Forum Activity for @tim-leeming

Let it never be forgot....that once there was a spot.....

Stock Car Racing History

Hope there are no copyright issues in stealing that little opening line from the theme song to the Broadway musical, then Movie, "Camelot". The premise of Camelot was that there was a special place known as Camelot where everything was perfect, or, at least as the song related it. I'm stealing that line for thiswriting because I have just finished watching the induction ceremony from The NASCAR Hall of Fame. I was tied up yesterday but recorded it and had the opportunity to watch it today. Before I state my opinion of what I saw, let me give you a little background so you can understand where I'm coming from.

I attended my first stock car race in September, 1952. Whether or not it was NASCAR sanctioned I cannot recall. I can recall, however, that the first sports organization I ever knew about existing was NASCAR. I didn't care for MLB, NBA, NFL, FISA, or any of the deriatives that were, are and maybe yet to come. I knew that NASCAR was the sport where they raced cars at Darlington and other places, and that is ALL I cared about. I was drawing race cars on my school notebooks and writing racing stories all the time. I was, thanks to my Uncle Bobby, able to attend many races all over South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. There was the twice a year pilgramige to Darlington starting 1957 and continuing until 2000.

I never had a car that didn't have a NASCAR sticker on it and most had a NASCAR license plate on the front, or the plate of The King, my favorite driver. I had shirts, caps, and jackets with the NASCAR logo emblazoned in the colorful logo for all to see. I had NASCAR watches and I even have TWO pair of athletic shoes, low top and high top, with NASCAR on the shoes.

In August, 1969, I got my first NASCAR license as a driver. It hangs in The Legend's Lair. Also that year, I received my first NASCAR pin which also hangs in the Lair. I went through school writing term papers and making my speeches in the public speaking class either about NASCAR or Richard Petty. I wrote articles for the school newspaper about NASCAR.

I drove in NASCAR from 1969 through June, 1973. I worked with Dan Scott in NASCAR in 1974. In 1975, Leo Windham gave me an opportunity to do a 5 minute race report every Monday during racing season on the big FM Country music station here. That was a non-paying job, but I got press credentials to all the races. That gig lasted from 1975 through 1982.

I talked about NASCAR racing to anyone and everyone who would listen and, quite often, I would still be talkiing about racing even when everyone quit listening. While I'm not particularly fond of the way it was stated, someone once called me the "Billy Graham of NASCAR racing" because I was always "preaching" the sport.

Ok, before you begin to think this Forum is about ME, let me clear that up. All the reference to "ME" is to show how dedicated I was to NASCAR. I even learned to handle the Big Bill France and Bill, Jr. rulings which didn't always suit my fancy without getting really riled about the seeming injustice to "my guy".

Then, something happened. I have tried my best to ascertain the exact point in time when I developed a distain for NASCAR. Stated fairly, I can only assume it was when The Southern 500 was taken from Darlington on Labor Day weekend. Quite honestly, I had never experienced a Labor Day weekend without a Darlington Southern 500 because the event started when I was only 4. Don't remember much before age 5 or so. Whatever it was, and I'm sticking with the Southern 500 reason, I was disenchanted with NASCAR, totally disgruntled with the direction of the sport. I saw a young Brian France assume the reigns and I didn't believe (still don't) that he is qualified to assume the duties of Big Bill and Bill,Jr. I have heard D.W., the supposed "mouth" of our sport, say several times, that the history of the sport began in 1980 or thereabouts. I must admit openingly I have a bias as to D.W. because I feel he is disingenious and less than the best ambassor for the sport. His grammar usage alone makes me look over my shoulder to see if my 10th grade English teacher is getting ready to unload her barrage at the use of "hisself". So, at best, I was throwing NASCAR under the bus (popular political term these days and the only political reference Jeff will allow me).

