Thanks, Chase for adding those Grand National Langhorne articles. I had considered using that race for the 14th but went to the convertibles instead to mix it up and to get primed for the Darlington 1957 convertible race coming up. I do appreciate all you add to this series.
Today we will return to the Convertible Division for the second time in this series of Racing History Minutes. Part of the reason is because I always found those races "special" because of the clear view of the driver you had watching from the infield and the other part of the reason is I'm leading up to the very first Darlington Convertible event in 1957 which was my first visit to that track. This date, however, in 1957, saw the convertibles roll into Wilson, North Carolina for a 100 mile event on the half-mile dirt track. I've never been to Wilson, but I've heard the stories about the nice track and the loyal fans that supported events there.
Joe Weatherly put his DePaolo Ford on the pole for the race with Bob Welborn qualifying his Chevrolet second. It was third place starting Curtis Turner that dominated the race, leading from lap 9 through lap 146 while 'lil Joe filled the rear view mirror of team mate Turner's Ford. Although the two were team mates and very good friends, both were very competitive on the race track and second place was "no" place either of them wanted to be. The race only had two leaders; Joe laps 1-9, Curtis, laps 10 -146, Joe lap 147 to the checkers. Of the nine convertible events thus far in 1957, Joe made this his fourth win of the season. It was a broken ball joint on the Curtis Turner Ford on lap 146 that sent him "behind the wall" and out of the race.
Top five finishers were:
1. Joe Weatherly, Ford, winning $500.00
2. Gwyn Staley, Plymouth, winning $425.00
3. Glen Wood, Ford, winning $350.00
4. Al Tasnady, Plymouth, winning $300.00
5. Whitey Norman, Ford, winning $250.00
Other finishers of note were Larry Frank 7th, Neil Castles 13th, Curtis Turner 14th, Bob Welborn 15th, Possum Jones 18th, and Darel Dieringer 19th. Only 19 cars started the event and 14 were running at the finish although 16th place finisher George Bumgardner was 100 laps behind.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
Chase, you are an awesome resource! You should take over these Racing History Minutes! But I guess you're busy with the Petty History Minutes which I enjoy very much. As always, thanks for your contributions. For the record, I do not remember Buddy Baker crashing out. I remember Ned and Joe putting on quite a show but, honestly, as most times back then, my attention was focused on that number 43 car. Thank you for commenting.
It should be no surprise that I have elected to go with an event from Columbia Speedway today given all the importance Columbia Speedway has played in my life with racing. After all, I was there one September night in 1952 when I was almost six years old for my first race. So, let's go back to April 13, 1962.
Only 19 cars showed up for the 100 mile/200 lap race on the half mile dirt track, considered by most drivers as being one of, if not THE toughest half mile in NASCAR. This was the Eleventh race run in the 1962 season and Joe Weatherly came into the event leading the point standings. (Joe would go on to win the Championship in 1962).
I had already been to Daytona for the 500 in February, 1962, and to the March 17th race in Savannah, so this was my third race for the season. I do remember how excited I was to enter the speedway that night and take our usual parking position next to the fence in turn four. We always parked there so we could see who was pitting, but much of my time was spent walking all around the fence in the infield watching every inch of the track at some point during a race.
Joe Weatherly put his Bud Moore Pontiac on the pole and was very entertaining, I remember, cutting up with everyone before the race. Joe Weatherly was known as the "clown prince" of racing and that was a justifiable title if ever there was one. Joe was a pleasure to be around.
The early part of the race was a duel between Joe and Jack Smith, in another Pontiac, with Rex White and Buck Baker holding their own. Ralph Earnhardt, a regular in the weekly events at Columbia Speedway was driving a 1961 Pontiac and was putting on quite a show with what appeared to be an ill handling car, althoughback in those days it didn't seem handling was that often discussed on a half mile dirt track. Buck Baker in a '61 Chrysler 300and Richard Petty in '61 Plymouth ran side by side for several laps during the mid part of the race.
