I read Jim Utter's article in my State Newspaper this morning about 5:15 a.m. Jim is a beat writer for McClacthy Newspapers and is headquartered, I believe, in Charlotte in the offices of The Charlotte Observer. His articles on NASCAR are regularly published in The State. Jim starts this morning's article with a Woody Allen quote that "Tradition is the illusion of perseverance". Jim then goes on to say that though the Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend in Darlington WAS tradition, Darlington is actually attracting more fans, the drivers are more comfortable, and overall, the Mother's Day Weekend event is much better suited to Darlington than the traditional Southern 500.
I assume, since Jim appears to be much more in the know about such things than I, and the fact that he works in Charlotte, the heart of NASCAR teams, and the fact that NASCAR goes to great lengths to assure all "true" fans that it maintains the traditions that built the sport, that I am wrong about my feelings. Not the first time I am wrong and certainly not to be the last. But that doesn't make me feel any better.
NASCAR was started on dirt tracks, short tracks, in the Southeast, as most on this site well know. Dirt tracks were tradition. Dirt tracks are gone from the Cup, Nationwide and Truck series although ARCA is actually running a dirt track race this weekend for its touring series. The dirt tracks are, as far as I know, gone from all of NASCAR. A pity, but that's "progress".
Racing on The Beach in Daytona was tradition. For many reasons, that ceased to happen, and although I love to watch the films/dvds from those races, it is a part of a colorful history that no longer exists and rightfully so.
Rockingham, North Wilkesboro, and other tracks that built NASCAR no longer host NASCAR events. Thankfully, both Rockingham and North Wilkesboro are currently hosting other events for series other than NASCAR which allow me to still enjoy those venues. Those tracks were tradition in NASCAR, but no longer have a place in the elite scheme of NASCAR's vision of what is proper.
Atlanta Motor Speedway had a tradition of hosting two races every year. No more. As Bobby Williamson reports each Tuesday evening on "Racing Through History" on Racers Reunion Radio over the Zeus Radio Network, there are numerous "ghost tracks" around the country. Bobby has been playing that tune for months now and I don't think he's been outside the two Carolinas but once or twice. Once these "ghost tracks" were tradition.
It is noted that news breaking yesterday assures Martinsville, another "tradition" of having at least five more years of two races a year. The Viriginia Tobacco Commission, or some such entity, spoke the language of NASCAR; "give us what we want, when we want it, how we want it, and spice it up with green". At least the Martinsville track will maintain tradition for another five years.
I admit that I will be sitting down Saturday and Sunday nights watching the races from Atlanta. I will be watching, for the most part, the remaining races of this year as I have watched from the beginning of the season. I watched last season, will watch next season, and probably for as long as my conscious mind exists I will be watching NASCAR racing. However, there is ONE Legendary Leeming Tradition that no longer applies for me: spending money on NASCAR related things. I haven't spent a dime on NASCAR things in over four years and I am unlikely to do so in the foreseeable future. When I look back on my NASCAR spending from my start in 1952 through 2006, I think I could surely be retired now if I had that money back. And retired in style!!! But, you know what? I don't regret that spending. It was a part of my life, a part of who I am, part of what has made me who I am.
The problems I have with NASCAR really started when the Southern 500 was taken from Darlington on Labor Day weekend. I had been attending that event on Labor Day weekend since 1957. I spent so many Labor Day weekends in the Darlington infield, first in the back of a station wagon, then a tent, then in my parents' motorhome. I experienced all of the "color" you read about in books by famous motorsports writers. I actually got to ride in the parade laps before the race TWICE because I spent the nights in the infield. I didn't know Jerry Lewis had a Labor Day Fund Raiser until The Southern 500 left Darlington. It was tradition, for me, to pack up and head for Darlington, be in line to get in the infield and set up camp. In the later years I was treated to grandstand seats courtesy of business contacts I had and very gracious individuals who would give me tickets to the event. But, when NASCAR took "my" Southern 500 from "my" Darlington on Labor Day weekend, that was the beginning of my total devotion to the entity headquartered on Volusia Avenue in Daytona Beach.
Although I had problems with things going on in NASCAR prior to that time, I still supported it to the fullest. Oh, I would make comments to let others know of my disagreement, but I would always try to justify the actions of NASCAR as "in the best interest of the sport". As I said, I still watch, always will, and still read the newspaper articles and magazines (although I no longer subscribe to any)and I sit here in "The Lair" surrounded by NASCAR die casts, books, magazines, pictures, mugs, cups, badges, and so much more NASCAR items. Even t-shirts pinned to the ceiling in here, the oldest bearing the picture of The King's 1972 STP Plymouth. I guess, in this little corner of this big planet, tradition is more than an "illusion of perseverance". That makes me happy. That gives me a little sense of comfort. That reminds me that I have lived an incredible life.
