My choice for the Racing History Minute for today is short on information from my usual source, but I'm sure Chase and/or Dave, and perhaps some others can add to what I post here. I chose this particular race because it was run on the one mile dirt track in Hillsborough, NC known as Occoneecchee Speedway. In addition, two of the top five finishers have sons very active in preserving the honored history of the sport.
It seems that even back in the early days, Hillsborough and surrounding areas were big supporters of stock car racing. Records indicate 12,500 fans showed up for this race where 19 cars were entered. This had to be close to a capacity crowd for the facility. Fonty Flock qualified his Oldsmobile on the pole with Dick Rathman in a Hudson qualifying second. Third went to Herb Thomas in another Hudson and fourth place qualifier was Tim Flock in a Hudson.
There is no information in my source as to lap leaders of hot competition but we can be assured the race was hotly contested as the top three finishers were on the same lap. Three of the top drivers of the day, Herb Thomas, Buddy Shuman and Perk Brown went out early with mechanical issues. However, 14 of the 19 starters finished the event although 14th place was several laps down.
The win was the second consecutive win for Tim Flock (to be inducted into theNASCAR Hall of Fame in January, 2014) and his 11th overall in Grand National (now Cup) racing.
Top five finishers were:
1. Tim Flock, Ted Chester Hudson, winning $1,000.00
2.Fonty Flock, Air Lift Oldsmobile, winning $700.00
3. Dick Rathman, Walt Chapman Hudson, winning $450.00
4. Bill Blair, George Hutchins Oldsmobile, winning $350.00
5. Jimmy Lewallen, Ford, winning $200.00
Bill Blair, Jr. and Gary Lewallen are very active in contributing to the historyof the sport. Both are extremely interesting individuals with whom to talk racing and both are representative of true Southern Gentlemen.
Sixth through tenth were Lee Petty, Joe Eubanks, Ray Duhigg, Clyde Minter, and Donald Thomas.
The remaining finishers, 11th through 19 were Otis Martin, Fred Dove, Coleman Lawrence, Ernie Boost, Bruce Atchley, Herb Thomas, Buddy Shuman, Hank Carruthers and Perk Brown. Two Packards were in the race, 9th place finisher Clyde Minter and 18th place finishers Hank Carruthers. I mention that fact because when I was growing up, a family up the street got a new Packard every year and those were impressive cars or maybe they were the only NEW cars I was actually able to sit in back then.
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