With everything the 1964 Southern 500 had going for it, one very important aspect was missing; Fireball Roberts. Fireball had raced in every race run at Darlington, finishing second in the very first Southern 500 and winning the 1958 Southern 500 and winning again in 1963. Fireball had passed away just over two months before the running of the 1964 Southern 500 from complications from the burns he received in the horrific crash on the 7th lap of the 1964 World 600. Somehow, a race at Darlington with Fireball couldn't quite be the same. Nevertheless, the fans gathered and the drivers and crews made ready for 500 miles under a blazing South Carolina Labor Day sun.
Richard Petty, having a great 1964 season, would qualify his Petty Blue Plymouth on the pole at a speed of 138.815 mph. David Pearson, driving a Dodge from the Cotton Owens stable would qualify second, Fred Lorenzen in a Ford third, Jim Paschal ina second Petty Plymouth was fourth and Jimmy Pardue in the number 54 Burton-Robinson Plymouth rolled off from fifth. Starting sixth in a Ray Fox Dodge was wily veteran Buck Baker, who, along with Jim Paschal, had also competed in every Darlington event to date. Baker had won the Southern 500 twice, the last time on three wheels in 1960. To most, on this Labor Day in 1964, Buck was overlooked as a 45 year old grandfather out for a holiday drive, nothing more.
The lead in the race was shared between Richard Petty, Jimmy Pardue, David Pearson, Junior Johnson, Jim Paschal and Paul Goldsmith for the first 301 laps of the 364 laps of the race with Richard Petty leading several times for a total of 252 laps. All these young lions of the sport were keeping the show up front exciting although no one could really tame Petty. That number 43 Plymouth was the class of the field, able to lead at the whim of Petty anytime. On lap 289 Petty dove into the pits and the hood went up. A quick check by "The Chief", Maurice Petty, diagnosed an ignition wire burned through and by the time it was repaired, Richard had lost two laps. He roared back onto the track coming out of pit road and directly into the high speed lane in turn one (a move that wouldn't be allowed these days). He was two laps behind. Petty was absolutely flying around the egg-shaped oval trying to make up his laps when he collided with David Pearson and that resulted in losing another two laps.
On lap 302, with 62 laps remaining, the infield scoreboard began flashing the number 3 of that Ray Fox Dodge leading. The "grand dad" who had been over looked by most, was out front and out front by two full laps. There had been a quote in a newspaper before the race, although I forget who said it, that had to do with so many people getting a laugh out of Baker trying again. The talk was that Baker couldn't be taken as a real threat to win at his age. The writer said something to the effect that "Buck would be a threat if he was pushing a wheelbarrow at Darlington". Kudos to that scribe!
When the checkered flag was waiving, it was Buck Baker winning and Jim Paschal second. Two old pros who had run the very first Southern 500 in 1950. It was a day that the old track seemed to say "today I honor those from the past who helped me gain my reputation as a track". I think, in a way, it was also an testimonial to Ray Fox who proved he still had it as a car builder. Ray's credentials in racing were outstanding and Buck had just helped prove that again.
Top Ten Finishers:
1. Buck Baker, Ray Fox Dodge, winning $21,230.00
2. Jim Paschal, Petty Engineerng Plymouth, winning $8.960.00
3. Richard Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $8,170.00
4. Ned Jarrett, Bondy Long Ford, winning $3,575.00
5. Jimmy Pardue, Burton-Robinson Plymouth, winning $2,955.00
6. Billy Wade, Bud Moore Mercury, winning $2,375.00
7. Larry Thomas, Herman Beam Ford, winning $1,775.00
8. Cale Yarborough, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $1,525.00
9. J. T. Putney, Walt Hunter Chevrolet, winning $1,345.00
10.Bob Cooper, Cooper Ford, winning $1,025.00
Finishing 11th was Curtis Crider, 12th David Pearson, 16th Roy Mayne, 17th LeeRoy Yarbrough, 18th G.C.Spencer and 19th Sam McQuagg. Bobby Isaac was 20th, Elmo Langley 21st, Fred Lorenzen 22nd, Junior Johnson 23rd, Darel Dieringer 24th and Lil Bud Moore 25th.
Bobby Johns would claim 27th, Paul Goldsmith 28th, Larry Frank 29th, and Bunkie Blackburn 30th. Buddy Baker was 31st, Tiny Lund 33rd, Neil Castles 35th, Nelson Stacy 39th, Jimmy Helms 42nd, Ed Livingston 43rd and Fran Graham completed only one lap to finish 44th and last.
PERSONAL MEMORIES from this Southern 500.
Our "Richard Petty Fan Club of Columbia" which had been officially recognized on August 8, 1963 when Richard and Lee signed the "Charter" which, incidentally hangs on the wall here in the Lair, had managed to grow to well over 400 members in several states and even a U.S. Marine stationed in Guam. All of that was thanks to Hank Schoolfield and his "Southern Motorsports Journal" who helped promote our little club thanks to so letters to the editor. Hank had added a note to one of those letters something along the lines of our club being the first "International Fan Club" for any race driver. I don't know about that, but I do know we had a good thing.
We had started promoting, just after the Spring race at Darlington, that we would have a meeting of the fan club with all those who could attend, in the third turn infield area on race morning and all were invited. Our group of 20 met at my parents house on Sunday morning with our lead car, Mr. McClary's 1956 Dodge Hemi all decked out with a banner all the way down both sides which proudly proclaimed in two foot high Petty Blue lettering "Richard Petty Fan Club of Columbia". We had two small flags, about 18"X18" inches, both on Petty Blue cloth with one bearing large "43"s and the other with white and gold lettering stating "Richard Petty Fan Club of Columbia". We mounted those flags on the front fenders of the Dodge, much like what you see on the President's Limo these days. Those flags hang over my head here today.
We set out for Darlington very early so we could get in line at the third turn tunnel and claim our place when they opened the gates at 1:00 p.m. The Dodge led the parade of, I think six cars, as we head out US 1, then Highway 34 out of Camden. There was no I-20 then. We hit the track about 9:30 a.m. and were not really that far back in line. Within an hour, we were friends with all the cops and track workers who had come over to look at the white and gold Dodge all bedecked with our Petty attire.
Promptly at 1:00, the gates opened and through some fantastic "miracle" arranged by the cops and track workers we had entertained for over three hours, we were manipulated to near the very front. We were probably within the first ten cars to go through the third turn tunnel. As in the Oklahoma Land Rush, we moved into position and claimed our spot against the fence in turn three. Out came the lawn chairs, the ice chests, the folding card tablesand the big 3'X5' Petty Blue flag which bore "Plymouth 43" on both sides (I side have that flag folded and in plastic in my filing cabinet here). As I looked around our camp site, I could not believe we had managed to stuff so much stuff into the cars we had in our group. But we were at Darlington and Richard Petty was on the pole.
We really did get some sleep in that infield that night, although for the life of me I can't remember how that happened as we were sleeping on the ground between all our cars in sleeping bags. When the sun came up, we were all set up to greet any of the fan club members who would stop by. Having no idea what to expect, it was exciting to anticipate.
By 9:00 a.m. we had a crowd of more people than I could count crowding in to see what was going on with all the "official" look Petty display. We finally put out a notebook and had people start signing up for the fan club. Then members started showing up. I wish I could remember all the names of those members who did show but I do remember a girl named Rosemary who came down from Virginia with her parents as she was already a member of the fan club and wanted to be there. We had an owner of a Chrysler-Plymouth Dealership drive up in a brand new 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury Convertible, Red with white interior and a white top. He was a member from Indiana and he came down to see the race and meet the members of the club. Sammy Bland, who was at that time involved with radio came over and sat with me for 45 minutes or more taping the story of our fan club and the long association I had with the Pettys as a fan. I'm not sure if it was that weekend or not that Sammy was a part of the Darlington Broadcast team. I wish I had that tape to listen to today. But, then again, my memories of that day are really all I need because those memories are just another part of my wonderful life.
To say out group stayed excited most of the race is an understatement. Our man was leading, blowing away the rest of the field, and we were counting the laps until he would come around the winner. Oh, and I should mention that when the cars came around on the pace laps before the race, Richard looked over and saw our Petty encampment and put his arm out the window to wave to all of us which really thrilled the girl named Rosemary. Thrilled some others too because each believe the wave was aimed directly at them.
So, our man lost the race, but we Petty fans had a great day. Our fan club had grown to huge proportions and I remember for the remaining time we had that club letters and cards were always coming in and folks would meet up with us when we attended races where they would be. You know, I wish I could find that list of those members to see where they are today. We had all ages, so I know some have passed away, but there are some still around, some of whom I still hear from today. As my friend Johnny Mallonee is fond of saying "Memories..........:".
OTHER SOUTHERN 500s run on September 7th.
1953:
1. Buck Baker, Oldsmobile
2. Fonty Flock, Hudson
3. Curtis Turner, Oldsmobile
4. Dick Meyer, Dodge
5. Herb Thomas, Hudson
1959:
1. Jim Reed, Chevrolet
2. Bob Burdette, T-Bird
3. Bobby Johns, Chevrolet
4. Richard Petty, Plymouth
5. Tommy Irwin, T-Bird
1970:
1. Buddy Baker, Dodge
2. Bobby Isaac, Dodge
3. Pete Hamilton, Plymouth
4. David Pearson, Ford
5. Richard Petty, Plymouth
1981:
1. Neil Bonnett, Ford
2. Darrell Waltrip, Buick
3. Dave Marcis, Buick
4. Terry Labonte, Buick
5. Buddy Baker, Buick
So, we are leaving Darlington in the rear view mirror after seven days and seven Southern 500 events run on Labor Day. Without Darlington, without Harold Brasington, would NASCAR be what and where it is today? No real answer to that but I like to think it was because of Brasington that NASCAR moved from the small quarter-mile and half-mile dirt tracks to the "big time". The stories of Darlington lore are as numerous as grains of sand on Myrtle Beach. Those include stories of the drivers, mechanics, car owners, sponsors, and fans. I have enough Darlington stories to fill a good size volume which include some of my richest experiences in racing. Those stories are best told around an infield campfire but, alas, those are no longer permitted and, in fact, the infield is so restricted there is little room to even consider the encampment we set up there in 1964.
NASCAR took away the Labor Day tradition after the 1983 race. Eventually they took away the Labor Day weekend tradition when the race was moved from that weekend to Mothers Day weekend and run on a Saturday night. Seeing a night race on that famed venue is a spectacle of beauty for sure but, in the mind of this old man who watched the races from the infield from 1957 until the end of the Labor Day weekend tradition, there is nothing in racing to compare to the parade laps at Darlington when the field was started three abreast. I have my Darlington Memories and as long as I am living, those memories will survive. Unlike the dust raised in turn one on the first lap of that first Southern 500 that settled back to earth and was consumed, my love for the REAL Darlington and the REAL Southern 500 will never disappear. Thank you Harold Brasington!
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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
