As a benefit of this wonderful resource I bought a copy of "Gold and Glory", a book on Charlie Wiggins and the men who started the path which Mr. Scott followed. Quite a book. Having done that, I'm back on the hunt for more on the question: "Who hired Charlie Scott, and why?". There's an answer out there somewhere, and plauditsfor KarlKiekhafer.Thank you all foryour inspiration and references!
Norman
Mr. Biscoe: Thanks for the lead.
That's exactly what I am trying to do - get some of the good stories that are either untold or mistold and get them on record. For every well-known, feel-good story that is out there I can bet there's 10 more that are more amazing, deeper, and more illustrative. There's got to be a story in why a multi-millionaire (back when you really had to earn it - not like now..) who could've chosen virtually any racing driver he wanted, chose a man he never would've encountered socially or virtually any other way to drive a potentially winning car. Just ponder for a minute what the outcome would've been if history had tilted just a bit and given Mr. Scott a shot at the win.
I'm on my way to using that lead, and all the other ones I've been given from this wonderful resource. I even ordered a copy of "Gold and Glory", a hardbound one, to keep me on the track of this mans' story. For if nothing else, this site represents what is best about us in this country; what made America great was not its wealth, but its people.
Norman
..and to Dave Fulton, thanks for the link to that story. I actually have a vintage Black American Racers Association T shirt that I bought back in the 70's when BARA still existed. The bit made for good reading.
Thanks to all - I knew this material was out there, it just hasn't been compiled as yet: but I think that will happen soon. These men, forced into a subculture of a subculture, still managed to thrive after a fashion, tour in some ways, and be "stars" in the local Negro newspapers that existed in their time. On rare occasions they can be seen in the backgrounds of photos, or we knew they were there somewhere.
But someone knows the real story (an historian of Karl Kiekhafer?) and will be able to tell us all how Charlie got behind the wheel of the best and fastest stock car of his era. It has to be a good story. Has to be....
Thanks for the reply. I had heard stories that there was a Colored circuit similar to the "Gold and Glory Sweepstakes" series and that he had raced in it. I had also seen references to him having a career after his Kiekhafer days, which must have been heady onesindeed. I will continue to pursue those leads.
The one about motorcycles was new so that may bearfruit. Do you have an approximate era for the Atlant Racing Circuit? Gold and Glory was mid-20's-mid-30's. It sounds like this was after that, or perhaps immediately following?
And thank you for not comparing him to a waterboy.
Norman
Norman
Doubt if Karl Kiekhafer would have put a "water boy" behind the wheel of America's most potent racing sedan when he literally could have any driver.Also, "folks" might've raced anywhere and everywhere but take it from someone old enough to have been turned away from a grandstand seat because there was no "ColoredSection", not all folks were able to do so. That's why I'm asking about this man and the process that occurred to get him into the seat of that Chrysler 300.
Thank you anyway for the reply.
And by the way, he finished 19th, ahead of teammate Buck Baker.
Norman
Any driver coming out of nowhere to finish in the Top 20 at Daytona would pretty memorable. If that driver were driving his first NASCAR race it would be huge news. And if it were for a driver on a team the stature of Hendrick or Roush, it would be a miracle.
How about if that driver was black, it was 1950's NASCAR and he virtually disappeared afterwards? OK, it's Hollywood movie time.
The driver was Charlie Scott ofthe Kiekhafer Chryslerteam.
I understand that Mr. Scott was still living in Georgia a few years ago, but I can't find any reference to show that he is still with us. I'm fascinated by the process that had to have occurred for him to have raced his way into a team that included the Flock brothers, Frank Mundy, Buck Baker and Speedy Thompson. How did Karl Kiekhafer even hear of him? There's got to be a good story in here somewhere. Anybody have any background? Surely it cannot have been his first race, so where and what did he race before?
Spirit
