Forum Activity for @jan-woodberry

Greased Lightning....

As far as I'm concerned, Thunder In Carolina is the Gone with the Wind of stock car racing movies and maybe racing flicks in general. It was filmed mostly in South Carolina, has a big-name star in Rory Calhoun who is a dead-ringer for Curtis Turner, Connie Hines who was Wilbur's wife on Mr. Ed, and Alan Hale, Jr., before he was The Skipper on Gilligan's Island. There arecameos by Buck Baker, Joe Weatherly, Shep Langdon, Elmo Henderson, and Joe Caspolich.Neil Castles did the stunts and lots of legendary drivers are mentioned throughout. And not to be ignoredare the fabulous public address announcing and on-camera shots of the incomperable Ray Melton at Darlington. Nobody except maybe Tom Carnagie at Indianapolis ever was the signature PA voice of a major speeedwayas they were. Even the bigshot car owner, Mr. Riechert, was played by Ed Mcgrath, who at the time of the filming in 1959 was the sports editor for the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. TIC was ridiculed at the time of its release in 1960, but now is aquite accurate snapshop of racing of that era. If you could only find one movie to show, it should be Thunder In Carolina. My family and I watch itonce a year, the Friday night before the Darlington race now renamed the Southern 500, and it is sort of a family event.

Cody, there is a movie called "The Last American Hero" based on Junior Johnson and starring Jeff Bridges that always got great reviews. I've yet to see it myself, but will watch it as soon as I find a copy.

I am reluctantly selling authentic Sam Ard items on Ebay for Jo and Sam at Jo's request. They need the money and I am trying to help out. Have his winning plaque from the 1982 Dogwood 500 listed now and more items to add.