Unique Golf's Wichert Drives On and Off The Links

Jim Wichert, owner of on Main Street, may be a golf guru whose store draws golfers all year round, but he has a passion for things other than drivers and putters.

During the winter months, when most courses are closed and business is a bit slower, Wichert spends his time writing and truck racing.

He recently published his first article for Golfing Magazine on evaluating used equipment and is busy on a second assignment for another trade publication. Putting pen to paper, rather than club to ball, is something Wichert initially thought would be his career path given he achieved a journalism degree.

But the family business was a stronger lure and he's finding he can fulfill his journalistic passion as a contributor when his days at the shop are quieter.

Wichert is also getting revved for another year of truck racing at Riverhead Raceway, a sport he's loved since his childhood days of watching races at the old Islip Speedway.

The fact that he crashed during his first race in 2004 didn't deter the 46-year-old.

"My whole family was there and I didn't even complete a lap," Wichert recalled with a laugh. "There was a crash ahead of me and I just got caught up in it."

In fact he's sort of glad he got that first crash experience out of the way because he was extremely nervous that first time out, he said, describing his racing expertise as a 15 handicap compared to his six handicap in golf.

Since then he's achieved a few top-10 and top five finishes during his seven race experiences.

"I've caught the racing bug just like I caught the golfing bug," said Wichert with a smile, pointing proudly to photos of his race experiences that hang outside his workshop doorway.

Know a storeowner with a secret passion or hobby? Email Patch at judy.mottl@patch.com and we'll profile them as part of this series.

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