News Norway man dies in racing accident at Hawkeye Downs

A Norway man known for his love of Norway baseball and the Chicago Cubs, his willingness to share unique posts on Facebook and involvement in conservative political causes died in a “Race 'em or Wreck 'em” event at Hawkeye Downs Speedway on the evening Saturday, Sept. 13.

John "JP" Pickart, 68, was racing in an RV when another driver collided with him during Saturday's school bus-RV race sanctioned by B & B Promotions, which rented the track for the event. The collision caused Pickart's RV to roll over onto its top. Crews spent about 30 minutes trying to extricate Pickart from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene; other events were canceled. 

Some of the participants in this event had also participated in the “Night of Destruction” event at the Benton County Speedway in July, although that event this year did not include the bus-RV races, as it did in previous years.

“He was the 'Godfather' of Facebook,” said Dee Volz. “We will miss his daily posts.”

Tim Busch said he knew Pickart, although not well, through conservative events and organizations.

Pickart was born Dec. 9, 1945, and had been self-employed before retirement, and was involved with the Norway Hall of Fame Bar and was from a family with a history of playing baseball there.

John attended St. Michael’s Catholic Grade School and graduated from Norway High School in 1963. JP served in the United States Marine Corps as a Combat Engineer from 1966-1969. He was stationed in Vietnam where he proudly served during the Tet Offensive of 1968. Following his military service, he worked as a mechanic in Huntington Beach, California until returning to Iowa in 1973. JP was self employed as a metal fabricator for Railings, Inc. and JP’s Hall of Fame Bar, in Norway, for many years. JP enjoyed fishing, hunting, racing, card playing, and pool league. He entertained friends and family on Facebook and turned anything he was part of into a fun time. He was an avid sports fan, with a lifetime passion for the Chicago Cubs, and was the PA announcer for the Norway Bandits baseball team. His home on the Pickart Century Farm was close to his heart, where he cherished spending family time, especially with his grandchildren.  

After his death, many of his Facebook friends shared a photo of Pickart standing in front of the statue of Chicago Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray outside of Wrigley Field.

Pickart had participated in such previous RV racing events. “I'm in,” he posted in reply to an announcement about a similar race in 2012.

See his obituary HERE.