Who watched closed circuit TV?

Long before America watched Donnie,Cale,and Bobby live in our living rooms at Daytona slinging fist at each other you could go to some coliseums and watch Daytona live on closed circuit TV.I wondered how many others remember doing that.

I especially remember th 1968 Daytona when Richard Pettys blue and black topped Roadrunner was hit by something at the top of the windshield and the roof started to lift.Richard pitted while he was leading and got out,stomped the roof back in place with those cowboy boots and then proceeded to beat the roof with a hammer all under the watchful eyes of Dick Beaty.Then Maurice proceeded to apply duct tape which continued to be added for the rest of the race.The blue and black Roadrunner quickly became blue,black,and silver.I guess duck tape was taken to a new level that day!

I remember flyers being distributed at Nashville Speedway promoting Evel Knievel's "jump" across the Snake River Canyon in his rocket vehicle. It was going to be telecast via closed circuit coverage at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium. I was excited and anxious and really wanted to go. But my folks said "Are you kidding? We're not going to go down there and pay money to watch TV."

I don't remember how much it was going to cost. But I'm sure it was $10-12 per person - about the price of a Grand National race ticket, and they didn't go for that back then either. I was crushed. Of course, it didn't take long to realize they made the right call. The whole event was a hype fail as Evel essentially bailed out from the get go and floated to the canyon bottom by parachute.

LaVerne - that is a great flyer and ticket stub.

I only attended a closed circuit telecast once. It was in Richmond at the Mosque Theater and unfortunately was the 1964 Indy 500 with the terrible Eddie Sachs/Dave MacDonald firery crash at the start. It was a black & white telecast.

That event and the closed circuit Daytona telecasts were put on by a company named Teleprompter - based in New Jersey if I remember correctly. But, they had a hometown Richmond link. The late Tim Sullivan, who used to flag at Richmond's Royall Speedway in the 50s and later went on to rep for Valvoline and run the automotive programs at Daytona Beach Community College was working for Teleprompter at the time and was instrumental in getting the Daytona 500 closed circuit telecasts put together.

One of Tim's old friends was Richmond car owner, Junie Donlavey.

For the 1971 Daytona 500, the #90 Winston Cup Grand National Mercury was an all Richmond effort. The car was owned by Richmonder Junie Donlavey and driven by Richmonder (Glen Allen suburb ) Bill Dennis. The front fender carried sponsorship from the late Richmond driver Ray Hendrick's construction company and the primary sponsorship, put together by Richmond native Sullivan was Teleprompter, the same folks telecasting the race via closed circuit.

Bill Dennis poses before 1971 Daytona 500 with all Richmond car.

A couple of years back, in 2011 when a discussion about computer telecasts of NASCAR races came up I made a couple of posts here about Tim Sullivan and Teleprompter. I'm going to repeat them below. We owe a lot to Tim Sullivan for getting live telecasts going before the networks. You'll note in one post that Linda Vaughn was working with Tim to promote the Teleprompter telecasts.

Permalink Reply by Dave Fulton on August 29, 2011 at 10:35am

I have absolutely no desire to watch races on my computer. Quite frankly, I have always been a little baffled by the attraction of having the computer fired up while the race is in progress. Then again, I have never understood the attraction of fantasy racing, etc. Too old school here, I guess. Are we heading backwards to the days when Teleprompter staged the live pay per view Indy 500 and Daytona 500 telecastsin theaters across the country long before live racing on network tv? Don't know how many of you knew or remember the late Tim Sullivan of Richmond, VA and much later of Daytona Beach. Tim was an official with an early pre-NASCAR stock car racing league around Richmond and later a flagman at Richmond's Royall Speedway and Southside Speedway and retired teaching automotive related courses at Daytona Beach Community College after having spent many years in PR for Valvoline's racing division.Tim at one time was employed by Teleprompter in NY/NJ and was instrumental in the early pay per view telecasts of big races. And, did I mention it was Tim who Bill France turned to to start MRN Radio? All too often we remember the drivers, car owners and mechanics, but forget our other pioneers of racing. Many of today's generation believe live racing telecasts were invented by CBS at Daytona, to which I answer B.S., you don't know anything about "real" racing history. When Tim Sullivan passed in 2008, the highly respected Daytona motorsports writer Godwin Kelly wrote a nice piece about Tim, which I will share below. So when CBS, SPEED and these other folks want to think they invented something, they better check back in time with the somehow forgotten "original pioneers."

