Looking for Beltsville Speedway info
Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks
Brandon, you've probably got the same info, but about as technical as I can find on Beltsville: 'banked' and '1/2 mile'.
Forum Activity for @bobby-williamson
Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks
Competition Proven
Trivia
Dennis, I'd guess the '71 Coke sponsored Mercury spoiler w/Bobby Allison driving. I know they won the fall "National 500" that year. But, come to think about it, the Wood Bros. ran the C-P banner for a few years with Pearson......may 1973 or so?
Ever loose something at the track thats vital???
General
Lost a hum-dinger of a stop-watch at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Had it for over 20 years...oh well!
Dismal New Numbers for Sinking NASCAR Hall of Fame
General
Jim, love that part about the people doing the economic modeling are not from this region of the country.............that pretty much applies to NASCAR in general.
Junior Johnson: Turning for Home
General
ESPN's JUNIOR JOHNSON TURNING FOR HOME why Junior Johnson, at age 80 is trying to outrun his own legend written by Wright Thompson an excellent in-depth, heart-warming account of Junior Johnson, his past, present, and future.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=110906/JuniorJohnson
updated by @bobby-williamson: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
J.D. “Junior” Johnson 1927 - 2011
-RacersReunion® OUTREACH
Legendary announcer, "Buckshot" Cagle called Junior the "Old Fox", a well deserved title. Junior, his cars and drivers were a threat to win anywhere the showed up. Thought's and prayers for the family. He will be missed.
Talladega Trivia III
Trivia
Richard Brickhouse in action at the Carolina Beach Speedway...1964. Five years later, he'd be very neart the center of NASCAR. An incredible journey in a very short time.
Talladega Trivia III
Trivia
For me, Richard Brickhouse is a local (Rocky Point, NC near Wilmington) driver. He was a racing colleague of my dad, as both began their careers at the old Carolina Beach Speedway. I had closely followed all the drama surrounding that inaugural Talladega event, and was absolutely thrilled when Richard won. He was immediately black-balled from racing...forever. "He traded his career for one win....." was the instant quote, that can still be heard.
I recently had a long phone conversation with Richard, and I could almost feel the 'guilt' in his voice. He quietly explained that, at the time, as driver for Bill Ellis' Plymouth team, he was a Chrysler-factory associate, and was under contract with Firestone too. When Charlie Glotzbach decided to jump ship with the Richard Petty-led PDA...a dangerous and ultimately pointless endeavor, Chrysler approached Brickhouse and told him they were "Racing that purple #99 Daytona tomorrow, and he could drive it or they'd find somebody else.........." Chrysler went on to insinuate, that if he, Brickhouse, DID drive the 99, the favor would not be lost, and they would provide him with more potent equipment than the Bill Ellis team currently possessed.
It's not that Brickhouse failed to realize the quagmire he found himself in, but ultimately he thought he owed more to the Chrysler corp. than to the PDA. But, heaven forbid, he won the race. Chrysler up-held their end of the bargain, providing Brickhouse a lime-green #88 Daytona at several season-ending events (1969). But, the world began changing too. Chryser and Ford were both downsizing their NASCAR endeavors, and after 1971 both would be 'officially' gone. Firestone, too, left the game, and both of Richard's primary sponsors were no longer players. Richard Brickhouse, as many before him, realized he had to "come home and start making a living.......". He built and operated the local "Pender County Speedway" in the late 70's but eventually fell on hard financial times and sold the track, which was subsequently demolished for a housing development.
The frustrating irony of the inaugural Talladega 500 is who ELSE was in the race: Jim Vandiver, Bobby Isaac, Ramo Stott, Tiny Lund, Dick Brooks, Coo Coo Marlin, Jim Hurtibise, Buck Baker, Dr. Don Tarr........and Richard Childress making his first GN career start. Brickhouse was not the lone ranger, but because he won, the ax fell on him. Recently, on our Racing Through History radio program, Charlie Glotzbach was our guest. I asked Chargin' Charile about Talladega and why Brickhouse had taken the heat. "Because he's the one that stole my car..........." was Charlie's answer, obviously laced with over 30 yearsofemotion.
In 2008, I really tried to convince Richard to attend the Hillsborough/Occoneechee Festival. I could tell he was interested, but he kept making weak excuses, and never went. Richard Brickhouse was part of a very historical yet controversial moment in our sport. It's really sad, that he's still paying the price.