Question about the Beach course

I think I know the answer to this, but I've been getting questions and I want to clarify so there's no more guess work.

I know that the beach and road course changed several times over the years. But the basic course, as it was laid out in the mid to late fifties (as I've always understood), was two miles down A1A, a hard turn at the south, then two miles back up the beach to the north turn.

Here's my question - Someone put up a "today" photo of the layout, which shows A1A curving somewhat before it reaches the south turn. Back in the fifties, did the road curve leading to the south turn, or was it a straight shot?

I've always been under the impression that A1A was straight at that time, but has been reconfigured in recent years. Am I correct, or am I in error?

Thanks for your help!

Brandon Reed
Georgia Racing History.com

updated by @brandon-reed: 12/05/16 04:08:38PM

Brandon, I added the photo of the old beach course, and like you I was puzzled at the present curvature of South Atlantic avenue (A1A). I've read such exerpts as......"currently South Atlantic avenue is straight....but back in the day, it had an "S" curve............" So, I don't know, it doesn't look straight now, but I've always assumed it was and parallel to the strand. The modern aerial photo appears as if the condo-project adjacent to the old north turn is responsible for the present road's curvature.You're right, the beach course moved, primarily as a result of ever encroaching post-war developers, and increasing property values. The 'modern' course was first first used in 1948, as NASCAR's first official event, and originally had an addtional 'south' turn which reduced overall lap distance by one half. The idea was to run the stockers on the short course and the bikes on the longer 4 mile course. Presently, I've not found any evidence suggesting the stockers ever ran on anything but the long coruse.

the curve in A1A is where hiway 40 comes into A1A there where the highrise apts start on the beach side. north of this intersection the road is real close to the ocean so the racing was south of the the road curve at least.

Here are M-S the course lengths:1951(s) - 159.9 miles / 39 laps / 4.1 miles long1952 (m-s) - 98.4 miles / 24 laps / 4.1 miles long1953 (m-s) - 98.4 miles / 25 laps / 3.936 miles long1954 (s) - 102.5 miles / 25 laps / 4.1 miles long1954 (m-s) - 123 miles / 30 laps / 4.1 miles long1955 (s) - 102.5 miles / 25 laps / 4.1 miles long1955 (m-s) - 77.9 miles / 19 laps / 4.1 miles long1956 (m-s) - 127.1 miles / 31 laps / 4.1 miles1957 (m-s) - 127.1 miles / 31 laps / 4.1 miles long1958 (m-s) - 127.1 miles / 31 laps / 4.1 miles long

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the help!

brandon there used to be markers like historical ones marking the turns on the beach to the hiway-- i havent even thought to look for them in a while --

I attended the Modified /Sportsman Race in 1950. The backstretch (paved ) was straight, with grains of sand blown across it. About 125 cars started the race. Some had hydrolic some mechanical brakes. When they started to slow down for the 3rd turn it was bedlam. About a 50 car wreck. The race was started as the tide was going out and had to stop it when it came in. It was one of my best experiences in racing.