Saturday, July 10, 1965

The Grand Finally of Speedweek 1965 at Rockingham Speedway was the Holiday 312. That was 100 miles of racing for the late model drivers which meant 312 laps around the almost 1/3 mile circuit. This meant pit stoops would be required, something not needed for a regular 40 lap feature or even a 100 lap race. It appears that the crew of Wayne Andrews planned ahead when they built their 62 Chevy. Go back and look at the pictures posted earlier and you will see access to the gas tank without opening the trunk. Notice I said gas tank, this was before fuel cells at short tracks.

While I dont yet have documentation of the results of this race it must have been a good one if the fan response to the local papers is any indication. It appears that John Sears put Wayne Andrews in the wall and then was later taken out in an unrelated accident which resulted in a fight with another crew. The following is from newspaper clippings.

From The Mail Bag-

Dear Mr. Demski,

            First, simply because I havent said it before, let me say it now,Welcome aboard to both the Journal and Speedway News.

            Second, this probably should be an open letter to John McNeill, but your column seems to be the medium for expressing views, so you would be the logical person to write.

            The people who went to the race track Saturday night saw some good racing for which Jim McNeill is to be commended. They also saw the most terrible display of sportsmanship possible. It is really something when the race drivers who is looked up to by everyone including the press, track owner and officials can be allowed to put on such an exhibition without even a reprimand.

            Your predecessor once likened John Sears to the Brahma Bull. Frankly that is exactly what he looked like Saturday night when he came charging out of his wrecked auto swinging his helmet and chasing what looked, from the stands, like a small boy. This brings to mind another incident which took place a couple of years ago when the same John Sears walked up behind another small fellow and hit him with his helmet.

            Perhaps things look different from the grandstand and the flagstand, but it does seem there would be some similarity. Bobby Webb and Walson Gardner have long been known as the villians of the Rockingham track (this is not my opinion) but Ill venture to say, and I believe Miss Sadie will back me up, that these two drivers have never put on such a display as John Sears did.

            It is enough to make a person wonder if someone else would have been barred from the track for such actions. I do recall when a person was barred from the track for throwing a helmet through the windshield of an unoccupied auto. There have been rumors before that there is a tie-up between Sears and the track. There is, it should be announced so the other drivers could defend themselves.

            Did anyone see Wayne (Andrews) swinging a helmet after he was forced into the fence by Sears? It definitely wasnt the first time he has had bad luck at the hands of John Sears.

            Along with all the criticisms, I would like to hand out a word of praise. The Rescue Squad was really on the job Saturday night. No sooner than the one accident which could have been serious happened, than the men were in the ambulance with red lights flashing. Wonder if it would possible to deputize these men to prevent such an occurrence as we had Saturday night with the helmet.

            It had been stated in the Speedway News that the reason Walson Gardner had not been running here in Albert Rayes car was because Albert did not want to install the large engine necessary to run on this track.

I do believe the small engine was doing fine Saturday night. I think we all remember that Albert Raye is one of the few owner-mechanics who have not had a blown engine on the Rockingham track, so I guess he knows what it takes to run here.

            As a closing thought let me add a word of praise for these drivers who can walk away from difficulty on the track, whether caused by another driver or not, and control their pit crews so that the spectators can really see a display of sportsmanship.

            Thank you kindly for hearing my complaints.

-          Sincerely, Ma Lill

*               *                   *

Tch. Tch. Tch.  How you do go on, Ma.

            We appreciate tremendously hearing from you, you true and loyal racing fan you.

            We asked John McNeill about the rumored tieup you mentioned and he said he wishes he was tied up with Sears, so he could get a cut of all that loot (that Sears has been taking out of McNeills pocket).

            Otherwise, we feel sure that reprimands and possibly even sterner action were issued, but we feel sure that the track officials have wisely chosen not to make a big issue of the incident in the newspapers. I mean, after all, why glamourize something ugly?

            In other words, Ma, a lot goes on that you (and I) do not know about, so how can we say what should and should not be done . . . 

Jim Demski

A Fuss Over A Fight

            Letters have been pouring in concerning the incident in which Rockingham Speedway race driver John Sears was involved during the Holiday 312 race on Saturday, July 10.

            I dont think there is a sport on earth in which similar incidents dont happen. In the heat of battle is a much-used phrase to describe what brought about a fist fight, or some other type altercation. In team sports, such as baseball, football, etc., many times the whole team becomes involved.

            Automobile racing is a team sport. Other members of the team mechanics, etc., often become involved just as much as the drivers themselves.

            What happened to John Sears could have happened to anyone, including you although not in front of several thousand people perhaps nevertheless it could happen to you. We all have our breaking point the limit to which we can control our temper. Johns broke. Who could expect him to remember he was in front of several thousand fans when he couldnt control his thinking?

