Inaugural Vintage Championship Series Report Historic Cleveland County Fairgrounds Speedway

After more than three decades of silence, Saturday April 21, 2012 was the day racing returned to Historic Cleveland County Fairgrounds Speedway in Shelby, NC. Fans were treated to five divisions of racing, one exhibition, and several vintage cars for show. The weather was awesome, the track held up wonderfully, and there are five drivers who can add to theirresume "Vintage Championship Series North Carolina State Champion".

The day began with an autograph session including legendary drivers who raced at this historic Speedway. Grand Marshal, Ned Jarrett, Rex White, Paul Lewis, Jimmy Helms, Marvin Panch, Brownie King, and some I may have missed were on hand for interaction with some eager fans

Open ceremonies began with an invocation, Color Guard presentation, and the National Anthem sang by teenage singing sensation, McKayla Reese. Then a few words from our Grand Marshal, Ned Jarrett, and three parade lap including all cars... old school style to the tune of Dixie, led to 100 laps of dust-free green flag racing. The entire racing program took less than two hours.

Everyone involved should be very proud to have been part of this event that ran as well as any dirt race I've ever attended...actually better than most. From the guys prepping the track, to the guys parking cars and race cars, to the turn marshals and safety crew, to the wrecker crews (yes we needed them several times), to Mike Sykes the flagman, to Jerry Smith the announcer (who kept the crowd pumped beginning to end), to Billy Biscoe the Pit steward, to the safety inspection team, the gate crews, trophy girls, big Poppa, Larry-the-starter guy (no relation to the cable guy), photographers, hospitality team, Karen Biscoe the radio coordinator (bigger job than you might imagine), all the drivers, the legendary guests, magazine sales and pr (Dangerous Devin and The Legend), the real Jimmy (not Jimmie like a girl)) Johnson, and especially the fans.

Michael W smith saw his dream (bringing racing back to Shelby) and the fruits of his long hours of labor result in one of the best and most significant events I can remember. When most of us are gone..on to the big race track in the sky, the history books will most certainlyrecordthe accounts of this day and the effortsleadingup to it.

Many thanks to all worked to create this dream and to those whoparticipated in seeing it become reality!

2012 RacersReunion Vintage Championship Series

North Carolina State Champions

Steve Davis Southeastern Vintage Club V8 Division

Don Moore Southeastern Vintage Club 6 Cylinder Division

Pete Corey Jr Bell & Bell Vintage Modified Series V8 Division

Sherman Garris Bell & Bell Vintage Modified Series 6 Cylinder Division

Marty Spittle Old School Vintage Club

You guys nailed it, that was a hoot

http://www.shelbystar.com/video/c/1173324576/news/1575474957001/-tss-sports-tss-news

Pete Corey Jr carries the left front off #2 at Shelby on his way to his first ever victory which gave him the title of Bell & Bell Vintage Modified (V8) VCS NC State Champ.

Great shot!

Photo by Ben Earp/Shelby Star

Bobby (the Bopper) Williamson and Sherman Garris battle off turn 4 at Shelby.

Story from the Star
Racing roars back to life at Fairgrounds
Saturday, Apr 21 2012, 8:40 pm
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Clark Leonard
The cars roared to life. The red dirt flew. More than a few wrecks were part of the festivities. The grandstand was nearly full by days end.

Racing returned to the Cleveland County Fairgrounds Speedway for the first time since 1974 on Saturday.

Ned Jarrett, a two-time NASCAR champion, was the grand marshal for the Racers Reunion event ahead of Fridays first night of Good Old Days Series races at the track.

Jarrett won the final two Grand National (now Sprint Cup) races at the Fairgrounds track, both in 1965. On Saturday, Jarrett recalled winning one of those events by 22 laps.

I always enjoyed coming here, Jarrett said. The stands were always full.

He said he grew up partial to dirt track racing after being raised on a farm in Catawba County.

Its neat to see whats been done here, Jarrett said.

Plenty of families were in the stands. One included Shelbys Angela Stokes. She said her husband, son and daughter love racing.

I was kind of outnumbered, Stokes said. Now that I got here and watched it, I like it. Its really fun watching them.

Perhaps the biggest reactions from the fans came on some of the wrecks, which kept one of the races constantly rotating between caution and green-flag racing.

Like Jarrett, returning to the Cleveland County Fairgrounds had special meaning for Don Moore, a 61-year-old Spartanburg, S.C., resident.

Moore won his first race at the track more than 40 years ago.

When I saw it online that they were going to do it, I was excited, Moore said of the track opening back up for racing.

After a roughly 25-year absence from the sport, he and his son Noel built a car about six years ago. He began to make a comeback and won seven or eight races before Saturday.

This race really means more than the other races Ive won since I started back, Moore said. I love dirt.

The Good Old Days Series kicks off Friday at 8 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Speedway. Races will begin at that time each week and will be held no matter how many cars show up.

Moore said he will absolutely be back.

Stokes has a feeling her family will be, too.

My husband will probably be here every Friday if I let him, Stokes said.

Awesome!

Had a great time yesterday. Everyone did a fantastic job. Thanks!

Thanks for having us up yesterday. I don't know when I have enjoyed a race more! My schedule now is you guys and Rockingham! Keep it up. You did everything right! Dub thought it was great too..Charlie Craig

what awsome day at cleveland county speedway to see the speedway come back life.i like thank everybody for awsome show.

Charlie, it was great seeing y'all. Glad you enjoyed our show.

