Thanks for posting this Chase. I'd also like to add Herb made one Grand National start, in the 1959 Nashville 300. He started 9th and finished 20th when a ball joint broke after 221 laps.
Sorry I'm late to the party. I've been getting shaken and stirred in the California quake.
These aren't very good. I had an old fixed lens 35mm camera and this was maybe the third time I had taken any photos. I had just turned 16 and had a LOT to learn about photography. But I did luck out and get a couple of good shots when I got right down next to the fence.
Coo Coo goes out for some practice:
A view of the pit area:
Richard and Cale trying each other on for size during practice:
Cale and Richard still at it while Ed Negre and Bob Brown return to the pits:
Bobby's car is driven back to the lower pits. Bobby is the left-most of the three guys walking away just behind the car. The sportsman cars of Charlie Binkley and DW await practice for the local cars:
Cale's new MC follows Richard Childress:
The King:
This was only DW's 18th Cup start and his first in a Chevy.
Coo Coo lines up for practice behind BP:
BP between Cecil Gordon and Coo Coo:
I was experimenting and had no clue about shooting color at night. But the day-glo red sure stands out in this shot taken during qualifying:
Dave-
You are right on all counts. Fair Park was there from '52 on but in photos from the track before the old stands burned in 1965 the stands pretty much hide Fair Park. With the "Skyliner" built the same year there are very few photos of the old grandstand AND the Skyliner.
Here is a photo from Fair Park in the 63-64-65 range looking up the hill - not a view often seen. To the left of the "T" on the turnpike sign is the back and roof of the old grandstands. You can see how Fair Park would be hidden in shots from the track.
Also, don't know if you've ever heard this - in the Fair Park video you posted you can see the entrance signs to Fair Park with the candy canes and the arch. Take a look at the signs over the entrance to the garage area at Texas Motor Speedway. Nashville native Eddie Gossage got the idea for those signs directly from the old Fair Park sign.
A few more pics from the 1959 Nashville 300.
Another view of the starting lineup.
The field takes the green.
Joe Lee is interviewed after the race. Track promoter Bennie Goodman on the left.
Dave -
A follow-up to your Crash Bond question. Instead of me telling the story of his name, I'll let the Nashville Banner tell it in the story of him winning the 1963 Nashville season opener. Despite his propensity to crash a car on occasion, he was a talented wheel man. He had 8 wins at Nashville over the years. He was still racing mini-sprints well into the 1980's.
Finally, here is a photo of a proud Crash standing beside his car before the 1961 Nashville 500.
A couple of photos from my collection of the '67 Atlanta race.
Green flag! Note the message at the top of Pearson's windshield: "Send help"
A side view of Pearson.
