Remember last year? Sparkle Pony gets the pole. Imagine that. Imagine that no one in NASCAR could foresee the solid week of worldwide publicity NASCAR would garner from that "feat". The one redeeming point to that pole win was the fact that Sparkle Pony WAS wearing clothes for that pole run. Better than a gig at pole dancing for her I suppose. Then there was the Jeremy Clements poor choice of timing and words that caused NASCAR to impose censure on freedom of speech in an effort to ensure that everything NASCAR does is beyond reproach. You, dear listeners, can determine your own position of that issue, but me being me, and calling it as I see it, I can find no justification for what NASCAR did in the knee jerk reaction to a politically INcorrect expression of opinion by a race driver. Wonder what that could mean for The King for expressing his feelings on Sparkle Pony this week? Would they dare fine the King? Would they dare dock his team points before the season begins? Maybe they should consider those comments were made in Canada which still may have some respect for freedom of speech.
For tonight's purposes, I am going to change the "so go the days of our lives" to "so went the years of our past" because the real meaning of everything racing, at least to me, won't be going on at Daytona International Speedway but will be in close proximity to the track. What will be happening to recall those days of old when racing was being formed from a pre-war, rough-housing past, to an organized sport where heroes were born, pioneers gave so much, and fans were in integral part of something important, much more important than buying tickets.
Between Victory Lane Racing Association and The Living Legends of Auto Racing, there are events from this Saturday the 15th through Tuesday Night the 18th that will allow folks like me, although me being there only in spirit unfortunately, to be a part of honoring those who gave birth to the sport of stock car racing and, indeed, to NASCAR itself. These events will include an awful lot of men and women with white and silver hair, and some with little hair at all, but what will be represented in those gatherings , and who will be represented in those gatherings, are who and what this site is all about. The names included in those being honored in different capacities are those that would make any fan of racing history tingle with excitement at the very mention.
There has always been a sense of camaraderie in the sport, and nowhere is it more recognized than when these early pioneers gather. I did observe, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony, that the camaraderie exists between competitors of today, but nowhere near what it was like in those early days. Drivers of today can socialize at events such as the Hall of Fame, but then they are off to their private worlds of luxury and extravagance. It is not like several drivers gathering after the race to share what they had to eat, or tow from track to track in a convoy, helping each other out as they went. Speaking of which, we have a member of RacersReunion now, William Williams, who is sharing some excellent memories of those days in the Blog posts of site. If you haven't checked those out, you really need to because William tells us, from personal experience, of the times and memories I only write about. Those are great blog posts.
This coming Saturday, the 15th, while ARCA is getting ready for their event and the Cup guys are anticipating the "Unlimited", the Historic Legends Beach/Road Parade will be taking place on the original site of NASCAR's early Daytona events before the two and a half mile track was built. Having seen pictures of this event from last year, I can only imagine the feeling of those standing there watching that parade. However, my imagination can't seem to wrap around what it must feel like to be IN one of those cars making that lap! The lap of which dreams are made for an old race fan like me.
On Monday, the 17th, it's Back To The Roots as these racing historians and pioneers and their families will gather at the location of the service station operated by Big Bill France back before he became the head man at NASCAR. Again, I have seen the pictures and it is a remarkable event.
Tuesday, the 18th,will give us the Living Legends of Auto Racing Auction and Autograph session. Click on the "Events" schedule here on the web site to get more details from the Living Legends site but I guarantee you will be impressed by those who are appearing to sign autographs and just as impressed by the items to be auctioned off. Even more impressive is the admission price for this event. FREE! That's right, FREE. A word that no longer exists in NASCAR's dictionary, but that is not to criticize NASCAR, it's just to remind us that things have changed and continue to change. Each of us needs to judge for ourselves how we feel about those changes.
The evening of the 18th finds the Victory Lane Racing Association and Living Legends bringing together a huge assembly of racing folks to present some prestigious awards to some very deserving folks. Briefly, the following awards will be presented to:
Pioneer in Racing award to Marion Cox to be accepted by widow Nina Cox
Media Award to Tom Higgins
Red Vogt Mechanical and Engineering Award to Waddell Wilson
Fireball Roberts Hard Charger Award to Dave Marcis
Tim Flock Driver's Award to Bill Blair
Raymond Parks Award to Freddy Smith
Short Track Driver Award to Dick Trickle
Woman in Racing Award to Nina Cox (Widow of Marion Cox)
Alan Kulwicki Award to Buck Simmons
Smokey Yunick Achievement Award to Ray Hendrick
Victory Lane Racing Association Award to The Historic Speedway Group
This is a list of Honorees to treasure! I know all of you recognize each and every name. I know most you, like me, wish you could be a part of every event that honors this heritage of the sport. The heritage that allows much of sports television to be dedicated to the glitz and glamour of what the sport has become. Most of you, I am guessing, would rather stand on the beach sand and watch that parade this coming Saturday than to sit in the highly priced seats overlooking the high banks that no longer speak of dedication to racing nearly as much as dedication to money. My seat for races these days in a recliner in our 28 X1 4 den and the view is pretty good on the 46 inch HD television. The bathroom is less than 30 steps away, and the "concession stand" is about 10 steps away and the prices there are really, really good.
As I wind down this week's Legendtorial, I can't leave without expressing a deep and heartfelt "thank you" to Dargan Watts. Dargan has worked tirelessly to promote all the historic events coming up. He has kept the updates coming and has provided wonderful narratives of those receiving awards on the Victory Lane Racing Association website, which he has shared with everyone on Face Book. I am going to miss those daily entries, but I'm sure Dargan will collapse after the events conclude next Tuesday night and when he does, I hope it will be with the satisfaction of knowing he had performed as well as the engine in that 1962 Pontiac Fireball drove to victory in the 500 back then. Dargan, if you're listening, or will read this later, thanks for your dedication to the sport and for your continuing efforts to see that the foundation remains strong.
So, my friends and racing family, as I prepare to spend a lot of time in that recliner this week watching the televised events, join me in saying thank you to the pioneers and to ALL those who work so hard to see that the past is remembered in the proper light. What WAS is important to what IS. Some may not hold to that statement, but as "the sand through the hourglass" runs from top to bottom, the top empties, only to be turned over and begin the draining once more. Without that "flipping" of the hourglass, it is merely an instrument full of sand. Without us flipping the pages of history to know how this sport came to be, those pages remain in one place to become yellow with age. Our past is worth the preservation. Our memories are worth more than the total number of grains of sand on the Daytona Beach course. We are so fortunate to have those around us who lived those days and who can share those memories with us personally. I envy all of you who will be a part of the historic events coming up in Daytona, but I am also to be envied by those who have no memories of their own to call forth as this week comes up. Time to start making some.
What the new season holds in store no one can know. What the past holds is there for those who seek it. Just remember, without that past, there would be no present sport. Thanks to the efforts of all those who ensure the past is presented properly and with the honor to which it is entitled. As I tag each Racing History Minute, "Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future". 'Nuff said.
