Most of the 1967 racing season, the U.S. Navy kept me away from the tracks as they seemed to find more places for my little ship to sail. But when I think back to those days, I did make a lot of the races during that year although the driving distances were farther from Norfolk, VA than Columbia, SC. The particular race for today's Minute is one of those I was able to make. I remember some of what happened at the race track but what I remember most about that trip was that getting from Norfolk, VA to Hampton, GA was not an easy trip. Looking back, seems like it took a week, but my trusty 1961 Plymouth took be there.
This was the 36th race of the 1967 season, known then as the "Dixie 500". There would be 44 starters but the issue was going to be tires. Firestone Rubber had been on strike for quite a long time and Goodyear was on strike, which although not as long as Firestone was quite damaging. Each team was issued ONE set of tires until Goodyear rounded up racing tires from every corner of the country and chartered 15 flights to get those tires to Atlanta. Big Bill France was most gracious in his appreciation to Goodyear both publicly and privately.
Darel Dieringer put his Junior Johnson Ford on the pole with Richard Petty in his Plymouth to his outside. 1967 was the year of The King as he won 27 of 46 races and 10 in a row at one point. Buddy Baker put the Ray Fox Dodge in third, Jim Paschal in a Friedkin Plymouth was fourth and Sam McQuagg in Cotton Owens Dodge would start fifth.
Tire wear was a major concern for all the teams as the compounds rounded up and brought in by Goodyear were not all compatible with the high banks of the mile and a half Atlanta International Raceway. Reverting to a practice of the early days of racing, Dick Hutcherson had his crew cut a trap door in the floorboard so he could keep a visial inspection of tire wear. There were a total of six caution flags for 38 combined laps, but most seemed to be caused by blown engines leaving the track oily. In fact, only 16 of the 44 starters finished the race and the 16th place finisher, Henley Gray, was over 60 laps in arrears.
On the drop of the green flag, Buddy Baker stormed into the lead from his third place starting positon and would lead 33 laps before Charlie Glotzbach would move his K&K Insurance Dodge to the front. On lap 37, Richard Petty passed Glotzbach and 9 laps later, Glotzbach would park the Dodge with wheel bearing issues. Petty led until lap 89 when he relinquished the lead to Jim Paschal. On lap 105 Cale Yarborough moved out front and would stay there until lap 130 when Buddy Baker and Hutcherson would pass and wage a torrid battle for the top spot. Buddy led laps 131 - 133, then Hutch was in front from 134 to 141, then Buddy from 142 to 173, then Hutch from 174 to 178 when suddenly his mirror was filled with a Petty Blue Plymouth which moved around him and steadily pulled away to lead laps 179 to 252. Then, it was Hutch again from 253 to 260 when Richard pulled out, blew past Hutch and promptly blew the engine in the speedy Plymouth. The race then belonged to Hutcherson who led all remaining laps. Paul Goldsmith was the only driver to finished on the same lap with the winner.
Top five finishers were:
1. Dick Hutcherson, Bondy Long Ford, winning $16,500.00
2. Paul Goldsmith, Nichols Engineering Plymouth, winning $7,900.00
3. LeeRoy Yarbrough, Bud Moore Mercury, winning $4,725.00
4. Donnie Allison, Jon Thorne Ford, winning $2,550.00
5. Bud Moore, Activated Angels Dodge, winning $1925.00
Sixth through tenth were John Sears, Neil Castles, G.C. Spencer, Roy Mayne and Bobby Wawak.
Bobby Allison would finished 11th, Bill Siefert 13th, Wendell Scott 14th, Richard Petty 17th, Darel Dieringer 18th, David Pearson 19th, Buck Baker 20th and Frank Warren 22nd.
Buddy Baker was credited with 23rd, Elmo Langley 24th, James Hylton 25th, Roy Tyner 26th, Earl Brooks 27th, Jim Paschal 28th, and Cale Yarborough 29th.
Jabe Thomas finished 32nd, Bobby Isaac 33rd, Bill Champion 34th, and Dr. Don Tarr 36th. Charlie Glotzbach was 37th J.T. Putney 41st Ed Negre 42nd. Bobby Johns 43rd, and Friday Hassler was 44th after departing on lap 5 with rear end issues in his Chevrolet.
I do have very vivid memories of the trip back to Norfolk. I had taken two shipmates with me to the race, both from up north as were all my shipmates on that small ship. Both loved the racing but they had managed to consume large quantities of the "adult beverages" which I did not do, so the driving back was all me as they slept it off. Getting out of the infield was the first major issue with a crowd of over 36,000 and some of the most inept traffic direction I have ever encountered. It was well past 8:30 p.m. when we finally got to open highway. I remember that because that gave us 10 and ahalf hour before we had to assemble on deck for the work day Monday. I can only allude to the possibility that many of the ideas for "Smokey and the Bandit" came from that trip back to Norfolk. The last 60 miles of that trip back in those days were all two lane highway with little passing opportunities. At least most of the rest of the trip was either four lane or interstate so that old Plymouth rocketed its way back to Virginia. Glad I did not have tire issues that night. For the record, we boarded the ship at 6:40 a.m. and all three of us were in uniform of the day and on deck at 6:59 a.m. I wouldn't want to try that today.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
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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
