Now, as you regulars here on RacersReunion know, we have a fascinating fixation with "ghost tracks" meaning tracks that were once active in the stock car racing world and whose footprints remain, in some instances, for modern day sleuths to examine and imagine what racing was actually like on those tracks.  Think about this for a minute.  In 4,000 years, or perhaps even 400 years, will there be folks around who will even remember there was a track here, or a track there and if they do, will there be a record of what happened at those tracks over the years?

As  for the pyramids, most scholars know for which Pharaoh  a certain pyramid was built but there is not, to my knowledge, the name of even one of the workers, or slaves, that worked on the actual construction.  Further, we all know that Darlington was the baby of Harold Brasington, Charlotte Motor Speedway of Curtis Turner and Tim Flock, and Daytona was Big Bill France's dream.  Ok, now that we have established that, someone give me the name of any five men that worked on the construction equipment to build these tracks.  With the exception of Harold Brasington who did so much of the actual construction work on Darlington, it would take a great deal of research to come up with even one name.  Nevertheless, the labor of those individuals gave us those race tracks and all they received in return was their hourly wage.  I wonder how many of those workers actually attended a race at the venue they built?

My point is this;  the ones who built the pyramids are unknown, yet the great structures have endured for centuries.  The ones who built the race tracks, some active and some ghost tracks, are largely unknown, yet the history of the sport carved out on those tracks is to be revered.  Surely no one can truly appreciate what racing is today if they don't have a clue as to from where it came.

I have been a race fan since 1952.  For more than 40 years I was in attendance at the races from Daytona to Darlington, Charlotte to Rockingham, Atlanta, Talladega, Martinsville, North Wilkesboro and too many other tracks to go into in this limited time. Since 1992 it has been mostly television keeping me in touch. The history of the sport is a part of my life as I have been there from almost the beginning.  When I realized that racing had moved into such a time that the true history of the sport was being re-written by so many with no clue as to what really happened.  I was powerless to do anything about it other than to tell anyone who would listen what I remembered whenever the situation presented itself.

In March of 2008 I received a call late one Sunday evening telling me about a web site called RacersReunion and the caller suggested I check it out.  My computer expertise meant it took me about 30 minutes to find the site but once I did, I signed up immediately.  That was very early in the existence of the site and what was there was, at best, very limited, but the mission statement and the sincerity of those who posted comments drew me in.  I was on the site every day, sometimes for hours, adding comments and posting stories of memories I had of the sport.  Through the genius of the computer's automatic rating system, I became a "Legend" and fact that Jeff Gilder decided to exploit.  Although I resisted the title at first, once Jeff explained it was for the benefit of the site, I was on board and RacersReunion's Legend was born .  For me that has been quite a ride.

But this Legendtorial is not about me, but I had to mention those facts to lead into where I am taking this.  Anyone of you who has checked into the cyber world of racing knows that there are thousands of sites out there dedicated in some way to stock car racing.  Most are free and open to comments, although some charge a membership fee.  There are those sites dedicated to the history of the sport and those dedicated to the present day activity in the sport.  Most are operated by a keyboard jockey that obtains his or her information from other on-line sources and although those "jockeys" often post their personal opinions about matters, there is rarely actual experience to back it up.  But that's all fine and dandy. Let those who want to participate do so.  Let those who want to read and look do so. There are many good sites out there as well as some real trash.  If you choose to check some of them out you will see what I mean.

This Legendtorial, however, in not intended to address websites, good or bad, or what you can learn by "Googling" whatever it is you wish to know about.  This Legendtorial is to praise the efforts of some of the actual "in the trenches" folks that are on the front lines to do what it takes to ensure the history of the sport is preserved as factual.  Even more so, to bring attention to folks who contributed so much to the sport who will never hear their name called for the NASCAR Hall of Fame and, perhaps, no other Hall of Fame either.  Those folks who were in the shops, but never acknowledged by name anywhere, or the drivers who competed week after week, track after track and never won. Maybe never even a top ten finish, but they were there.

I am personally familiar with the efforts of The Historic Speedway Group in Hillsborough, North Carolina and the awesome job they do recognizing so many of the historic and contributing figures in the sport.  I am also personally familiar with the efforts of the Augusta Internation Raceway Preservation Society and their Hall of Fame where members are inducted each year.  Both of these organizations are contributing a great deal to the preservation of history.

