Fred Lorenzen Beat Tiger Tom Pistone & Marshall Teague on July 13, 1958 - But Not in NASCAR
Stock Car Racing History
Thanks for the add-ons, Chase.
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Stock Car Racing History
Fred Lorenzen Beat Tiger Tom Pistone & Marshall Teague on July 13, 1958 - But Not in NASCAR
Stock Car Racing History
Tim Leeming has posted the excellent account of a NASCAR race at New Asheville Speedway on July 13. I noted another interesting race held on July 13 - a race won by a future NASCAR hero over one of our beloved RacersReunion members, with a past NASCAR hero posting a 3rd place finish.
On July 13, 1958 a combined USAC / MARC 150-mile stock car event was held at the Milwaukee Mile. MARC was John Marcum's Midwest Association for Race Cars, the forerunner of today's ARCA.
Over 20,000 spectators watched future NASCAR superstar, Fred Lorenzen drive his 1958 Ford to victory over RacersReunion member, Tiger Tom Pistone's 1957 Chevy and the '57 Chevy of Marshall Teague, who had made a real name for himself driving the Hudson Hornets.
The race results are sprinkled with other names who had a big presence in NASCAR at one time or another or made yearly forays to selected NASCAR races. Tank driver Nelson Stacy finished 27th. Both Jim and Dick Rathman were in the field of 40 cars, as were Iggy Katona and Norm Nelson. Whitey Gerkin, Jerry Unser, Dick Linder and Bob Pronger are other familiar names.
Here is a link to the Milwaukee Sentinel coverage of the race, complete with a photo of 23 year old Fred in victory lane with his mother!
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19580714&id=fjIxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QxAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6749,1968898
(Maybe TMC-Chase can do a screen capture of the story if he has time?)
The Milwaukee newspaper story also notes that Ralph Moody and Rodger Ward showed up, but couldn't get rides and Tony Bettenhausen was a no show. 55 of 66 registered cars attempted time trial runs.
The Daytona newspaper ran a story highlighting hometown Daytona driver Teague's 3rd place finish. Just another reminder that not all the great stock car racing of the 1950s was taking place in NASCAR.
Results from Ultimate Racing History
USAC/ARCA (MARC) Stock Car race
Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, WI
July 13, 1958
150 laps on 1 mile paved oval; 150 miles
Fin St Driver # Owner Car Laps Money Status Laps Led
1 1 Fred Lorenzen 28 Louis Miller 1958 Ford 150 3,590 running 128
2 12 Tom Pistone 59 Tom Pistone 1957 Chevrolet 150 2,373 running 19
3 9 Marshall Teague 6 Marshall Teague 1957 Chevrolet 149 1,670 running 0
4 7 Mike Klapak 23 1957 Ford 149 1,077 running 0
5 14 Red Duvall 87 1957 Ford 149 782 running 0
6 16 Les Scott 12 1957 Ford 149 664 running 0
7 4 Whitey Gerken 71 1957 Pontiac 149 585 running 0
8 25 Jerry Unser 47 1957 Pontiac 148 570 running 0
9 8 Joe Wright 42 1958 Pontiac 148 563 running 0
10 13 Gordon Gorman 21 1956 Chevrolet 147 556 running 0
11 15 Bob Denny 20 1956 Chevrolet 146 397 running 0
12 20 Jack Shanklin 32 1957 Ford Convertible 146 383 running 0
13 17 Dick Linder 89 1957 Chevrolet 145 318 running 0
14 30 Bob Pronger 93 1957 Chevrolet 145 303 running 0
15 5 Joe Noeske 83 1958 Pontiac 145 275 running 0
16 11 Allen Swenson 44 1956 Plymouth 145 267 running 0
17 22 Bob James 46 1957 Chevrolet Convertible 144 210 running 0
18 31 Dudley Stacy 31 1957 Chevrolet 144 202 running 0
19 21 Jack Holbrook 41 1957 Chevrolet 143 188 running 0
20 40 Larry Odo 7 1957 Ford Convertible 143 173 running 0
21 26 Don Schisler 55 1957 Chevrolet 141 130 running 0
22 32 Iggy Katona 30 1958 Ford 141 124 running 0
23 33 Clyde Parker 18 1958 Chevrolet 141 116 running 0
24 35 Ken Julian 60 1956 Ford 139 108 running 0