Tim Sullivan with flag in hand recreates a Beach racing moment

February 27, 2008

One of NASCAR's unsung heroes

By GODWIN KELLY MOTORSPORTS

The guys involved in racing today are making millions of dollars thanks, in part, to the efforts of stock car racing's pioneers. When we think of pioneers, names such as Lee Petty, Fireball Roberts, Smokey Yunick and Ray Fox spring to mind. But there is more to racing than drivers and master mechanics. Tim Sullivan spent a good chunk of his life promoting the sport, which was popular in the South but got little attention outside the region. He doggedly worked to bring sponsors into NASCAR racing and bring the sport to the masses. And he always did it with a big smile on his face. "He was one of the best public relations men I've ever seen in the industry," said Ernie Saxton, one of countless friends who converged on Lohman Funeral Home in Ormond Beach on Wednesday afternoon. There were few tears shed in the lobby area as friends and family remembered the man, who ended every conversation with a hearty "God bless you." Sullivan, 83, died Sunday after battling a series of medical problems. He had a long list of accomplishments, including selling NASCAR race broadcasts on Teleprompter and jump-starting the Motor Racing Network. Long before there was multi-billion dollar television contracts, Sullivan would help set up Teleprompter broadcasts in movie theaters across the country. "That was important for all of racing," said John Cooper, a former president of Daytona International Speedway. "That was finally getting the sport on the air." ANOTHER ASSIGNMENT Sullivan got a really big assignment from NASCAR founder William H.G. France in 1970 -- start a radio network to broadcast races across the country. There wasn't much money to get the operation off the ground, but somehow he pulled MRN together. It was a tough sell in those days. "He came along when there was nothing at the Speedway, as far as dollars like there is today," said John McMullen, a former MRN president. "He had to work with nothing and he built something and moved it forward to where MRN and ISC is today." MRN has affiliate stations in almost every state and for big races, such as the Daytona 500, the broadcast can be heard around the world. Not so in the early years. "It was like pulling teeth to get a radio station to air a broadcast," McMullen said. Getting things going was in Sullivan's DNA. Keeping them laughing was his trademark. He never made an enemy. "He never met a stranger, he made everyone feel good," Roseann Javurek said. "I never heard an unkind word out of his mouth." NO PARKING The Tim Sullivan viewing was scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. By 2:15 p.m., the Lohman parking lot was full. Folks were parking down the street and walking a block or two to join his celebration of life. "He would have said, 'You should have been here earlier,' " Tim Sullivan Jr. said. "He was very involved with the people in the sport. He was a real a throwback in the sport." Hard working. Genial. The ultimate southern gentleman. Eager to share a story. These were some of the things overheard between bursts of laughter during Wednesday's high-spirited gathering. "A happy-go lucky sort of fellow," Dan Smith said. "He lived through so much racing, and had so many great experiences." And Tim Sullivan did that while helping building a national sport. Anybody in the thick of today's racing game should give their million dollar motor home a kiss in his memory this weekend. "The organization wouldn't be where it is today if had not been for the pioneers like Tim," said Lightning Epton, who has worked in the Daytona ticket office since the track opened. "He was a very likeable fella."

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Permalink Reply by Dave Fulton on August 29, 2011 at 10:54am

This was printed in the Richmond, Va. paper when Tim Sullivan died... again, note the Teleprompter reference:

Timothy J. Sullivan III dies
By: Jeremy Slayton
Published: February 26, 2008

Timothy Joseph Sullivan III spent his life dedicated to the advancement of motorsports.

He had a hand in almost every facet of racing, from beginning his career as a ticket-taker and flagman for races at Southside Speedway to leading the Motor Racing Network, the radio network that still broadcasts most NASCAR races.

Mr. Sullivan, a native of Richmond, was well-respected by those in the racing community and was known for handling his business with honesty and integrity.

"He always had a good word for everybody, a good smile for everybody and acted like he enjoyed life. I always liked to be around people like that," said seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Richard Petty.

Mr. Sullivan, who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and saw action at Iwo Jima, died Sunday in a Daytona Beach, Fla., hospital after a period of declining health. He was 83 and lived in Ormond Beach, Fla.

After his discharge from the Navy in 1946, Mr. Sullivan began what became a lifelong career in motorsports by serving in various capacities at Southside Speedway and Richmond International Raceway.

In the late 1960s, he joined Teleprompter Broadcasting as director of auto racing telecasts . In 1973, he left Teleprompter to become general manager of Motor Racing Network.

During his career, he was heavily involved in promoting races along the East Coast, while also handling public relations for Valvoline Oil Co.

"He hung up posters back in the old days, took drivers around to radio stations and newspapers, did everything he could to promote the sport and was a darn good promoter, too," said Jim Hunter, vice president of corporate communications for NASCAR and former president of Darlington Raceway.

