I read Jim Utter's article in my State Newspaper this morning about 5:15 a.m. Jim is a beat writer for McClacthy Newspapers and is headquartered, I believe, in Charlotte in the offices of The Charlotte Observer. His articles on NASCAR are regularly published in The State. Jim starts this morning's article with a Woody Allen quote that "Tradition is the illusion of perseverance". Jim then goes on to say that though the Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend in Darlington WAS tradition, Darlington is actually attracting more fans, the drivers are more comfortable, and overall, the Mother's Day Weekend event is much better suited to Darlington than the traditional Southern 500.
I assume, since Jim appears to be much more in the know about such things than I, and the fact that he works in Charlotte, the heart of NASCAR teams, and the fact that NASCAR goes to great lengths to assure all "true" fans that it maintains the traditions that built the sport, that I am wrong about my feelings. Not the first time I am wrong and certainly not to be the last. But that doesn't make me feel any better.
NASCAR was started on dirt tracks, short tracks, in the Southeast, as most on this site well know. Dirt tracks were tradition. Dirt tracks are gone from the Cup, Nationwide and Truck series although ARCA is actually running a dirt track race this weekend for its touring series. The dirt tracks are, as far as I know, gone from all of NASCAR. A pity, but that's "progress".
Racing on The Beach in Daytona was tradition. For many reasons, that ceased to happen, and although I love to watch the films/dvds from those races, it is a part of a colorful history that no longer exists and rightfully so.
Rockingham, North Wilkesboro, and other tracks that built NASCAR no longer host NASCAR events. Thankfully, both Rockingham and North Wilkesboro are currently hosting other events for series other than NASCAR which allow me to still enjoy those venues. Those tracks were tradition in NASCAR, but no longer have a place in the elite scheme of NASCAR's vision of what is proper.
Atlanta Motor Speedway had a tradition of hosting two races every year. No more. As Bobby Williamson reports each Tuesday evening on "Racing Through History" on Racers Reunion Radio over the Zeus Radio Network, there are numerous "ghost tracks" around the country. Bobby has been playing that tune for months now and I don't think he's been outside the two Carolinas but once or twice. Once these "ghost tracks" were tradition.
It is noted that news breaking yesterday assures Martinsville, another "tradition" of having at least five more years of two races a year. The Viriginia Tobacco Commission, or some such entity, spoke the language of NASCAR; "give us what we want, when we want it, how we want it, and spice it up with green". At least the Martinsville track will maintain tradition for another five years.
I admit that I will be sitting down Saturday and Sunday nights watching the races from Atlanta. I will be watching, for the most part, the remaining races of this year as I have watched from the beginning of the season. I watched last season, will watch next season, and probably for as long as my conscious mind exists I will be watching NASCAR racing. However, there is ONE Legendary Leeming Tradition that no longer applies for me: spending money on NASCAR related things. I haven't spent a dime on NASCAR things in over four years and I am unlikely to do so in the foreseeable future. When I look back on my NASCAR spending from my start in 1952 through 2006, I think I could surely be retired now if I had that money back. And retired in style!!! But, you know what? I don't regret that spending. It was a part of my life, a part of who I am, part of what has made me who I am.
The problems I have with NASCAR really started when the Southern 500 was taken from Darlington on Labor Day weekend. I had been attending that event on Labor Day weekend since 1957. I spent so many Labor Day weekends in the Darlington infield, first in the back of a station wagon, then a tent, then in my parents' motorhome. I experienced all of the "color" you read about in books by famous motorsports writers. I actually got to ride in the parade laps before the race TWICE because I spent the nights in the infield. I didn't know Jerry Lewis had a Labor Day Fund Raiser until The Southern 500 left Darlington. It was tradition, for me, to pack up and head for Darlington, be in line to get in the infield and set up camp. In the later years I was treated to grandstand seats courtesy of business contacts I had and very gracious individuals who would give me tickets to the event. But, when NASCAR took "my" Southern 500 from "my" Darlington on Labor Day weekend, that was the beginning of my total devotion to the entity headquartered on Volusia Avenue in Daytona Beach.
Although I had problems with things going on in NASCAR prior to that time, I still supported it to the fullest. Oh, I would make comments to let others know of my disagreement, but I would always try to justify the actions of NASCAR as "in the best interest of the sport". As I said, I still watch, always will, and still read the newspaper articles and magazines (although I no longer subscribe to any)and I sit here in "The Lair" surrounded by NASCAR die casts, books, magazines, pictures, mugs, cups, badges, and so much more NASCAR items. Even t-shirts pinned to the ceiling in here, the oldest bearing the picture of The King's 1972 STP Plymouth. I guess, in this little corner of this big planet, tradition is more than an "illusion of perseverance". That makes me happy. That gives me a little sense of comfort. That reminds me that I have lived an incredible life.
So, is tradition an illusion? Maybe. Seems some people, most people, don't observe Memorial Day in the true meaning of the day. Independence Day (you know, July 4th) is not what it once was. In fact, last year I used the term "Independence Day" with a 24 year old I was talking with and he asked me "what day is that?". Thanksgiving has lost its family tradition feel, instead replaced with preparations for "Black Friday" shopping. Christmas still maintains some traditions, but even that day is swallowed up in other things. I do know this: Here, at Racers Reunion, tradition still means something, is still important, and honors those who make all my fond memories just that, fond memories.
Whatever YOUR Labor Day Traditions, I hope you have a great holiday weekend. I hope you will all be safe, enjoy the extra family time, and remember that once upon a time, on a ribbon of asphalt created by the dreams of Harold Brasington in a peanut field in the Pee Dee of South Carolina, a tradition was born, nutured, and gave birth to racing facilities in Daytona, Charlotte, Atlanta, Talladege and throughout the country. Without that Brasington dream and all his efforts, it is unlikely there would be other facilities around the country, or at least not to the extent there are today. I hear Daytona is advertising the 500 there in February as "Tradition". Guess I need to check out Florida dictionaries for the Florida definition of the word.
Tim
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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 04:02:07PM
