Tragedy as veteran drag racer, 77, killed in accident seconds after winning 'Oldies but Goodies' competition

A life-long racing enthusiast dubbed the 'Silver Fox' died seconds after winning his final race in front of a crowd of horrified spectators.

Dave Sattem, 77, left a wife and son when he was killed after his 1933 Willys Coupe crashed at the finish line at the Woodburn Drag Strip in Oregon on Saturday.

The Air Force veteran, who was days away from his 48th wedding anniversary, had just triumphed in the track's 'Oldies but Goodies' event when he lost control of the vehicle at high speed.

'One second, my dad and I were cheering him on as he won the finals in his class,' spectator Brennen Hankins wrote on Facebook.

'And the next, he was over the wall and the first responders were hauling up the lanes to help him.'

Dave Sattem, 77, had just crossed the line after winning his final race when tragedy struck

The avid car fan was driving his 1933 Willys Coupe at the Woodburn Drag Strip on Saturday

Wife Linda was at home in Stayton when she heard of the crash and has been inundated with offers of support from her husband's many friends in the racing community.

'He liked to help people. If they were just new to drag racing, he would try to give them advice,' she said. 'He was laughing, joking with people. He was always trying to keep people safe and enjoying the sport that he loved so much.'

Many took to Facebook to share their recollections of the man who acted as a mentor to generations of younger racers.

'Our hearts are broken,' wrote the strip in a post.

'As most of you know by now, we lost a true champion. Our Track family is deeply saddened by the loss.'

'Linda we are all thinking of you and your family at this most difficult time,' wrote Vicki Shepherd.

'Dave was a legend, loved and respected by us all. I think we all have stories to tell of racing with Dave.'

The racer's widow said that her husband had raced motorbikes before graduating to drag racing, 'so he had a love of speed'.

'I wake up in the morning now, and I'm thinking, 'I don't know. What should I do? What do I need to do',' she told kptv.com.

'There's been so many people that have come out to help me, called me, brought me food, and I'm still trying to deal with all the paperwork that goes along with death,' she added.

'I think I'm doing okay.'

'He was a very outgoing person. He had a great smile.'

The racetrack plans to hold a service for Dave at 8 am on Saturday morning as the Marion County Sheriff's Office investigates his death. 

Wife Linda said her husband was 'always trying to keep people safe and enjoying the sport that he loved so much'. 'He was a very outgoing person. He had a great smile.'

'Our hearts are broken,' wrote the strip in a post. 'As most of you know, we lost a true champion'

'We have lost a lot of Old School Good Ol guys and gals racers in recent years,' wrote Neal Rankin.

'There will be upcoming new generation good people but we will never replace the wisdom and school of hard knocks these Old Schoolers brought to us.'

'Dave will always be the true definition of fierce competitor and humble mentor,' added Timothy Davis.

'His legacy will endure and his love for his family, friends and fans, will be an Eternal testimony and inspiration to all.

'Prayers for all who mourn, that you will find comfort in knowing Dave left thus world, doing what he loved.'