After leaving MRN, Mr. Sullivan became public-relations director of special projects for Daytona Beach Community College. During that time, he helped establish the Richard Petty Fund for Automotive Education at the college, which increased funds and expanded enrollment of the school's automotive program, said his son, Timothy Michael Sullivan of Cornelius, N.C.

After retiring from the community college, Mr. Sullivan continued to handle public relations and special projects for Valvoline. In more recent years, he served as host in the oil company's suite at Daytona International Speedway, making sure everyone's needs were met, his son said.

"He followed the creed, 'It is better to give than receive,'" said longtime friend Joe Kelley of Richmond. "He would go out on a limb to help someone out."

Mr. Sullivan was recently honored with a Hall of Fame award from the Eastern Motorsports Press Association for his public-relations work in motorsports. He also served as president of Motor Racing Heritage and was a member of the Auto Racing Legends. He recently was honored as a Legend Emeritus by the Auto Racing Legends.

He was the widower of Marilyn Kelly Sullivan.

In addition to his son, Mr. Sullivan's survivors include his wife of 14 years, Betty Coulter Sullivan of Ormond Beach, Fla.; another son, Patrick Kelly Sullivan of Daytona Beach, Fla.; a sister, Rachel Robinson of Richmond; and five grandchildren.

A funeral will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 600 S. Nova Road in Ormond Beach, Fla. Burial will follow at Volusia Memorial Park in Ormond Beach.

Staff writer Jill Erwin contributed to this report

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Permalink Reply by Dave Fulton on August 29, 2011 at 10:59am

LINDA VAUGHN REMEMBERs TIM SULLIVAN

LINDA VAUGHN

I was a part of the greatest team of PR with Tim and Jack Duffy.....the best...I worked with the new TelePrompTer promotion and attended all the long trips to promote it with Tim and we worked together for over 30 wonderful years...even with ole A.J. and we won too...He was very special like a part of my racing family, and I lost my Jack Duffy and now "OUR TIM he and Jack were both NAVY and both Irish, never ever drink with two irishmen...ha I did not drink I DROVE ALL THE PACE CARS HA HE TAUGHT ME WELL I THANK GOD FOR MY TREASURED FRIEND MR. TIM SULLIVAN, SEE YOU AND JACK AT THE SPEEDWAY IN THE HEAVENS....LOVED YOU MISS LINDALinda Vaughn

Thanks Laverne... Yes I remember closed circuit tv broadcasts of Daytona !! ( By the way Dave Dodge is awesome!,,I rec'd something beautiful today !!)

I don`t no never herd of a race being on closed circurt tv around Columbia SC mabey it has but i no one thing if Nascar dose it now they are in trouble

$8??? Wow, I just checked the inflation calculator and thats exactly, $52.94. But back then, that would be the only way to watch it, unless you went to the race. Heck, now a days, I can watch the race on my phone!

I watched the 1971 Daytona 500 on closed circuit TV, at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium.

Eight dollars was a heck of a lot of money in 1967-68. That's like fifty bucks today! The public has been spoiled by CBS/NBC/FOX and would never pay that kind of money today. Even for the Daytona 500.

They might pay that much to have DW taken off the air.

I am enjoying reading everyone's comments.I too saw Evel's failed attempt across the Snake River

and a couple of boxing matches on closed circuit that I wish I had my money back .Old well it was fun anyway.Found this picture of Richard during that 1968 500.I love this picture.Photographer unknown.

I don't know what I paid to see the closed circuit telecast of Indy in 1964, but I am sure it was plenty.

Do any of you remember what you paid to see your first NASCAR GN/Cup race?

I paid $5 to sit in the bleachers at Richmond for the Spring 1964 Richmond 250. Dad dropped me off after church at the fairgrounds and I didn't know the price of tickets. The $5 bill was all the money I had with me and I had no money for a drink or hotdog.

I also had no money to make a pay phone call for Dad to come get me when it started raining that Sunday afternoon and the race eventually finished under the lights on Tuesday night. They wouldn't let me use the phone in the racetrack office and I couldn't get a police officer to loan me a dime for the pay phone.

I wound up walking in the rain about a half-mile from the fairgrounds to a small strip shopping center on Laburnum Avenue where the pharmacist at the Lafayette Suburban Pharmacy let me use the drugstore telephone to call Dad to come pick me up.

When I stopped working at the Richmond track in 1999, we were still selling a pretty good grandstand ticket for $32. When I checked on the cost of the cheapest family grandstand ticket for this spring's Richmond race I found the price listed as $90.

