When Champion Speedway was Built. there became a problem.

It was a paved1/3 of a mile banked track. Most of the tracks back then were 1/4 paved flat tracks or 1/2 mile dirt tracks. Sportsman cars were not allowed quick changed rear ends, so to find a correct gear with a stock rear end proved difficult.

Standard rear ends were 378, V 6s were 411, 1940 Sedan Deliverys were 444 and some 3/4 Ton Pick ups were 667.

Diameter of rear tires helped a little.

Problems,Problems Problems!

Of course you could always run Lincoln gears in the transmission with a Mercury rear end 327.

Mr. Streeter...did you have a lot of guys running 3 speed trannies in 2nd gear...and 4 speeds in 3rd gear? None of those rear ends sound like a good option for 1/3 mile...except possibly the 667 with some large diameter tires. I ran a .628 and even a .648 on some 3/8 mile tracks.

Thanks, Jim. Such interesting stuff.

Fords had 3 speeds. Sportsman Flat heads wouldn't turn very high. The 667 was so heavy it was a great disadvantage. I was wrong on the 1940 sedan delivery it was a 456 not 444.

Because the track was so high banked we ran in high.

remember this was in the early stages of sportsman (limited sportsman).

2nd gear on 1/4 mile flats.

Hook on dashboard for gearshift.

I'll be 85 in three months and my memory isn't as good as it use to be.

A friend of mine in Fayetteville called me yesterday. Amazingly...he brought up...Champion Speedway. He said that every now and then..he and others will go out there and still drive around it. Of course..it is not useable, however...it is still drivable. I had forgotten where it was until he reminded me, and then he jogged my memory..of others that I had forgotten. When I am back in Fayetteville again...you better believe..I am going to go drive that track...yessss sir!!! LOL