Bobby Williamson
Peace Haven Speedway
Among the earliest of stock car tracks, Winston Salem's Peace Haven speedway dates to the very earliest days of Bill France, Alvin Hawkins and NASCAR. The big 1/2 miler opened in 1948 and hosted modified cars and motorcycles for the next decade or so, before being supplanted by neighboring Bowman Gray stadium. But as perhaps a fitting epitaph, some neighbors in the cul-de-sac complain that grass stuggles to grow where the coupes onces roared.
Wow, thanks for this satellite photo, Bobby! I hope one day you guys could do a little bit about Peace Haven Speedway on the radio show. It really does need and deserve the recognition. One of the Peace Haven drivers named Hilton Hill is still around. He really enjoyed talking about Peace Haven and all the old drivers with me. He still builds cars for his grandsons out of his shop in the Sedge Garden area of Winston-Salem for racing at Bowman-Gray Stadium.Would you mind if I saved this for my Peace Haven collection?
Robert, you are welcome to the satellite photo, please feel free to use in any way possible. Thanks for reminding me of Peace Haven, I was slightly aware of it, but it played a significant role in the growth and development of NASCAR/stock car racing. Here's a great site that I found on Peace Haven, you may already be aware of it but (if not) check it out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48793782@N08/tags/peacehavenspeedway/ Perhaps we should interview Mr. Hill on the radio, that would be something!
Thanks, Bobby. Hilton was close friends with many of the greats from Bowman-Gray and Peace Haven. He's a super guy with a deep love of racing and it's history. It would be great to try and get him on one of the shows.