Forum Activity for @tim-leeming

Racing History Minute, June 3, 1965

Stock Car Racing History

Andy, you are "spot on" with your comments. I never knew about the not racing back to the caution flag deal until Dale Jarrett caused NASCAR to come up with the rule. Guys always tried to make up their laps by beating the leader back to the caution. I do remember when I raced (1969 - 1973) we did go back to the last completed lap but I only raced the short tracks in the weekly shows.

Yes, I must agree that it appears it was an attempt by NASCAR to spice up the action since they had only SEVEN cars running at the time of Jarrett's brush with the wall. That, and the fact that Hutcherson was leading points at the time of that race and you can almost see the NASCAR wheels turning with what an advantage it would be to have popular Gentleman Ned win the title. Ned did win it anyway, with his usual overall great performance throughout the season and is/was certainly a deserving champion. Ned remains one of the nicest guys around but since becoming involved with RacersReunion and hanging out with Ned, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Rex White, Bill Blair, Peanut Turman, Gene Hobby and so many more of those guys, not to mention Paul Lewis to who we actually owe this site, the pioneers of this sport are far and above the guys in any sport including today's crop of drivers.

Thanks for adding your comment Andy.

Racing History Minute, June 3, 1965

Stock Car Racing History

Selecting a History Minute for today was most interesting once I discovered this 1965 date had a race on the half-mile paved track at Nashville Fairgrounds in Nashville, TN. Oh, I know, we've been to that track before in a History Minute, but reading the story of the 1965 event caught my attention for a certain ruling made by NASCAR to a protest. Something I either didn't know, or just didn't remember from the 1965 season, most of which I boycotted along with the Mopar guys. In any event, let us go back to that race in Nashville.

This was the first race staged at Nashville Fairgrounds "under the lights", so that was exciting in itself. Not too exciting however, as only 5,200 folks showed up to watch 15 cars do battle for the 100 mile distance. 1965 was an "off year" for most races as fans stayed away, as did I, because we didn't feel what NASCAR did to the Hemi cars of Chrysler Corporation was fair. Seems like many around Nashville felt the same way.

On the way to the track, the van towing the Bondy Long factory Ford of points contenter, Ned Jarrett, slid off the highway in a heavy rainstorm between Harriman, TN and Crossville, TN and the van flipped onto the top of the race car crushing the race car. Personally I would think the van took the worst end of that disaster. There is no report of anyone being hurt in the accident but Ned had to borrow a Ford from Jabe Thomas to make the race and continue his battle with Dick Hutcherson for the points lead.

Tiger Tom Pistone started his independent Ford from the pole with Dick Hutcherson to his outside. Ned would start fourth, alongside G.C. Spencer.

When the green flag waved, "Hutch" put his foot down and put the number 29 Ford out front where he would stay for the entire distance. Ned was running second with five laps to go when he slid high and brushed the wall, bringing out the yellow flag. J.T. Putney beat Ned back to the caution and protested the finish saying that he was ahead of Ned at the caution. NASCAR ruled against Putney saying the rules clearly stated there was "no racing back to the caution". That is the little tidbit of info I didn't know, or at least didn't remember. Looks like NASCAR was doing that long before the Dale Jarrett incident that sparked the current "freeze the field at the last scoring loop" deal.

Top five finishers were:

1. Dick Hutcherson, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $ 1,000.00

2. Ned Jarrett, Jabe Thomas Ford, winning $600.00

3. J.T. Putney, Herman Beach Chevrolet, winning $400.00

4. Wendell Scott, Scott Ford, winning $300.00

5. Henley Gray, Gene Cline Ford, winning $275.00

Only 15 cars started the event, with 7 finishing. The seventh place finisher was 30 laps behind the winner. Hutcherson was in a lap by himself with Ned and J.T. both one lap down.

Remaining finishers, sixth through fifteenth were Doug Cooper, Raymond Carter, G.C. Spencer, Cale Yarborough, Junior Spencer, Bob Derrington, Tiger Tom Pistone, Wayne Smith, Neil Castles and Buddy Arrington.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Racing History Minute - June 2, 2013, Back behind the keyboard!

