Racing History Minute - August 17, 1952

When we think about the early days of racing, we think of Herb Thomas, Fireball Robert, Buck Baker, Lee Petty and many others. We also have to think about the three Flock brothers, Bob, Fonty and Tim (and I do realize their sister raced as well). There are many colorful stories about the Flocks, from Tim's monkey, Jocko and Fonty winning at Darlington in Bermuda shorts and leading the stands in a rendition of "Dixie" while standing on his car. Our Minute today concerns a Flock, Bob to be exact.

We are at Asheville-Weaverville, a half-mile dirt track in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. Nineteen cars would line up to take the green flag. Included in the field were all three Flock brothers, Bob returning to action for the first time after breaking his neck and several ribs in a racing accident in November of the previous year at a track in Mobile, Alabama. While many thought it was unlikely Bob would ever return to driving, there was never any doubt in his mind.

Herb Thomas qualified his FABULOUS Hudson Hornet on the pole witha speed of 64.888 mph with Joe Eubanks in an Oldsmobile starting second. Third place starter was Tim Flock in a Hudson while fourth place was Buck Baker in another Hudson. Dick Rathmann in a Hudson rounded out the top five starters.

While my reference does not provide information as to lap leaders and such, it clearly states that Bob Flock "roared to victory" with a two lap lead over second place finisher, brother, Tim Flock. This was Bob Flock's first win since October, 1949, when he won at North Wilkesboro. Bob averaged 57.266 mph for the race and it was a popular victory as the fans believed they had witnessed a real fairytale return of a popular driver.

An interesting note in the racing record is a comment by NASCAR Commissioner, E. G. "Cannonball" Baker prior to the race. He stated that any NASCAR driver convicted of "reckless driving" on the highway would be considered in violation of the NASCAR Rule Book. Baker went on to say that "The Grand National Division was in the public eye, and behavior off the track was exepected to maintain a high level of dignity". Perhaps the first public statement of the "cover all rule" of "actions detrimental to the sport". No indication is given as to which driver, if any at all, was the subject of that directive.

Top five finishers were:

1. Bob Flock,Hudson Hornet, winning $1.000.00

2. Tim Flock, Ted Chester Hudson, winning $700.00

3. Herb Thomas, FABULOUS Hudson Hornet, winning $450.00

4. Gene Comstock, Comstock Hudson Hornet, winning $350.00

5. Herschel Buchanan, Buchanan Nash Ambassador, winning $200.00

Sixth through tenth were Barney Smith, Donald Thomas, Coleman Lawrence, Weldon Adams and Buck Baker. Remaining finishers, 11th through 19th, in order, were E.G. Ramsey, Fonty Flock, June Cleveland, Joe Eubanks, Dick Rathman Johnny Patterson, Bruce Atchley,Bub King and Jerry Wimbish.

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

Tim, I never read one of your History Minutes that I don't learn something(s) and realize how little I know about NASCAR's early days and want to find out more.

I know very little about the winner of today's highlighted race - Bob Flock. I have often read that many who watched all the members of that talented family race rated him the the most proficient driver of the lot.

I know even less about the owner of the top-2 finishing cars in today's featured event - Ted Chester, a resident of Dawsonville, Georgia. Somewhere on this RR site I bet Cody Dinsmore has posted about that early NASCAR car owner. Maybe he can post an update or perhaps someone else can paint a portrait of Mr. Chester for us.

I just read this morning that the former East 4th Street in Dawsonville was renamed this past July 2013 to TED CHESTER STREET to honor the Dawsonville car owner.

When I looked up his stats as a NASCAR Grand National Car Owner, Ted Chester's Winning Percentage was astounding to me. Between 1950-1957, Ted Chester-owned NASCAR Grand National cars won 20 times in just 125 starts for a win percentage of 16% as a car owner. How, you might ask, does that win percentage compare to some other NASCAR Car Owners / Teams with which we might be more familiar? Here's a selected few I ran the percentages on to see how Ted Chester stacked up. These are just selected teams most will be familiar with... there may be others with better percentages. Entries and wins are through the past week.

