One of the most popular drivers I ever saw at Wilson County Speedway was "Farmer " John Matthews of Raleigh, NC wheeling his #16 Late Model. John was also a frequent winner at Wake County Speedway and at the Raleigh Fairgrounds.

Farmer John Matthews' most unusual win, though, may have come in October 1964 at the Jacksonville (NC) International Speedway. Neither Marines nor fire could keep Farmer John from the winner's circle in the Leatherneck 150 . Jacksonville is home to Camp Lejeune , the famed United States Marines installation.

The Wilmington Star-News reports how Matthews' car owner, Kenneth Simpkins of Raleigh suffered serious burns during refueling requiring hospitalization. But Farmer John drove on to victory in spite of his burned car owner. The clip below is from the October 25, 1964 Wilmington Star-News. I'm guessing the Raleigh tobacco farmer was wearing his customary bib overalls in the cockpit!

Farmer John Matthews of Raleigh at Wilson County Speedway in early 1970s with his Cliff Winstead/Cliff's Drive-In sponsored #16 Chevelle. Tim Hamm photo

Thanks for the eyewitness info on Bill Duff's and Farmer John's cars back in the day, William. I wondered also about whether Kenneth Simpkins was kin to Glenn - who also built Wake County Speedway, his cousin, Marvin or Glenn's father, Oscar. If anyone knows, please step forward.

i enjoyed reading this post dave ive seen pictures of the 74 car that bill duff drove i beleive a man from greenville nc drove this car at myrtle beach back in the sixties i cant recall his name right now but i think the photo of this 61 chevy is on jack walkers site

i remember the drivers name from greenville nc that drove that 61 that bill duff drove his name is ld austin

Thanks, Charles. I found that photo at Jack Walker's Carolina Race Place. On the front fender is lettered "Built by L.D. Austin and Friends." Jack also has several photos of Farmer John Matthews' #16Jr Modifieds. Here's the link to Jack's photos:

http://www.raceplace.zoomshare.com/

William, I remember those days at Carolina Beach, too. The first time I ever saw Farmer John was at Myrtle Beach in about '63 or '64...he and Glenn Simpkins was there the same night...the race was rained out. At that time, the 16 jr. was bronze/copper colored. But later, at Carolina Beach it was blue metallic. Looked to be the same car, '37 chevy coupe, and the lettering, on both versions, was yellow....car had the first "Jahn's Pistons" decal I ever saw.

Dave, I remember this very race. I recall the TV ads (WECT-6 Wilmington) advertising the big race at Jacksonvilles' "International Speedway" as the event approached. I Did not attend, but I lived on US 17 in Shallotte, NC remember seeingthe modified coupe of Julian Richardson (Conway, SC....#83 '40 Ford painted in Pepsi colors, complete with the "83" emblazoned on a Pepsi bottle cap motif) towing through town, and also the Yon brothers "the Barracuda" #3 Ford coupe from the Charleston area passing through town also, in route to Jacksonville, NC.

Bill Duff drove the #74 owned by Andrew Parker of Tarboro, NC on the Carolina short tracks in the mid 60s. The 1961 Chevywas the same car that L D. Austin ran on the Grand National circuit in 1961. This photo is from the David Duff collection.

Thanks Jack, Charles, William, and Bobby for your information. Amazing how accurate your memories all are.

Ken Klutz in action at Carolina Beach Speedway, 1964.

Farmer John, 1980's LakeView Speedway

bill duff was originally from seven springs nc he also drove a car from goldsboro nc owned by the dew family he also drove for a man from ayden nc at a track near snow hill nc called the ormondsville speedway along with don macon george foss dan pitner

bill duff was originally from seven springs nc he also drove a car from goldsboro nc owned by the dew family he also drove for a man from ayden nc at a track near snow hill nc called the ormondsville speedway along with don macon george foss dan pitner

Thanks Bobby for the shot of Farmer John at Lakeview.

