@bobby-williamson14 years ago
This is a photo from the infamous Myrtle Beach Thanksgiving Day race of 1969. The speedway failed to advertise a field "limit".........when 67 race cars entered.........all 67 started the race! It was pandimonium. The cars at the front of the pack had caught the cars at the rear when the green flag was unfurled.Sam's crash happened right at the flagstand. I didn't see how it began, but the flipping #82 eventually came to rest, right-side-up, sittling cross-wise the front stretch, with its driver unconscious. In all the mayhem, another race car T-boned Sam, right in the driver's door, as his left arm was still dangling out of the window (pre-window net era). 2010 "National Dirt Track Hall of Fame" inductee, Billy Scott, of Union, SC was also involved in the crash, and suffered a broken leg.Watching all of this from atop the family's tow rig, Mrs. Ard fainted and fell from the top of the rig.Coincidentally, and somewhat appropriately, Sam's previous ride, the John Altman owned #84, with Wilmington, NC's Jackie Rogers aboard won the 200 lap 1969 Thanksgiving Day Race. An event never to be forgotten by those in attendance. My dad, Glen Williamson was among the 67 entrants, and finished the race, can't remember our position. I was just glad we had survived........not many did!
@pete-banchoff14 years ago
Wow, a first hand account of what happened. Only on Racers Reunion! Thanks Bobby.Pete
This is a photo from the infamous Myrtle Beach Thanksgiving Day race of 1969. The speedway failed to advertise a field "limit".........when 67 race cars entered.........all 67 started the race! It was pandimonium. The cars at the front of the pack had caught the cars at the rear when the green flag was unfurled.Sam's crash happened right at the flagstand. I didn't see how it began, but the flipping #82 eventually came to rest, right-side-up, sittling cross-wise the front stretch, with its driver unconscious. In all the mayhem, another race car T-boned Sam, right in the driver's door, as his left arm was still dangling out of the window (pre-window net era). 2010 "National Dirt Track Hall of Fame" inductee, Billy Scott, of Union, SC was also involved in the crash, and suffered a broken leg.Watching all of this from atop the family's tow rig, Mrs. Ard fainted and fell from the top of the rig.Coincidentally, and somewhat appropriately, Sam's previous ride, the John Altman owned #84, with Wilmington, NC's Jackie Rogers aboard won the 200 lap 1969 Thanksgiving Day Race. An event never to be forgotten by those in attendance. My dad, Glen Williamson was among the 67 entrants, and finished the race, can't remember our position. I was just glad we had survived........not many did!
Wow, a first hand account of what happened. Only on Racers Reunion! Thanks Bobby.Pete