Wow, Sandeep and Jeff!!!!! What a find. If I don't get my grass cut today, I'm giving Ann both of your numbers so she can call you and chastise you for distracting me from my chores.
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Thanks for letting us know Harlow. I'll get a card out today. If you talk to Rex, tell him to get well soon. I enjoy every minute I get to spend with Rex. What a true ambassador he is for the heritage of the sport. Much like YOU.
Robbie, I am agreeing with you on the burnouts. I detest them.
As for the automatic DUI dispensers at the ball games, that would be a good idea except most would be too drunk to figure out how to get the ticket dispensed.
As to the feeling of some highbrows about stock car racing, let me tell you this story.
I was wearing a RacersReunion shirt in the mall about 2 years ago when an obviously very, very snotty lady and her approximately 10 year old son sat at the table next to me in the foodcourt. Really crowded place. I was eating my Dairy Queen soft ice cream cone when out of nowhere, this diamond studded woman turns to me and commences to tell me what she knows about NASCAR. She said he son told a man that he had a "nice car" and she thought he had said NASCAR and she told him immediately that he wasn't to mention that subject.
It really bothered me that such a snobby b***h even knew the word NASCAR. But I proceeded to politely inform her that I was heavily involved in the preservation of NASCAR history and was proud of that. She made a comment about the "low lifes" that hang around the sport and that's why she didn't want her son to even mention it. It was at that time I decided to engage the vocabularly taught me by Mrs. Devet, my High School English teacher. I certainly am no wordsmith such as some of those self-proclaimed geniuses with whom we are both familiar, but I could hold my own with that "Lady of the Food Court". That boy should be around 12 or so by now if he hasn't drowned from these heavy rain storms we've been having and the way his nose is so far "up in the air".
I have disliked the "burn-outs" from the beginning. Months ago, a good friend of mine and I were discussing the burn-out issue. We both have been around the sport for decades and we were trying to remember who started that victory celebration phenom. He says it was Jeff Gordon. I really don't remember the first one and it may well have been Jeff.
The pictures in this post show the kind of celebrations I grew up enjoying. The Beauty Queens kissing the winner was also a big part of the celebration. I have more than one good story about that issue being in Victory Lane with The King from time to time. I guess we are destined to be subject to burn-outs from now on, but I wish that would change.
Robbie, as to your post and the YouTube attachments, I have heard this same summation of the sport all my life. I have tried hard to present the other side of the coin and, I think in many instances, it has worked. Most of the folks that know me know that racing is not always as presented in the assinine commercials these drivers do and the downright stupid actions of some of the fans. I will maintain, just like the NBA Championship last week, I don't see NASCAR fans out burning buildings and turning over cars because their team won, or lost. Seems fans of University sports programs are good at that sort of celebration as well.
One final point on that subject. I spent two weekends a year in race track infields, Darlington and Talladega included, from 1957 through probably 1985 and never ever, at any track, did I experience the drunken atmosphere I did at tailgate parties for Gamecock Football games. That always seemed odd to me that the "highly educated" fandom of college ball could out "drunk" a NASCAR fan.
Our "Minute" for today takes us from the Hartsville, SC, track which we visited yesterday, up the road to Roanoke, VA, to the quarter-mile paved track known as Starkey Speedway. This race was the 31st race of the 1961 season, but even a bigger milestone as it was the 500th NASCAR Grand National race.
Twenty cars entered the event which would require running 150 laps or 37.5 miles around the short track. Rex White started on the pole with Junior Johnson outside. Jim Paschal started third, Richard Petty fourth and Ned Jarrett fifth.
When the race was over, it was Junior Johnson in Victory Lane, having won by just a little over one lap ahead of second place. It was Johnson's 22nd career victory and his third of the 1961 season. He ended the streak of thirteen different winners in as many races.
Of the twenty starters, only three failed to complete the distance. A blown tire ended the run of rookie Charles Williamson on lap 107. Williamson was driving a Curtis Crider second car which wasn't given much chance of victory although the rookie started the car in sixth. When the tire blew, he was out of the race because the crew had no more tires available. Harry Leake had problems with the rear axle and parked his Chevrolet on lap 113. Jimmy Pardue, the seventh place starter, dropped out on lap 27 when his radiator overheated and he lost all the coolant in the car.
