The Most Influential Cars in Georgia Racing History
By Cody Dinsmore
Cars and history are like bread and butter, they just have to be together. And for history in the state of Ga, automobiles are very important. In the days when you knew what a car was by just looking at the headlights, one was something to be proud of, even sometimes sacred. And in automobile racing throughout the south, cars were better than trophies and cash. From the beginning of stock car racing, there have been cars that have been favored for different reasons. In this article, I will read several cars for both Nascar and just in Georgia of my opinion that earns a place on this timeline.
The first, which probably everyone can agree on, is the 1939 Ford Coupe. Some people might say the 40, but look through all the pictures and videos from the 30s-40s, and most were 39 Standard models. Rated horsepower from the factory was either 60 or optional 85, but once master mechanics such as Red Vogt got a hold of such a car, it could turn close to 140 horsepower. This car was run everywhere, not just around Ga, as they were cheap to buy and cheap to buy speed parts for.
The next car in my opinion is the 1949-1953 Oldsmobile Rocket 88. It was favored because of the lines and the Rocket motor that could be modified. And like the 39 Ford, could be found easily. Lots of racers had these cars like Gober Sosebee, Red Byron, and Tim and Fonty Flock. The Olds wouldve had more wins in the early 50s if it werent for the Hudson Hornet. Speaking of which, The Hornet wouldve been on this list, but other Nascar, Ga folks didnt have Hudsons.
The next car, which is still ran to this day, is the 1955 Chevrolet. It was the first year for the small block v8 for the gm company. And believe it or not, It took Chevy from 1948 till 1955 to get its first win in Nascar, owned by Frank Christian and driven by Fonty Flock at Columbia South Carolina. The 55 was used heavily not only in Nascar, but all over Ga tracks even up until the mid 1970s. And today, a 55 is a common choice for vintage racing.
The next car on my list, is the 1961-1964 Ford Galaxie. Even though those years are very different, I believe that they were used heavily both in Nascar and on the weekly circuits. One especially would be the 1963 Galaxie Hardtop Fastback. It was very dominant in Nascar, and at tracks like the Peachbowl and Lakewood. They all were just as successful though.
The next car would be the 1965,66, and 67 Chevy Nova, or also called, the Chevy II. This car was a little different from any other car before it. It was a relatively small car, which came a few years after the compact car craze including the Ford Falcon and the Plymouth Valient. And since the Nova was a small car, that meant it was light weight and the small block motors, usually 350s, were so easy to find parts for and fairly simple to modify. This car never ran in Nascar, but some say it was just as successful as the 39 Ford on short tracks. Guys like Buck Simmons, Hank Grilot, Leon Sells, Charlie Mincey, and Mike Head all seen the drivers seat of a Nova at one point in their careers. The main competitor for the Nova was the Ford Falcon, which also won almost equally amounts of wins thanks to the likes of Jody Ridley and Bill Elliott. This car was typically ran up until the mid-late 70s, when the late model camaro fad took over.
Now to make the Mopar folks happy, I do also believe that both the Dodge Dart and Charger throughout the late 60s, were tough to beat. Even though two totally different cars, to me, they fall to the same category. The Dart was mildly successful running against the Falcon and the Nova, and the Charger could really put on a show on the big tracks. Both winged and regular versions really tore up Atlanta International, Macon, Middle Ga, and Jefco. A Charger with a big wing on the back was called a Daytona, and thats what won the 1970 Nascar Grand National Championship.
Now a lot of GM guys are probably wondering why Im leaving out the 67-69 Camaro. I just feel that that era of Camaro was used mainly for road racing and more professional series like Grand Am and Nascars Pony car series. But I decided to add yet another Chevy product to the list, (not that Im a GM guy, but they were so darn good on short tracks)Anyway, the second generation Camaro, which basically is all through the 70s. This time period was experiencing a new class coming about called Late Models. Now late models have been since the late 50s and early 60s, but were always considered newer cars. Now that Late Models had a changed meaning, the Camaro took choice. Late Models now featured new, gaudy looking wings and body modifications that made it look nothing really like a car. However, what ever was done to these cars that Charlie Mincey and company raced, won, and I mean several races in a row.
Another car I think that was influential to Georgia Racing History, was the Aero era of the Ford Thunderbird, lasting from 1983-1988. Throughout this span, the car was redesigned only once with a different front end. This car wasnt used as much on short tracks as it was in Nascar however, but to tie it in with Ga Racing History, weve got Bill Elliott. Bills first win in a new Thunderbird didnt come until the summer of 1984 at Michigan driving a red and white #9 sponsored by Coors. He did win one time in 1983, but that was with an older car. The Bird got two more wins from Bill that year along with many other drivers. But 1985 was the big year for both Bill and his Thunderbird. Together, they won 11 wins on Super Speedways plus a $1 Million bonus for winning three out of the four major races that year. He would lose the championship that year however. In 1987, Bill and his Bird earned yet another Daytona 500 victory setting the speed record there and the Talladega record that same year. Not only did the 212.809 mph lap set the Talladega record, but also the Nascar record. The next year in 1988, Elliott won the Winston Cup Championship in his Coors #9 Ford.
That was about the last of the REAL, new cars that raced. Everything now-a-days in both Dirt Late Models and Nascar are just fiberglass replicas. I would be inclined to say that the Ford Pinto would be on the list since it is still a favorite for the pony stock division at most short tracks, but I just cant bring myself to do such a thing.
Be sure to tune in next week where Ill begin a 5-week long tribute to each of the Georgia Racing Hall of Fames 2011 Inductees, which will be inducted into the hall of fame on October 21st, at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville, Ga.
-Cody
