Racing History Minute Programming Note
Stock Car Racing History
That series should bring forth some terrific memories. Look forward to it.
Forum Activity for @dave-fulton
Stock Car Racing History
Looking for Cecil Gordon's Brother
Stock Car Racing History
Ed, Patsy got a message during the Racing Through History broadcast last night from Steve Langley saying he had made contact at the number above.
Looking for Cecil Gordon's Brother
Stock Car Racing History
I am "GUESSING" that the Donald Lee Gordon and Joyce Moody Gordon at the address below are the same brother, Lee Gordon and wife Joyce listed in Cecil's September 2012 obituary:
DONALD L GORDON / JOYCE M GORDON
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| 72 Twisted Tree Ln, Horse Shoe , Henderson County, NC - 28742 |
Racing History Minute - August 27, 1961
Stock Car Racing History
Emanuel Zervakis was so well know in these parts that the ad found by Chase in the Danville Bee just proclaimed him "The Greek!"
Racing History Minute - August 27, 1961
Stock Car Racing History
The ad in South Boston's Halifax Gazette for the rescheduled GN event placed as much or more emphasis on the regular Saturday night show as it did the rescheduled GN race the next day:
Unfortunately, the original race preview story in the Halifax Gazette seems to have suffered the fate of a folded page when microfilmed:
Racing History Minute - August 27, 1961
Stock Car Racing History
Great research finds, Chase. Note the rescheduled ad, incorrectly advertises SoBo in 1961 as a 1/2-mile track.
Racing History Minute - August 27, 1961
Stock Car Racing History
Now retired Associated Press Motorsports writer, Mike Harris wrote a story about South Boston Speedway and its traditions that was carried nationally back in November 2000. The copy below ran in the hometown newspaper of deceased, multi-time NASCAR Modified Champion Richie Evans all the way up in Rome, New York.
No mention in the 13 year old story of South Boston alumni Hermie and Elliot Sadler, but Ward and Jeff Burton's father, John remembers watching Junior Johnson win a dirt South Boston Grand National race with a flat tire the last two laps. Junior won at SoBo in 1960 also, so it might have been that race. Maybe you can check the story on Junior's 1960 South Boston win and see if a flat tire is mentioned, Tim.
Racing History Minute - August 27, 1961
Stock Car Racing History
Tim... both Greg Fielden and Racing Reference are incorrect on one count. South Boston was still dirt in 1961. SoBo was opened in April 1957 by Buck Wilkins and Dave Blount as a quarter-mile dirt track.
Following the 1961 season, the track was paved and expanded to a .357-mile layout with a concrete retaining wall for the 1962 season.
The very brief Associated Press clip carried by the Fredericksburg (Va.) Free Lance Star of Junior's 1961 win specifies dirt track, also.
Racing History Minute - August 27, 1961
Stock Car Racing History
Junior was definitely on a streak with 3 wins in a row.
Tim... I remember it being a huge deal at my parent's party line house growing up in the 50s/early 60s to make or receive a long distance telephone call just as you say. No direct dial... all "operator assisted."
Charley Stewart, Black American, WWII Vet and Sprint Car Racer, Breaks the Color Barrier to Race Sprint Cars in 1949
Stock Car Racing History
On August 22, 1965, A.J. Foyt won in his Offy powered roadster on the dirt at the Springfield mile.
The next day, the Indy cars ran at the PAVED Milwaukee Mile. Foyt was supposed to drive his new rear engine car, but it wasn't ready.
At the last moment he decided to try to make the field with the front engine dirt Offy roadster.
He put the dirt track Offy roadster ON THE POLE ahead of all the new rear engine cars!
Check this brief clip of Foyt's Offy roadster leading all those rear engined Fords through the turn!