The "Minute" for today was picked because it involves Savannah Speedway in Savannah, Georgia. It was at that track that I came closest to winning a race when I lost to fellow RacersReunion member Johnny Mallonee. Obviously they measure distances differently in Georgia because the flagman, many folks, and I, thought he beat me by about 6 inches. Johnny would rather believe it was by a few feet. If I had had the advantage of Kyle Busch driving lessons I suppose I could have put old Mallonee into the wall and won but I have to credit Johnny as well. He could have put me in the wall and wouldn't have had to be aggrevated with that Plymouth.
Ok, on to the 200 lap/100 mile event on the half-mile dirt track in Savannah on this date 49 years ago today. There were only 12 entries in the event but included in those 12 were three factory drivers, Ned Jarrett (Ford), Richard Petty (Plymouth) and David Pearson (Dodge). When qualifying was over, it was Ned on the pole with a speed of 68.886 mph. David Pearson would start second, Richard Petty third, Curtis Crider fourth and Wendell Scott fifth.
Although Ned Jarrett is credited with leading all 200 laps, during the mid part of the race, he and Petty ran side-by-side and nose-to-tail lap after lap with Petty actually running door-to-door for a full lap before his rear wheels broke loose on the dirt surface, almost taking out both of them. It is also noted in the record that Curtis Crider made a valiant effort for the lead in his "tired Mercury" being referenced as "chasing the factory drivers with all his heart" for 18 laps before his car suffered rear end problems and was parked.
As there were only 12 cars. I'll give you the full run down today.
1. Ned Jarrett, Bondy Long Ford, winning $1,000.00
2. Richard Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $600.00 (1 lap down)
3. David Pearson, Cotton Owens Dodge, winning $400.00 (2 laps down)
4. Jack Anderson, Ford, winning $300.00 (7 laps down)
5. Wendell Scott, Scott Ford, winning $275.00 (8 laps down)
6. Larry Thomas, Ford,winning $240.00 (10 laps down)
7. Darrell Bryant, Curtis Crider Mercury, winning $200.00 (22 laps down)
8. Neil Castles, Buck Baker Chrysler, winning $175.00 (23 laps down)
9. Marshall Sargent, David Walker Plymouth, winning $150.00 (engine failure)
10. Curtis Crider, Crider Mercury, winning $140.00 (rear end failure)
11. Frank Brantley, Plymouth, winning $130.00 (oil pressure)
12. Bob Derrington, Derrington Ford,winning $120.00 (fuel pump)
Everytime I do a History Minute of a dirt track race, I remember the drivers climbing from the cars after the race, usually filthy dirty from the track, with a clean area around the eyes where the goggles were. I remember many a short track event, say 100 miles on a half-mile dirt like this race, where some of the drivers would be literally exhausted from the effort expended to finish the race. There is just something about those memories that touch the heart of my love for the sport. As you can see by the payout above, these guys weren't racing for money in an event like this one. Of course there was the points issue, but other than maybe 5 of these 12, points were not an issue.
I often think back to my earliest days around the sport and watching the Grand National races at the half-mile Columbia Speedway, where everyone got dirty before the race was over. I have a memory of Tim Flock and a Hudson Hornet that usually comes to mind when I think of those days. It's thoughts like that which make me realize how fortunate I am to have come along when I did. To have missed that part of my life where the legacy of the sport began would leave a huge hole in who I turned out to be. My sincerest thanks to all those still around who made my youth so wonderful.
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
