Remembering Jimmy Pardue and the 1964 season

As we approach September 22th lets take a look back at the 1964 NASCAR season,a season which had already been filled with tragedy.We had lost Joe Weatherly at Riverside and Fireball Roberts fromburns at Charlotte.On September 20th Wilkesboro'sJimmyPardue ,4th in the points standing,would start 2nd in the 150 miler at Hillsboro and finish 13th.Two days later on September 22th Jimmy would go to Charlotte to do some tire testing.On his sixth lap he would turn 149 mph about 4 mph faster than the track record.On the next lap a right front tire exploded and he went through the 3rd turn guard rail causing fatal injuries.One more dark cloud had just been cast over the alredy tragic season.And although there were still 7 races left JimmyPardue would still finish 5th in the season points standings a tribute to the great season he was having.And as the sun set on the 1964 season 3 shining stars had been dimmed but the safety standards that came from these tragedies changed NASCAR forever.

LAVERNE ZACHARY

updated by @laverne-zachary: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

So True rest in peace Jimmy Pardue

Losing any driver is tragic. To lose someone like Jimmy in 1964 was a deep tragedy for those who knew him. If he had not been driving a Plymouth I may never have gotten to meet him several times during that season but when I had the opportunity I would always talk with him and he would always have time to talk. One note that has never really been mentioned is that the week AFTER Jimmy lost his life, Richard Petty blew a tire in almost the same spot in the National 400 on the last lap and hit almost the exact spot Jimmy had hit and gone through the rail. One can only think that had not Jimmy gone through that rail the week before, Charlotte would not have reinforced the posts and railing. It seems to me Jimmy Pardue never received the credit he should have for all his accomplishments. Most of all, he was one fine gentleman.


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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.

1964 was a deadly and tragic year in both stock cars and open wheel.The resultingdevelopment of the tire safety inner liner and bladder fuel cell, as well as the multiplepoint safety harness are innovations that have saved an untold number of lives since. We lost some terrific drivers in 1964.


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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"