Rent Increase at Shelby Led to Side-By-Side Asphalt & Dirt Tracks in Harris, NC

Reading today's Tim Leeming History Minute about the 1956 Shelby Grand National race led me to a fascinating Gene Granger story in the 1972 Spartanburg, SC newspaper about how a rent increase at the Shelby track led to a new dirt track, eventually named Hillview Speedway, being built in Harris, NC by Clyde Dedmon of the Hobby Racing Association , right beside the existing asphalt Harris Speedway.

Here's the link to the story, which all you history buffs should enjoy:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qX8sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DM0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7227,4240953&dq=speedy+thompson+shelby&hl=en

And a follow-up two years later about the side-by-side tracks:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X0QsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ls0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2067,2056013&dq=clyde+dedmon+hobby+racing+association+harris+nc&hl=en

In 2010, poster djSNUFFY added this 1994 aerial photo and description to the Local Race Chat web site showing the unique side-by-side layout of the dual Harris tracks:

Hillview Speedway

This was the original track at Harris Speedway now the parking lot @ Harris
1/2 mile 1947-Late 60s

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

This 1973 preview story tells of plans for an opening day, February 25th Harris Racing Complex DOUBLE HEADER OF CHAMPIONS at both the side-by-side Hillview dirt and Harris Speedway asphalt tracks including such names as Jack Ingram, Morgan Shepherd, Charlie Blanton and our own Billy Scott . It would be interesting to hear from Billy or his wife about how they ran side-by-side racetracks. According to the story, one admission ticket allowed a fan to see both the asphalt and dirt races. A very interesting concept.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19730225&id=...

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

That is an absolutely fascinating post Dave. I'm still trying to imagine watching races on two tracks at the same time. Thanks for digging up that nugget. These days, taxes are so high on everything the thought of building a new track would never have happened.

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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.

Tim, one clip I read said the drivers would race first on the asphalt track. Then, they were given a certain amount of time to make the needed "changeovers" and run the SAME car on the dirt track they had just raced on the asphalt. Don't know if Billy Scott actually ran there as the pre-race story advertised, but if he did I'd love to hear from he and Barb how that deal worked.

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"