25 19 Les Snow 8 1957 Ford 139 94 running 0
26 18 Johnnie Parsons 36 1957 Chevrolet 137 87 running 0
27 28 Nelson Stacy 22 1958 Chevrolet 136 79 running 0
28 37 Carl O'Harold 95 1957 Chevrolet Convertible 134 72 running 0
29 24 Bob Chauncey 40 1957 Pontiac 113 72 engine 0
30 10 Dick Rathmann 86 1957 Buick 92 72 engine 0
31 6 Jim Rathmann 6 1958 Chevrolet 84 25 rod 0
32 3 Bill Lutz 56 1957 Pontiac 84 25 accident 3
33 27 Jimmy Reece 85 1957 Pontiac 63 25 oil pressure 0
34 39 Jim Lamport 75 1956 Ford 56 25 engine 0
35 23 Fred Hoff 65 1957 Pontiac 37 25 engine 0
36 36 Scotty Cain 45 1956 Ford 37 25 overheating 0
37 34 Bill Shoulders 15 1958 Oldsmobile 13 25 wheel bearing 0
38 38 Bill Cheesbourg 16 1956 Rambler 11 25 overheating 0
39 2 Dave Hirschfield 77 1957 Pontiac 8 25 accident 0
40 29 Norm Nelson 9 1958 Mercury 6 25 engine 0
Don Oldenberg 86 1957 Buick 0 0 qualified car 0
Time of race: 01:47:31
Average Speed: 83.707 MPH
Pole Speed: 40.601 seconds
Race Purse: $ 16,350
Attendance: 22,208
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
The New Hampshire Dirt Track - Hugh Overcash Design?
General
You say you didn't know there was a dirt track at New Hampshire Motor Speedway? Well David Lane snapped this shot for the Manchester Union-Leader of the Global Rally Cross layout being set up near turns 1-2 for the Thursday event. I'm wondering if RR member Hugh Overcash assisted with the design? I note when the photo is blown up to full size that the jump being constructed near the exit of turn two goes over a series of porta-potties! Just the kind of thing Hugh and his Jay Howard Events crew used to build for Humpy Wheeler at those infamous Charlotte Motor Speedway pre-race shows!
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
NASCAR Hall of Fame Attendance Slide Continues
General
The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority has reported another decline in the number of visitors at the NASCAR Hall of Fame for the most recent fiscal year. Financial numbers are yet to be released, but with a new agreement to fund improvements at the Carolina Panthers Charlotte NFL football stadium, there is less tax Charlotte hotel and rental car tax money available to cover NASCAR Hall of Fame operating losses.
Setting aside the controversies surrounding the Hall of Fame inductee selection process, what really continues to strike me in the face is the very poor job being done by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority to market this property, both to race fans and to the general public. Any way you cut it, this is a government agency trying to promote a venue and I think the results speak for themselves. Government agencies are not used to selling and making a profit... they are used to spending taxpayer money.
The CRVA's new "plan" is not one to increase HOF attendance, but rather a plan to "increase revenue for each visitor." In other words, don't worry about attracting more visitors, just gouge the ones who come with increased prices, trinket and concession purchases and the like.
Three years ago I would have resisted my latest idea to "save" the HOF in its current Charlotte incarnation, but, as an old marketing, promotions and pr guy, I think it may be time to bring in a corporate sponsor with dollars and marketing and publicity know how if the HOF is to become sustainable.
I know the idea would be revolting to purists (like me) , but selling the naming rights to the HOF would be right up the path NASCAR has taken for years. I'm picturing something like a Coca-Cola NASCAR Hall of Fame or a Goodyear NASCAR Hall of Fame that includes not only the naming rights, but the use of the expertise of a major league corporate marketing, advertising, promotions and pr department to get out the word and draw folks to the HOF.