Can't wait to see your pics Raytona!

Good video work!!

WOW! SATURADAY WAS A GREAT DAY FOR VINTAGE RACING. I BELEIVE THIS EVENT WILL REKINDLE A FIRE IN MANY WHO FORGOT HOW GREAT OLD SCHOOL RACEING IS. ANYONE ATTENDING SAW GREAT WHEEL TO WHEEL SIDE BY SIDE RACEING. THIS EVENT SHOWED THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO HAVE SUPER LATE MODELS AND PAY 5.000 TO WIN AND CHARGE FANS 25.00 OR MORE TO GET IN IN ORDER TO HAVE A GREAT RACE.

I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO RACERS REUNION JEFF GUILDER MICHAEL SMITH AND EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE. I WILL ALWAYS TREASURE THE TROPHY I RECIVED FOR MY 6CYL WIN WITH SOUTHEASTERN VINTAGE CLUB .I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RACE AGAIN AT THE PLACE WHERE I WON MY VERY 1st RACE IN THE LATE 60S.

IM ALREADY LOOKING FOREWARD TO THE NEXT RACERS REUNION RACE SO JEFF YOU PLANTED A SEED IN THE HEARTS OF VINTAGE RACERS AND FANS, WATER IT BY ADDINS MORE EVENTS AND ALLOW IT TO BE NURTURED BY THE RACERS AND FANS. THANKS AGAIN Dyno Don Moore 72

where are the pics at on facebook ?

Jimmie, you are right, we did not want to leave, spent most of Sunday traveling back to the coast. basking in the warm memories of a very special moment and trying to fully realize the significance of this event. It'll take more than one rainy Sunday afternoon to totally comprehend, of course, but this much is true: The inaugural Racers Reunion/NC Vintage Championship event was absolutely PERFECT , It's difficult to put it into words. It's much more of a feeling, a sense of satisfaction, and joy for the against-all-odds miracles that came true. From the fairground authority decision to RE-BUILD the track, to Ned Jarrett's waving of the green flag! Shelby's importance and significance is just beginning to be felt and understood, but trust me, a new day is dawning, vintage racing is now entering a new and wonderful chapter and being lifted to a higher level. I'm so grateful to have witnessed and participated in this defining moment in our sport's future and its past. Thank you all!

great news i will post over 300 photosstared mon.

Charlie it was great to see you and Dub yesterday hope you guys can join us on Friday nights. You guys are welcome anytime. Just use the passes I gave you. Please stop by the legends tent this Friday there should be a lot of local legends there being honored. W

Jeff and W and all of the hard working individuals that put this track back together I want to thank you for letting me be just a small part of history yesterday. This was the first dirt race that my grandson had seen in person and to get to watch it from the flagstand was a thrill that he is still talking about this afternoon. H esaid he couldn't wait to go back. That was also what I heard from the fans that were in attendance also. My hat goes off to all those that made this event possible and to the Cleveland County Fair board. Thank you for this special day in racing history.

Just want to add a special thanks to all of my staff that stepped aside in their duties to allow Jeff to use his people to make yesterday work for the Vintage Championship RacerReunion Event. We moved them around to cover gates and things that they were not signed up to do. It all worked out and we made history together. Very proud of everyone that was part of it. Thanks to our volunteers, Like the Trophy Girls, gate watchers,flagman, rig parkers,sign in, driver bios, Legend hospitality,food vendors, Fair staff, All the legends that took the time to spend the day with us signing autographs and visiting with the fans. Leon, Wayne Wilson and his guys, Billy and Karen Biscoe, Eric, Mike Cogdon, Mike Coley ,David, Jerry, Jerry C. Wanda, Wayne, Rodney, Randall, Jimmy, Phil and Robbie Colms, The clubs and drivers, Pastor Buddy, Jeff Hammit and the fire crew, Poppa, All the sponsors, Shelby Body shop, Peppi, Benny, Calvin, Judy, The show cars, Johnny Bowen for bringing the Stick Elliott car out, Becky, Andy, Doc, and everyone I forgot! Love all you guys! LOOK OUT RACING WORLD WE ARE GOING TO TURN YOU RIGHT SIDE UP! Good Old Days Series at the Historic Cleveland County Fairgrounds Speedway, where" The fast guys start last and the good guys finish first!" W

What a wonderful day for wonderful folks. Congrats to all!

Well put Bobby

The white with blue trim coupe #00 with the flat head engine and stock but re-enforced frame was driven by Harold Dunaway. Does anyone know if this is the same Harold Dunaway that ran some GN in mid-sixties and Grand Touring in '68 and was the son of Glenn Dunaway, the winner of the first Nascar race at Charlotte?

Fantastic Ray. Can't wait to see them. I know of a couple of times you probably got some real good closeups of the action.

I just love this Jack Walker photo !

Thank you Dyno Don...and all your club members, fans, and family who supported this inaugural event. We're looking forward to taking the next step and having the Southeastern Vintage Club entertain the fans.

Congrats, Champ!

i just post 50 photos from historic cleveland fairgrounds speedway

Great pictures Ray! Thanks for taking your time to post them for everyone to see.

I was wondering the same thing, Dennis. Didn't get a chance to speak with him

Awesome stuff, Raytona!!! Thank you

Thank you, Raytona! Great pictures!

Looking through the pictures from the event, there is a shot of Harold Dunaway behind the wheel of the car without a helment on. That is the same Harold Dunaway. Saw him win a BUNCH of races back in the day!