Racing History Minute - August 6, 1967
Stock Car Racing History
I know your pain Dennis.
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Racing History Minute - August 6, 1967
Stock Car Racing History
Most of the 1967 racing season, the U.S. Navy kept me away from the tracks as they seemed to find more places for my little ship to sail. But when I think back to those days, I did make a lot of the races during that year although the driving distances were farther from Norfolk, VA than Columbia, SC. The particular race for today's Minute is one of those I was able to make. I remember some of what happened at the race track but what I remember most about that trip was that getting from Norfolk, VA to Hampton, GA was not an easy trip. Looking back, seems like it took a week, but my trusty 1961 Plymouth took be there.
This was the 36th race of the 1967 season, known then as the "Dixie 500". There would be 44 starters but the issue was going to be tires. Firestone Rubber had been on strike for quite a long time and Goodyear was on strike, which although not as long as Firestone was quite damaging. Each team was issued ONE set of tires until Goodyear rounded up racing tires from every corner of the country and chartered 15 flights to get those tires to Atlanta. Big Bill France was most gracious in his appreciation to Goodyear both publicly and privately.
Darel Dieringer put his Junior Johnson Ford on the pole with Richard Petty in his Plymouth to his outside. 1967 was the year of The King as he won 27 of 46 races and 10 in a row at one point. Buddy Baker put the Ray Fox Dodge in third, Jim Paschal in a Friedkin Plymouth was fourth and Sam McQuagg in Cotton Owens Dodge would start fifth.
Tire wear was a major concern for all the teams as the compounds rounded up and brought in by Goodyear were not all compatible with the high banks of the mile and a half Atlanta International Raceway. Reverting to a practice of the early days of racing, Dick Hutcherson had his crew cut a trap door in the floorboard so he could keep a visial inspection of tire wear. There were a total of six caution flags for 38 combined laps, but most seemed to be caused by blown engines leaving the track oily. In fact, only 16 of the 44 starters finished the race and the 16th place finisher, Henley Gray, was over 60 laps in arrears.
On the drop of the green flag, Buddy Baker stormed into the lead from his third place starting positon and would lead 33 laps before Charlie Glotzbach would move his K&K Insurance Dodge to the front. On lap 37, Richard Petty passed Glotzbach and 9 laps later, Glotzbach would park the Dodge with wheel bearing issues. Petty led until lap 89 when he relinquished the lead to Jim Paschal. On lap 105 Cale Yarborough moved out front and would stay there until lap 130 when Buddy Baker and Hutcherson would pass and wage a torrid battle for the top spot. Buddy led laps 131 - 133, then Hutch was in front from 134 to 141, then Buddy from 142 to 173, then Hutch from 174 to 178 when suddenly his mirror was filled with a Petty Blue Plymouth which moved around him and steadily pulled away to lead laps 179 to 252. Then, it was Hutch again from 253 to 260 when Richard pulled out, blew past Hutch and promptly blew the engine in the speedy Plymouth. The race then belonged to Hutcherson who led all remaining laps. Paul Goldsmith was the only driver to finished on the same lap with the winner.
Top five finishers were:
1. Dick Hutcherson, Bondy Long Ford, winning $16,500.00
2. Paul Goldsmith, Nichols Engineering Plymouth, winning $7,900.00
3. LeeRoy Yarbrough, Bud Moore Mercury, winning $4,725.00
4. Donnie Allison, Jon Thorne Ford, winning $2,550.00
5. Bud Moore, Activated Angels Dodge, winning $1925.00
Sixth through tenth were John Sears, Neil Castles, G.C. Spencer, Roy Mayne and Bobby Wawak.
Bobby Allison would finished 11th, Bill Siefert 13th, Wendell Scott 14th, Richard Petty 17th, Darel Dieringer 18th, David Pearson 19th, Buck Baker 20th and Frank Warren 22nd.
Buddy Baker was credited with 23rd, Elmo Langley 24th, James Hylton 25th, Roy Tyner 26th, Earl Brooks 27th, Jim Paschal 28th, and Cale Yarborough 29th.
Jabe Thomas finished 32nd, Bobby Isaac 33rd, Bill Champion 34th, and Dr. Don Tarr 36th. Charlie Glotzbach was 37th J.T. Putney 41st Ed Negre 42nd. Bobby Johns 43rd, and Friday Hassler was 44th after departing on lap 5 with rear end issues in his Chevrolet.
