Forum Activity for @tmc-chase

Before Chattanooga Chew, David Pearson and Others Raced at Chattanooga's Boyd's Speedway

Stock Car Racing History

Georgia carpet mills. In and around Dalton. Home of Linda Vaughn.

Before Chattanooga Chew, David Pearson and Others Raced at Chattanooga's Boyd's Speedway

Stock Car Racing History

I lived in the Nooga for 9 years. Amazingly, I never did get to Boyd's either to see a race or to just look around. And I lived no more than 10-15 minutes from it. (However, I did manage one visit to Cleveland Speedway owned by the late Joe Lee Johnson.)

Boyd's hosted two Grand National races - one each in 1962 and 1964. The King won the pole for both races, but he didn't win either of them. During my 2011 visit to the Richard Petty Museum, I almost overlooked this trophy sitting on the top shelf of one of the cabinets. I'm guessing its for one of his pole wins; however, I'm not certain for which year.

June 18, 1959 - Lee Conquers Columbia

Stock Car Racing History

Tim Leeming's  Racing Minute for today focused on a race in Fonda, NY in 1955. Four years later, the Grand National circuit was back down south racing at the legendary Columbia Speedway in South Carolina.

Lee Petty took home the trophy. And yes, yet again, some controversy arose about his victory. But what else is new, right?

And according to the writer covering the race for the local paper, Junior Johnson escaped a flaming death ! (Cue dramatic soap opera organ music and cut to commercial.)

Read on for more.

http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2013/06/june-18-1959-lee-petty-conquers-columbia.html

updated by @tmc-chase: 06/18/18 09:25:33AM

Racing History Minute - June 18, 1955

Stock Car Racing History

The Larrabee trophy could have been a memorial tribute - or it could simply have been part of an ad campaign not unlike we've had in other aspects of racing for decades.

Racing History Minute - June 18, 1955

Stock Car Racing History

June 18, 2015: 60th anniversary

The race got some pretty good pub in the local papers.

Race preview - June 13 - Amsterdam NY Evening Recorder

Race preview - June 18 - Evening Recorder

Race report - June 20 - Evening Recorder

The race preview and results articles referenced the John E. Larrabee trophy. Larrabee was apparently a successful hardware store businessman from nearby Amsterdam NY - about 10 miles east of Fonda. If I've found the right one, he passed away in 1911. Perhaps Fonda Speedway and Larabee's continuing businesshonored his memory by naming the trophy after him. - from FindAGrave.com

Racing History Minute - June 18, 1955

Stock Car Racing History

Continuing with our frequent but random study of the history of Julian Petty, Welborn's Chevy was owned and fielded by Lee's brother.

And apparently the race wasn't an absolute smash because another 11 years would pass before the GN cars returned for a 3 year run beginning in 1966.

Racing History Minute - June 18, 1955

Stock Car Racing History

I've  said it before & I'll say it again. Junior won at Fonda in his one and only race there as a driver in 1955. From what I can tell, he never fielded a car there as a car owner. So I guess you could could say ... (sorry 'bout this)... the man from Ronda was kinda fond of Fonda.

updated by @tmc-chase: 06/17/17 10:54:59PM

Ralph Earnhardt Drove for Wood Brothers?

Stock Car Racing History

Here is the car Harlow referenced - from Danny Quick's collection .

Ralph Earnhardt Drove for Wood Brothers?

Stock Car Racing History

Not sure about the sportsman car. But looks like Ralph raced for the Woods in a 1959 convertible series race. Finished 4th in a #21 Ford.

http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1959-06/V

Interestingly, Ralph raced for the Pettys in his 2nd of only 2 convertible starts. How's that for linking the Pettys, Woods, and Earnhardts all together.

Racing History Minute, June 17, 1955

Stock Car Racing History

Preview from Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

And another from Rochester paper

Interestingly, I can't find a race report in the Rochester paper. Seems this has happened before. Promoter Ed Otto made sure to blanket the area with ads and promotional press releases in an effort to gin up interest and ticket sales. But then post-race releases to wire services weren't quite as predictable. By that time, the cash was in the bank!

Based on this news clipping I found in another paper, it sounds like the race was a rough and tumble affair. The GN drivers raced the following night in Fonda NY. A few cars were either late or didn't make the next night's race because of damage in the Rochester race.