I think its time for Charlotte regional leaders to step back and figure how to best promote this multi-million dollar investment before the clock runs out. Nothing else has worked. Why not bring in a big gun with consumer expertise?
NASCAR Hall attendance declines in third year
By Steve Harrison - sharrison@charlotteobserver.com
Friday, Jul. 12, 2013
The NASCAR Hall of Fames attendance in its third year was 176,838, a 10 percent decrease compared with the year before, according to the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, which manages the racing museum.
The CRVA hasnt finished a detailed financial analysis of the hall, so its unknown how it fared financially. It lost money in its first two years of operations.
The attendance numbers cover the fiscal year that ended June 30. In the halls first year, it attracted 272,000 fans. Second year attendance was 197,410.
The decrease isnt a surprise, as museums and attractions often see attendance declines after opening. Attendance often stabilizes in the fourth year of operation.
CRVA spokesperson Laura Hill said Friday the tourism authority is focusing on generating more revenue for each visitor. CRVA chief executive Tom Murray has said the original attendance projections 800,000 people in its first year, and 400,000 visitors in ensuring years werent realistic. Murray was hired by the CRVA in December 2011, replacing Tim Newman.
Hill said the CRVA is focusing on maximizing revenue to ensure that the venue is financially sustainable in the long term. She said the CRVA is working to increase rentals for the hall and also convince people attending conventions at the adjacent Convention Center to come to the hall.
Since Murray came to the CRVA, he started a new accounting system called One CRVA, in which the financial performance of individual venues are no longer reported. The CRVA only reports its financial performance for the overall organization.
The CRVA manages city owned buildings such as the Convention Center, Bojangles Coliseum and Ovens Auditorium.
But the CRVA has said it will do a separate financial report for the hall, in part to satisfy the terms of its contract with NASCAR. Under the deal to operate the hall, the CRVA is supposed to pay royalties of up to 10 percent of hall revenues.
The CRVA can defer those payments if the hall doesnt turn a profit. The hall lost more than $2 million in its first two years of operation.
Hill said the halls financial report for fiscal year 2013 should be finished next month.
Improving the halls financial performance is more important than ever for the CRVA, whose funds have been depleted to help the Carolina Panthers.
The City Council this year voted to give the Panthers $87.5 million for stadium renovations in exchange for a six-year hard tether to keep the team in Charlotte. The money for the Panthers came from the city and the CRVAs Convention Center fund, which comes from a 3 percent hotel/motel tax and a 1 percent tax on prepared food and beverages in Mecklenburg County.
With a significant part of the CRVAs future revenues going to the Panthers, the CRVA has less financial breathing room to pay for Hall of Fame operating losses.
Read more here: http://www.thatsracin.com/2013/07/12/110411/nascar-hall-had-176000-visitors.html#storylink=cpy
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
Racing History Minute - July 13, 1962
Stock Car Racing History
The July 13, 1962 New Asheville victory was the last of Jack Smith's 21 career Grand National wins.
Part 5 of 10 - Gene Granger interviews Richard Petty
Stock Car Racing History
This is a great series by an expert interviewer.
5-Time JJ's New Hampshire Qualifying DQ'd - Cheating Again?
Current NASCAR
From NASCAR.com regarding today's New Hampshire Cup qualifying:
Jimmie Johnson, the series points leader, initially qualified second at 135.902 mph but his speed was disallowed because his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was ruled too low in the front end on both sides. Johnson's car was late in making a qualifying pass after his crew frantically worked to get the car through inspection -- NASCAR officials ruled that a side skirt was too low and that the car had a weight imbalance of one pound, Johnson said.
The dismissal of his qualifying time means that Johnson will start at the rear of the 43-car field. It also means that Kurt Busch qualified second at 135.835, moving him up to the front row in the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevy.
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM