Bert Emick

Bert Emick passed away on June 26 after a short illness. He was born on September 6, 1940, to Bert "Pop" and Betty Emick of Columbus, Ohio. He attended Columbus South High School and The Ohio State University and is survived by his wife Brigitte; daughter Kristina (Keith); sisters Jackie (Lonnie) and Heidi (Matt); and our extended families.
A beloved husband, father and friend, Bert was known for his kindness, sense of humor, and deep love for the sport of sprint car racing. Bert was married to Brigitte for 63 years. She was his partner, his rudder, and the love of his life. Together they settled in Columbus, Ohio, and raised a daughter, Kristi (aka Sunshine). With Brigitte's help, Bert was able to turn his passion for dirt track racing into a successful career at the helm of the All Star Circuit of Champions. He was an unusual kind of leader in the sport, combining thorough knowledge with fairness and care. His first priority was helping smaller, less well-funded teams compete. His second priority was the fans. He enjoyed starting every All Star feature with the cars in four-abreast position as a "salute to the fans." He was very proud to be inducted into the Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1999 and to be the first winner of the Hall of Fame's Outstanding Contribution to the Sport poll in 1985. Bert received much recognition in the motorsports press over the years.
Bert and Brigitte relocated to Daytona Beach in the late 80s, where they enjoyed destressing in the off-season. After a well-earned retirement in 2002, Bert was the instigator of their extensive travels; every trip offered great experiences and new friends. Over the last 20 years, he added many neighbors, fellow golfers and local hot rod enthusiasts to his friendship roster. He loved taking his '32 Ford Coupe to local car shows. Bert was a loving and well-loved man who followed the advice he often gave: be there for your friends, always have something to look forward to, and crank up the rock music.
Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00am Saturday, August 2, 2025 at Faith Lutheran Church, 2010 W Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL 32174.
Another service will be held in Ohio at a later date this summer 2025.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bert's memory may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, whose work was an inspiration to him.