SELECTED NASCAR STRICTLY STOCK/GRAND NATIONAL/CUP OWNER-TEAM WIN PERCENTAGES

Owner/Team Starts Wins Winning Percentage

Karl Kiekhaefer 190 52 27.4%

Holman-Moody 526 96 18.3%

TED CHESTER 125 20 16.0%

Junior Johnson 1048 132 12.6%

Petty Enterprises 2817 268 9.5%

Cotton Owens Garage 405 38 9.4%

Wood Brothers 1403 98 7.0%

Joe Gibbs 1581 107 6.8%

Rick Hendrick 3203 215 6.7%

Bud Moore Engineering 958 63 6.6%

Richard Childress Racing 2339 103 4.4%

Jack Roush 3078 132 4.3%

Oh... by the way - early the next season after today's event - in 1953 - car owner Ted Chester was shopping for a family member in an Atlanta pet store. A rambunctious monkey caught his eye. Chester bought the monkey, named him Jocko Flocko and convinced his driver, Tim Flock to carry him in the race car with him. Thus, we also have Ted Chester to thank for the infamous Jocko Flocko!

I'd sure like to learn more about car owner Ted Chester.

Car owner Ted Chester (right) with driver Tim Flock (left) in 1952 in photo posted at GeorgiaRacingHistory.com.

Two months after winning the August 17, 1952 Asheville-Weaverville race as car owner for Bob Flock and second place Tim Flock, Ted Weaver turned his attention to promoting.

On Columbus Day - October 12, 1952, in conjunction with Alf Knight, the Georgia auto dealer Weaver traveled north to the famed Langhorne, Pennsylvania mile dirt oval and co-promoted the NASCAR sanctioned 100 Mile National Open Championship for Modified and Sportsman Stock Cars. 60 cars qualified in the prestigious event won by Jim Delaney.

No cars from Georgia made that Langhorne starting field in 1952, but I see where my all-time racing hero, Ray Hendrick of Richmond, Virginia at age 23 finished 35th followed in 36th by North Carolinian Bobby Myers. A fellow named Ralph Moody finished 58th. How many other names do you recognize?

1952
100 Mile National Open - Sportsman Stock Cars
2nd Annual - Oct. 12, 1952

Langhorne, Pennsylvania

1-Mile Dirt Track / 100 Laps
NASCAR Sanctioned
Winner: Jim Delaney

1. Jim Delaney (NJ)
2. Bernie Ingersoll (NY)
3. Mike Klapak (OH)
4. Mike Magill (NJ)
5. Russ Hepler (PA)
6. Lou Thomas (MD)
7. Bill Tanner (PA)
8. Frank Coman (NJ)
9. Russ Truelove (CT)
10. Bill Arrico (PA)
11. Pete Lavance (NJ)
12. Bill Loun (PA)
13. Jim Metzler (NJ)
14. Roy Gemberling (OH)
15. Nick Nicolette (NJ)
16. Wally Campbell (NJ)
17. Sonny Strupp (NJ)
18. Lou Johnson (NJ)
19. Frankie Schneider (NJ)
20. Al Gehrum (NJ)
21. Pee Wee Jones (NC)
22. Tom Wilson (PA)
23. John McKinley (PA)
24. Johnny Roberts (MD)
25. Don Stumpf (NJ)
26. Jack Bellinato (NJ)
27. Junior Tauber (MD)
28. Dick Bailey (PA)
29. Gordon Oldford (NJ)
30. Red Tomlinson (CT)
31. Bill Deakin (NY)
32. Bud Farrell (NJ)
33. Russ Townsend (MD)
34. Eddie Adams (MD)
35. Ray Hendrick (VA)
36. Bobby Myers (NC)
37. Dick Linder (PA)
38. Ken Marriott (MD)
39. Hully Bunn (CT)
40. Jack Mitton (NJ)
41. Slim Trembley (RI)
42. Dave Davies (NJ)
43. Richard Hyde (OH)
44. Johnny Duris (OH)
45. Steve Danish (NY)
46. Don Bailey (PA)
47. Harvey Henderson (MD)
48. Bill Miller (TN)
49. Bill Chipman (NJ)
50. Johnny Dodd (MD)
51. Bill Ditch (PA)
52. Paul Walker (DE)
53. Tony Russo (NJ)
54. Johnny DuBois (NJ)
55. Don Henderberg (NY)
56. Bob James (OH)
57. Eddie Ader (NJ)
58. Ralph Moody (MA)

Notes: 60 Cars Started; $ 4000 Purse. Promoted By Alf Knight & Ted Chester Of Atlanta, Ga.

The 1955 National Open at Langhorne was won by Pete Corey, father of RR member Peter Corey, Jr. The photo below of Pete winning in 1955 was posted by member, Jim Wilmore last year on the Pete Corey Remembrance club site at RR.

Dave, you continue to add so much to these posts. Thank you for that! The early days unfolded before me, thanks to my uncle. The memories are there, some so fantastic they defy belief, but I thank God and my Uncle Bobby that I got involved in racing. I truly feel it was the thing that brought me out from my shy self as a kid.