I very actively follow the efforts of Victory Lane Racing Association and the Living Legends of Auto Racing, both of which go to extraordinary lengths each February in Daytona to bring attention to the early days of racing and to those  individuals who gave so much to the sports.  Both organizations are holding ceremonies in Daytona next month to recognize, among others, such folks as Bill Blair, Nina Cox, Waddell Wilson, The Historic Speedway Group, Dick Trickle, Jim Reed, and Ken Squier.  This is a big deal for the individuals and organizations recognized, but also for the history of the sport we all treasure.

It should be easily recognized that over the past, say 3 or 4 years, thanks in part I believe to the efforts of RacersReunion and what Jeff has done,  a new site about the "history of Stock Car racing or history of the sport" appears in the Google search every day or so.  I have checked out some of those and you can bet I could spot the phony from the first glance.  Now, it seems, more and more folks are finding ways to cash in on the hunger of many of us for information about the early days of the sport.  There are those who take pleasure in what I call exploiting the culture of the early days of racing when moonshine was a fact of the beginning.  Some find ways to exploit the term "redneck" as an unfortunate individual who can't get past the thrill of seeing crashes and possible injuries and deaths. While those things were a part of racing, and some still are, that is not the legacy we have been left by those pioneers of the sport.

This Legendtorial is the result of a day I spent with Bill and Shelia Blair at Bill's shop in Thomasville, NC this past Friday.  Todd Morris was there to record a discussion Bill and I had and my personal GPS, Leon Phillips, guided us through the rain and road accidents to get us there.  Unlike previous uses of my GPS, ole Leon didn't miss a turn this trip!  But here's the deal.

Bill had asked me, back in December, if I would come visit him at some point and I said I would.   Although it took a little longer to make it happen than I wanted, when I did get there it was an adventure for sure.  Bill's shop absolutely breathes the history of the sport, from the trophy his Dad won on the sands at Daytona, to the collection of racing hats lining the walls. But, of course, Bill was there almost from the beginning and certainly his Daddy, Bill, Sr. WAS there from the beginning. Bill Blair, Sr. was racing before World War II and before there was a NASCAR.  I have recapped races in the Racing History Minute where Bill's name appears regularly in the early days.  When you're talking with Bill Blair, you are talking with firsthand knowledge of what it took to bring stock car racing to the pinnacle it now enjoys.

I took some notes of my conversation with Bill, hoping to use those notes for this Legendtorial,  but when Leon and I were leaving, Bill gave me a one page, four paragraph sheet of paper outlining, if you will, the Mission Statement of Our Racing Heroes.  The members of this group are Bill Blair, Gene Hobby, Bill Mangum, Mike Sykes and Todd Morris, all of whom you regulars here know.  I am going to quote, verbatim, the information Bill handed me:

"The Racing Hero's Historical Group was formed to give recognition to our early years stock car Racing Heroes, who were the pillows of the current NASCAR.

There men raced because they loved the competition and the challenge of making their race car perform.  They made many sacrifices - some gave their lives - for most it was a financial disaster, but they lived to race.

Some men are the forgotten heroes of the sport.  Some have never been recognized by the racing community or sports media.  They are known only as our local racing heroes.

The Racing Heroes Historical Group will pay tribute to a new group of "Our Racing Heroes" each year at the annual "Old Timer's Racing Club" banquet at the Occoneechee Orange Speedway with The Historic Speedway Group."

My heart has been involved in this endeavor through RacersReunion since I joined the site.  I am certainly excited by the efforts of Bill, Gene, Bill, Mike and Todd as they undertake this new venture to recognize so many who would not otherwise ever be acknowledged publicly for their contributions.  For those still living, the recognition has got to be emotional.  To those who have departed but whose family will receive the certificate of recognition, the emotions are sure to overflow.  The cause is certainly worthwhile and I compliment those who work so hard to make these recognitions possible.

So, folks, when you settle down to watch all the action coming at you from Daytona next month, or perhaps you'll be there in the grandstands or infield, think for just a moment that you owe that pleasure to those virtually unknown heroes who gave so much to make it possible.

As I end every "Racing History Minute" on the Forum each day, I will say "Honor the past, embrace the present, and dream for the future".  Honor the past is what we seek to do here at RacersReunion and certainly what Bill Blair and his group seek to accomplish as well.