I do have very vivid memories of the trip back to Norfolk. I had taken two shipmates with me to the race, both from up north as were all my shipmates on that small ship. Both loved the racing but they had managed to consume large quantities of the "adult beverages" which I did not do, so the driving back was all me as they slept it off. Getting out of the infield was the first major issue with a crowd of over 36,000 and some of the most inept traffic direction I have ever encountered. It was well past 8:30 p.m. when we finally got to open highway. I remember that because that gave us 10 and ahalf hour before we had to assemble on deck for the work day Monday. I can only allude to the possibility that many of the ideas for "Smokey and the Bandit" came from that trip back to Norfolk. The last 60 miles of that trip back in those days were all two lane highway with little passing opportunities. At least most of the rest of the trip was either four lane or interstate so that old Plymouth rocketed its way back to Virginia. Glad I did not have tire issues that night. For the record, we boarded the ship at 6:40 a.m. and all three of us were in uniform of the day and on deck at 6:59 a.m. I wouldn't want to try that today.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Stewart breaks his leg in a sprint-car crash.
Stock Car Racing History
I wish Tony a speedy recovery.
August 5, 1962: Jim Paschal Nabs Nashville
Stock Car Racing History
Dave, like you, I appreciate the hand-typed lineups. Hard working administrative folks made it happen.
Racing History Minute - August 5, 1955
Stock Car Racing History
On this date in 1955, only 15 cars would show up to compete in a 100 mile/200 lap event on the half-mile dirt track known as Southern States Fairgrounds in Charlotte, NC. Four days prior to this event, the boys had raced in San Mateo, California so that may have been a reason for the lower car count in, of all places, Charlotte, NC.
Tim Flock would qualify his Mercury Outboards Chrysler on the pole with Gwyn Staley in a Chevrolet to his right. This was the 13th pole of the season for Flock out of the 31 races to date. Third place qualifier was Jim Paschal in an Oldsmobile, fourth place was Billy Carden in a Buick with fifth going to Jimmie Lewallen in an Oldsmobile. Pole speed was 57.849 mph.
Tim Flock took the lead on the green flag and held on to that position until lap 52,when Flock had a lengthy pit stop and Jim Paschal moved around him and took over postion one which he would hold until the end of the event before a crowd of 5,600. The track had become very "rutted" and was in awful condition before the half way point, causing several cars to experience one problem or another which eliminated them from competition. In fact, only 7 cars finished the race.
Top Five finishers were:
1. Jim Paschal, Helzafire Oldsmobile, winning $1,100.00
2. Gwyn Staley, Westmoreland Chevrolet, winning $700.00
3. Buck Baker, Mercury Outboards Chrysler, winning $475.00
4. Bob Welborn, Chevrolet, winning $365.00
5. Tim Flock, Mercury Outboard Chrysler, winning $310.00
Remaining positions, sixth through fifteenth were Buddy Shuman, Eddie Skinner, Junior Johnson, John Lindsay, Lee Petty, Richard Brownlee , Jimmie Lewallen, Billy Carden, Blackie Pitt and Dink Widenhouse.
Personal note on this one. Dink Widenhouse, who went out of this race on lap 24 when his own Oldsmobile lost a piston, is one of the main reasons I grew up around racing. Lee Petty was my Uncle Bobby's favorite Grand National Driver, but Dink was Bobby's favorite in the weekly races at Columbia Speedway and other tracks we attended. Uncle Bobby believe Dink was absolutely the best dirt track driver around so I learned to pull for Dink as well since I depended on Uncle Bobby to take me to the races.
A couple of years ago, at Memory Lane Museum in Mooresville, at one of the events Dink supports, I was telling him about my uncle and how much he had pulled for Dink back in the day. As I was telling him about my uncle, Dink never took his eyes off my eyes. When I finished the story, Dink autographed a very special card for my uncle. When I got back to Columbia, I took Uncle Bobby the card. I will never, ever forget him sitting in his wheelchair and looking at the picture of that old race car with Dink standing beside it and reading what Dink had written. For at least three minutes Uncle Bobby stared at that card and it was almost as if he was standing in the trunk of his car, which we often did, in turn four at Columbia Speedway, watching Dink battle it out with the likes of Ralph Earnhardt and others. So, my personal thanks goes out to Dink Widenhouse for the guy he IS and the race driver he WAS. Special memories Dink, special memories.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
sprint car driver killed in Pa. race.
Stock Car Racing History
My prayers for the friends and family. Another racer lost to the sport. God protect all our racers, always.
A conversation I overheard today while at Lowes
Stock Car Racing History
Yes Sir! Bobby is doing a great job for sure. But remember, he would be nothing without Hugh Ovalcrash.
Racing History Minute Bonus - August 4, 1957
Stock Car Racing History
In as much as I inadvertantly posted the History Minute this morning which was also done by TMC Chase, I thought I would post an additional Minute. Again, I do apologize to TMC Chase as he and I always try to work together to present racing history here and he does an excellent job with his Petty articles. So, for your additional historic reading, I offer a trip to Kitsap County Airport in Bremerton, Washington, where the Grand National West boys started the 36th race of the 1957 season. While none of the more well-known East Coast racers made the trip, there are some easily recognizable names in the 14 who started the race.
