Forum Activity for @dave-fulton

Retirement of Randy Hallman

General

Randy Hallman was a true giant in the field of motorsports writing for the now defunct afternoon Richmond News Leader. Although a "southern" writer,Randy's talents spanned the auto racing world. Hence, while the late Harold Pearson, Hallman's counterpart at the morning Richmond Times Dispatch, was serving as president of the stock car National Motorsports Press Association - NMPA, Randy at the same time was president of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association - AARWBA -that also took in the IndyCar, sports car and drag racing arenas, in addition to stock cars.

In 1980 Randy was awarded the prestigious Bloys Britt Award by AARWBA. The award was named for the late Associated Press auto racing editor, Bloys Britt. Randy Hallman's name was added to the perpetual trophy that is an old AP Teletype machine which has been displayed in the Houston Lawing Press Box at Daytona International Speedway. That was an honor of the highest magnitude for a racing writer or broadcaster.

Those of you who've ever been to the Dover track may be familiar with the huge photo tower structure at the exit of Dover's pit road and the entrance to the Cup garage heading into turn 1. While in that structure, a railing collapsed and Randy almost fell to his death. His back was broken and he missed a year and a half on the auto racing beat. That was our loss and it was also our loss as racers when he moved from sports to news and business. My hat is off to one of the greatest auto racing writers who ever pounded a keyboard.

The forgotten Norfolk Speedway

Stock Car Racing History

Aldo, the piece you quote is from the blog series "Bench Racing from the Volunteer State" by our own RacersReunion member and contributor, TMC-Chase:

http://stockcar.racersreunion.com/profile/toomuchcountry?xg_source=activity

The forgotten Norfolk Speedway

Stock Car Racing History

In 1963, after a successful referendum in both Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County, and with the approval of the Virginia General Assembly , Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County merged to form the present-day independent city of Virginia Beach. About the same time, Norfolk County merged with the small independent City of South Norfolk . The independent city that resulted from that merger, Chesapeake , became Virginia Beach's new neighbor to the southwest.

Most of the area formerly in the County of Princess Anne when it was formed in 1691 is now located within the independent City of Virginia Beach. The only exceptions are some territory of the northwestern portion which became part of the City of Norfolk through annexation and a land swap agreement between the two cities in 1988.

The forgotten Norfolk Speedway

Stock Car Racing History

The text below is excerpted from the book, Norfolk, Virginia: Evolution of a City in Maps -

The forgotten Norfolk Speedway

Stock Car Racing History

The new Agricade Fairgrounds, which opened around 1947 was apparently the site of Princess Anne Speedway and Princess Anne Park. First auto races there were midgets promoted by Sherman "Red" Crise.

The forgotten Norfolk Speedway

Stock Car Racing History

The forgotten Norfolk Speedway

Stock Car Racing History

In 1954, Princess Anne Speedway beat the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In the condensed judge's ruling, however, he made a statement (hi-lited) that could apply to most racetracks of the era:

54-2 USTC 9627] United States of America , Plaintiff, v. Princess Anne Speedway, Inc., Jordan A. Pugh, III, Earl W. Johnson, Defendants
In the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division, Civil Action No. 1767, September 28, 1954

[1939 Code Sec. 3710--same as 1954 Sec. 6332]


Distraint: Necessity for notice of levy and demand.--The United States did not use the proper form for final notice and demand prior to distraint. The District Court held that the failure of the government to levy upon funds in the hands of a creditor of taxpayer precluded it from collecting, under 1939 Code Sec. 3710, certain excise, withholding and social security taxes.
L. S. Parsons, Jr., United States Attorney, 307 Post Office and Court House Building, Norfolk, Virginia, for plaintiff. P. A. Agelasto, Jr., 502 Citizens Bank Building, Norfolk , Virginia , for defendants Jordan H. Pugh, III, et al.
Before HOFFMAN, District Judge.
Opinion from the Bench
(At the conclusion of the evidence and after the arguments of counsel, the Court gave the following oral opinion):
THE COURT: Civil Action No. 1767, in which the United States of America seeks to recover from Princess Anne Speedway, Inc., Jordan A. Pugh, III, and Earl W. Johnson certain taxes alleged to have been due by the corporation known as Princess Anne Speedway, Inc., it appears that the Court has heretofore entered judgment against Princess Anne Speedway, Inc., on the 20th day of May, 1954, same having been by default. Process was never served upon the defendant, Earl W. Johnson, sometimes referred to, I think, as W. Earl Johnson, and he, therefore, is not before the Court. This proceeding remains against Jordan A. Pugh, III, who is alleged by the Government to be the stakeholder of the sum of $800.00. It appears that the corporation known as Princess Anne Speedway, Inc., operated in a very loose manner ever since its incorporation and that it was the lessee from William F. Hudgins and others for certain property located in Princess Anne County, where stock car races and other similar events were held.

updated by @dave-fulton: 03/24/17 04:42:02PM

The forgotten Norfolk Speedway

Stock Car Racing History

Don't forget, also, there were two other tracks that ran NASCAR Grand Nationalraces in the Hampton Roads / Tidewater area that included Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Just south, across the Virginia/North Carolina border was Moyock Dog Track Speedway and to the north, across Hampton Roads Harbor was Langley Field Speedway, originally known as Dude Ranch Speedway. And not far to the west of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, the "outlaw" dirt Peanut City Speedway operated in Suffolk.

The forgotten Norfolk Speedway

Stock Car Racing History

Dennis, there is no way the proposed Isle of Wight County, Virginia racetrack would have carried the Richmond name. 8 Hampton Roads localities under the umbrella of the Hampton Roads Sports Authority in 1986 pledged $20 million for a 1-3/4 mile track to be operated by promoter, Paul Sawyer.

In a meeting with the 8 localities, NASCAR president, Bill France, Jr. refused to offer more than a year-to-year sanction and the entire deal collapsed. Paul then built Richmond International Raceway which opened in September 1988.

The forgotten Norfolk Speedway

Stock Car Racing History

Dennis, I don't know. I wish I knew more about the history of the Norfolk and Virginia Beach tracks.