December 19th - Clements brothers' wish list

TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
11 years ago
4,073 posts

Some kids ask for a pony for Christmas. Some ask for a doll. Some folks have a deeper, broader wish for Christmas such as reconciliation of a strained relationship or world peace. Sometimes the wishes are granted - many times however they aren't.

Instead of a toy, a bike or a longing for Kumbaya, some guys hope for ... a race team. On December 18, 1963, brothers Crawford and Louis Clements announced plans to form a race team for 1964. Louis had parted ways with winning and championship driver Rex White. Crawford wanted to expand beyond his career as a mechanic for various drivers.

The 1964 season had already begun in November 1963, and Daytona's Speed Weeks was just a few weeks away. Yet the brothers hadn't picked a car nor settled on a driver to prepare for the 1964 season. Billy Wade was on their radar, but he ended up signing with Bud Moore. From what I can tell, neither of them fielded a GN car in 1964 ... or in the years to follow. Source: Spartanburg Herald .




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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.

updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
bill mcpeek
@bill-mcpeek
11 years ago
820 posts

As a high school senior in 1956 in Kentucky I remember the Clement Brothers very well. It was understood that if a modified race car had one of their engines it was a winner for sure. Great article Chase. thank you.

Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
11 years ago
9,137 posts

Who can ever forget the indelible images snapped on July 4, 1984 of Air Force One with President Ronald Reagan aboard seemingly racing side-by-side down the Daytona backstretch with a speeding blue & red #43 STP entry carrying Richard Petty to his 200th NASCAR Cup victory and worldwide fame?

On this date - December 19th - in 1962 - the front page of the Daytona Beach Morning Journal carried an article chronicling hopes to build the jetport in Daytona where the President's plane landed.




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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"