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Inaugural Vintage Championship Series Report Historic Cleveland County Fairgrounds Speedway

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

Photo by Ben Earp/Shelby Star

Bobby (the Bopper) Williamson and Sherman Garris battle off turn 4 at Shelby.

Story from the Star
Racing roars back to life at Fairgrounds
Saturday, Apr 21 2012, 8:40 pm
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Clark Leonard
The cars roared to life. The red dirt flew. More than a few wrecks were part of the festivities. The grandstand was nearly full by days end.

Racing returned to the Cleveland County Fairgrounds Speedway for the first time since 1974 on Saturday.

Ned Jarrett, a two-time NASCAR champion, was the grand marshal for the Racers Reunion event ahead of Fridays first night of Good Old Days Series races at the track.

Jarrett won the final two Grand National (now Sprint Cup) races at the Fairgrounds track, both in 1965. On Saturday, Jarrett recalled winning one of those events by 22 laps.

I always enjoyed coming here, Jarrett said. The stands were always full.

He said he grew up partial to dirt track racing after being raised on a farm in Catawba County.

Its neat to see whats been done here, Jarrett said.

Plenty of families were in the stands. One included Shelbys Angela Stokes. She said her husband, son and daughter love racing.

I was kind of outnumbered, Stokes said. Now that I got here and watched it, I like it. Its really fun watching them.

Perhaps the biggest reactions from the fans came on some of the wrecks, which kept one of the races constantly rotating between caution and green-flag racing.

Like Jarrett, returning to the Cleveland County Fairgrounds had special meaning for Don Moore, a 61-year-old Spartanburg, S.C., resident.

Moore won his first race at the track more than 40 years ago.

When I saw it online that they were going to do it, I was excited, Moore said of the track opening back up for racing.

After a roughly 25-year absence from the sport, he and his son Noel built a car about six years ago. He began to make a comeback and won seven or eight races before Saturday.

This race really means more than the other races Ive won since I started back, Moore said. I love dirt.

The Good Old Days Series kicks off Friday at 8 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Speedway. Races will begin at that time each week and will be held no matter how many cars show up.

Moore said he will absolutely be back.

Stokes has a feeling her family will be, too.

My husband will probably be here every Friday if I let him, Stokes said.

Inaugural Vintage Championship Series Report Historic Cleveland County Fairgrounds Speedway

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

Pete Corey Jr carries the left front off #2 at Shelby on his way to his first ever victory which gave him the title of Bell & Bell Vintage Modified (V8) VCS NC State Champ.

Inaugural Vintage Championship Series Report Historic Cleveland County Fairgrounds Speedway

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

After more than three decades of silence, Saturday April 21, 2012 was the day racing returned to Historic Cleveland County Fairgrounds Speedway in Shelby, NC. Fans were treated to five divisions of racing, one exhibition, and several vintage cars for show. The weather was awesome, the track held up wonderfully, and there are five drivers who can add to theirresume "Vintage Championship Series North Carolina State Champion".

The day began with an autograph session including legendary drivers who raced at this historic Speedway. Grand Marshal, Ned Jarrett, Rex White, Paul Lewis, Jimmy Helms, Marvin Panch, Brownie King, and some I may have missed were on hand for interaction with some eager fans

Open ceremonies began with an invocation, Color Guard presentation, and the National Anthem sang by teenage singing sensation, McKayla Reese. Then a few words from our Grand Marshal, Ned Jarrett, and three parade lap including all cars... old school style to the tune of Dixie, led to 100 laps of dust-free green flag racing. The entire racing program took less than two hours.

Everyone involved should be very proud to have been part of this event that ran as well as any dirt race I've ever attended...actually better than most. From the guys prepping the track, to the guys parking cars and race cars, to the turn marshals and safety crew, to the wrecker crews (yes we needed them several times), to Mike Sykes the flagman, to Jerry Smith the announcer (who kept the crowd pumped beginning to end), to Billy Biscoe the Pit steward, to the safety inspection team, the gate crews, trophy girls, big Poppa, Larry-the-starter guy (no relation to the cable guy), photographers, hospitality team, Karen Biscoe the radio coordinator (bigger job than you might imagine), all the drivers, the legendary guests, magazine sales and pr (Dangerous Devin and The Legend), the real Jimmy (not Jimmie like a girl)) Johnson, and especially the fans.

Michael W smith saw his dream (bringing racing back to Shelby) and the fruits of his long hours of labor result in one of the best and most significant events I can remember. When most of us are gone..on to the big race track in the sky, the history books will most certainlyrecordthe accounts of this day and the effortsleadingup to it.

Many thanks to all worked to create this dream and to those whoparticipated in seeing it become reality!

