After Boston, we all need to be aware that there will always be those who seek to cause harm to innocent people. As Cody Dinsmore said recently, "common sense isn't common anymore". Thanks, Janice, for caring enough to post this.
There were options today as to what race to use for the History Minute. I chose to go back exactly 50 years to a special race known as "The Rebel 300" which was run on this date 50 years ago.
The spring race at Darlington, back in the day when there were two races run there each year, started in 1957 (see tomorrow's History Minute for that story) as an event for convertibles. 1962 was the last convertible race and the ever innovative Bob Colvin, Darlington Raceway President back then, thought that a 300 mile race for the stock hardtops would not be such a huge drawing point with so many 400 and 500 mile races on the schedule, not to mention the 600 that would follow his event by two weeks. Colvin came up with a formula whereby there would be TWO 151 mile races, separated by an "intermission" and the winner would be determined by a "point system" even the current NASA rocket scientists could not figure out. Colvin's idea was that by using the split race, it would not be JUST a 300 mile stock car race.
Qualifying was held as usual, with Fred Lorenzen grabbing the pole in his Holman-Moody Ford. Second place was taken by Tiny Lund in the Wood Brothers Ford, still subbing for Marvin Panch who was injured in Daytona in February. When the green flag dropped on the first 151 lap segment, Junior Johnson literally drove through the front row starters from his fourth place starting spot and took the lead he would hold through lap 47 when Joe Weatherly would move to the point. On lap 51, Jim Paschal would put his Petty Engineering Plymouth in the lead and would hold that lead until lap 76 when Junior Johnson would regain the top spot.
Junior Johnson was leading with one lap to go when the rear gearing in his Chevrolet stipped and forced Junior to coast around the track where he would be passed by Joe Weatherly before the checkers. Fred Lorenzen and Rex White were knocked out of the event on the first lap when they crashed. Lorenzen took blame for the crash saying he got "over anxious" and collected Rex.
The second segment of the race included a "standing start" where all drivers would slam their mount in gear and speed towards turn one (now turn three). This sort of "modified drag race" enabled Richard Petty to put his Plymouth out front at the start and he would lead the first 67 laps. Bobby Johns took over on lap 68 and would lead for two laps before pitting and handing the lead to Fireball Roberts. But Petty, who had finished sixth in the first half of the split race, went back out front on lap 77 and would hold on to win the second segment.
Using the convoluted point systems devised by Colvin for this event, the top five finishers for the overall 300 miles were:
1. Joe Weatherly, Bud Moore Pontiac, winning $11,100.00
2. Fireball Roberts, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $6,200.00
3. Richard Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $4,960.00
4. Tiny Lund, Wood Brothers Ford, winning $2,665.00
5. Bobby Johns, Johns Pontiac, winning $1,965.00
Sixth through tenth were Jim Paschal, Darel Dieringer, Buck Baker, Jimmy Pardue, and Billy Wade. Eleventh through Twenieth were Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, G.C. Spencer, Curtis Crider, Stick Elliott, LeeRoy Yarbrough, Larry Frank, Larry Manning, Ed Livingsto and Ned Jarrett.
Reb Wickersham was 23rd, Junion Johnson 25th, Johnny Allen 27, and Possum Jones 29th. Fred Lorenzen in 30th and Rex White in 31st, rounded out the field.
It would have been possible for the overall winner of the race to have never led a lap using the Colvin inspired points system As it were, Junior Johnson was awarded 25th after completing only 110 laps in the opening segment and NO laps in the second segment, while Herman Beam, who completed a total of only 57 laps overall in both segments was listed in 24th. Ned Jarrett completed a total of of 197 laps in both segments and was awarded 20th place while David Pearson, who completed only 180 total laps was given 12th. Some of the best racing "experts" of the era commented that they could not figure out how the points were awarded and what it actually took to "win" the over all contest.
A few days AFTER the fact, NASCAR determined that it would not be a good idea to repeat such a confusing debacle and "suggested" to Bob Colvin that future Rebel 300 races be a 300 mile race without a popcorn intermission in the middle.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
Nice post Johnny! No day goes by that I don't think of my Mother. I have a picture of her and my Daddy on top of our motorhome at Rockingham right here beside me in the Lair. The King treated her so great she really thought he was another of her sons. She really adored that man and used to tell me all the time how glad she was that I picked Richard to be like. She was quite a woman. My Daddy was quite the man as well. Thanks, Johnny, for the post.
Man you guys are sharp.