Today, thanks to Winston Kelly and the NASCAR HOF, I am coming home. I'm sitting here looking at the first NASCAR pin I received as a driver and I remember the pride of that moment when I received it. Nothing Brian France or D.W. can do or say can remove that pride. We at Racers Reunion have blasted NASCAR and Brian France and others repeatedly for the injustice done to the history we work so hard to preserve. While I'm not yet ready to honor Brian for efforts to preserve the history, or to remind D.W. "hisself" that there is history prior to 1980, I do want to say I was deeply impressed with the induction ceremony as a whole.

These things stand out:

1. Chocolate Myers wiping a tear when Dale Earnhardt was being inducted.

2. Mary and Sybil Scott shown so prominently and looking for impressive although

Wendell was overlooked in even the nominations. Surely he will be inducted at

some future point.

3. What I perceive as total cruelty on someone's part by leaving Martha Earnhardt,

Dale's mother, sitting in the audience while the rest of the family was on stage.

4. The eloquent speech given by Kelley Earnhardt. She was one of the most impressive

speakers of the day.

5. Kyle Petty giving such a personal speech in honor of his dad.

6. The overall appearance of the Hall of Fame. It is an impressive place from what I

could see on tv.

7. The people in the audience: David Pearson, Bud Moore, Cotton Owens and so many

more of the pioneers from the years BEFORE 1980 D.W.

So, folks, I'm admitting I was wrong with the way I thought of NASCAR. Sure, I still don't like a lot of things, but I grew up on NASCAR. My life always revolved around NASCAR racing. I remember the days in high school when I would have discussions with the stick and ball folks and would say "one day racing is going to be bigger than all that". Well, not quite yet, but it has surely come a long way. Watching the glitz and glitter of the All Star Race brings it to the forefront. It's a spectable, yet still a sport (ask Kyle Busch about that) and the fans of today, most of them, are as dedicated to the sport as I was at one time, although maybe not for exactly the same reasons.

NASCAR is, through the Hall of Fame and the efforts of Winston Kelly and his staff, and others, acknowledging the history as I remember it and as I want it remembered. The history I've told my grandsons about and the history I hope to continue sharing with anyone who will listen from The Historic Columbia Speedway, The Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway, the Middle Georgia Raceway, all those places so vital to the recollections of we senior citizens of the NASCAR Nation. Although I know there are some in our group who will burn me at the stake for hearesy, I'm once again a proud supporter of NASCAR. I may not like everything about it, but then I NEVER really did like EVERYTHING.

So, let it never be forgot, that once there was a SPORT where the bravest of all set out on the road to bring stock car racing into the forefront of sports. Through those men and women and WE fans, we made it. It's though the fans hanging out here, for the most part, that NASCAR made it. Big Bill and Bill, Jr. worked for it. So many drivers worked for it.

But, as The King said at the ceremony, "without the fans , there would be no NASCAR". Remember, folks, WE built it. Now, WE need to tweak it a little. It'll come around. It didn't go "to hell in a handbasket" overnight, and it's not going to come back overnight,but let's keep pluggin and let's make an effort to be sure NASCAR knows we're still around. When you visit The Hall of Fame, let everyone there know you're with Racers Reunion and very respectfully share what OUR mission is, which is the SAME misson they have. We're in this together. Let's show them Racers Reunion is the real thing.

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

Racers Reunion

Stock Car Racing History

Applause for you Mr. Mallonee! Great description of what we have going on here. Love it so!!!!

Sky Diving

Current NASCAR

I'm with you Johnny. Great scenario thought out there.

The Hills Were Alive With The Sound of .....

Stock Car Racing History

Music? Yep, we had that. Matt Dylan and the Midnight Steel Band. Awesome entertainers and really great guys as well. I finally got to meet Matt and he is as genuine as he comes across in his videos and interviews. I am impressed with his music, but I'm more impressed with the man.

Race Cars? Yep, that too. The flat head Ford group (many of the cars from the movie) and the Vintage Car group. Not to mention the Buck Baker Driving School giving rides around the track (hitting the rev-limiter on every lap it seemed). And, I owe a special thanks to Susan (believe the last name is Kimmel) in the 1965 Mercury Comet number 67. I was watching the cars circle the track and suddenly I hear what sounds like one under full throttle as I look up to turn four and here she comes! Flat out! By that time of the day I was sitting on the front row of the grandstands down towards turn one from the flag stand. Man, it felt good when that wind from the car (and the particles of asphalt) hit my face. Thanks Susan!!!

Race talk??? Yep, a lot of that. But, if you know me, that's not surprising. I spent from 11:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. talking to as many people as I could, telling them about Racers Reunion and asking them to join and share in this site. I note one has already done so. I spent more than a few minutes talking with two guys, 18 and 19, from nearby, Tyler and Cory, both of whom represent the best of American youth. They are supposed to join as well, but so far, I don't see them on. Gene Hobby, Billy Biscoe, Mike Sykes and Daniel Sykes were all very talkative yesterday and most enjoyable. I am learning so much from Billy Biscoe. I always enjoy and appreciate the time I can share with him.

Where did all this happen? The Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway, that's where. Many thanks to Todd Morris for arranging VIP status for me for the day and to Jeff Gilder for allowing me to represent Racers Reunion there. It was indeed a memorable (and very hot) day.

When I turned off northbound I-77 yesterday onto northbound highway 421, it was just after the first hill and first curve that I could see the Brushy mountains. Knowing the history of that area and the stories of moonshine stills, runners, and revenuers, my imagination was going wild. When I entered the track I was somewhat shocked as to how much smaller it appeared than I remember from my trips up there in the 70s. There are trees growing through the Junior Johnson Grandstands on the backstraight, and there is fading and peeling paint in a lot of places, but it was BEAUTIFUL!! There is a part of NASCAR history which was a shining jewel until its closing in the late nineties, victim of dollars and no sense.

As I worked by way through the garage area, infield and the pits (several times) I would catch a shadow out of the corner of my eye which appeared as the Bobby Allison Coke Machine, or the Petty blue Plymouth, or the number 11 Budweiser T-bird of Bill Elliott. All but the T-Bird were just my imagination wishing, you know? But what wonderful memories

came back to me as I spent the day there.

Where, you may wonder, is this magical wonderland that has the capability of transporting one back in time? North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. If you've been a race fan for a long time, you will remember the duels there throughout from the late 40s til the later 90s. Although I probably only attended 6 or 8 races there, the radio and television coverage always seemed a little more "real" when the races came from Wilkesboro. I guess part of that is, as I was reminded yesterday, most of the people from around there are REAL. Absolutely fabulous.

Yes, Junior Johnson did appear and was very jovial and accommodating. It was, I'm sure, a good feeling to see his "home" track once more humming with activity. And, Rex White. What can you say about this guy Rex White? Every event I have been too in my two years of being a member here, Rex was there. He is always in the best of spirits and seems to me to be just as energetic as he was when he won the 1960 what was then the Grand National Championship (now The Cup Series). What a wonderful ambassador for the sport! Everytime I shake his hand I feel honored to be in his presence.

So, as the sun sank below the Brushy Mountains, I left early to head back to Columbia. For the first 100 miles, I was silent inside the van as my mind ran through years of memories not only of North Wilkesboro but also of all the tracks that played a part in making the sport of stock car racing such an attractive sponsor/tv package. Without North Wilkesboro, Columbia, Middle Georgia, and many others, there would be no Daytona, no California, no Texas, no Kansas. Without North Wilkesboro, there would be no Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon (ok they would probably exist but you wouldn't know about them).

What a wonderful world this Racers Reunion is! What a wonderful adventure I have every time I'm able to be a part of any gathering of the true Legends of the sport. What a wonderful opportunity I have to spread the word that there IS a history prior to 1980 and we need to remember that history, honor that history and the men and women who made it so. Tyler and Cory, the burden is on you guys, and the other young folks I talked with yesterday. Never forget that there was, once upon a time, red dirt rising all across the southeastern U.S. From that fertile red dirt came our heroes. God bless them all!!!!

Tim

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

Self Portrait

General

I agree Tommie. I enjoy seeing the faces of those while chatting or whatever. I had to get help uploading mine because I didn't know how to do it and that may be the problem with some folks. Anyways, you and I know what the other looks like so we're way cool!!!!!!Tim

What????? Where have I heard this before?????

General

The State Newspaper, Sports Section, May 12, 2010, headline as to the opening of NASCAR's Hall of Fame reads "PUSH FOR REVIVAL". Sub-headline reads "NASCAR hopes its new stock car mecca will help older fans remember the sports roots -- and boost interest among younger enthusiasts". Sound familiar? Read Jeff Gilder's Mission Statement for Racers Reunion. I think it's time NASCAR and Racers Reunion work together for exactly that purpose. I would bet Jeff is down for it. What about it Mr. France?

More to come on this later.

Tim

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

Yes, I would like that

Stock Car Racing History

Billy Biscoe called me out over my blog this week about the "spin" being put on the Darlington publicity this week stating that he perceived I am still "out of sorts" because NASCAR took away my Labor Day tradition when they took The Southern 500 from Darlington Raceway. Last night, I watched the SCETV special on "The Lady in Black" and one of the NASCAR "experts" being interviewed said something to the effect that moving the Southern 500 from Labor Day weekend was the start of disenchantment with NASCAR for many fans. I plan to go back and watch the recording to see who that was, but it I'm thinking it may have been Jim Hunter of NASCAR. but don't quote me on that........... yet.

Because I have the utmost respect for Mr. Biscoe, I examined my motive for my strong adversity to much of what NASCAR does these days. Briefly stated, I came up with these points:

1. I grew up in a time when short track racing was going on all around me and I was there; Columbia, Savannah, Augusta, Newberry, Myrtle Beach, Hickory, Metrolina. The guys driving the cars were real. They towed the cars there, worked on the cars, drove the cars, and towed them to the next race. I was even one of those guys for a few years. Most of us did it for the sport because, God knows, there wasn't a lot of money to be won and, admit it, in the 50s and 60s, a race driver was not usually invited to high society events.

2. I traveled, with my family, from track to track from the mid sixties to the eighties, in my parents motor home, with loads of friends going along, to attend the Grand National/Winston Cup races all over. We would park in the infield and hada regular group of folks from NC, GA, VA, FLA and TN who would circle up our motorhomes with a secure "impound area" inside where grills would be set up, tables, chairs, and we would eat the best food, enjoy the best conversations, and watch the best races at all the big tracks in the Southeast. We lived for those weekends and made friendships for life of our traveling bands of gypies. Somewhere in the late nineties, tracks started forcing us to park in specified parking spots, sometimes so close together you couldn't even extend your motorhome awing, prohibited camp fires, and general ruined the ambiance of an infield. It was no longer possible to establish our "camp" because of the forced parking arrangements. Just not the same so we stopped going in the infield.

3. Having given up the infield, which I never imagined I would do, I began to experience the grandstands. Charlotte Motor Speedway was not that bad an experience as I've sat in those stands more than once. Restrooms are, for the most part, well kept and concessions are within a short walk no matter what seats I had. However, my beloved Darlington is another story. I attended a race there by myself once, having bought a single ticket half way up the stands a little to the left of the start-finish line. At the last minutes, just before the race started, two Dale Earnhardt SR. fans show up, one with the ticket to the seat on my right,the other with the ticket to the seat on my left. The cooler they carried was just a little smaller than a mini-Cooper but that was not the major problem Both of these guys would make the contestants on The Biggest Loser look like Twiggy moders. I could see there was not way that was going to work being in the middle of that so I offered to allow them to sit together and I would take the outer seat. Instead, they preferred to keep their "assigned" seats. I absolutely could not move. I couldn't even bend my arm to drink a coke but they had no problem downing Bud after Bud. By lap 30, I excused myself and went to the back of the stands and stood the rest of the race. A couple years later, I returned to Darlington, again by myself, this time with a very expensive ticket to The Pearson Grandstand. I took my seat about an hour before racetime to watch the show and was really impressed with the view. As people began to enter the stands, my "seat mates' soon showed up, a lovely couple to my right having been married just two weeks before, and two "kids" about 19 or 20 to my left. We enjoyed some good old time race talk before the race started. Everything was fine, the view, the company, the ice cold Cokes and the sandwiches I had brought until it was finally time for that trip to the restroom as the result of my three cokes.

