Racing History Minute - July 10, 1953

Just a note of interest to start this History Minute.On July 3rd, the race was in Rochester, NY. On July 4th, the boys raced at Spartanburg, SC. On this date, July 10th, they raced at Morristown, NJ, July 12th was Atlanta, Ga, July 22, 1953 it was Rapid City, SD, and on July 26th, the race was at North Platte, Nebraska. The NASCAR "expansion" throughout the country being claimed these days actually occurred in the very early years of the sport as this July schedule in 1953 attests. I found that interesting. In fact, looking through the entire 1953 season, this entire country was exposed to the sport.

Today, as stated, we are in Morristown, NJ for a 100 mile/200 lap race on a half-mile dirt track known as Morristown Raceway. Twenty-three of the teams, or is it even properto call them "teams" back in those days, made the trip to Morristown. When qualifying was over, Herb Thomas and his FABULOUS Hudson Hornet was on the pole with a speed of 61.016 mph. Make note of that speed because the average race speed for the 200 laps was 69.417 mph. That is almost astounding. I can only assume we had tandem drafting going on that race (only kidding).

Pole winner Thomas would battle fender to fender and nose to tail all race with second place starter, Dick Rathmann. Herb led the first three laps. Then it was Dick for 5 laps, then Thomas for 7 laps, then Rathmann for 6 circuits. Thomas then muscled his way in front on lap 25 and was able to hold on for 75 laps before Rathmann once more took over. Rathmann would lead the last 99 laps and eventually put a lap on the FABULOUS Hudson Hornet.

On lap 25 of the race, the Plymouth of George Clark his a rut in the track and flipped into the infield. There is no report of spectator injury, but Clark suffered a sprained back from the crash.

Top five finishers were:

1. Dick Rathmann, Walt Chapman Hudson, winning $1,000.00

2. Herb Thomas, FABULOUS Hudson Hornet, winning $700.00

3. Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Dodge, winning $450.00

4. Jim Pashcal, George Hutchins Dodge, winning $350.00

5. Ronnie Kohler, Plymouth, winning $200.00

Sixth through tenth were Eddie Riker, Elton Hildreth, Charlie Berry, John Meggers,and Bill Cleveland. The run down of finishing order in that race contains so many names I don't recognize at all, or, at the most, have a passing recollection of hearing them at some point. For that reason, I will list all finishers from 11th through 23rd as follows:

11. Neil McDonald

12. Jack Smith (whom we all certainly know)

13. Buddy Krebs

14. Bobby Fitts

15. Charlie Hoff

16. Phil DeMola

17.Ed DeWolfe

18. Tony Polito

19. Ed Paskevich

20. Nick Nicolette

21. Ralph Sheeler

22. Don Stumpf

23.Geroge Clark.

Everytime I do one of these Forum Minutes where a Hudson wins, I seem to have flashbacks to watching the Hudsons compete before my eyes. When I was going to the Columbia Speedway events in the early 50s, there were several Hudson racing. I was always amazed watching those cars seemingly "float" through the turns and really "hunker down" on the straightaways. I remember, after one of the races, actually touching the fender of one of those Hornets. Even today I remember how solid that fender seemed to be. Much more solid that any other fenders I had touched in those days. For a little kid to be able to touch a REAL race car was a big deal back then and I guess I remember that Hudson because the fender seemed to be the hardest metal part of any car I had ever touched. Funny how that sticks in my mind. But having the memories of see the Hudson Hornet race is something not for sale at any price.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.

Aye yae yae. Nearly 4,300 miles (numerology pun intended) of just driving - far more than the racing mileage I'm sure. I mapped it without highways knowing the interstate system wasn't built back then.

Thanks, Chase. That proves the point I was trying to make. Just imagine driving all that distance without interstate highways and all the fast food joints along the exits. Imagine how desolate the highway must have been on that Nebraska trip. But they did it. And for a winners purse of only a $1,000.00 most times. Oh, yea, I know, $1,000.00 was a big deal in 1953 but still, net winnings had to fall to almost nothing by the time expenses were deducted.

I get a laugh out of thinking about the hundreds of articles in the media during the days when NASCAR attempted to re-write history by "expanding" from a regional sport in the southeast into a "national" sport. Many of those tracks mentioned in your story were fixtures on the GN schedules in the 50's. The attached photo of daddy and what is left of Mr. Westmorelands Plymouth was taken in Detroit, MI. I guess the track could have been in southeasrern Detroit. Note the license plate on the rear of the little Plymouth. Wonder if they drove it up there and how they got it home ?

Thanks Tim, Chase and Randy. Wonderful stuff. Back to the future.