Forum Activity for @tim-leeming

Racing History Minute - May 9, 1964

Stock Car Racing History

Yes, today, again, we return to Darlington Raceway. This time it is 1964 and it is the 21st race of the 1964 season. The annual "Rebel 300" was always anticipated by fans because it showcased the drivers on the tough Darlington track. No longer in convertibles for this event, and not broken into segments as was the 1963 edition of the 300, but this was 300 flat out miles.

Fred Lorenzen would start from the pole in his Holman-Moody Ford with Fireball Roberts to his outside. Unbelieveably, Richard Petty, starting 10th in his Hemi powered Plymouth, would take the lead on lap one with sheer speed and capability. Richard would lead the first 57 laps, then Lorenzen would take the point until lap 74. Petty was back in front on lap 75 and then for the next 55 laps or so, it was a door-to-door, nose-to-tail battle between the blue Plymouth of Petty and the white Ford of Lorenzen. The battle was quite entertaining, especially on the Darlington track as the lead would sometimes change hands two or three times a lap.

On lap 133, or shortly before, a rock apparently flew through the raditor of the swift Petty Plymouth forcing him to the pits with overheating problems and the race was then in control of Lorenzen, although by no means handed to him as he had Fireball Roberts in hot pursuit on the same lap. Lorenzen took the checkered flag at an average speed of 130.013 mph as the race was slowed by caution only once when Jim Paschal blew the engine in his Petty Plymouth on lap 214 while running 6th.

Immediately after the race, John Holman, the big boss for Holman-Moody Fords, which finished one-two, fired Herb Nab who was crew chief for Lorenzen. Holman wanted Nab to call Lorenzen to pit for tires late in the going but Nab refused saying Freddie didn't need tires. Stopping for tires would have put Lorenzen second and Nab said "I came here to win the race. None of us on this entire team came here to run second". After a two day cooling off period, Nab was rehired by Holman-Moody.

For the record books, this was Fred Lorenzen's fourth consecutive win in the 1964 season having already won at North Wilkesboro, Martinsville and Savannah. Fred was having a good year he hoped "wouldn't end".

Top five finishers were:

1. Fred Lorenzen, LaFayette Ford, winning $10,265.00

2. Fireball Robers, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $5,990.00

3. Junior Johnson, Banjo Matthews Ford, winning $4,510.00

4. Ned Jarrett, Bondy Long Ford, winning $2,995.00

5. Jimmy Pardue, Burton-Robinson Plymouth, winning $2,170.00

Sixth through tenth were David Pearson, Billy Wade, LeeRoy Yarbrough, Paul Goldsmith and Richard Petty.

Marvin Panch, Jim Paschal, Johnny Allent, Larry Thomas and Bunkie Blackburn were 11th through 15th. G.C. Spencer was 16th, J.T. Putney 17th, Cale Yarborough 19th, Tiny Lund 20th, Rex White 21st,Roy Mayne 24th, Darel Dieringer wth, Buck Baker 26th Bobby Isaac 27th, Neil Castles 30th, Buddy Arrington 31st, and Jimmy Helms 31nd.

An interesting note to this race is that Bobby Allison, who was then a modified champ from Miami, was slated to drive one of the Ray Fox Dodges in the event, with Buck Baker driving the other Fox entry. After a practice session on the Darlington track, Bobby admitted he did not have the experience necessary to tackle Darlington so LeeRoy Yarbrough was assigned to drive the team car to Buck Baker. LeeRoy finished 8th while Buck Baker finished 26th after dropping out on the 59th lap with ignition problems.

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

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

We Knew It as the Joe Weatherly Stock Car Museum

Stock Car Racing History

Only $299,000.00? Maybe we ought to take up a collection and buy the thing. It must be made of solid gold.

We Knew It as the Joe Weatherly Stock Car Museum

Stock Car Racing History

That is correct. It is/was a restored Mercuy driven by Weatherly that Bud Moore donated for display. Beautiful car.

We Knew It as the Joe Weatherly Stock Car Museum

Stock Car Racing History

I sure do remember those days, Dave. It would be as exciting for me seeing those cars parade as it was to watch the start of the race. As I said, it's been some years since I've been there but I talked to a friend today who was over there last year and he said most of the cars we used to see are gone. About the only ones left that we knew were the Plymouth that won the first Southern 500 and the Buck Baker Oldsmobile. My friend also said that much of the collection that was there of all sorts of things historic is gone. Like I said, a free pass for life along with an ice cold Coke on every visit and I may go back. After all, it only takes me 35 minutes more to get to Memory Lane in Mooresville and I LOVE that place and every time I go there Alex and the rest of the gang are happy to see me.

We Knew It as the Joe Weatherly Stock Car Museum

Stock Car Racing History

You are right Dave. You and I knew it as "The Joe Weatherly Stock Car Musuem" and as far as I am concerned, it will always remain that to me. I have a "special" connection with that place as I was there the day it opened as a part of the "dedication" crowd. I have visited it many, many, many times, but, frankly not in the past five years. As it is only 70 miles from me, I would often ride over during the off season just to feel "connected" to racing again. The day Alan Kulwicki was killed, I drove over and spent three hours just hanging in there.

I will say that I note, especially, that the article says only that "visitors from all over the world and U.S." come to the museum. Please note that it does NOT say "thousands, or even hundreds". When I first start going over there, it was like a dollar entry. The place would be moderately crowded, but not so as to be difficult to walk through. Then it became $2.00. Then $5.00. Last time I was there, I think it was $10.00. It just became too expensive to get my "high" from there.