The race was set on the .9 mile paved road course laid out on the surface of the airport. The length would be 72 miles which equated to 80 laps on a very flat track with very tight turns requiring heavy brake use. Art Watts would start on the pole in a Ford with Danny Groves second in a Chevrolet. Third place starter was Parnelli Jones in a Ford, with fourth place Eddie Pagan in a Ford. Fifth place starter was Lloyd Dane in a Ford. One thing I learned in reading this record of history is that Parnelli is NOT the first name for Mr. Jones, so well known as Parnelli. Many of you may have known this, but I never knew his name is RUFUS Parnelli Jones.
This race was the 10th attempt for Rufus to make an impact on NASCAR racing. While he had enjoyed tremendous success in "off-road" racing, his previous nine attempts in NASCAR were all finishes out of the top ten. But on this day, Parnelli was the class of the 14 car field, using everything his car had to win the event. Looking back on the very successful career of Mr. Jones, it wouldn't matter if they called him Rufus, or Parnelli, he was a winner through and through.
Top five finishers were:
1. Parnelli Jones, Oscar Maples Ford, winning $900.00
2. Lloyd Dane, Dane Ford, winning $610.00
3. Art Watts, Schmidhamer Ford, winning $465.00
4. Eddie Pagan, Pagan Ford, winning $315.00
5. Bob Rauscher, Ford, winning $270.00
Remaining finishers, sixth through fourteenth were Scott Cain, Dick Getty, Ed Negre, Danny Groves, Bud Emra, Don Porter, Bill Hidden, Harold Beal and Norman McGriff. Only two of the fourteen starters failed to finish.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Racing History Minute - August 4, 1963
Stock Car Racing History
I inadvertantly picked the same race TMC Chase already profiled for today. Be sure to check out his post as it will add to what I have posted here. I try to stay away from any Petty car victory as that is the property of Chase as he is really a reference guide to the Pettys. This time, however, I blew it! My apologies to the readers and to TMC chase.
Racing History Minute - August 4, 1963
Stock Car Racing History
Our "Minute" for today takes us to Nashville, TN for a 200 mile (scheduled distance) on a half-mile paved track. This would be a 400 lap contest cut short to 350 laps through a set of circumstances that can now be appreciated as almost comical only to the extent that no one was seriously injured in the race.
Twenty-one cars entered and qualified with Richard Petty in his Plymouth on the pole. Rex White would start second in his Mercury, and Jim Paschal third in another Petty Plymouth. Fred Lorenzen started fourth and Joe Weatherly fifth. Richard Petty led the first 96 ;laps before Tiny Lund took over. On lap 194, Tiny was involved in a spectacular crash. Whether or not Jim Paschal actually took over the lead at that point is not really specified, but it was Paschal out front when the race was stopped and called official on lap 350 of the scheduled 400. Let's explore the reason for the shortening of the race.
A severe thunderstorm hit the track which caused the red flag to stop the action for an extended period. There were 98 laps run under caution. In one accident, Tiny Lund, leading at the time, blew the engine in his Ford and clipped the rail which threw the car into two billboards outside the track. Hitting the billboards threw the car back towards the the track where it landed ON TOP OF the Mercury of Rex White. The roll bars in White's Mercury were crushed but Rex had the forethought to duck down inside the car and escaped injury. At 5'4" tall, White was fortunate to be able to get low enough in the seat to escape injury.
Tiny's car then burst into flames. Lund, the physical opposite of White at 6'5" was fighting to get out of the burning car. His seat belt release was stuck and he had to force it loose to get out. He finally freed himself and stumbled from the burning car onto the track where he ran into the side of the Herman Beam car driven by Cale Yarborough. Cale had been charging hard all race with Herman standing in the pits with the "E-Z" sign on the blackboard communicator but Cale paid him no mind. When Tiny walked into the side of the car, under caution, it put a huge dent in the door. Herman told Cale after the race that if he had slowed down as instructed, the Tiny "would have missed you and the car wouldn't be dented". Cale claims not to have understood the meaning of that remark.
So, Rex was short enough not to be injured when a car lands on top of him. Tiny was big enough to dent a moving race car. Funny how that worked.
Finally at the end of 350 laps, with darkness making visabilty non-existent, NASCAR flagged the race as over with Jim Paschal a full lap ahead of second place. It was Paschal's 5th win of the year in 39 races.
Top five finishers were:
1. Jim Paschal, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $2,500.00
2. Billy Wade, Cotton Owens Dodge,, winning $1,350.00
3. Joe Weatherly, Bud Moore Pontiac, winning 1,025.00
4. Richard Petty,Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $675.00
5. Buck Baker, Baker Pontiac, winning $475.00
Sixth through tenth were Stick Elliott, Ned Jarrett, Cale Yarborough, Jimmy Pardue, and Larry Thomas. Wendell Scott was 11th, Neil Castles 13th, Bobby Isaac 14th, Tiny Lund 15th, David Pearson 16th, Rex White 17th, Fred Lorenzen 18th and G.C. Spencer 21st.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM