Forum Activity for @jim-streeter

ford end mercury

General

The first Mercury was built in 1939 it had a 354 rear end gear (up till then all Fords had 378 or higher). This was great for Daytona Beach/Road course. Also you could run it in 2nd Gear on some of the short Tracks.

Tom said:

Well, I'm sad to see Mercury go. For 20 years, my dad worked for a Lincoln Mercury dealership. I grew loving those big cars that I thought were best looking cars you could buy. I have owned 5 Grand Marquis' and loved them all. Never had a Cougar like I've always wanted, but there were a couple of those in the family as a child. One salesman that worked with my dad used to tell everyone that there was ' nothing like a Mercury'!

Best Race Car In The Early Years?

Stock Car Racing History

The Blocks That were used were NOT 85s They were larger 100s.In the late 40s & early 50s most of us had no means of checking HP.Limited Sportsman under 300 CI.Modifieds upwards of 317 CI.Until 1954 when Fords came out with overheads, most Bored and Stroked 1948 Mercury flatheads to about 306 CI..Johnny Malonee: Chevys were few and far between on 1/4 Tracks.I remember when Bill Widenhouse brought his Chevy to Wilson County(NC) Fairgrounds and he let Joe Weatherly take a few laps in it. Little Joe said " It was powerfull as Hell, but you couldn't hold in a 10 acre field".

Best Race Car In The Early Years?

Stock Car Racing History

1937 Ford Coupe, converted to hydraulic brakes. Windsor (Canadian) Flathead Block, 41T Heads Polished as well as the space between the valves and cylinder Bored and Stroked to the limit. 3/4 ton hubs Radiator Out of a Ford Bob Tail Tracter. Curtis Turner. Camshaft (secret) that Billy Myers used. There is more, but My memory isn't what it used to be.

Help Identify The Track & Drivers In These Old Photos

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

Notice none of these cars have 3/4 ton rear hubs.The cars look like they are from the 1950/1951 period.Probably amateur not Sportman/Modified.

The NASCAR Volkswagen

General

One Last Thing, 1946 clip.

The NASCAR Volkswagen

General

Back then 1949/1953 The Monday paper was like this.

The NASCAR Volkswagen

General

The NASCAR Volkswagen

General

Pete Banchoff said:

Billy, you've thrown a tough one out. I never heard of this until Harlow Reynolds mentioned Dick Hagey's Volkswagen in the comment section of the picture of the #12 Tucker. The Tucker is in the photo section on Stock Car Racers Reunion. Harlow might have a little more info on the car. Also, Jim Streeter might have heard about the car since he was running some Nascar around that time. Please let us know if you find anything out about the VW.

Pete

My friend Ray Duhigg was badly hurt in this race and Frank Alford was killed.

In 1951 NASCAR's relationship with the Newspapers wasn't what it is today.

General

Buy It! Buck Baker won and he didn't win over $175.00. I think I won $35.00.

In 1951 NASCAR's relationship with the Newspapers wasn't what it is today.

General

This past week The State Newspaper Sports Section has had at least one article per day about Stock Car Racing.

Because I played on the High School State Championship Football Team six year earlier I knew some of the Raleigh News and Observer Sports writers.One Sunday evening I stopped by the Sports Desk and dropped off a short piece about the race at the Wilson County Fairground's Stock Car Race. I had finished in the Top Ten (most of the good drivers had wrecked) and I wanted to be sure it it would be published. The Sports Writer (a friend of mine) told me if I wanted to get this published "I would have to buy an Advertisment".

The new Raleigh Racetrack was under construction and had much opposition.At the time the residents of Raleigh wanted to keep their city a Religious and Educational Center.

How things have changed!

updated by @jim-streeter: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM