We actually have the old H-M invoices where they billed for the mechanic's time and parts that were replaced on the car after each race, as well as the fuel and tires!
That's an interesting story I had never heard! I'm not sure about the car being taken from someone but I know Melvin bought and owned the car. H-M maintained and crewed it for him.
You probably went to Sambo's!
Melvinwas a site contractor and developer. He wasn't actually in the asphalt business. The track's original hotmix surface lasted for 20 years. The re-pave was the problem, for whatever reason. But the rest of the story is that instead of struggling with the hotmix that kept breaking up, he bought a 65' wide concrete slip form paver and had the track converted to concrete in '95! Problem solved. That was how Melvin operated, he loved a challenge and wouldn't rest until he conquered it. The first racetrack he ever built was the Georgetown Speedway in 1949. It held NASCAR sanctioned races for years. Hisracing history goes back to the beach at Daytona. Banjo Matthews drove one of his cars to the modified race win on the beach in '55 as well as the inaugaural modified race on the superspeedway in '59. Curtis Turner also won races in his cars.
I am not sure about Lil' Ralph's baby grand car but, we still own the '79 Capri with the Perkins engine Ralph built that was certified for 82 MPG. It went to Ohio to be certified and later they took it to Ford. They were told to leave the car and Ford would let them know if they were interested. Melvin and Ralph apparently told them they would have to pay first! The car came home and has been here ever since. We have kept it tagged and I still take it for a spin onoccassion!
With the recent discussion about the numbers of wins Bobby Allison has, 84 or 85, the car in the middle of the controversey is my interest. The car that Bobby drove to the Grand National win at Bowman Gray was a 1969 Mustang built by Holman Moody and owned by Melvin Joseph. I can't find any info on the car after the 1972 season. I am curious if anyone has any knowledge of the whereabouts of the car. When it was being raced through Holman Moody it was kept and maintained attheir shop by their people. Beyond that there is no trail. Any help is greatly appreciated.