Top five finishers were:
1. Junior Johnson, Holly Farms Pontiac, winning $900.00
2. Rex White, White-Clements Chevrolet, winning $725.00
3. Jim Paschal, Pontiac, winning $475.00
4. Richard Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $295.00
5. Emanuel Zervakis, Monroe Shook Chevrolet, winning $250.00
Sixth through tenth were Doug Yates, G.C. Spencer, Wendell Scott, Buck Baker and Wes Morgan. Ned Jarrett finishes 11th, Herman Beam 13th, Larry Thomas 14th and Larry Thomas 15th.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
Ok, folks, MY error (again). When I was putting this Minute together late last night, I read the record as thirteen different winners at Hartsville. You very competent gentlemen are very correct. The race on which I reported is the only Grand National Race I could find at Hartsville. The Thirteen different winners WERE winners of the 12 races previous to the Hartsville race, and Buck Baker at Hartsville. For the record, the thirteen races and winners were:
April 30, 1961, 250 miles at Martinsville Speedway, won by Junior Johnson
May 6, 1961, 300 miles at Darlington, won by Fred Lorenzen
May 21, 1961, 100 miles at Charlotte Motor Speedway won by Richard Petty (Qualifying race for 600)
May 21, 1961, 100 miles at Charlotte Motor Speedway won by Joe Weatherly (Qualifying race for 600)
May 27, 1961, 100 miles at Ascot Speedway won by Eddie Gray (Los Angeles, California)
May 28, 1961, 600 miles at Charlotte Motor Speedway won by David Pearson
June 2, 1961, 100 miles at Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds, Spartanburg, won by Jim Paschal
June 4, 1961, 100 miles at Alabama State Fairgrounds, Birmingham, won by Ned Jarrett
June 8, 1961, 100 miles at Greenville-Pickens Speedway won by Jack Smith
June 10, 1961, 50 miles at Bowman-Gray Stadium won by Rex White
June 17, 1961, 125 miles at Norwood Arena in Norwood, MA, won by Emauel Zervakis
June 23, 1961 50 miles at Hartsville Speedway, won by Buck Baker (as reported in the History Minute)
Before that streak started, Richard Petty had won at Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds in Richmond on April 23rd and the end of the streak was on June 24th when Junior Johnson repeated as a winner. I'll make that a History Minute on June 24th as it is interesting that the race was 150 laps constituting 37.5 miles. I think I walked that far on my last hike with my church group.
I do apologize for the error in reporting this. I do get things wrong at times and I truly appreciate all of you who watch over these History Minutes to make sure we get it right. This history is important and we must, repeat MUST get it right. So thank you so much.
That shirt should have said "14 races, 2 ugly faces and both were the same guy". Lol. Ok, I'm in trouble again.
Our "Minute" for this date takes us to a .333 mile dirt track located in Hartsville, SC. Being from Columbia, the reputation of the Hartsville facility is well known. Word, back in the day, was that Hartsville was a tough track to run, even tougher to win, and was often the site of those well remembered fights so many folks remember from the short track days. If I'm not mistaken, that is the track where the opening dirt track racing scenes for the movie "Thunder in Carolina" starring Rory Calhoun and Alan Hale were filmed.
Eighteen cars showed up to race the 50 miles/150 laps. Emanuel Zervakis put his Chevrolet on the pole with a speed of 54.97 mph which was really moving for a track that size. Ned Jarrett would start second, Buck Baker third, Junior Johnson fourth and Fred Harb fifth.
An interesting fact here is that this was the 13th Grand National (now Cup) event staged at the Hartsville track, and Buck Baker would win to become the thirteenth different winner. A different winner every time the Grand Nationals raced there, which was, at the time, and without further research my guess is that it may still stand as 13 races, 13 different winners. Perhaps one of our more astute researchers will solve that issue for us.
Pole winner, Zervakis, went into the wall on lap 101 when his Chevy lost steering. Richard Petty was taken out on lap 69 with engine failure. By winning in a Chrysler, Buck gave that brand it's first win since the 1956 season finale. It was also Buck's first win since the 1960 Southern 500 and his 43rd Grand National win overall.
Top five finishers were:
1. Buck Baker, Baker Chrysler, winning $760.00
2. Jack Smith, Smith Pontiac, winning $520.00
3. Rex White, White-Clements Chevrolet, winning $460.00
4. David Pearson, Pearson Chevrolet, winning $265.00
5. Junior Johnson, Holly Farms Pontiac, winning $260.00
Sixth through tenth were Ned Jarrett, Jimmy Pardue, Harry Leake, Wendell Scott and Lee Reitzel.
Eleventh place went to Herman Beam with Homer Galloway 12th in a Curtis Crider car, beating Curtis Crider in another Crider car finishing 13th. Fourteenth was Bob Barron with Joe Jones 15th, Emanual Zervakis 16th, Richard Petty 17th and Fred Harb 18th.
Each time I read about one of these dirt track races, I remember the many nights I would be in the infield at a dirt track after the race was over and the cars were being loaded on their open trailers. Drivers were usually over at the "pay window" in line waiting to get paid. I would always hang around to talk with Richard Petty but would have time to talk to many of the crew folks. It still amazes me that back in those days, those guys worked for nothing, some maybe for a hot dog and a coke at the track, but it was a labor of love. Same can be said for the drivers for the most part. Look at the payout amounts. Even in 1961 dollars, the few hundred dollars the winner got couldn't have gone far. I treasure my memories of those days and treasure the memories of all the guys I met back then, though, granted most of the names have long since been lost in my memory, but the faces and the smiles remain.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
You know, the more of these History Minutes I do, the more surprises I encounter. While deciding upon an event for today's minute, I came across the report of a 99.5 mile race/199 laps on a half-mile dirt track in Sacramento, California. While most of the names in this event are relatively unknown to those of us on the East Coast, I think it's fitting that we talk about this race today as the Cup guys are racing on the West Coast this weekend. So, today we head for Capitol Speedway located in Sacramento. Oh, and the "199"? It was a scoring mixup. The flagman threw the checkers a lap early so it went into the books as a 199 lap/99.5 mile race. As second place finished a lap down, it was not a big issue, but I'm sure there was at least ONE fan upset for being cheated out of a lap of racing. I have another story about playing with lap counts that was a promoters blatant attempt to cheat the fans, but I'll save that for another day.
Thirty-one cars entered this race. Art Watts in a Ford would start on the pole with Clyde Palmer in a Chevrolet to his outside. Bill Amick would start a Ford in third with Danny Graves starting his Chevrolet in fourth The top five starters were rounded out by George Seeger in a Ford.
Only 17 of the 31 starters finished. Chuck Meekins, Bill Bade, Lyle Matlock and Harold Hardesty all crashed in one manner or another with Hardesty's accident the most spectacular as his car flipped over the hood of another car. Matlock's Mercury took a three time roll over on lap 50 and Bade's Chevrolet flipped end over end on lap 64. Of all the accidents, Bill Bade was the only driver requiring medical attention and he was transported to the local hospital for "observation".
Bill Amick had a one lap lead and brought his Ford home in First place. It was the Portland, Oregon native's first Grand National Win. He was the 11th different winner in the 25 race old 1957 season.
Top five finishers were:
1. Bill Amick, Amick Ford, winning $900.00
2. Lloyd Dane, Dane Ford, winning $600.00
3. George Seeger, Oscar Maples Ford, winning $475.00
4. Scotty Cain, Cain Mercury, winning $365.00
5. Danny Graves, Graves Chevrolet, winning $320.00
Sixth through tenth were Bob Ross, Lemoine Frey, Dick Getty, Art Watts, and Howard Phillippi.Eddie Pagan, who would come East to race, finished 17th as the last car running at the end of the race. Parnelli Jones finished 18th in a Ford, after falling out on lap 130 when his car experienced rear end problems.
Lloyd Dane, the oldest living NASCAR Champion for his West Coast Championship attended the event in Hillsborough, NC last year. There must be something about driving race cars that keeps a person young in attitude and, to an extent, physical condition. I know Lloyd is in his 80s at least but you couldn't guess it being around him. I think of Ned Jarrett, Rex White, Richard Petty, all past the 70 mark and still going strong. And with all Bobby Allison has had to endure in his life he is remarkably ageless.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
This is not the race I had intended to profile when I sat down tonight, but as I was flipping through Greg Fielden's book looking for the race I had planned to feature, this one jumped out at me for several reasons. Ray Lamm, Dave Fulton, and, of course, Tiger Tom Pistone and the entire Pistone family who support our efforts here at RacersReunion. So, for this first official day of summer, here we go to the Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds in Richmond, Virginia for a 100 mile/200 lap race on a half-mile dirt track.
Twenty-two entrants showed up to race at the Fairgrounds and when qualifying was completed, Buck Baker in a Chevy was on the pole. Joe Weatherly put a T-Bird in second, Glen Wood in a Ford was third, Speedy Thompson's Chevy fourth, and Lee Petty in a Plymouth was starting fifth. Tiger Tom would start his T-Bird, number 59, in 12th place.
On the very first lap, Roy Tyner and Joe Eubanks both departed the race with "engine failure". Start and park, perhaps? Junior Johnson crashed his Ford on lap 22 and was out. On lap 81, Joe Weatherly crashed his T-Bird and was out of the running. Points leader going in, Lee Petty, experienced engine failure on lap 77th and was credited with 18th finishing position but he did maintain his points lead.
Tiger Tom ran a steady pace and stayed in contention throughout the race and began to really put the moves on in the late stages to pass Buck Baker and Glen Wood and grab the victory. It was Tiger's second win in his first full season in Grand National (now Cup) racing and this was the 23rd race of the 1959 season.
A young Tommy Irwin spent most of the race in the top five but experienced engine problems which put him out of the race on lap 186, but that was good enough for sixth place in the rundown.
Top five finishers were:
1. Tiger Tom Pistone, Rupert Safety Belt T-Bird, winning $900.00
2. Glen Wood, Wood Brothers Ford, winning $525.00
3. Buck Baker, Baker Chevrolet, winning $350.00
4. Bob Welborn, Chevrolet, winning $250.00
5. Cotton Owens, W.H. Watson Pontiac, winning $225.00
Sixth through tenth were Tommy Irwin, Tommy Irwin, Heman Beam,George Green, Aubrey Boles, and Speedy Thompson.
Tiny Lund finished 11th, Joe Weatherly 16th, Lee Petty 18th, Buddy Baker, 19th,
Junior Johnson 20th, Joe Eubanks 21st, and Roy Tyner 22nd.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
