@dave-fulton12 years ago
We sure have enjoyed the stories of the Ted Hairfield Grand National adventure and really appreciate the behind the scenes look at what happened at Commonwealth Ford.
@dave-fulton12 years ago
Folks, y'all need to go to this link to read Mr. Cottrell's amazing and hilarious stories of what happened to the Ted Hairfield #72 1963 Ford Grand national car on this ramp at Commonewealth Ford in Richmond, VA: http://stockcar.racersreunion.com/photo/1963-daytona-1
@staunton-i-cottrell12 years ago
Don't overdo the credit. Commonwealth Ford moved from this location in Richmond around 1965 and I worked at the new facility as a lot boy for one memorable year ('66 - '67) when the Mustangs were in their heyday. I do, however, remember entering a model car show at this building in 1961 when I was 12 years old. Anyway, that high school job is why I know Dick Strauss, who was President of Commonwealth Ford at the time, and it is he who has provided the memories. I am a sentimental kind of guy, though, and really enjoy good memories, so I was tickled to discover the other day during a motorcycle ride that the ramp from his Ted Hairfield story was still there. Had my Nikon with me and knew what needed to be done to add real photos to the mental images of that ramp in Dick Strauss's story.
@staunton-i-cottrell11 years ago I was doing a little research the other day about the 1963 Daytona race and ran across a site that listed the entrants and the results of the race that day (http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1963-07/W ). Mr. Dick Straus's memory of the Commonwealth Ford entry wasn't far off the mark at all! He said that they only completed one lap in an attempt to at least take home $500. The results page does show that the (1963) Commonwealth Ford driven by Ted Hairfield completed 11 laps, but..... a video documentary of that race clearly showed that the first 10 laps were run under caution in an effort to dry out the track. So, Mr. Straus was pretty much on the mark! Also, they collected $550 for coming in 49th place (out of 50), not $500. Curtis Crider in a 1962 Mercury had the distinction of finishing at the bottom of the pack, having completed only 4 laps due to "handling" problems. Must have been some pretty bad handling when you couldn't even drive it under caution!
@dave-fulton11 years ago
The #66 Commonwealth Ford car driven by Johnny Allen was owned by Ratus Walters. Ratus' father, Ray Walters owned the famous Cafe Burgundy restaurant in Washington, DC - the sponsor on Ratus 1962 Ford when it won the 1962 Southern 500 with Larry Frank at the wheel.
We sure have enjoyed the stories of the Ted Hairfield Grand National adventure and really appreciate the behind the scenes look at what happened at Commonwealth Ford.
Folks, y'all need to go to this link to read Mr. Cottrell's amazing and hilarious stories of what happened to the Ted Hairfield #72 1963 Ford Grand national car on this ramp at Commonewealth Ford in Richmond, VA: http://stockcar.racersreunion.com/photo/1963-daytona-1
Don't overdo the credit. Commonwealth Ford moved from this location in Richmond around 1965 and I worked at the new facility as a lot boy for one memorable year ('66 - '67) when the Mustangs were in their heyday. I do, however, remember entering a model car show at this building in 1961 when I was 12 years old. Anyway, that high school job is why I know Dick Strauss, who was President of Commonwealth Ford at the time, and it is he who has provided the memories. I am a sentimental kind of guy, though, and really enjoy good memories, so I was tickled to discover the other day during a motorcycle ride that the ramp from his Ted Hairfield story was still there. Had my Nikon with me and knew what needed to be done to add real photos to the mental images of that ramp in Dick Strauss's story.
I was doing a little research the other day about the 1963 Daytona race and ran across a site that listed the entrants and the results of the race that day ( http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1963-07/W ). Mr. Dick Straus's memory of the Commonwealth Ford entry wasn't far off the mark at all! He said that they only completed one lap in an attempt to at least take home $500. The results page does show that the (1963) Commonwealth Ford driven by Ted Hairfield completed 11 laps, but..... a video documentary of that race clearly showed that the first 10 laps were run under caution in an effort to dry out the track. So, Mr. Straus was pretty much on the mark! Also, they collected $550 for coming in 49th place (out of 50), not $500. Curtis Crider in a 1962 Mercury had the distinction of finishing at the bottom of the pack, having completed only 4 laps due to "handling" problems. Must have been some pretty bad handling when you couldn't even drive it under caution!
The #66 Commonwealth Ford car driven by Johnny Allen was owned by Ratus Walters. Ratus' father, Ray Walters owned the famous Cafe Burgundy restaurant in Washington, DC - the sponsor on Ratus 1962 Ford when it won the 1962 Southern 500 with Larry Frank at the wheel.