Yes, Noted Racing Announcer Sammy Bland DID Drive at the Edgecomb Speedway Ghost Track - NEW: Listen to Sammy's Rockabilly Record

Some months ago in one of our discussions, a member asked if the noted racing announcer Sammy Bland, a native of Rocky Mount, NC ever drove at the Edgecomb Speedway ghost track near Tarboro and Rocky Mount, NC.

The answer is YES.

I just received this note from Sammy's daughter, Ann Bland Salster in Amelia, Virginia.

Hi Dave,

I've seen the discussion about Dad driving and also received a call from a gentleman in Alabama. Dad did drive at Edgecomb, but he drove number 810 (which were the numerics for the radio station where he worked.) I talked with him, but he does not remember, driving any other car. I was at most of the races and I only remember 810.

FYI - Dad has nice trophies from endurance races at Daytona and he won a Pikes Peak Rally. Don't think he did too well at Edgecomb...but folks came to see him race because of who he was.

I have pictures from Edgecomb and the car and him...but I have mislaid them. I will find them when I least expect. Been a busy summer...still settling Mike's estate and my daughter's estate, so someday soon I will get back to going through old pictures.

Wanted you to have the info....he did drive but only "excelled" at places other than Edgecomb.

Ann

Thank you, Ann and doesn't our RacersReunion site have a wonderful reach?

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Famed stock car racing P.A. and radio announcer, Sammy Bland of Rocky Mount, NC (Sammy Bland the Racing Man) also had a musical group called Sammy Bland & The Folk Caravan .

In 1952, Gotham Records (of Philadelphia, not New York) released a rockabilly tune from Sammy's group - which on the record label is called Sammy Bland & His Carolina Radio Boys - titled My Kind of Girl . Sammy's daughter, Ann, says the group never used the name as shown on the record label.

I'm sure today's Danica lovers will call it sexist, but here it is... a tune from one of America's greatest stock car racing announcers, recorded in a simpler time, 1952 - 60 years ago - My Kind of Girl :

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

Sammy Bland - Upper Right on Album Cover

Sammy Bland & The Folk Caravan Above

Sammy Bland, left, broadcasting live from a Pennsylvania track

Sammy Bland, top left, with Ray Melton, Joe Moore and daughter, Ann announcing at Richmond

Below is the story of announcer Sammy Bland getting folks out of the burning Wilson, NC grandstands on Easter Sunday as posted in the Wilson County Speedway Memories club back in 2011 by our RR member, Jack Walker, who operates the Carolina Race Place site and furnishes our Carolina Beach music break on the Tuesday night Goat Rodeo broadcast. Maybe Jack can use Sammy's song one Tuesday night, even though it isn't technically beach music.

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"