WAGONS------HO ! !
Stock Car Racing History
Ok its getting the middle of the week and you have slaved every night on the car since Martinsville. You did make it back with the fenders on the car didnt you??
You now go around the yard with a metal detector hunting for those tools that got planted the last few days while you diligently prepared for the next race,and its in Ft Worth Tx. Never had to hunt for tools that you or your kids planted hoping for a socket tree?
Ok enough of that, you load up the family wagon or sedan and hook up your trusty trailer. Do the lights work,and did you grease the bearings? Now is the little lady ready to go? Or better yet has she packed a 4 day supply of Peanut Butter sandwiches.
No need to carry spare parts because no room and probably no parts either.
Now you are loaded and off to Tx from NC,SC,GA,or Va. Sound familiar? Those trusty ole soles that made us wish we were there did it that way. The Johnsons,Woods,Pearsons and many more traved that way.
Even those weekend warriors of back then carried everything they owned almost in a car or station wagon. I remember seeing Tim Leeming pull in with the rear bumper almost dragging the track when he crossed into the pits. I remember another that had came out of Fla to race in Dublin cross over onto the track and the trailer came loose and beat him into the pits.
Look at todays haulers,I dont think they will allow you into the pits with an open trailer.
We done it with money saved in a cookee jar or what Mama had saved for her new dress,remember those days?
Did you know that drivers back in this era would stay and sign autographs as long as people were there? I remember one time in Columbia that Marty Robins raced and afterwards he got up on the box on the pickup and sang to the wee hrs of the morning. I cant remember very many fans going home that nite.This happened on a thurs nite and a race on fri nite was scheduled down the road in Savannah Ga.
OH The GOOD ole DAYS of RACING. God we had it made back then,no sponsor to please,no prerace show in god knows where to be at before the race, and somehow by the grace of God we found a lunch fit for a Queen laid out on a trailer belonging to Billy Scott or Tommie Clinard. Both these drivers had the best wives and there were others who put on a spread and drivers were invited. I can remember drivers who stopped at creeks and rivers just to wash off the goo from the track. And sleeping arrangements were always prearranged .
This could go for awhile but Im going to stop now and let some others tell of the travels like going to Tx or other tracks in the great ole days.--------------------memories
updated by @johnny-mallonee: 10/05/18 02:42:37PM
