Racing History Minute - July 3, 1954
Stock Car Racing History
Wow, what an awesome 'What If?"
Forum Activity for @cody-dinsmore
Racing History Minute - July 3, 1954
Stock Car Racing History
First off.....we have several trophies won by Hershel McGriff, including this pole on display at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. Since Frank Christian is going to be inducted this year, we already have some of his items on display.
Second....wasn't Talladega thought to be planned somewhere near Spartanburg before Fonty Flock chose Eastern Alabama??
Racing History Minute - July 1, 1952
Stock Car Racing History
Tim.....whatever are you going to write about on the 4th?? You could do over 50 probably just for that one date!
A Unique Piece(s) to the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame
Stock Car Racing History
I can't say for sure since I have no history on it. I'm pretty sure it's just a show car........however, Ray Evernham, who spent two days at the hof a couple of months ago is committed to restoring the Brickyard car of '02 and bringing it.
All of the other cars do have history. Powder Blue car in rear - Bill's first Winston Cup Car - Started his first race in Rockingham in 76'; qualified 34th, broke the oil pump on lap 32 and finished 33rd earning $640. He would race that car 4 more times that year and I believe twice in 1977.
The Coors car is his 1987 Daytona record-setting car with 210 mph. The car won the pole for the 500, the Busch Clash, 7-11 Duel Race (Before Gatorade came as sponsor) and then dominated the 500 by leading the most laps.
The Bud car is from the 1992 Hooter's 500 (a race that needs no introduction). Elliott won the race, but lost the title that year by 10 points by not leading the most laps. Also, that was the first race in NASCAR to use yellow-letter tires.
The 'In-Tact' McDonalds car was the last Ford he drove before switching to Dodge in 2001. That car was driven in the season finale at Atlanta. The car is also 'fresh off the track'. Meaning that once back in the shop, no one bothered with cleaning it. It still has worn tires, rubber build up and lots of debris on the car.
(Not Pictured) in the Elliott Family Room where all of Bill's trophies and accomplishments are located is his 1988 Coors Thunderbird (Winston Cup Championship Car)
-Cody
A Unique Piece(s) to the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame
Stock Car Racing History
Who here remembers the 1998 Diehard 500. Probably not much without a quick research - The "Big One" occurred on lap 142 of 188. In the tri-oval, Ward Burton barely tapped Earnhardt, which sent the #3 into the #94 of Bill Elliott. Elliott and Earnhardt SLAMMED the wall causing a 20-car accident. You can watch the crash by clicking here
Elliott received the worst end of the deal; once he hit the wall, he skidded down the front stretch on his driver side door until another car hit him. Elliott was alright, but shaken.
Brought to the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame yesterday by Bill himself, what remains of that car! Literally, not much! lol. The entire front half of the car is gone along with much of the rear. Parts and pieces are littered around the floor that surround the car in the museum including hoses, air box, metal panels....even the steering shaft! This adds to be the 7th Bill Elliott car we have in the 40,000 sq. ft museum and makes our car count close 50 now!
If your ever in the area, this is just one more encouragement to come and spend a few hours!
And a picture of 6 out of 7 of Bill's cars on display at the hof.
-Cody
updated by @cody-dinsmore: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Can you "Name These Autographs of race drivers, race car owners, pit crewmen, mechanics, and NASCAR Hall of Famers"??
Stock Car Racing History
Pretty common, especially when Bill was first signed on with Coors. His signature was so simple that kids in school could've reproduced them. Then in later years, he got much fancier,and now, if you look hard enough, you can still tell the 'fanciness' of what it used to be, but then again, he signs so many items, it looks alot sloppier than it used to! ha
Before Chattanooga Chew, David Pearson and Others Raced at Chattanooga's Boyd's Speedway
Stock Car Racing History
At Boyd's
And at Nashville Fairgrounds....
Before Chattanooga Chew, David Pearson and Others Raced at Chattanooga's Boyd's Speedway
Stock Car Racing History
I love topics like this where you start out with one bit of trivia, and by the end of the thread, you learn a dozen more things!
Before Chattanooga Chew, David Pearson and Others Raced at Chattanooga's Boyd's Speedway
Stock Car Racing History
Being inducted into the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in December.....
Freddy Fryar Chattanooga, Tenn. - Won 826 feature events. Began racing in the early 1950s, following his brother Harold's footsteps, at the age of 14. First raced at Fort Oglethorpe Speedway in Fort Oglethorpe, GA. Competed in Modifieds on the beach at Daytona in 1956, 57. Finished second to Bobby Allison in the NASCAR Modified Championship in 1964. Competed in NASCAR Modifieds, Grand Nationals, and Late Model Sportsman and USAC Stock Cars in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Won seven NASCAR Series track championships. Won state championships in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. All Pro Series champion in 1983. Won All Pro Truck championship in 1984. Ran NASCAR's Winston Cup series in several events from 1956-1971. Won the Snowball Derby twice, 1979 and 1981. Won at Mobile International Speedway, Jackson International Speedway, Montgomery Motor Speedway, Caraway Speedway, Gresham Motorsports Park (then Georgia International Speedway), Corpus Christi Speedway, Five Flags Speedway and more. Retired form racing in 1987. Worked for various NASCAR teams for 15 years, and served as a driving instructor at the Richard Petty Driving School.
Here is a picture of an early car - Looks like a late 50's Ford? Track looks like Boyd's
And in the 1967 Permatex race at Daytona
And in a 1970 Superbird. (I have a diecast of this car if I could ever find it!)
Before Chattanooga Chew, David Pearson and Others Raced at Chattanooga's Boyd's Speedway
Stock Car Racing History
Wow, I didn't realize that if sit trackside, you would be three feet from Tennessee! lol