Dec. 21, 1954 - Deadline Revealed for Yea or Nay on Daytona Speedway Project

The December 21, 1954 edition of the Daytona Beach Morning Journal carried a front page story by Sports Editor, Bernard Kahn revealing a deadline of January 15, 1955 as the target date for the Racing and Recreation Facilities Authority (RRFA) of Daytona to proceed or not with plans to build a speedway to replace the beach road course.

Chairman of the Authority was J. Saxton Lloyd (as in Lake Lloyd ) and on hand was Charles Moneypenny , the City of Daytona engineer credited with designing Daytona International Speedway, as well as the D-shaped tracks at Talladega, Michigan, Texas (Texas World Speedway) and Richmond.

The story also indicated that racing on the beach would stop after 1955, with no events allowed in 1956 and beyond. However, we know that Big Bill France twisted enough arms and possibly greased enough palms to continue beach racing through 1958 until the opening of his Daytona International Speedway in 1959.

With Christmas Eve just 3 days away, the December 21, 1954 Daytona newspaper was full of ads for Christmas shoppers. The one below especially caught my eye, advertising 1955 model 21" black & white Motorola Televisions for as little as 55 cents per day (the ad doesn't bother to say how many days!) with the gift of a Motorola portable radio or mantle clock thrown in with the purchase.

The ad also advertises a Motorola Hi-Fi phonograph for 25 cents per day (you guess the days again!) with $50 worth of records - 130 musical selections - included with the purchase. I looked closely at the names of the recording artists, but didn't find a single one who had made Coastal Jack Walker's Top-40 all-time beach music spreadsheet!

Sports Editor, Bernard Kahn, author of the 1954 story above, is the same gentleman for whom the "Benny Kahn Press Room" in the Daytona infield garage area was named in 1975. I've spent many an hour working in that building and would guess that members Dargan Watts, Tim Leeming, Ray Lamm and other RR members who worked in media also frequented it.

1975 - Daytona Beach Morning Journal

Not having been to the Daytona Speedway since 1999, it is my understanding that there is a new infield media center and the Benny Kahn Press Room now serves as an auxiliary building for the media.

December 21, 1963 - A couple from Winchester TN got married while the bride had time between college semesters. Wheels were then set in motion to have a young'un a couple of years later who would become a racing fan in general and a Petty fan specifically. Happy 50th Anniversary to my folks.

looks like lil Chase has his eyes closed because his Dad told him someone other than the 43 won the race......Congrats to your parents....

Mom: "We have some good news and some bad news. The good news is you are destined to be a Petty fan. The bad news is Plymouth is out of NASCAR until further notice."

Me (initially): *sigh* close eyes

Dad (smirking): "Should we tell him Fords have taken over?"

Me (after camera put away): WAAAAAAAAH

Mom: "Must be the colic."

Congrats to Grandma and Grandpa Country!!!

A gaggle of us are having dinner with them tonight to celebrate. We're going to a Polynesian place just outside of Nashville called the Omni Hut. Its in Smyrna TN near what used to be an active USAF base / air strip. The place has been around longer than my parents' marriage. It opened in 1960 by Jim Walls following a 20-year Air Force career - including having been at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Walls passed away last year.

http://www.murfreesboropost.com/after-pearl-harbor-pilot-s-heart-landed-in-smyrna-cms-30461

My future aunt and uncle took my dad and his girlfriend there in 1961 or so. They've been going for special occasions ever since. My dad claims the menu hasn't changed since it opened - though the prices obviously have. My first memories of going there were probably when I was 7 or 8 years old.

That is terifically neat!

my neighbor here has a horse farm in Shelbyville and keeps inviting me to go up with him.. I think those two pictures will get me to go. yum yum.

A very happy anniversary to a fine couple. They did a good job with that little bundle of joy!!!