Let me tell you, that trip to the rest room was the classic example of a good day gone bad, terribly bad. At that time, I could only fine ONE rest room on the Pearson Grandstand tower and the line was about 100 guys long. In fact, I kept checking to make sure this wasn't the ladies restroom where there is always a line. Finally, after 45 minutes it was time to enter the small facility. As I stepped into the crowded "closet" my first thought was "Where is Moses when I need him to part this water so I can walk". The place was flooded, about 2 inches deep in water. Without being too descriptive, let's just say that experience is still so vivid in my mind that I sometimes find myself checking my shoe to see if that drunk to my left REALLY did that on my shoe. I could not believe that in the classy setting of The Pearson Grandstand, that was the best Darlington could do to maintain restroom facilities.

On the way to my seat, I stopped by concessions to get some popcorn. Never, in the anals of history, has there been worse popcorn. I have no idea how much ingenuity it takes to ruin popcorn, but that concessioniare managed to set precedence. It was that day when I decided that I will go to races ONLY where I have pit access or have seats in a corporate box. I have managed a couple of pit access experiences, but so far, corporate America has found no advantage of having me as their guest. Much the pity. I now kick back my recliner on raceday, make microwave popcorn, and when I have to use the facilities, there is no line, no flooded floors and it's only a few steps down the hall.

Do I miss being at the track? You bet I do! As my friend Billy Biscoe says, televsion can't do justice to the actual sport. What you see as speed on television is NOTHING. Stand in the pits, down near the fourth turn of any track, and watch the cars as they come off the turn. Unbelieveable. I get chill bumps EVERYTIME at the track when the "Gentlemen Start Your Engines" is intoned by whomever is the honoree, and I always "shake" during the parade laps. Watching on tv, I am only thinking that I MUST find the mute button on my remote before the dreaded combo of Larry Mac and D.W. screech on my nerves with the "Reach up there one more time......" and the most awful words in motorsports "B.....y, B....y, B.....y". So, Billy, I do want to be there but there are other reasons, besides the money it would take, that keeps me away.

So, the bottom line of my "problems" started in the mid-nineties when I began to feel that NASCAR had no respect for the fan, little respect for the competitors, but a HUGE respect for the corporate sponsors. I, along with many, many friends, had supported NASCAR through all those years when there were no corporate sponsors. We were buying the tickets and the souveniers to support the sport and our favorite driver. I actually had, at one time, a t-shirt for Richard Petty in 1964. That may have been the first driver's t-shirt on the market because I can't remember others.

The problems continued as we went to tracks and suddenly it was like the officials didn't care if we were there or not. Just give up your money, park where they told you, watch the race and then leave as quickly as you can so they can go home. Even at Darlington, the true home of Southern Hospitality, seemed as if it was a thing of the far distant past. I was not having problems with new, younger drivers coming on the scene replacing my heroes of so many years because time moves on and people get older and retire to assume other duties in the sport. We had some really good up and coming drivers and the competitiion was really that bad.

