Sunday Oct 12 at Memory Lane Museum
General
Chase, just look for the fellow with the "I'm Famous" sign!
Forum Activity for @dave-fulton
General
October 7, 1973 - Cale Captures Controversial Charlotte
Stock Car Racing History
The day before the National 500, Bobby Allison won the Saturday, October 6, 1973 World Service Life 300 Late Model Sportsman race at CMS. The beautiful powder blue #01 Richmond, Virginia Chevelle of Sonny Hutchins, built and owned by Emanuel Zervakis, was voted "Best Appearing."
Sonny Hutchins with World Service Life "Best Appearing" Late Model Sportsman - Butch Zervakis collection
October 7, 1973 - Cale Captures Controversial Charlotte
Stock Car Racing History
When the teams arrived at Daytona to begin SpeedWeeks 1974, Allison's meeting with Bill France, Jr. was still center stage with new prerace inspections procedures for engines and the report by Chris Economaki of National Speed Sport News that Petty's Charlotte Engine had been a tad over 437 cu. in., while Cale's was 440 cu. in. The story below is from Daytona sports editor, Bernie Kahn:
October 7, 1973 - Cale Captures Controversial Charlotte
Stock Car Racing History
Blane, here's Gene Granger's report in the Spartanburg paper on Bobby's meeting with Bill France, Jr., filed during the Rockingham weekend:
October 7, 1973 - Cale Captures Controversial Charlotte
Stock Car Racing History
I'm guessing Perry Allen Wood could shed some light on the relationship between Stott Chevrolet and Stott's Ford in Tryon, NC.
October 7, 1973 - Cale Captures Controversial Charlotte
Stock Car Racing History
That's an extremely thorough and enjoyable report, Chase. Jame Hylton's sponsor, Stott Chevrolet, caught my eye. They appeared to have operated in Tryon, NC where Bud Moore's longtime All-Pro rear tire changer, Harold Stott operated(s) Stott's Ford, where I bought a Ford van for Derrike Cope's 1986 Rabanco racing effort in Cup, as well as a 1986 Ford wagon for the family. Harold's brother managed his Ford dealership and Harold worked in the service department.
Anybody know the relationship between the proprietor of Stott Chevrolet and Harold Stott's Stott's Ford in Tryon, NC.?
Harold Stott, by the way was deathly afraid of snakes and opposing crew members would often throw rubber snakes at Harold to watch him scream and jump! Dale Earnhardt, in 1982, had the the Henrico County Police chain one of their German Shepherds to the roll cage in Bud's Ford at Richmond and we all split our sides when Harold took off the car cover!
Enjoy your weekend trip. The rain isn't supposed to hit until after the checkered flag Saturday night.
HAS SOMEONE LOST HIS LUCKY RABBITS FOOT?
Current NASCAR
Rabbits' feet are out, 'coon tails are in, according to a Carolina Panthers football news clip:
Safety Thomas DeCoud had a raccoons tail clipped to his belt buckle after the game. He called it his lucky coons tail, and he wears it to home games.
Remember how Esso had the tiger's tail fad back in the 50s-60s about putting a tiger in your tank and everybody had those tiger tails hanging out of their gas cap area?
Maybe we can send those unfortunate NASCAR teams some old Davey Crockett hats and they can use the coonskin tails to hang from their eco friendly green fuel fillers!
And what is Jr. up to, Johnny?
1968 Grand Touring Division
Stock Car Racing History
I want to second the comments of Alex and Tim. I only got to 3 GT/Grand American races, one each in 1968, 1969 and 1970, at three different tracks - 2 dirt, one asphalt - Richmond, South Boston and Raleigh. The races were great and I wish I remembered more and had gotten to more. We are really beholden to Dennis for educating us and fortunate that his Dad drove in the series and is a great source of information.
1968 Grand Touring Division
Stock Car Racing History
According to various reports I've found in newspapers from Spartanburg, Daytona and Lexington, NC, that final scheduled October 1968 GT race at Charlotte had some real interesting story lines.
In the initial GT qualifying, Paul Goldsmith in the Smokey Yunick Camaro destroyed all Charlotte Motor Speedway qualifying records, including the two new Grand National track records that had just been set on Wednesday and Thursday by Charlie Glotzbach and LeeRoy Yarbrough.
Goldsmith was set to lead a field of 30 starters on the original Saturday date. The first 17 cars were set in time trials and the final 13 positions, including Harry Gant in a Mustang, were set by sign-in order at NASCAR registration.
When the event was postponed the first time, it was determined that new time trials would take place, since the GT cars weren't impounded like the Grand National field for the National 500. I haven't been able to find any qualifying story for the second scheduled date and don't know if that occurred or not. Maybe Dennis or another member knows or can find the answer.