Also, the last time I was there, I was outraged that there was enough dust on the exhibits to have indicated a dirt track racing was just concluded and the cars brought right from the dirt track to the display.

I have a deep reverence for the history of this sport, and especially for Darlington as it was my first "big track" and asphalt track experience back in 1957. I often lament the current state of affairs in the sport where money and glitz is concerned, but most of all, I lament the total lack of respect NASCAR and many current day fans have for the heritage I hold so dear. This museum WAS the inspiration of Joe Weatherly. Joe Weatherly and Darlington are connected in so many ways. To remove his name from the Museum is the epitome of disrespect for a true pioneer and hero.

So, to Darlington Museum, or whatever name you choose to use in the future, the only way you will have me there again is to guarantee me a free pass for life. No, I am not being mercenary, although I'm sure you understand that term very well. I am being true to the sport I, and thousands like me, built into what it is today thanks to guys like Joe Weatherly.

Racing History Minute - May 8, 1965

Stock Car Racing History

We are back in Darlington for today's minute. After all, it IS Darlington race week even if the "Bojangles Southern 500" doesn't carry the clout with many of us that the Labor Day event always did. But today, we are talking about race number 15 on the 1965 schedule. I did not personally attend that event because Chrysler was boycotting NASCAR in 1965, and I observed the boycott. If Richard wasn't racing, I wasn't going. That simple for me.

Fred Lorenzen qualified his Ford on the pole. Marvin Panch, in another Ford started second. The first 11 qualifiers were Ford and Mercurys before J.T. Putney put a Chevrolet in 12th. 1965 was, indeed, the year of Ford Motor Company dominance, but then again, there were no other factory entries until late in the year when NASCAR relented and allowed the Mopars to return to limited tracks. But that's another story for another time.

Lorenzen led the first lap before third place starter, Junior Johnson moved in front. Johnson always drove Darlington with such precision. Even with his hard charging style, he was as smooth as silk around the egg-shaped oval every race. This day would be no different. Johnson would lead 197 of the 219 laps although Lorenzen, Panch, Yarborough, Dick Hutcherson, and Darel Dieringer would all get a lap or two in front.

On lap 5, Wayne Smith's Chevy stalled on the track and Earl Balmer, at full speed, crashed into the stopped number 38. Bub Strickler climbed the wall (metal guard rail) and flipped his Ford on its roof and slid that way through turn one. Strickler would say later that it was a wild ride with glass, sparks, asphalt, all flying in his face shield. He wondered what his face would have looked like if he had not had the shield. Marvin Panch had blown a tire and hit the wall in his swift Wood Brothers Ford but managed to limp home in Eleventh place, 18 laps behind the winner.

Johnson's win was immediately protested by Bud Moore, owner of second place finisher, Darel Dieringer. NASCAR's "fluid" rule book clearly stated that a car must stop in its own pit stall. On the last stop of the race, Junior slid through his pitand stalled the car. Accordingly, even in those days, the rule was clear: If you went through your pit, you were required to make another lap and come back in and stop in YOUR pit. Instead, Junior's crew, headed by Herb Nab, ran to where Junior was stopped, serviced the car, and pushed the car until it restarted.

Ruling on Moore's protest and upholding Johnson's victory, NASCAR issued the statement that, in part, said: "Johnson did not violate the pit rule because the pit area below him was not being used". That ruling was made TWO days after the race ended. In a weird sort of way, that was somewhat of a redemption for Junior who had been flagged the winner of the 1962 Southern 500 only to lose after a scoring recheck showed Larry Frank had won the race. Junior maintains that IF he had known Frank was leading, he could have run him down and passed to win that race three years earlier.

Top five finishers were:

1. Junior Johnson, Johnson Ford, winning $10,490

2. Darel Dieringer, Bud Moore Mercury, winning $6,155.00

3. Ned Jarrett, Bondy Long Ford, winning $4,460.00

4. Dick Hutcherson, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $2,925.00

5. Bobby Johns, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $1,100.00

Sixth through tenth were Buddy Baker, Sam McQuagg, Tiny Lund, G.C. Spencer and Buck Baker. Marvin Panch was 11th, Neil Castles 13th, Wendell Scott 15th, Jim Paschal 16th, Jimmy Helms 18th, Bunkie Blackburn 22nd, J.T. Putney 23rd, Cale Yarborough 24th, Fred Lorenzen 25th, Tom Pistone 26th, Larry Frank 27th, and Roy Tyner 28th. Thirty cars had started the event.

As always, my sincere thanks to Greg Fielden and his "Forty Years of Stock Car Racing" for providing information to allow me to present these "History Minutes". The folks who appreciate the history of this sport are indebted to the extensive efforts by Greg to present the history heprepared.

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

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

Trivia of the day from Russ Thompson

Stock Car Racing History

I think Dave Fulton beat me to the line with his answers! Way to go Dave.

Old Friend, Restored Ghost Track, Fish Fry, Blindfold Race and Motor Racing Museum

Stock Car Racing History

Awesome, Dave! I love it. I think this is up in Wally Bell area but I'm not sure.

Racing History Minute - May 7, 1977

Stock Car Racing History

Lol, Chase. You ARE too much. More commonly referred to as "too much of a good thing". But can there truly be too much of a good thing? I think not.

Racing History Minute - May 7, 1977

Stock Car Racing History

Yep, Chase, that STP 43 caught your attention, didn't it? What a beautiful car.