            Anyway, what happened did happen. Therefore, several folks have felt obliged to write and have their opinions expressed in public. Including Ma Lill, from whom a letter was published and much comment derived.

            Another one, containing much more than the following paragraph, was signed, but the writer asked that his name not be used. A fellow from Big Johns hometown (Ellerbe) wrote: . . . The things John Sears said after he crawled from his wreckage were inexcusable. Likewise, his actions were equally wrong. Being the sound minded person that I have observed him as being. I am confident the Brahma Bull realizes his mistakes . . .

            A Rockingham girl, who is the girlfriend of one of Sears mechanics, wrote, but she did not sign her real name to the letter. At least, I dont think Bunny Rabbit is her real name.

             What she said threw an entirely different light on the whole thing. It all started in the pit, between two members of separate pit crews, and John became involved. Of course we know thats right because she is bound to have the straight scoop.

*                             *                                *

            What all this boils down to is that an undesirable situation is being made more so by the continued interest being shown. It has never been my opinion that an unpleasant situation in sports should be given undue publicity. However, how am I to disregard the numerous letters and verbal comments which have come my way?

            We will tell you a couple of things that did not come out yet, then. Mickey Hair, the 21-year old pilot of car number 42 (which used to be Jack Smiths 1964 Chevrolet, number 47), was driving the car which was directly involved in John Sears being slammed into the retaining wall and demolishing his auto.

            Hair, the least experienced driver on the track with only about three years of actual driving, did not purposely do anything dirty to cause the wreck. Though his inexperience and ability to cope with the situation the likes of which he had not had to cope with before, he was at fault. But his fault lies only in his youth and inexperience.

             Realizing this, the track officials black-flagged Mickey, who is the younger brother of Gene Monk Hair. Sears, one of the more experienced drivers on the track, realized at once that the accident could have been avoided. It wasnt, and he almost got killed, so he got mad.

            I would have also.

            Dont get me wrong. It grieves us to hear about fights at athletic events and we certainly do not condone them. However, at the same time, we do realize that they will occur in the heat of battle and expecting them we have learned to overlook them.

*                               *                                *

When writing the story about the Holiday 312 race at Rockingham Speedway. I stated that the reason John Sears went out of the race in his second car was that he had blown an engine.

            That was not correct.

            I have been since informed by Mr. G.R. Kindley, owner of the two cars that John Sears and Jack Smith drive (the number elevens), that the reason the former had to leave the 100-mile race early was because he lost a bearing out of his rearend, and not because of a blown engine.

            You think this is an unimportant entry? Then you know as little about being a race car mechanic as I do, or did. Frankly, I didnt consider it important at the time. I will from now on. The other members of Sears team, the mechanics, deserve this retraction because they are the ones I wronged.

Saturday, July 17, 1965

Saturday, July 24, 1965

The news clipping below was from the Bea Brewer collection and was not dated. Because of the money winnings report with it I can make the educated guess that the time frame was most likely the 24 ^th . The report in the Speedway News gave money winnings for Wayne as $1,935 as of July 10 ^th and with the fact that he did not finish the Holiday 312 no money would have been made. This report could not include money from this win as it is $225 more that the July 10 ^th report. This would indicate that he finished 2 ^nd on the 17 ^th .

I have no report of results for whichever date was not this result.

Saturday, July 31, 1965

200 lap team race.

No results have been found for the race.

Saturday, August 7, 1965

August 12, 1965 Anson Record

Saturday, August 14, 1965

August 19, 1965 Sandhill Independent

Saturday, August 21, 1965

No results have been found for this date.

Saturday, August 28, 1965

No results have been found for this date except that it was stated that John Sears won the 40 lap feature in a story on the Sept. 4 ^th Memorial race.

Saturday, September 4, 1965

BIG JOHN WINS MEMORIAL RACE

Kenny Baker Collection

September 9, 1965 Sandhill Independent

Saturday, September 11, 1965

No results have been found for this date.

Saturday, September 18, 1965

No results have been found for this date except that Bill Bostick won late model feature.

Saturday, September 25, 1965

September 29, 1965 Sandhill Independent

Saturday, October 2, 1965

Rocket 100

No results have been found for this date but the photo below states that Bill Bostick won his third straight Rocket 100.

From Danny Quick collection

At this time no other reports on 1965 races have been found.

Bill Bostick was the points champion in the Late Model Sportsman division for 1965.

James Sears was the points champion in the Amateur division for 1965.

Richmond County Journal (date unknown)

From Danny Quick collection

#28 Tommy Honeycutt,  #6 Wayne Nelson

From Danny Quick collection