Harbor.

Bobo and Tim remained best of friends and had a lot of good times together in the years to come. They both laughed about the trip for quite a while. Tim has since passed away and is sadly missed. What a great friend we had in Tim Hampton.

May he rest in peace in Heaven, because Bobo gave him all the Hell he could stand on Earth.

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers
2004 CAC Honoree