I never got to see Farmer John in a car that "modern." Last time I saw him race would have been in late 70s at Wilson, probably in the #00 Glover Farms Eggs car out of Bailey, NC as pictured below in the Tim Hamm photo taken in 1976. Charles, did John return to a #16 at Wilson after this ride?

Tim Hamm caught Farmer John Matthews in #16 and Mac Mangum in #1 mixing it up at Wilson around 1974-1975. Earl Arnold also drove a #1 Late Model occasionally at Wilson in the 70s.

Tim Hamm captured Earl Arnold's #1 at Wake County in 1974:

dave john did return to no 16 after the 00 car he drove a camaro 16 and a 16 buick when they switched to the light weight cars and fiberglass bodies driving for steve reading of steves corvette shop in wilson and harold eatmon built the engines

Thanks, Charles. Harold Eatmon motors were legendary for their horsepower.

I see that the Eatmon name is still very much alive in Wilson, NC. The web site for Eatmon Race Parts says they've been building winning race engines since 1970. They've got a nice little Chevy 358 on sale for just $14,500 if any RR members need something fresh to drop in the family station wagon! Must be selling engines to those Australian SuperCars... I see they'll ship to Australia for just $1200!

NASCAR CHEVROLET SB2.2 RACE ENGINE FRESH BUILD 818HP

Price:

$14,500.00

Weight:

550.00 LBS

Product Description

William, You have listed some names I remember from way back. Glenn Simpkins came from Raleigh to run at Rockingham and Sanford in the late 60's.

Ken Klutz was winning at Rockingham in 1956 and he won the first two late model features at Caraway Speedway in Oct. of 1967, Wayne Andrews won the next one followed by Bobby Webb the next week.

And I've heard dad talk about running with John Matthews at Johnson County and CatTail Pond (Brown's Speedway) in the late 50's.

Farmer John Matthews was back at Jacksonville on March 28, 1965, besting Don Macon and Glen Simpkins among others in a 30-lap modified feature.

Wilmington Star-News

It appears that Farmer John Matthews won 18 NASCAR modified races in 1964 - don't know if that was a total or at Jacksonville. In this March 28, 1965 Wilmington Star-News preview of the season opener, he is referred to as "Johnny" Matthews! Wonder if the Wilmington writer knew Dick Petty or Davey Pearson?! Interesting to note the reference to Jacksonville's "sister track" in Concord. What was that about?

Walter "Walt" Zawaski was a sportsman division competitor. He had two coupes a '38 and a'39 Ford, both were #17a. Walt won races into the late '60's at Leland and Little River raceways. By a series of unexpected circumstances, I could have bought one of Walt's coupes recently. It had been barn-stored forever, and was partially disassembled but was a time capsule of 1950's racing technology. I passed though, $3,000.00 seemed too steep. But then, maybe it wasn't.

I am amazed at the lengthy driving careers some racers have enjoyed. Thanks, William for the tip on Earl.

William, I was at Dublin and there was a neat looking #1 open-wheel mod.........it had "arnold........." on the side..........was that Earl????

I noticed a DALE Arnold listed at both Dublin and FMS in a #1 Open Wheel Modified. Here's his name in the June 15th Dublin results:

Open Wheel Modified
1) #10 Daniel Parker
2) #14 Jordan Taylor
3) #14 David Taylor
4) #23 Andy Floyd
5) #5 Mack Coxe
6) #1 Dale Arnold
7) #3 Dennis Brewer
8) #4 Clay Parker
9) #19 Steve Haefke
10) #E3 Ennis Brewer
11) #88 Wayne Gray
12) #12 Billy Wilson
13) #34 Steve Strickland
14) #94 Ricky Chavis
15) #7 Eddie Bullard

Found this photo of Bill Duff taken the same year as the 1964 Jacksonville race. This one in the Getty Images file was taken at Daytona on July 2, 1964: