When Harold Brasington built Darlington Raceway in 1949-1950, many folks didn't believe a stock car would run 500 miles at top speed. Labor Day, 1950, that theory went up in smoke, so to speak, as the first Southern 500 became history and NASCAR was on its way, albeit it slowly, to the days of bigger tracks. For seven years, the Labor Day event was the only showcase for Darlington but in 1957, Bob Colvin came up with the idea of running a spring race at the track and, of all things, for the convertible division. Thus, "The Rebel 300" was born, and through 1962, would host the convertibles on the mile and three eights track in the South Carolina Pee Dee.
Twenty-seven cars showed up for that first Rebel 300, scheduled for Saturday, May 11, 1957. It rained that day. The tickets for the race stated that " in the event of inclement weather, the race would run the next clear day". The next clear day in this instance was Sunday, May 12th, but in South Carolina, there were "blue laws" which meant it would be illegal to race. In fact, back in those days, only "essentials" as determined by the South Carolina Legislature could be sold anywhere. After assessing the fine for the offense ($50.00), Colvin decided to race and pay the fine.
Paul Goldsmith had put his Ford on the pole with Joe Weatherly to his right and to Joe's right was Curtis Turner. That's right folks, for those of you do don't know, they started three abreast in those days at Darlington. Sort of a tribute to Indy from where Harold Brasington had gotten his inspiration to build the Darlington track.
Curtis Turner would put his Ford in the lead on lap one, Marvin Panch took laps 2 through 7, but Turner was back in front on lap 8. Marvin Panch took over on lap 9 and would lead until lap 28 when Turner went back out front.
On lap 29, coming out of turn four (now turn two), Jim Paschal, driving a Mercury in relief for rookie Ken Rush, blew a tire and slid into the speed groove where he was immediately nailed by Buck Baker. The two cars slid to a stop in the middle of the track on the main straight. Buck Baker immediately unfastened his seatbelt and bolted into the infield. Within seconds of Baker's exit of the crippled car, Jim Massey hit the stopped Chevrolet viturally cutting it in half. There is little doubt that if Baker had remained in the car he would have been killed. When the dust and smoke settled, Curtis Turner, Marvin Panch, Bill Amick, Possum Jones and Dick Beatty were all eliminated. Pieces of race cars were strewn all down the front straight. The race was red flagged for 50 minutes to clean up the carnage.
As soon as the race resumed, the yellow was thrown again as Joe Weatherly hooked the bumper of Billy Myers in turn two and force both cars to the growing junk heap. Fireball Roberts would take the lead at that point and with the exception of laps102-106, which we led by Bobby Myers, Fireball would lead the remainder of the race.
Fireball was driving a Pete DePaolo Ford, one of FIVE entires by DePaolo in the race. Bill Stroppe had entered three Mercurys, so even in those days, teams were big. DePaolo had Fireball, Weatherly, Turner, Panch and Amick driving for him. Stroppe had Tim Flock, Bobby Myers, and Billy Myers driving for him.
Top five finishers were:
1. Fireball Roberts, DePaolo Ford, winning $4,200.00
2. Tim Flock, Bill Stroppe Mercury, winning $2,600.00
3. Bobby Myers, Bill Stroppe Mercury, winning $1.850.00
4. Bob Welborn, Hugh Babb Chevrolet, winning $1,150.00
5. Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Oldsmobile, winning $825.00
Sixth through tenth, in order, were Jack Smith, Roger Baldwin, Whitey Norman, Johnny Dodson and Larry Frank. Glen Wood finished 17th with relief from Curtis Turner. Billy Myers is credited with 19th, Joe Weatherly 20th, Curtis Turner 21st, Marvin Panch 22, Bill Amick 23rd, Buck Baker 24th, Possum Jones 25th, and Dick Beatty 26th, although all those were eliminated in the huge wreck on lap 29.
I have posted a Blog, here in our Blog section, containing some personal memories and observations from that race if you care to read more about that day in Darlington.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
--
What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