2012 RacersReunion Vintage Championship Series

North Carolina State Champions

Steve Davis Southeastern Vintage Club V8 Division

Don Moore Southeastern Vintage Club 6 Cylinder Division

Pete Corey Jr Bell & Bell Vintage Modified Series V8 Division

Sherman Garris Bell & Bell Vintage Modified Series 6 Cylinder Division

Marty Spittle Old School Vintage Club

updated by @jeff-gilder: 08/05/18 08:35:16PM

Weather Favorable for Inaugural Vintage Championship Series in Shelby, NC Saturday

Administrative

This is really cool seeing these race cars come into town for OUR event!!. There is a buzz around town for sure.

Weather Favorable for Inaugural Vintage Championship Series in Shelby, NC Saturday

Administrative

10% chance of rain until 3 PM then 20%. We'll be finished by then. C'mon out and see some old school racing.

updated by @jeff-gilder: 12/05/16 04:02:57PM

Goat Rodeo Graphic by John Bockelman

Stock Car Racing History

updated by @jeff-gilder: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Richmond Has No Race Sponsors

Current NASCAR

On a much smaller scale, we have no sponsor for this week ends VCS event at Shelby. First time we've ever had to do an event without sponsorship.

Many thanks to the volunteers and sponsors who helped with the 4th Annual Love Chevrolet RacersReunion®

General

Many thanks to the volunteers and sponsors who helped with the 4th Annual Love Chevrolet RacersReunion®

General

We had an awesome staff of volunteers to pitch in and help with all the necessary duties required to host this event. Our staff of volunteers promoted the event, made and passed outfliers, coordinated media coverage, wrote articles, helped procure sponsors, prepared the facility, sold and took up tickets, greeted, coordinated the opening ceremony, manned the entry gates, attended the kids amusements, coordinated hospitality, sold programs, assisted the bands, prepared and served lunch for the legends, parked cars, assisted the handicapped, emptied the trash cans, and cleaned up the aftermath! This was a great team effort headed up by the Team SC Midlands RacersReunion Chapter. It was touching to see entire families...husbands, wives, children, and grandchildren working together as part of this team. There were three generations each of Smiths and Wilsons...amazing!

The city of Cayce, SC was, once again, very supportive and provided security, traffic control, and color guards for the opening ceremony. Thanks to Mayor Elise Partin for attending and speaking at our opening ceremony and for her continued support.

I think we made all our guests and attendees feel special and within a couple of hours after the event was over, the facility was ready for the next event.

Our sponsors for the 4th Annual Love Chevrolet RacersReunion and Auto Fest were Love Chevrolet (Love Automotive), NAPA Auto Parts, Maurice's Piggie Park BBQ, WRH Realty, and Lizard's Thicket. We could not have held the event without them. Please remember their contributions when you make your future purchase decisions.

Thanks to Maurice's Piggie Park BBQ for hosting our Cruise-in and to the Cayce Police department for the escort to and from. The escort allowed "non-street-legal" cars to participate in the cruise-in. All who attended were treated to a healthy dose of Carolina Beach Music by Sweet Daddy J and ShagCityUSA.com.

Funflcks Outdoor Movies provided and impressive drive-in movie set-up for our Friday night showing of Thunder in Carolina. Seeing that giant 40' movie screen and the quality it presented was impressive! Love Chevy provided free popcorn and our first drive-in movie at Historic Columbia Speedway was a huge success.

Many thanks to all the folks at Lexington Hobby and all who brought their remote control cars for the exhibition. I want one!

Ken Oswald and the gang at Automotive Tekniques in West Columbia, SC handled the Auto-Fest and car show. The display was stunning.

Thanks to the Food Truck Rodeo folks for providing a variety of great food...the sausage stuffed wings were my favorite. Yep, that's what I said.

Finally, many thanks go to the drivers and their families, those who brought their race cars for display, and all the fans who came out and supported the event.

The weather was perfect and there seemed to spread quickly among the attendees of our event an outbreak of"perma-grin". RacersReunion is very grateful to have so much support from so many.

Thank You!!!

updated by @jeff-gilder: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

Volunteers Needed for 4th Annual Love Chevrolet RacersReunion and Auto Fest

General

Hey folks!

Our 4th RacersReunion at Historic Columbia Speedway is only a week away!! We are looking for a variety of volunteers to assist with the event. some of the positions needed are listed below:

Parking attendents

Ticket sales for kiddie park

Gate attendants

Hospitality for driver autograph tent

Battle of the Bands assistant

Handicap assistants

Magazine sales

Clean up

Also, this is the same week end as the Masters in Augusta and hotel rooms are filling rapidly. If you need a room, please book immediately. Our host hotel is the country Inn and Suites on Airport Road...phone number 803.794.6270.

If you do not get a room. let me know. I reserved a few for last minute booking.

Thanks very much for you support of RacersReunion!

Jeff

updated by @jeff-gilder: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM