@michael-niedwick11 years ago
Ibelieve I raced with Red at Middle Ga. I drove the yellow Plymouth #12 for John Connell.
@renee-langford-sullivan11 years ago
Hi Michael - Yes, I'm sure you raced with my Daddy at MGR. He was there from 1969-1977. His career was cut short when he had a heart attack and open heart surgery at age 42. Doctor's didn't think he was going to make it so he had my Mama sell his stuff. I remember that he sold a quick change unit for $400 (a steal, according to him). I'm delighted that you remember him. Ol' Red loved cars and engines of any kind and when the ol' boy passed on, my brother, mother and I had the pleasure of disposing of 15 vehicles (some running; some not), along with tons and tons and tons and tons....did I say tons?....of motors, engine's (2 were flatheads), transmissions, hubcaps galore, and other parts. We sold one, junked some and kept some. The last thing he and I did on Sunday before he passed on Monday was to watch a NASCAR race on Speed and then we watched the midget cars on a dirt track. I thought for sure he was going to come out of that bed as his adrenal started pumping as he watched them slide around the turns. He was all about cars! Bless his heart, I miss him every single day but I know he is looking down from above and smiling as I attempt to represent him and his racing career.
@michael-niedwick11 years ago
Renee. I raced with your dad at Middle Ga Raceway in 1974. We (my car owner and I) were good 'track buddies' on Saturday nights. Anything either of us needed, we would jump in and help. In the summer of 1975 I was sent to Germany with the USAF. While there, Francis Sullivan wrote me a letter telling me that your dad had passed away of a heart attack I believe. I remember how sad I felt because not being a Ga native, he and everyone at Middle Ga Raceway me feel very welcome. The guy I drove for was the late John Connell. John owned a cylinder head shop in Warner Robins and we did the heads for your dad. I personally prepped and assembled them. That was the first time I drove a race car and your dad took me under his wing and helped me more than you will ever know. I was told back in the spring of this year that the Middle Ga reunion was going to be held on Sept 14. My wife and I planned our vacation around that date. The day after the reunion was held, I found out I was told the wrong date. I WILL BE THERE NEXT YEAR FOPR SURE!!!
@renee-langford-sullivan11 years ago
Michael - My Daddy had two heart attacks in his lifetime. He actually survived the first one in 1977 but had another when he was 72 and actually survived that surgery too but he also have CHF and COPD and doctor's thought he had lymphoma too but were unable to do a biopsy because of the other conditions and after he died, we didn't order an autopsy. He loved racing until he took his last breath! : ) I read your posts to my Mama and it means a lot to us that you remember him. Thank you for letting me know.
@johnny-mallonee11 years ago
Renee, I think you will find that photo was taken at Crazy 8 Speedway. Im going through some old film hunting a frame for you. Not sure if I got one but if so you will get it first.....------------------------- memories
@renee-langford-sullivan11 years ago
Johnny - it could have been. He raced where ever he could. ; ). I've got about 40 reels of super 8 film all of which has racing of some kind on it either before or after family...lol
@michael-niedwick11 years ago
Renee, I understand heart problems. I myself am recovering from a triple heart by-pass. My Dr's don't understand how I am still alive. My "widow maker" artery was 100% blocked. It's been 4 hard years of life style changes since my surgery.Johnny, not sure it was ever called Crazy 8 speedway, but was known as Houston Co Fairgrounds. The last few races that were ever run there, Francis Sullivan promoted and I was the flagman. They did run figure 8 there in the 70's and Francis S. had one of his worst wrecks there. He and his Mustang were hit in the driver door by A.W. Vickers in a cougar. My future wife was there that night and made me promise never to run a figure 8. Well, the very next week I was hit in my 64 chevelle #27. I was fine but the car was a mess. That was the last figure 8 I ever ran.
@johnny-mallonee11 years ago The track on Dunbar road started life called Crazy 8 Speedway-- I ran the very first race there and set on the pole that nite,also had my photo in the Warner Robins Sun .The Houston County speedway was over on hiway 96 where the Dragstrip was .. Both had figure 9 tracks in them
@michael-niedwick11 years ago
That was all before my time. I used to drive my car from the shop to the track on Dunbar Rd. I wasn't aware of a track on 96 other than the drag strip. After I quit driving, I crewed for Ray Miller who lived and had a shop not far from the drag strip. We could hear the drag cars at his shop.
@johnny-mallonee11 years ago Micheal,you must have lived real close to Francis. He lived across and a little down towards Elberta from the Crazy 8 Speedway. Here is a photo of the crazy 8 speedway taken in 1993 from google earth.And yes I think the Fairgrounds was west of here but was after the track closed.
@johnny-mallonee11 years ago And here is a photo from 1993 with the track on hiway 96 still visible. This one was called Houston County raceway. the road leading into the school that was built where the drag strip and racetrack is shown. hope this clears up some misconception of the two tracks..
@michael-niedwick11 years ago
I lived with Francis for a little while in 1977. We bought a house in Byron in 1978but I kept my race car at his shop. He was part owner of the #45 car. In 1979 when Middle Ga closed, I built my dirt late model and ran atDublin and Senora.
Ibelieve I raced with Red at Middle Ga. I drove the yellow Plymouth #12 for John Connell.
Hi Michael - Yes, I'm sure you raced with my Daddy at MGR. He was there from 1969-1977. His career was cut short when he had a heart attack and open heart surgery at age 42. Doctor's didn't think he was going to make it so he had my Mama sell his stuff. I remember that he sold a quick change unit for $400 (a steal, according to him). I'm delighted that you remember him. Ol' Red loved cars and engines of any kind and when the ol' boy passed on, my brother, mother and I had the pleasure of disposing of 15 vehicles (some running; some not), along with tons and tons and tons and tons....did I say tons?....of motors, engine's (2 were flatheads), transmissions, hubcaps galore, and other parts. We sold one, junked some and kept some. The last thing he and I did on Sunday before he passed on Monday was to watch a NASCAR race on Speed and then we watched the midget cars on a dirt track. I thought for sure he was going to come out of that bed as his adrenal started pumping as he watched them slide around the turns. He was all about cars! Bless his heart, I miss him every single day but I know he is looking down from above and smiling as I attempt to represent him and his racing career.
Renee. I raced with your dad at Middle Ga Raceway in 1974. We (my car owner and I) were good 'track buddies' on Saturday nights. Anything either of us needed, we would jump in and help. In the summer of 1975 I was sent to Germany with the USAF. While there, Francis Sullivan wrote me a letter telling me that your dad had passed away of a heart attack I believe. I remember how sad I felt because not being a Ga native, he and everyone at Middle Ga Raceway me feel very welcome. The guy I drove for was the late John Connell. John owned a cylinder head shop in Warner Robins and we did the heads for your dad. I personally prepped and assembled them. That was the first time I drove a race car and your dad took me under his wing and helped me more than you will ever know. I was told back in the spring of this year that the Middle Ga reunion was going to be held on Sept 14. My wife and I planned our vacation around that date. The day after the reunion was held, I found out I was told the wrong date. I WILL BE THERE NEXT YEAR FOPR SURE!!!
Michael - My Daddy had two heart attacks in his lifetime. He actually survived the first one in 1977 but had another when he was 72 and actually survived that surgery too but he also have CHF and COPD and doctor's thought he had lymphoma too but were unable to do a biopsy because of the other conditions and after he died, we didn't order an autopsy. He loved racing until he took his last breath! : ) I read your posts to my Mama and it means a lot to us that you remember him. Thank you for letting me know.
Renee, I think you will find that photo was taken at Crazy 8 Speedway. Im going through some old film hunting a frame for you. Not sure if I got one but if so you will get it first.....------------------------- memories
Johnny - it could have been. He raced where ever he could. ; ). I've got about 40 reels of super 8 film all of which has racing of some kind on it either before or after family...lol
Renee, I understand heart problems. I myself am recovering from a triple heart by-pass. My Dr's don't understand how I am still alive. My "widow maker" artery was 100% blocked. It's been 4 hard years of life style changes since my surgery.Johnny, not sure it was ever called Crazy 8 speedway, but was known as Houston Co Fairgrounds. The last few races that were ever run there, Francis Sullivan promoted and I was the flagman. They did run figure 8 there in the 70's and Francis S. had one of his worst wrecks there. He and his Mustang were hit in the driver door by A.W. Vickers in a cougar. My future wife was there that night and made me promise never to run a figure 8. Well, the very next week I was hit in my 64 chevelle #27. I was fine but the car was a mess. That was the last figure 8 I ever ran.
I thought the Houston Co Fairgrounds was Dunbar Red.
The track on Dunbar road started life called Crazy 8 Speedway-- I ran the very first race there and set on the pole that nite,also had my photo in the Warner Robins Sun .The Houston County speedway was over on hiway 96 where the Dragstrip was .. Both had figure 9 tracks in them
That was all before my time. I used to drive my car from the shop to the track on Dunbar Rd. I wasn't aware of a track on 96 other than the drag strip. After I quit driving, I crewed for Ray Miller who lived and had a shop not far from the drag strip. We could hear the drag cars at his shop.
Micheal,you must have lived real close to Francis. He lived across and a little down towards Elberta from the Crazy 8 Speedway. Here is a photo of the crazy 8 speedway taken in 1993 from google earth.And yes I think the Fairgrounds was west of here but was after the track closed.
And here is a photo from 1993 with the track on hiway 96 still visible. This one was called Houston County raceway. the road leading into the school that was built where the drag strip and racetrack is shown. hope this clears up some misconception of the two tracks..
I lived with Francis for a little while in 1977. We bought a house in Byron in 1978but I kept my race car at his shop. He was part owner of the #45 car. In 1979 when Middle Ga closed, I built my dirt late model and ran atDublin and Senora.