Racing History Minute - July 18, 1965

Everyone who knows me is probably expecting me to talk about a race on this date in 1960 in Toronto, Canada, where Richard Petty made his first GRAND NATIONAL start with his Dad actually winning that race. If not that, surely someone will say, what about Richard Petty winning his FIRST RACE in a convertible event at The Historic Columbia Speedway on this date in 1959. Well, folks, my good friend TMC Chase, who is a major contributor to this series of History Minutes is much more talented than I in presenting such historic facts about anything Petty so you can look for his postings today and be well entertained. Thanks, Chase, for all you do for this site.

Today, I am going to Watkins Glen for a 151.8 mile race held there on this date in 1965. Long time fans of the sport will remember 1965 as the year the Chrysler drivers (Dodge and Plymouth) boycotted NASCAR events because NASCAR had "outlawed" the powerful "Hemi" engines which the other manufacturers could not seem to catch. Perhaps it was for that reason that only 19 cars showed up to compete and one of those 19 never made the starting grid. E.J.Trivette is shown as starting in 11th position but the run down indicates he never completed even the first lap.

Dick Hutcherson would start his Holman-Moody Ford on the pole. Ned Jarrett would start second, Marvin Panch third, Neil Castles fourth, and Buddy Baker fifth. For the record, Buddy was in a year old Dodge owned by his father, Buck.

Ned Jarrett parlayed his outside front row spot to the lead on lap one. Junior Johnson took the lead on lap two and was pulling away on the twisting 2.3 mile road course when the engine in his Ford blew on lap 14. Marvin Panch took over the point at that time and was never headed. He finished nearly one lap ahead of second place Ned Jarrett.

It should be noted that Doug Cooper had flipped his car six times in a practice session the day before the race and suffered a concussion along with back and arm injuries.

Panch finished the race at an average speed of 98.182 mph. There is no qualifying speed with which to compare the average as it is stated in the record that there were no time trials. Not sure why, and I can't determine what method was used to determine starting position unless it was by the "draw" as we used to do at the short tracks for the heat races. This was the second time Marvin had won on a road course, the first time being November of 1956, at Lancaster, California.

Top five finishers were:.

1. Marvin Panch, Wood Brothers Ford, winning $1,425.00

2. Ned Jarrett, Bondy Long (BoWaNi) Ford, winning $650.00

3. Buddy Baker, Buck Baker Dodge, winning $490.00

4. Cale Yarborough, Kenny Myler Ford, winning $415.00

5. Tiny Lund, Lyle Stelter Ford, winning $385.00

Sixth through tenth were Walt Hansgen, Elmo Langley, Al White, Neil Castles and Bob Derrington. Remainder of the nineteen car field finished as follows:

11. Jimmy Helms

12. Dick Hutcherson

13. Tom Pistone

14. Wendell Scott

15. Junior Johnson

16. Bob Grossman

17. J.T. Putney

18. Gene Hobby

19. E. J. Trivette

While we are on the subject of Marvin Panch "Pancho" winning races, it is not too early to start planning for an event in Hillsborough, North Carolina, coming up on Saturday, September 28th. The Celebration of the Automobile is a full day event at the site of the one-mile historic dirt track located there. Marvin Panch will be the featured driver this year. In addition, we can expect Gene Hobby to be there as he is a integral part in the event production each year. The Historic Speedway Group is responsible for this event each year and what they have done at The Occonneechee Speedway is amazing. You really have to see it to believe it.

In addition to Marvin and Gene, many other drivers who built the sport will be in attendance. You can check the website for The Historic Speedway Group as well as stay abreast of what is planned for September 28th right here on RacersReunion. I will tell you that, from attending that event the past four years, you will not be disappointed if you attend. You will have an oppotunity to talk with many of the heroes of the past and hear, first hand, the stories from Occonneechee and/or any other track where these iconic figures raced. Put it on your calendar now.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.

I note that one of my early heroes, J.T. Putney, didn't start his customary #19 Chevy, but rather the #20 Ford of Christiansburg, Virginia's Clyde Lynn. Interestingly, Clyde's fellow racer from Christiansburg, Jabe Thomas of the #25 Star City Body Shop Special, was absent.

Clips below are from the Spartanburg and Sarasota papers of July 18, 1965.

Also a note from the July 15, 1965 edition of the St. Petersburg paper noting Panch's win at Islip preceding Watkins Glen.

Here is the link to a blog post re-run that covers Richard Petty's first GN start at Toronto in 1958 - and his first win (convertible) at Columbia in 1959, one year later to the day.

http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/07/july-18-this-day-in-petty-history-part-2.html

From Daytona Beach Morning Journal

Qualifying was rained out, and the line-up was set by points.

From Daytona Beach Morning Journal

tim as always anoyher terrific post and speaking of hillsboro i am looking to that event got some freinds coming with me it will be there first visit and hopefully many more visits

So, it was rain that caused the field to be set by points. Thanks, Chase.

That old Glen layout (before the boot section was added) was pretty similar to the current Cup layout up to the carousel but after that you had a couple of fast bends leading into the final corner that is today's first corner.

Here's an onboard lap driven in the excellent 1967 F1 simulator Grand Prix Legends.

Great video Sandeep. Thanks for adding that.