So, is tradition an illusion? Maybe. Seems some people, most people, don't observe Memorial Day in the true meaning of the day. Independence Day (you know, July 4th) is not what it once was. In fact, last year I used the term "Independence Day" with a 24 year old I was talking with and he asked me "what day is that?". Thanksgiving has lost its family tradition feel, instead replaced with preparations for "Black Friday" shopping. Christmas still maintains some traditions, but even that day is swallowed up in other things. I do know this: Here, at Racers Reunion, tradition still means something, is still important, and honors those who make all my fond memories just that, fond memories.
Whatever YOUR Labor Day Traditions, I hope you have a great holiday weekend. I hope you will all be safe, enjoy the extra family time, and remember that once upon a time, on a ribbon of asphalt created by the dreams of Harold Brasington in a peanut field in the Pee Dee of South Carolina, a tradition was born, nutured, and gave birth to racing facilities in Daytona, Charlotte, Atlanta, Talladege and throughout the country. Without that Brasington dream and all his efforts, it is unlikely there would be other facilities around the country, or at least not to the extent there are today. I hear Daytona is advertising the 500 there in February as "Tradition". Guess I need to check out Florida dictionaries for the Florida definition of the word.
Tim
***DISCLAIMER: I'll start this post by saying I am not mentioning the names of any party in
this forum, as to do so would, perhaps, overlook someone, as there were
so many involved. To each of you who read this, thanks. ***
Saturday, August 28, 2010, I attented the Fourth Annual Celebration of the Automobile at The Orange County Speedway in Hillsborough, NC. The Historic Speedway Group who puts on this annual event is made up of very dedicated inviduals who give their time (and probably money) to ensure the heritage of stock car racing shall not pass into oblivion. I would like to share just a few observations from my day:
Every phase of the day was handled absolutely professionally.
I have no idea how many people came but there were more than 100 show cars (far more) and probably 50 vintage race cars, and some real beauties too.
I encountered smile after smile, pleasant conversation after pleasant conversation and not one unpleasant person.
The weather wasa little hot and more humid than had been forecast, but there was no rain and the heat was not overbearing to me.
Now to the meat of this post.
Shortly after the noon hour, everyone was asked to assemble at the historic track, now hidden by so many trees and very narrow in parts, to see the cars run two twenty lap events. I walked down to the track from the display area and when I walked through the trees to the grandstands I had to stop in surprise to take in the number of people already gathered there. Wow! There was a crowd in that grandstand which, to my untrained eye, appeared to be more fans than attended the Brickyard event NASCAR held last month.
I walked down the steps of the stands heading down to the infield (my usual place of preference to watch a race) and as I descended the steps, looking to the left and right, I saw folk of every age, from a tiny baby in a mother's arms to an elderly gentleman who appeared to be in his mid nineties, with a bright smile showing through the wrinkles. I didn't stop to talk with him but I would guess he was a regular at the speedway back when the cars raced.
As I got to the steps down to the actual track, the cars started to enter from the turn one area and proceed down the backstraight. Through the trees, you could not see the cars, but you could hear a rumble of racing engines that sounded as though the true "ghost riders in the sky" had returned for one more run at the 9 tenths mile dirt track on the river bank. It was ghostly, almost chilling, and looking around at the crowd, I was not the only one to feel it.
As I cross the track, the cars began to appear from behind the trees coming out of turn four. They idled up and stopped before the grandstands. There were cheers and applause, but I was standing there numb from seeing these beautiful machines before me with the smiling faces of the drivers and people riding in the cars. Thirty-six race cars, a pace car, and three or four police cars (who let them in?) made up this field.
When the "race" started, I climbed into the flag stand (no one told me I couldn't) and any one who knows me can tell you this was an amazing accomplishment because the flag stand was more than 2 feet high and I don't do heights. But something about this day put this fears behind me (to push me up the ladder). What I experienced on that flag stand really defies complete description but I will tell you that standing there watching these historic cars of the past zip underneathe my feet as the dust rose into the air, wasa surreal experience. It was a though I were suspended in time and the dust being raised was that inpenterable veil between sleep and waking that you experience just before or after the alarm goes off. I looked down and saw Tim Flock, Fireball Roberts, Joe Weatherly, Buck Baker,Lee Petty, Jimmy Lewallen, Bill Blair,Sr.and so many more of my childhood heroes coming out of the dust to my right and disappearing into the dust on my left. It was truly dream-like.
I met so many people I had not met before who will surely become friends, as those I got to see again for the first time in a long time have become friends already. This Racers Reunion gig is turning out to be like family, one group of like-minded folks who enjoy each other's company and enjoy the sights and sounds that go with the racing history we all love. And that Occoneechee bunch make sure everyone is happy, well cared for, and treated like family.
Oh, I know I said in the disclaimer, no names, but I have to share this one thing, thanks to Harlow Reynolds. He has painted, on the back of the number 21 Wood Brothers tribute car, the following: "The older I get, the better I was". I absolutely love that saying. That indicates that in a few more years I will have been really good!!!!!!
Until next year, Historic Race Group, may the green flag fall on a sunny day, no yellow or red flags spoil your event, and may the checkered flag be far distant on the horizon. You are winners already!!!
Tim