Today we are returning to a fine half mile race track located in Macon, Ga. A couple of years ago, several folks got together and staged a reunion at The Middle Georgia Raceway which is a beautiful paved track with nicely banked turns wide enough to run two or three abreast.
Only 15 cars checked in to compete in the 100 mile/200 lap event, but the 7,500 fans in attendance witnessed one heck of a race between eventual winner, Richard Petty, and Tiger Tom Pistone. Petty started his Plymouth on the pole with Pistone to his outside. Petty took the lead on the green flag and held on for five laps before Darel Dieringer moved his Bud Moore Mercury to the point. Petty went back in front on lap 35 but here is where the record keeping gets "sketchy". From accounts, Petty and Pistone would wage all out war on the track, alternating the front position until Pistone fell a lap behind on a long pit stop.
Tiger Tom came back on the track and commenced turning almost record laps as he was making up time on the leader, Petty. With laps running out, Pistone caught Petty and after a brief fight for the position, went around Petty to get back on the lead lap. Time ran out for Tiger, however, and he finished second, only 19 seconds behind, and the only other driver on the lead lap. It was Petty's third consecutive win, having won the Rebel 300 ten days earlier and the Tidewater 250 in Hampton, VA three days prior.
Top five finishers:
1. Richard Petty, Petty Enterprises Plymouth, winning $1,000.00
2. Tom Pistone, Pistone Ford, winning $600.00
3. Bobby Allison, Betty Lilly Ford, winning $400.00
4. James Hylton, Bud Hartje Dodge, winning $300.00
5. Neil Castles, Buck Baker Plymouth, winning $275.00
Sixth through tenth were Johnny Wynn, Henley Gray, Elmo Langley, Joel Davis and Buck Baker.
Remaining finishers , in order, 11th through 15th, were Bob Derrignton, Buddy Baker, Edward Jordan, Darel Dieringer and Wendell Scott.
Middle Georgia Raceway has a rich and unique history in the sport. Google it, or explore the next RacersReunion for the track. Great people are involved in keeping the history of that track prevalent for today's fans who care.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
Simply put the information up for review by anyone interested. It was published in the North Carolina Newspaper so it's not exposing unknown information. I really don't care one way or the other what Brian did, has, or may inherit.
Not sure if this is even newsworthy here, or even if I care, but the Brian France Divorce records he fought so hard to keep sealed were made public this week. Over 3,000 pages of legal language, e-mails, correspondence, motions and other legal matters convoluted the entire picture but some interesting facts learned:
1. In a financial declaration filed with the court in 2005, Brian's net worth was $564 million. The declaration indicates that he is expected to inherit substantial assets from his parents which are expected to exceed ONE BILLION dollars.
2.He claims he has no stock in NASCAR.
3. He paid his ex wife $9 million settlement but he was late on a least one of the structured payments.
4. He will pay his ex $32,000.00 per month alimony for the next ten years.
5. He will pay $10,000.00 per month child support but it is not clear is that is a total per month or if that is per child.
According to documents, Brian was very verbally abusive and vindictive with his ex, which she alleges was punishment for her not doing exactly as he demanded.
The two had been married twice (neither seemed to learn the first go around).
Just for information. I have no dog in this fight and only have an interest because Brian France seems to control NASCAR as he sought to control his ex and now we find he has no stock in the privately held corporation. Weird.
Thank you Cody. I appreciate you reading and commenting. I did NOT include personal notes on that race, although it was one I yelled myself hoarse over with the Petty-Lorenzen battle. Seems someone does not like me to include my personal notes on these History Minutes. I am having a ball doing them though.
I will warn you, however, that this Sunday's History Minute WILL include personal reflections because that will represent the anniversary of my first visit to Darlington for the 1957 Rebel 300. Can't talk about that one without getting personal.
Wow, Chase, that is putting things in perspective. Those thoughts had not even crossed my mind. I've never told my Paul Goldsmith story on here so here goes. In 1964 and 1966, I chased after him to add his autograph to my collection but could NEVER get near him. He just disappeared after every race. The day RacersReunion held their first Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, we were at the restaurant for breakfast and I was standing outside waiting on friends to arrive. Someone tapped me on the shoulder to ask if "this is where the RacersReunion breakfast is"? It was Paul Goldsmith. He and I chatted and laughed for 10 minutes before going inside. Although we were together with the rest of the crowd for most of that day, I never did ask for his autograph. Have no idea why. But even after all those years, he still awed me just being around him.
Thankyou Dr. Woodberry. Those are some truly great memories you added to this post!
