@clyde-mangum16 years ago
Bobby Myers one of the greats, I think Bobby started on pole in this race. I believe this was a Lee Petty Oldsmobile. Bobby was killed in this race. Bobby gave it all, Bobby for sure has been missed.
@bobby-williamson16 years ago
Clyde, you're right, the car was owned by Lee Petty, and the event was the 1957 "Southern 500". Bobby Meyers did not prefer to be photographed before an event, and this pre-race photo is rare, and was somewhat uncharacteristic, in itself.During the week leading up to the race, pre-race favorite and multiple winner, Herb Thomas, became "spooked" and handed his (black) #92 '56 Chevyover to Fonty Flock. The Flock/Thomas entry began experiencing problems, from the outset of the race, and Flock lost power and coasted to a stop (against th outside wall) at the entrance to the (then) 3rd turn. Simultaneously, Bobby Meyers was charging down the backstretch, leading the race, overtaking the lapped and disabled #92, with Paul Goldsmith (Smokey Yunick 's '57 Ford) breathing down his neck. Most experts, and eye-witnesses to the crash, believe that Meyers was focusing Goldsmith (in his rear-view mirror) and did not see the stalled and black colored car of Fonty Flock. Meyers crashed into Flock at full speed. Flock and Goldsmith were both hospitalized and Flock announced his retirement from that hospital bed. NASCAR racing, tragically, lost one of its early stars in Bobby Meyers. For many years afterwards, as a result of this crash, NASCAR, beliving that that Flock was, essentially, "invisible" would not allow a black colored race car.
Bobby Myers one of the greats, I think Bobby started on pole in this race. I believe this was a Lee Petty Oldsmobile. Bobby was killed in this race. Bobby gave it all, Bobby for sure has been missed.
Clyde, you're right, the car was owned by Lee Petty, and the event was the 1957 "Southern 500". Bobby Meyers did not prefer to be photographed before an event, and this pre-race photo is rare, and was somewhat uncharacteristic, in itself.During the week leading up to the race, pre-race favorite and multiple winner, Herb Thomas, became "spooked" and handed his (black) #92 '56 Chevyover to Fonty Flock. The Flock/Thomas entry began experiencing problems, from the outset of the race, and Flock lost power and coasted to a stop (against th outside wall) at the entrance to the (then) 3rd turn. Simultaneously, Bobby Meyers was charging down the backstretch, leading the race, overtaking the lapped and disabled #92, with Paul Goldsmith (Smokey Yunick 's '57 Ford) breathing down his neck. Most experts, and eye-witnesses to the crash, believe that Meyers was focusing Goldsmith (in his rear-view mirror) and did not see the stalled and black colored car of Fonty Flock. Meyers crashed into Flock at full speed. Flock and Goldsmith were both hospitalized and Flock announced his retirement from that hospital bed. NASCAR racing, tragically, lost one of its early stars in Bobby Meyers. For many years afterwards, as a result of this crash, NASCAR, beliving that that Flock was, essentially, "invisible" would not allow a black colored race car.