Just look beyond the forest to see the trees.
Stock Car Racing History
Slim!!!
Forum Activity for @jim-wilmore
Just look beyond the forest to see the trees.
Stock Car Racing History
OK, so now we've established that Bob Harkey did race a Chevy convertible but I too think his memory has faded on the year, when in fact it was a 58` Impala. So, to prove it I've got a picture of a `58 Impala and the original photo for comparison to the rear quarter panel. Just take a look and judge for yourself. Now we all know that the `57 was unmistakable, no question. Take a look... 
Just look beyond the forest to see the trees.
Stock Car Racing History
Thanks, hadn't never seen this one before, I'll bookmark it.
Just look beyond the forest to see the trees.
Stock Car Racing History
Wow, that's some good stuff there Patty. Buck Baker's #87 was his signature number but, I never known him to own a #89, being the "9" is an upside down "6"...typo? Naaw, couldn't be, not with this story, no way. However, it wasn't uncommon for two exact numbered cars to switch numbers in order to accommodate the score keeper ie. if Carl Tyler's #86 qualified better than Baker's #86 so Buck had to switch his number to #89. That's a theory since I still think that the car in question is a `58 Chevy.That's my story and I'm stickin' to it too!
At least the Bob Harkey mystery is solved. There is however one more driver that drove for Baker in the `59 Daytona 500, Tiny Lund in the #88 1959 Chevrolet, at least that's what Ultimate Racing History shows.
Just look beyond the forest to see the trees.
Stock Car Racing History
Please don't get me wrong, I am thoroughly enjoying your correspondence and thought I would poke at you but surely mean no harm. You have done your fair share of research, I do trust your response. Buck Baker did run a Chrysler in 1956 or 57 with the #86 so the fact that this Harkey fella supposedly drove for Buck seemed reasonable. In any case, since I have no further proof and it's hard to argue Fielden's research so I'd say you are correct on both questions. Nice work and thanks.
Just look beyond the forest to see the trees.
Stock Car Racing History
I don't know Patty, it sure looks like the rear quarter panel of a 58 Chevy Impala, the fin is not as deep as the 57' but I'm no expert. I looked at the `58 Impala on Wikipedia and it looks like the same rear quarter design but, when I looked for a Bob Harkey in the Stock Car Racing Encyclopedia edited by Fielden there is no Bob Harkey. So who is this Bob Harkey that supposedly drove for Buck Baker? Hmm? This is getting more confusing... as much as you and I seem to disagree on things I might have to admit your right but I'm not convinced that the car is a `57 Chevy yet. Wink!
Just look beyond the forest to see the trees.
Stock Car Racing History
Dave, you just educated me that Richie Panch was Marvin's son, I never connected the two. Richie seemed to be a nice guy. I built a custom made Monte Carlo of Richie's Budweiser Chevy because I liked the look.
Just look beyond the forest to see the trees.
Stock Car Racing History
Patty, applaud applaud, for answering the second of a two part question. Thanks for your time and research onThe Greg Fielden NASCAR Chronicles, it is a terrific source, probably the best out there and I cross referenced your find that the Convertible Division did in fact race first. Which means, that Shorty Rollins in the `58 Ford was the first race car to win at Daytona, that is a pretty cool title to hold and very little known fact about Daytona. However, there was a #86 that qualified with the convertibles, a Buck Baker car driven by Bob Harkey, a `58 Chevrolet convertible as referenced in http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/ So, the first question still stands, which car is in the photo, #36 Pete Kelly's `57 Chevy or #86 Bob Harkey's `58 Chevy?
Just look beyond the forest to see the trees.
Stock Car Racing History
Take a look at the top photo, what do you see? The image is small yet it is clear that the 1959 Ford Thunderbird with the #41 is Curtis Turner and if you are not very familiar with NASCAR's past drivers it doesn't take long to research in order to discover the #64 Ford Thunderbird is Fritz Wilson. However, if you read between the lines, or cars in this matter, you will see the rookie driver of young Richard Petty in the Lee Petty owned 1957 Olds Rocket 88 Ragtop.
A photo tells a story beyond the main subject, there are so many hidden stories in plain view, you just need look beyond the forest to see the trees.
Another close up reveals that just beyond Fritz Wilson's car are two more convertibles, the #98 and what appears to be #36 or #86. 
With more information I was able to research the #98 to be Marvin Panch in a 1958 Ford convertible and eventual runner-up to winner Shorty Robbins in the 1959 Daytona 500 Qualifying Convertibles race. Which led me to discover that the convertibles qualified separate from the Grand National cars yet raced together in the 500. Upon further investigation it was determined that the Fritz Wilson's #64 Museum of Speed 1959 Ford Thunderbird was also the runner-up in the Daytona 500 Qualifying race for the Grand Nationals to Bob Welborn's 1959 Chevrolet. So her e we have both eventual Daytona 500 Qualifying second place finishers in the same photo. One that appears to have either just qualified and is parked in the pits (Fritz Wilson), and the other is on the grid waiting to qualify (Marvin Panch).
There are so many instances where someone points out a lesser subject in a photo. Some see the components of the subject and target those for further discussion, for instance, seeing what brand of front clip a car has on an old modified. And some see beyond the photo's subject to discover the stories within the frame of the photo as in this photo of the Ford's of Curtis Turner and Fritz Wilson.
Here is a two part challenge to you:
One, who's car is in front of Marvin Panch's #98 Ford? Is it the #36 or #86 and, who is the driver, make and model?
Second, which division qualified first, the Convertibles or Grand National cars?
I do not have the answers to either questions, it is up the reader to find the answers, who has what it takes to be the next apprentice?
Finally, what have you discovered lately in your photos? You might want to get a magnifying glass and take a closer look.
updated by @jim-wilmore: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Steve Moore's Chevy Malibu's first Daytona 500 attempt, almost as bold at Bobby's Pontiac LeMans
Stock Car Racing History
Steve Moore from Carrollton, Georgia started in his first NASCAR Winston Cup race in 1977 at the Talladega Super Speedway at the green age of 18 driving the #07 Chevrolet for Norris Price. Steve raced once every year until 1980 when he drove in four Cup races for his family team. Steve entered in his first attempt at the Daytona 500 in 1981 but failed to qualify in the first UNO Twin-125 finishing 17th. However, his attempt in a Chevy Malibu was a bold move among the Olds Cutlass, Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick Regal, Chevy Caprice, Chrysler Imperial, and last but, by no means least, the Pontiac LeMans driven by Bobby Allison, the boldest car of all and eventual runner-up to Richard Petty's 1981 Daytona 500 win, which is a story in itself.
The Chevy Malibu, short, boxy, light, and not a bad move by Willard Moore Racing. Had Steve had more sponsorship money and perhaps more experience Steve would have qualified the little Malibu and made a statement, just like the LeMans did when it took the checkered flag. 
updated by @jim-wilmore: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM