Forum Activity for @motorcityoctane

Aug. 25th 1951 - The forgotten race at Air Base Speedway (Greenville, SC)

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

Sept 1, 1951 was the last article I could find announcing Baker, Kiser & Combs took control &

leased the the track less than a week after the first GN race. Why would someone build/promote

an event and then decide to lease a track less than 1 week after it's first big race

Sounds shady as hell like some tax evading/money washing. "7,000" people attending

this race & I don't see any permanent structures, facilities, bathrooms, etc. 

Almost like they knew this track would never be used again.

Not one single mention of any race, results, sale or events for months after.

Buck Baker took control in less than 1 week & the Air Base track vanished from the earth

updated by @motorcityoctane: 09/03/19 09:22:34PM

Aug. 25th 1951 - The forgotten race at Air Base Speedway (Greenville, SC)

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

Buck Baker & business partners leased the

Air Base track track shortly after the Grand national race

Aug. 25th 1951 - The forgotten race at Air Base Speedway (Greenville, SC)

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

This was posted about a 5-6 days after the race.

"UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT"

Aug. 25th 1951 - The forgotten race at Air Base Speedway (Greenville, SC)

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

Aug. 25th 1951 - The forgotten race at Air Base Speedway (Greenville, SC)

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

updated by @motorcityoctane: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM

Aug. 25th 1951 - The forgotten race at Air Base Speedway (Greenville, SC)

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

And Another

Aug. 25th 1951 - The forgotten race at Air Base Speedway (Greenville, SC)

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

Article 3 Another Q Day

Aug. 25th 1951 - The forgotten race at Air Base Speedway (Greenville, SC)

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

Found the Race Day article as well
The Purse was $5,700
Pole Time Thursday was 31.06 by Jesse Taylor

updated by @motorcityoctane: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM

Aug. 25th 1951 - The forgotten race at Air Base Speedway (Greenville, SC)

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

Found the actual race article kinda hard to read tho.

I will try to upload the Image of the clipping, not sure if it will work.

FLOCK BROTHERS TAKE ALL HONORS AT LOCAL STOCK EVENT

7,000 on Hand as Bob, Tim & Fonty finish 1-2-3 (not Buck Baker like Racing-ref)

Fans flocked to the Air Base Speedway last night & the Flocks thrilled the fans

Bob, Tim , Fonty came in 1-2-3 in the 200 lap 100 mile Grand National Stock car race

to cheer the over 7,000 fans. The race was held up for some time when word came down

that Tim Flock was on his way from a New York race last night. The younger Flock boy

fell in 20th place & in a matter of laps was in the first 10. Bob Flock the winner started

in 6th place & on the 7th lap took the lead over (can't read) Taylor driving the Hudson

Hornet out of Macon, Georgia. At the half way point behind Bob was Fonty in second

place & Tim in 3rd and Erick Erickson out of Gardenia was in fourth.

The last 2 paragraphs I can't read, I have access to all the articles give me some time

I will try to find more info.

updated by @motorcityoctane: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM

Aug. 25th 1951 - The forgotten race at Air Base Speedway (Greenville, SC)

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

[quote="MotorCityOctane"]

FOUND A NEW LINK!!!!!!! From Pontiac racing, they called it a PAVED!! track too. Pontiac sat out race #21 &#22

and returned for race #23 at Air Base Speedway on August 25th. Erik Erickson was the driver racing a 1951 Pontiac

& was sponsored by Packer. "15 entrants recorded in the racing history books, observers believe that many

drivers/teams were preparing for the Southern 500, leaving mostly heavy hitters who were intent at participating in as many races as possible" https://pontiacracing.wordpress.com/tag/nascar-pontiac-erickson-air-base-speedway-greensville-textile/

Someone posted a pic to Jalopnik that shows what looks like the actual track & lighting. Sure looks like dirt to me.

[/quote]