Other things were going on in the sport that caused me to wonder, sometimes question whether or not I would remain so dedicated to it. More and more I watched NASCAR begin to give up traditiions to dance with the corporate dollar and the marketing geniuses who obtained their marketing degrees from schools so far removed from the beginnings of racing that they were clueless that NASCAR even existed. Then, somewhere in career day, they were offered a position with a marketing concern for a large corporation and began to exploit the sport. NASCAR bought into it totally. A successful marketing statergy with R.J. Reynolds Winston Brand has proved most successful so the "suits" in Daytona were ready to be raped by the corporate guru guys and their deep bankaccounts. The common fan, most of us here I think, were "thrown under the bus" and forgotten.

It's almost poetic justice now that the corporate bank accounts are now not so bottomless and sponsorship deals are more and more difficult to come by and NASCAR is searching for answers. The Answer was always here. It's me. It's most of you on Racers Reunion. They need us back now, but "they" have to admit it. I never really left because NASCAR and stock car racing is my life and has been for coming up on 60 years. But I'm no longer tricked by marketing efforts to entice me back by saying things with no meaning. There is a heritage to racing. There IS a Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, Rex White and so many others who need to be guests of honor at EVERY race they wish to attend, with a special corporate box for ONLY them and their families. There needs to be an effort by NASCAR to ensure the full and complete history of the sport, from the meeting in the Streamline Hotel in 1948, or even before, is incorporated into publications and dvds to be placed in school libraries and public libraries throughout the country. There needs to be more authentic racing historic shows on The Speed Channel during prime time.

Oh, and Billy, you are correct. It was taking away my Labor Day tradition at Darlington that broke the camel's back. The day I heard that, I knew that I was no longer the "fan" NASCAR always exalts as so important to the sport. I was just an old man who used to get dirty at the tracks when they were dirt. I was the old man who would travel to races all over the southeast counting down to the pennies to make sure I could get there and back. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Lays potato chips were the mainstays of my diet back then. Taking the Southern 500 from Darlington on Labor Day weekend was the final blow to telling me that all those years of going to races and preaching the sport in school and to whomever else would listen meant nothing. I was once called "The Billy Graham for Stock Car racing" by a friend who said I should be working for NASCAR in public relations. No wonder "The Lady" wears black. It is in mourning.

Tim

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

In 1951 NASCAR's relationship with the Newspapers wasn't what it is today.

General

Jim, how poignant a story. Did you buy the advertisement? I hope not.I do know that now NASCAR,for the most part, controls the press. I have two very good stories on that point, both from very reliable sources (the actual parties) which I can't share here because of possible repercussions to those individuals. It now seems you don't have to "buy" it, NASCAR just has to approve it.Tim

Lady In Black-Darlington, SC/ETV Show tonight at 9 p.m.

Stock Car Racing History

Rob, I am most sincere in my compliment of the program. It was an incredible look into a part of NASCAR history, Darlington history, and my history. The D.W. mouth to which I refer is Darrell Waltrip in the broadcast booth describing some of the action. Most notably annoying was the call on the Ricky Craven/Kurt Busch last couple laps. Not only does his voice grate on my nerves (as it does many other folks) but continually shouting "come on baby" is not the place of an announcer of a race. Admittedly I have problems with D. W. and have put out an open invitation here several months ago to sit down and discuss my distain on his attempts to be knowledgeable about anything but he never accepted the invitation.Again, thank you and the ETV folks for a job well done.Tim

Lady In Black-Darlington, SC/ETV Show tonight at 9 p.m.

Stock Car Racing History

Kudos to South Caroline ETV for the production. Great job guys! Had some really historic footage, some I haven't even seen and I thought I had seen almost everything on Darlington. I was almost, and the key is ALMOST able to overlook that disgusting D.W. mouth. It is unfortunate that he was involved in describing some of the action. It was also a great added bonus to note that on the credits at the end, was "Racers Reunion.com". Not exactly sure why that makes me feel so proud.By the way, for those of you who couldn't see the show, it can be ordered on dvd from SCETV's web site. Not sure of the price, I just heard that announced as it was going off.Tim