MORE THAN THE SOUTH

Despite stock car racing's history in the southeast, we all know there are places all across the U.S. where a Saturday night is race night. I have just put up several shots from my area in northern Ohio, and I challenge others to do the same. I wanna see the local heroes from Maine to Oregon, from Alaska to Texas. You don't always need moonshine to rub fenders with the best.
updated by @bill-hupp: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

I don't have any pictures (born too late!) but my home state of NY has the second most number of tracks used in Grand National/Cup series, second only to North Carolina. Lots of local short track activity here as well!

When I think of Michigan drivers that I considered heros, Joy Fair from Pontiac, Michigan is the very best. His career spanned from 1949 to 1999 and won well over 700 features. I have a fan page on RR for him along with all the others listed below with a hundred plus photos. Another Michigan driver that made a big splash in short track racing was the "Green Hornet", Ed Howe. He was the builder of GoIng and GOne that terrorized the Midwest in 1973. Ed raced a lot in Florida where he now has a winter home. He founded Howe Racing Enterprises that still builds good late model chassis. Danny Byrd, Tommy Maier, Mike Eddy, John Benson Sr. are also hero's of mine.Pete

Racing is all over the united states and every little nook and cranny has a small covey racing every weekend,think about the ones that do it on ice or even on snowmobiles. But the saying of moonshine is what makes racing is reflecting only to the fact that the guys were racing for fun to start with. This escalated into what is now known as southern racing. Moonshine is never needed to rub fenders, It was for a use not involved in racing. except as fuel for indy cars,sprint cars and a few modifieds .As far as the shots or pictures, I can only put up images from the south because thats my roots on racing.As far as rubbing fenders with the best I am proud to say I think i did many times,Tim and myself express our pleasure every time we see or talk each other,Bob Moore is another. I also had the pleasure of rubbing with Bob Burcham,Bobby Allison and his clan,and the famous Ralph Earnhardt. You on the other hand have a group of drivers that are equally famous in the northern circuit. This could go on and on but it originated on the beach down here without any moonshine on the beach. Happy Holidays Bill and your reply will always be welcome -----and answered because we make more ---------------------------------memories

Johnny, The northerners started racing cars in the very early 1900's on old horse tracks and frozen lakes. You had cars to race down south because Michigan designed and built them for you to play with.Pete, getting darn cold in Michigan.

Bill, you're right! Y'all are just like us............case in point:I have a friend, "Denny", who moved to North Carolina from Parkersburg, WVa. According to Denny, Parkersburg is separated from Ohio by the Ohio river, so, its residents really have roots/access to the two states........and placing this story close to your neck of the woods.Denny had a buckeyed friend, back in the day, that raced stock cars at the "Hill-Top Speedway" somewhere on the Ohio side. As race day arrives, Denny drives over to meet his stock car racing friend, and to begin the big racing adventure. Denny can't help but notice his new friend seems transfixed on Denny's street, car.......now parked in his yard. After staring long and deliberate, the racer suggestiviely declares ..........."you got a purty good looking tar (tire) right there............". Nope, didn't happen..........but could have been a Carolina story just as well!

ok pete here we go you have the case in point as to where cars "ORIGINATED" from or were built and ole henry ford did give the north some needed economy by building the cars in the cold country----but racing horse and buggy on the beach doesnt sound to interesting because of the wind,who knows what could get blown up and yes you did manage a race or two up north early on even if it was on a board track -- so later on the good ole boys down here just carved a track out of an old field,behind someones barn or even behind the church as wrote but the racing was for bragging rights on whos car was faster not whos car hauled the most coolaid outta the hills the nite before and outran one of them northern built cars the cops bought and oh yes we cant race on our lakes in the winter because our water is to soft and the fishermen would fuss about the wake we put up and as far as the horse tracks,well we still race horses down here too so they are needed-----------------------memories Pete Banchoff said:

Johnny, The northerners started racing cars in the very early 1900's on old horse tracks and frozen lakes. You had cars to race down south because Michigan designed and built them for you to play with.
Pete, getting darn cold in Michigan.

robbie there is a book out on the old peachtree midgets in the 40's and early 50's best i can remember they were brought down to fill a calender event and never went home i will see if i can locate that one interesting to say the least Robbie Solesbee said:

Johnny, Pete, I'm just happy for the sport and variety of racecars that came from all corners of the US and that we all have this site to share and learn about them. But, maybe one of you can answer a question for me. The old school midgets from the 40's and 50's how did they make their way South? I read somewhere they ran those on a regular basis at Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

johnny mallonee said:

ok pete here we go you have the case in point as to where cars "ORIGINATED" from or were built and ole henry ford did give the north some needed economy by building the cars in the cold country----but racing horse and buggy on the beach doesnt sound to interesting because of the wind,who knows what could get blown up and yes you did manage a race or two up north early on even if it was on a board track -- so later on the good ole boys down here just carved a track out of an old field,behind someones barn or even behind the church as wrote but the racing was for bragging rights on whos car was faster not whos car hauled the most coolaid outta the hills the nite before and outran one of them northern built cars the cops bought and oh yes we cant race on our lakes in the winter because our water is to soft and the fishermen would fuss about the wake we put up and as far as the horse tracks,well we still race horses down here too so they are needed-----------------------memories

Pete Banchoff said:

Johnny, The northerners started racing cars in the very early 1900's on old horse tracks and frozen lakes. You had cars to race down south because Michigan designed and built them for you to play with.
Pete, getting darn cold in Michigan.

Robbie, I agree that it was a combined effort from the North, South, and lets not forget the West Coast (J.C Hayes country) with the speed equipment that pushed the speeds high. I was rattling Johnny's cage about the North and South. Working together made Nascar and all the fond memories we have to look back on and argue about. I want to mention Bill Hupp's neck of the woods of Northern Ohio for the GoodYear and Firestone tires that put the rubber to the road (and under the hoods), so to speak. I don't know where the midgets fit into the Southern scheme of things, but I'm glad it was enjoyed by everyone... close, fast, quick racing and lots of excitement. If you blink, you missed something in Midget and Sprint car racing. Everything happens sooo fast.Pete