April 12, 1924, was the birthday of one of NASCAR's most notable pioneers. There is much to read about Curtis here on the site and there is a special event coming up this weekend in Roanoke, Virginia (See Events here on site) in honor of Curtis. I am very fortunate to have seen Curtis race in the days before Big Bill banned him from the sport and I was there on October 31, 1965, when he had been reinstated and won the first race at "The Rock". I saw him race on dirt at the Historic Columbia Speedway wearing a very expensive suit, white shirt and neck tie in response to instructions from Big Bill that he wanted the drivers to be a little more well dressed than the t-shirts and jeans some drivers were wearing. I saw that. I know it's a true story.
I was also fortunate enough to hear many of the stories straight from Curtis as I would sit around with the drivers and listen. Believe it or not, it is possible for me to keep my mouth shut and listen. The great part of being this old is that many of the stories the youngest can only read about, I heard and saw first hand. Curtis will always be someone who was much bigger than even HIS wonderful life appeared.
When I was a teen hanging around the race tracks, and that was most of the time it seems, I saw all the drivers as "special". As heroes. As the bravest of the brave. The only thing that has changed for me over the years is that I realize now that these were "ordinary" men who were doing what they loved in spite of the danger. I also remember, with almost everyone of them, Curtis Turner definitely included, that there was always time to talk with the teenager who just wanted to be close to the men he thought were so special.Curtis Turner sort of had a way of making me, and almost anyone he encountered, be the one feeling special.
Gotta go! There's another party starting.
Honor the past, embrace the present and dream for the future.
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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