So what I paid $5 for in 1964 at Richmond now costs $90. I can understand the tracks on the circuit having problems selling out between the product being offerred and the current price of tickets.

Anybody else remember what you paid to go to your first race?

Ah yes, the infamous Teleprompter Company. I do remember well as my dad and myself , a young kid, viewed events at the Salem (Va.) Civic Centerwhich was in a neighboringtown next to Roanoke, Va. We paid eight dollars per ticket to see the '68 Daytona 500 in black and white. I have a brochure and ticket stub and program from the race. The program used featured the actual speedway edition cover but only contained about 12 pages was printedespecially for the broadcast, and it only cost one dollar. The '69 Daytona 500 race was shown also and was in color. Wethen viewedthe Yankee 600 at Michigan in June of '69, and that race had the official race program sold there. The race was about eight to nine hours long as it rained throughout the day, and the race was finally cut short due to darkness, but we stayed as long as they were showing it. Kind of reminded you of taking a cooler into a movie theatre. If I remember correctly, therewas apretty good turn out of fans for these racesat theSalem Civic Center.

My ONE expereience with watching a race on closed circuit came about quite unexepctedly. It was 1967 and I was stationed at Little Creek Naval Base in Norfolk Virginia. I had reservations on Piedmont Airlines (I did fly back in those days) to leave Norfolk Saturday morning and fly to Daytona for the race. It happened to snow in Norfolk Friday night and Saturday and the airport closed. Piedmont refunded my money. So, with a few days of "Liberty" I headed into downtown Norfolk because I heard the race would be shown on closed circuit there. I got a hotel room a block or so from the theater. I walked to the theater Saturday to make sure I could find it on Sunday.

On the way back to the hotel, I passed this little jewelry store selling 10K gold birthstone rings. As I had all that money from the refunded airline ticket, I went in and bought one for October. Beautiful ring.

Sunday I was up early, checked out of the hotel and went for breakfast. Then headed to the theater. I was about the third person in line so I got the front row seat. I don't remember the ticket price and I have long since lost that stub. I do recall, qutie vividly, that long before the race was started, the large audience was one big group of race fans, much like in the infield at the race track with which I was so familiar. I was, of course, in civilian clothes as it was not too cool then (Viet Nam era) to frequent downtown Norfolk in uniform. But we all had a great time at that race. What I do remember about the race is that I thought the camera work was awful and the images often blurry, but it didn't matter. I was able to watch the race (although The King had a less than stellar day).

Oh, and as for that ring I bought, I still have it. I tell you that because of a sort of miracle that makes that so. I always wore that ring from the day I bought it until it got too small for my finger (about 10 years ago). In 1975, several of my friends and I went to Myrtle Beach for the weekend. We spent Saturday on the beach. When we got up Sunday morning to return to Columbia, I realized by ring was missing. I was heartbroken, of course, and in spite of the guffaws of laugher from my friends when I said I was going down to the beach to find the ring, I went anyway. I went to where I thought we have been playing around, got down on my knees and started running my fingers through the sand. One of my friends came down to the beach and told me I was an idiot for sure because the tide had come in and gone back out since we where there. Nevertheless I continued to sift the sand. Unbelieveably, after about 10 minutes, I ran my hands through the sand and the ring actually caught on my ring finger as if it was trying to get back on my hand. I have never questioned, and never will, how and why that happened, but all the friends who were with me that weekend believe either I, or the ring, is possessed by evil spirits. I know I don't believe that because it was the 1967 season when The King rocked the racing world with 27 wins out of 46 races.

Amazing feat to find that ring, Tim! Wow!

Great story Tim.Thanks for sharing.

Dave, that story about the ring still amazes me everytime I think about it. Chances of that happening have to be like a trillion to one. But since a "trillion" doesn't seem like much any more since we hear it talked about out of D.C. all the time, I guess the odds were even higher. But after I made the post earlier, I went back and took that ring out of the jewelry box and a flood of memories from the weekend filled my mind.

Laverne, THANK YOU for staring the post. I really hadn't thought about that closed circuit deal in a long time. I remember the guy sitting right behind me spent the entire race ragging Mario Andretti. With a couple of laps to go, the guy disappeared. Unlike my ring., I never found him again.

Tim I too had not thought much about the closed circuit deal until a few days ago when I was sitting at a desk in my workroom and opened the bottom drawer and pulled out an envelope taht had several items in it including the ticket and closed circuit flyer and even a folded Richard Petty for President bumper sticker.Sometimes I guess I was a packrat but now I am glad I saved some of the stuff I did.Funny how

a piece of paper or some little object gets us going and bring back so many memories!.