Forum Activity for @dave-fulton

Racing History Minute - September 23, 1962

Stock Car Racing History

Chase, I'd say there's an excellent chance ('tho I'm not certain) that the winner of the Saturday modified race was Perk Brown - real name Jack Thomasson. Between 1962-1965, Perk won 6 of Martinsville's 7 modified contests.

Perk was from just south of Martinsville in what is today's Eden, NC, made up of the consolidated small towns of Leaksville, Spray & Draper - LSD. We lost Perk a few years back. There is an RR club here for him and here's a link to a post I made a few years back with a good Stock Car Racing Magazine story about Perk:

http://racersreunion.com/community/forum/stock-car-racing-history/17006/perk-brown-got-around-more-often-than-not-he-won

Racing History Minute - September 23, 1962

Stock Car Racing History

One of our local Richmond Southside Speedway Friday night modified drivers, Melvin Bradley, posted an 11th place finish in his '62 Chevy at this Martinsville race. Melvin made just two other 1963 GN starts, with a 4th at Moyock Dog Track and a 7th at Richmond. Not too shabby.

It would be 5 years before Melvin returned, running 3 more GN races in 1967, for a total of 6 career GN starts.

R.I.P. Eric Horn - "The Big E" - Crew Member for Derrike Cope, Petty Enterprises & Robert Yates Racing

Current NASCAR

R.I.P. Eric Horn - "The Big E" - Crew Member for Derrike Cope, Petty Enterprises & Robert Yates Racing

Current NASCAR

I can still picture all 6'-7" or so of Big E bent over the parts washer in our tiny South Carolina shop. That was quite a sight.

R.I.P. Eric Horn - "The Big E" - Crew Member for Derrike Cope, Petty Enterprises & Robert Yates Racing

Current NASCAR

Sadly read in this morning's Charlotte newspaper of the passing of a terrific NASCAR crew member.

Eric Horn - "THE BIG E" - was as humble and soft spoken as he was large in stature.

When we opened the RABANCO Racing shop in Campobello, SC in 1986 for Winston Cup rookie, Derrike Cope, Eric was one of just three paid shop employees, along with crew chief Jackie Johnson and all-around mechanic "Teenie" Fox. Eric towered over us all... he looked like an NBA forward, but he was one heck of a tire changer and a heck of a nice fellow. Eric would pitch in and do anything.

Eric's connection with Derrike and "Teenie" Fox dated back to Yakima, Washington and the George Jefferson Winston West operation.

Eric first came east through his friendship with Larry Pollard (Harry Gant's son-in-law) to work at Petty Enterprises. He spent many years with Robert Yates with drivers Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan, Kenny Irwin and Dale Jarrett.

I'm sure many of our RR members, like William Horrell, who worked in NASCAR will remember "Big E." Prayers and thoughts to Eric's family and friends.

Eric Lee Horn

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM

Congrats to Young Drivers Blaney & LaJoie - Dual Victors at Kentucky Speedway

Current NASCAR

Just when you wonder who will fill the fields at Cup races down the road, a new contingent of drivers somehow seem to miraculously blossom in each generation. From Bakers and Pettys to Bakers and Pettys, from Waltrips and Earnhardts to Gordons and Johnsons they keep coming. Buschs, Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, Harvick... don't look in your rear view mirror long or you'll see a hungry pack of youngsters hot on your heels!

Two second generation drivers found victory lane at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday. Ryan Blaney, son of Dave, triumphed in the Nationwide Series and Cory LaJoie, son, of Randy took the ARCA feature.

We look around and see drivers like Kyle Larson, the Dillon brothers, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Cory LaJoie, Bubba Wallace and many as yet unrecognized others coming down the pike.

If NASCAR can keep its act together and control racing costs, looks like our grandchildren won't have to worry about qualified "shoes" to fill the drivers' seats in years to come.

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM

Racing History Minute - September 22, 1963

Stock Car Racing History

Saw the note below by RR member, Dargan Watts in a 1968 edition of the Sumter (SC) Daily Item :

Anyone know if Fred Lorenzen's brother, Ricky ever drove in the NASCAR GT / Grand American division?

Racing History Minute - September 22, 1963

Stock Car Racing History

We also know that one of the #83 Pontiacs of 16th finishing Worth McMillion will be at Occoneechee - the car that Ray Lamm recently documented being pulled out of the woods in Amelia Court House, Virginia.

Above - Worth McMillion of Amelia Court House, Va. in 1963 with his #83 Pontiac and at Martinsville in 1963 posing with wife, Gloria. From the John McMillion collection

This Martinsville event was the final career Grand National start for nearby modified legend, Perk Brown of Spray, North Carolina. Some years back the three North Carolina towns of Leaksville , Spray and Draper (LSD!) were consolidated into the larger city of Eden , North Carolina, where many teams and media participating at Martinsville stay today. I used to be particularly fond of the Railroad Cafe in Eden where Dave Marcis would take us to indulge in "all the spaghetti we could eat!"

Perk, who was a terror at Winston-Salem's Bowman-Gray Stadium, started only two 1963 GN races - the other being at Bowman-Gray. All told, Perk ran 28 Grand National races between 1952-1963. Perk's real name was Jack Thomasson - Perk Brown was his "nom de plume" so to say!

Above - Perk Brown (Jack Thomasson) at the wheel in his modified circa 1967 . Getty Images/Racing One

MWR

Current NASCAR

B-O-O-G-I-T-Y... B-O-O-G-I-T-Y... B-O-O-G-I-T-Y... B-Y-E B-Y-E NAPA!!!

So is Ryan Newman now the RR collective fave for the Cup?

Current NASCAR

If he were driving an old Red Ram, I bet I know a Legend in Columbia who'd be cheering!