Stock Car Racing History

Whether or not anyone other than Chase and Dave realized I wasmissing for a couple days, I don't know. But it doesn't matter because those two filled in the Racing History Minute wonderfully. Both of those guys contribute so much each day as anyone can see. I was unexpectedly called out of town and away from the computer but look what those guys did filling in.

I will be back in the morning, Monday, June 3rd, to stir the pot once again and I hope many of you will read and contribute. We have a wonderful history in this sport and by all of us sharing what we have in our hearts and minds, we are building a treasurythat will be priceless in the future.

Again, thank you to all.

Tim

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Tim Leeming has been quiet today

Current NASCAR

Shame on you again Chase!!!! But I do love the laughing (or should I say "snickering") doggie

Tim Leeming has been quiet today

Current NASCAR

Chase, remember all those GOOD things I used to say about you? Well, forget them!!!!!!! lol

When Dover Debuted a Concrete Surface and the Subsequent Painting of the Blue Line

Stock Car Racing History

I just learned more about Dover in this post than I have learned watching races there on tv or reading about them. I didn't know about the blue line, nor did I know they had flipped the straightaways as Darlington did. I love taking this class on line. Just need to figure out how to add it to my college credits.

Many thanks!

Administrative

This site is about history, Jeff, as you have so often stated and proven. It is a wonderful thing that we are now engaged in really sharing memories for some great folks like Chase Whitaker, Dave Fulton, Billy Biscoe, Andy DeNardi, Dennis Andrews, and some others who have contributed to the series. I hope we can keep it going and keep those memories flowing. I'm loving it!

Racing History Minute - May 30, 1951

Stock Car Racing History

Race number 9 of the 1951 season was a 100 mile event on a half mile dirt track in Canfield, Ohio, known as the Canfield Fairgrouds Speedway. Thirty-five cars entered the event although I can find no indication that it was a special event by any means. I suppose because the previous event was May 6th and the next event was not until June 10th, this left some open time for the racers who were always looking to race. Ironically, I think, the race was known as "The Poor Man's 500", in reference, I am guessing, to the closeness to the date of the Indy 500.

Bill Rexford started his Oldsmobile from the pole. Unfortunately, starting positions from my source for the remainder of the field is not available. Rexford would flip his Oldsmobile on lap 115 and end up outside the track in a ditch. He complained of chest pain but remained at the race track. Bill was the defending Grand National Champion as well as the defending winner of this race from the previous year. But May 30, 1951, was not Rexford's day.

The race ended with Marshall Teague taking the checkered flag three laps ahead of runner up Tim Flock, allowing Teague to retain the points lead with which he entered the race.

The attendance at the race was just in excess of 17,000 folks which was, at that time, a record for attendance at a half mile track. Although the number of caution flags is not specified in my source (Greg Fielden's Forty Years of Stock Car Racing), it is noted that caution flags were "numerous". Special mention is made of Mike Klapak flipping his Nash with two laps to go and still finishing in 8th place.,

Top five finishers were:

1. Marshall Teague, Fabulous Hudson Hornet, winning $1,000.00

2. Tim Flock, Black Phantom Oldsmobile, winning $700.00

3. Fonty Flock, Red Devil Oldsmobile, winning $450.00

4. Herb Thomas, Thomas Plymouth, winning $350.00

5. Lee Petty, Petty Special Plymouth, winning 200.00

Sixth through tenth were Bob Flock, Frank Munday, Mike Klapak, Dick Rathmann and Don Eggert.

Bill Rexford was 21st in the final rundown.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Some tips for tagging photos on RacersReunion

General

Thanks Chase. I have never really learned to upload photos but I have someone who has been very kind to upload things for me and she does tag the pictures when she does. I have just discovered a couple more I need to get her to upload, Petty pictures.

A STEP BACK IN TIME WITH --SOUTHERN NITES--

Stock Car Racing History

Johnny, this is one of the best trips we've taken down that memory lane of yours! I hung on every word and so much of what you talked about was so much of my life too. My Uncle Bobby was the one who had the car as well as the car "for parts" that I hung out in. What a memory that brought back for me.

Dave, I love those pictures you added. I had a trike like that, a cap like that and a jacket like that. Funny how parallel all our lives were to an extent. I must say, Dave, you are easily recognizable in those childhood pictures. You have aged well, my friend.

Johnny, keep 'em coming. You are awesome.