When Tommie Clinard, Johnny Mallonee, Robert Turner and Cody Dinsmore see this, they may have info & pix.
Here is a link to a 1951 Darlington photo posted by Dargan Watts mentioning Jesse James Taylor. Just click on the link below:
http://racersreunion.com/dargan-watts/gallery/4809/darlington-1951
Buddy, like you, I've always been interested in Jesse James Taylor....don't know why, exactly, maybe it's his name. As a kid Jesse James finished 2nd in the '51 Southern 500, but was severely injured afterwards at Lakewood. He returned to Darlington in '56 but never re-captured his earlier success. As I understand the story, he returned to Georgia to the local scene, and even built a dirt track (can't remember the track's name) but I've got two (supposed) Jesse James photos, one being his track building story, and the other an unnamed (Macon?) dirt track scene.
Well here I go with what little I can add to Tommies info--the equipt looks like the stuff that was out on the site, I played on most of it growing up. Barney Smith was a man who it seemed was always around those original guys who I call the original Ga gang. Many a day he would appear up on Broadway at Bluestone transmission Shop to check up on the cars that were housed there during the week.
I was little when the whole bunch went to Palmer Speedway --I think this is what they are calling Warner Robins Super Speedway--it was back in the 50's but Charlie Tidwell was there along with the midget who always was him. Barney Smith was a nice guy to me,always giving me something. When I get Time I will go through some of my old photos of around the early 50's Some are already posted here on my page if you want to look at them.
this is one of my dads cars