Viewers Voice, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  Contributions received from individuals, foundations and corporations are tax-deductible.  If you wish to support the work of Viewers Voice send donations to:

Viewers Voice, Inc.,

P.O. Box 27758

West Allis, WI  53227-0758

Please make checks payable to Viewers Voice, Inc.

I could never under stand the fascination for the sport of car racing, but then I’m sure there are people who don’t like or understand baseball and football. It’s all in the eye of the beholder. I have to admit I did follow a little the career of Alan Kulwicki, mostly because he was a local boy and he worked hard and wouldn’t take “no” for an answer to accomplish his goals as a race driver. I never watched any of his races, but would follow what he was doing in the paper.

Alan Kulwicki died on Aril 1, 1993 in a fatal plane crash just five months after he was crowned Winston Cup Champion. On the 12th anniversary of his death the movie “Dare to Dream” tells the inspirational story of his determination to be a successful race car driver. The movie premiered at select theaters in Milwaukee and Bristol, Tennessee. A second premiere will take place in May in Charlotte, N.C., to coincide with the Nextel All-Star Challenge and Coca-Cola 600.

“Dare to Dream” is a low budget film brought to the big screen by writer-director David Orgas, who is from Hartland Wisconsin, star Brad Weber, and numerous backers. The film was made for less than 500,000 dollars and was shot in Wisconsin and other locations where Alan Kulwicki drove to his success to fame. Orgas and Weber made “Dare to Dream” on their own after they were unable to sell a studio the idea of making a movie about Kulwicki.

In April I met with the lead actor from “Dare to Dream,” Brad Weber, at Michael’s Restaurant in West Allis for an interview. Following is part of that interview:

Sharon: Brad, you portray Alan Kulwicki in the movie “Dare to Dream,” would you tell us a little about the movie?

Brad: You bet it’s about Alan Kulwicki’s life. Alan is a Greenfield native from Wisconsin who headed down south back in 1988 and went out to chase his goals and his dreams. When Alan moved down south to be a local race car driver he didn’t have a car, he didn’t have a sponsor, in a  sponsor driven sport, he just had a couple of engines and some personal belongings and in 1992 won the championship. So it’s really about the American dream, a story about never forget your goals, your dreams, and your visions. He won the championship in 92 and then he passed away a short time after that in a plane crash flying into Bristol, Tennesse. This is the twelve year anniversary of his passing this weekend and so we want to kind of celebrate his life and tell his story. It’s a great story and I think a story that a lot of people can see, realize and look up too and say you know what here’s a man who reached his goals and his dreams maybe there’s a chance I can, maybe not in racing but whatever it is in life; build a fence or buy a house or whatever it is.

Sharon: “Dare to Dream” is playing all around the city, at what theaters?

Brad: Yea, we went to Marcus theaters and said can we just get on maybe a couple of screens and after they saw the movie they said, “No, this film needs to be across the state. It’s a real nice film and a feel good movie and we want this to play across Wisconsin. So we’re opening here in Wisconsin, and also down in Bristol, Tennessee where the NASCAR races are this weekend.

We are going to sweep across the country; wherever a NASCAR is racing we want to be in those cities. In a couple of weeks we will be in Dallas, Fortworth for the Texas race and then after that it will be Phoenix at the Phoenix International Raceway where Alan got his first victory and did the famous Polish victory lap. Then it will be in Telavaga and all-star weekend it will be down in Charlotte. A kind of neat thing for us is a lot of times when a movie comes out they have their all opening weekend; well we’re fortunate enough we’re going to have an opening weekend throughout the country all summer and all spring long, so that’s exciting.

Sharon: Brad let’s talk a little about yourself. You’re an actor what are your plans for the future? I know you did a little radio in Milwaukee.

Brad: Yea, I used to work at Laser 103; I was Bob and Brian’s first intern, then I started doing sport’s directing. You talk about the timeliness of all this I was the first play by play basketball announcer for UWM when they went to division one. I was the play by play announcer for different Milwaukee basketball back when Steve Antrim was there for four years, so that was exciting. It’s great to see the program here in UW Milwaukee doing what they’re doing these days, getting the recognition that they deserve, it’s been a long time coming. That was my background.

I did a lot of stage and a lot theater back here with the Wauwatosa players at the Waukesha Civic Auditorium. With them I did “Kiss Me Kate” and played Patricio and out at the Sunset Playhouse for Michael Dunkin there’s a play there called a “Christmas Twist,” I played a Bob Crochet. Damien Jakes of the Journal wrote how Brad Weber has a Pee Wee Herman madness in his eyes and so forth, so that was pretty neat. So I come from a stage background. When I got out to California I did a play called “Mice and Men” and played George. My very first show out there I did was “It’s a Wonderful Life,” it was a holiday special and it was in the same theater that Tom Hanks did “Barefoot in the Park,” Neil Simon’s play. So crossing the path of the stars of today is kind of a neat thing.

Sharon: With your good-looks you should be getting some more offers for movies.

Brad: Yea, well I don’t know about that. Thank you very much; I’ll buy you dinner when we’re done here. The next film I want to do is a war love story, I’m working on that writing and so-forth. I hope I can film some of that back here in Wisconsin and use some of the local talent and have a little bit of Hollywood here in the mid-west. I know mom would like that, I know mom would like to see her son a little more. I’m her only boy; she’s up in Francis Creek, mom and dad. I’ve got a lot of family back here, I have two sisters and three little nieces and there spread across the state, so it’s always nice to come home. Milwaukee is my home and I will never forget that.

If you didn’t get the chance to see the Alan Kulwicki movie, “Dare to Dream,” it will be out on DVD sometime around August. It will be a two DVD collector’s box set with some very special interviews and will contain a post Hooters die cast race car.

Until my next column let your voice be heard.