In the end, smooth driving Ned Jarrett in his 1962 B.G. Holloway Chevrolet came home the winner with Joe Weatherly the only other car on the lead lap. Gentleman Ned, as he was known, even then, put on a display of smooth driving on that track which, although it was dirt, took on asphalt charactiristics very early on. It was Ned's 9th career Grand National (Cup) win in a career of excellence.
Columbia Speedway was a track with blazing fast straightaways and turns made perfectly for the "power slide" which was perfected by so many. Many a night out there Tiny Lund would put on a display powersliding that had to be seen to be believed. I recall watching Junior Johnson execute the perfect power slides with his left arm out the window holding on to the roof. But on this night, it was the silk smooth driving Ned used to take the win.
Much of the history of this race is apparently lost to the records and although I can close my eyes and see some of what happened that night, it is too bad that even the local newspaper from Columbia, from which I have the clipping from that race, found little to mention other than Ned won and Joe maintained the points lead. I also found it interesting that it was noteworthy in both my sources, that Wendell Scott was mentioned as "the only black driver on the major league stock car racing circuit". With all the hoopla today about the movie "42" concerning Jackie Robinson in Baseball, it's time we remember that Wendell was black, yes, but Wendell was a race driver. He had far less than most anyone else running the circuit but he was there every race and he raced his heart out. Wendell was easy to talk with, even for a teenager as I was then. I think, in today's world, Wendell would be referred to as "a stock car race driver" without the necessity of throwing in the "black". What he did in racing, with what he had, in my opinion, far outweighs anything accomplished on a baseball diamond and that is not intended to slight Jackie Robinson at all. Just my admiration for Wendell and what he accomplished in stock car racing.
Top five finishers at Columbia that April 13th night were:
1. Ned Jarrett, Chevrolet, winning $1,200.00
2. Joe Weatherly, Pontiac, winning $600.00
3. Jack Smith, Pontiac, winning $400.00
4. Jim Paschal, Pontiac, winning $300.00
5. G.C. Spencer, Chevrolet, winning $275.00
Other finishers of note were Rex White 6th, Richard Petty 7th, Buck Baker 8th, Ralph Earnhardt 9th, Curtis Crider 11th, Stick Elliott 12th, Buddy Baker 13th, Wendell Scott 16th, and Cotton Owens 18th. It should also be noted that rookie Jim Bennett qualified third but was the first car out of the race when he lost oil pressure on the 27th lap of the 200 lapper. He won $50.00. Even at 1962 prices, I would think he lost money.
Honor the past, embrace the present and dream for the future.
Dave, how in the world did you get that video?? I thought I had destroyed all copies. Shame on you!!!!
Chase, that guy's yacht is actually bigger than mine! But you get the idea.
A Yacht Club in Fort Worth??? Who knew. But, if I had a boat, I guess I would be a part of the "Red Neck Yacht Club" someone sang about a few years ago. Nice story Dave. I do so love hearing your memories.
Started to work on the Legendtorial this afternoon concerning the Speedway Division, which, as you said Jim, was short lived for sure. Not sure how it's going to turn out, but I will be talking about that interesting experiment by Big Bill into a world he should have stayed away from. See you Tuesday for Racing Through History, right here on RacersReunion Radio.
Laverne, thank you for the comment about "Rumblin Ragtops". It is almost magic that I was doing my Racing History segment today out of that same book. I had forgotten that Greg Fielden had covered that series in the Ragtops book. I really appreciate you pointing that out.
Jim Streeter, and others, I plan to do the Legendtorial on Tuesday show on the Speedway series after I have read the section in Greg's book and see where I can go with it. That should be a real "Racing Through History" adventure.
So, all who may be interested in the Speedway Division, come by Tuesday for the show and see what I come up with. From what I "skimmed" through this morning, it should be interesting but will certainly be enlightening. Was to me.
Jim, thanks for sharing that story. How interesting it must have been to have been a part of that. You are truly a huge part of racing history. Having had the pleasure of listening to some of your memories first hand, I hope you will continue to share memories here. You are a walking, talking example of what is good about the history of this sport.
