Nice piece. "Big John" Sears would make his Grand National debut later the same year on December 29, 1963 at Savannah (a 1964 season race). I remember watching his brother James in the modifieds running against David Munnerlyn and the like at Sanford between 1967-1970.
I just learned something else I didn't know, that the 1963 Darlington Rebel 300 was actually two separate 150-mile races with an intermission and the winner determined by combined points.
Here's an account:
TWO LITTLE REBELS
Feature Article from Hemmings Muscle Machines
July, 2011 - Jim Donnelly
The chop tops, representing NASCAR's experiment with running "convertible" stock cars as something of a B-list show to the Grand Nationals, were gone, chopped from the schedule themselves in 1963. That left Darlington Raceway without the traditional division for its second race, the springtime Rebel 300. Thankfully for Darlington, it had a very smart president at the time, with an unusual background for a racing promoter.
His name was Bob Colvin, and he started out as track founder Harold Brasington's vice president when Darlington was built in 1950. The Pee Dee River plain that surrounds Darlington was farmland, and Colvin had been raised in a family of peanut farmers before going away to Clemson University to study agriculture. He then became a peanut broker near Darlington. Being a grower in a state with withering summer heat, Colvin was well versed in risk.
When NASCAR canned the convertibles, leaving him to let typical hardtops contest the 1963 Rebel 300, Colvin put his own brassy fillip on the race: He chopped the erstwhile chop-top go in half. It was split into twin 150-mile segments on Darlington's asymmetrical 1.366-mile oval, bracketing a timed intermission. Colvin's setup assigned points based on the drivers' finishing position in each half, with the halves totaled to determine an overall winner.
The great Joe Weatherly, on his way to a NASCAR title and then sudden death, won it in Bud Moore's Pontiac by beating Junior Johnson in the first act and then running second to Richard Petty in the second. Tom Kirkland, who photographed action at his home speedway from its very beginning in 1950, narrates the story.
The twin-Rebel format was never tried again, perhaps because in 1963, Colvin only had a few years to live. NASCAR, however, has toyed with segmenting its all-star races at various points for years, and in the world of short tracks, programs that involve multiple features in one night (such as twin 20-lapper or triple 20s) are usually wildly popular with fans.
"That mandatory 30-minute break between the races, during which they made repairs and then lined them up to race again, well, I've thought about it and (the format) since then, but then it takes someone like you to bring it up," Tom told us. "I have no idea why they never did it again after 1963. Bob was not an orator. He was very poor at public speaking. But there was a wheel in his head for innovation, and it was always turning."
This article originally appeared in the July, 2011 issue of Hemmings Muscle Machines.
I posted the comment and link below a minute ago as a response to Bobby Williamson's search for Lakeside Speeday in Denver, NC history, but I hate for the link to get lost in just that post under the Historic Speedways category:
This is proving difficult to find....
HOWEVER, the search led me to one of the best documents on Southern Auto Racing that I've seen and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it.
Published in the July 2007 edition of the North Carolina Historical Review, the piece is titled THE AUTO RACING BUSINESS IN THE EMERGING SOUTH by Dr. Randall Hall, Editor of the Journal of Southern History.
The article has outstanding info on southern auto racing in the very early days and continuing through the 50s.
There are some astounding photos, such as Bobby Myers holding a very young Chocolate Myers beside a Confederate flag draped concession stand at Peace Haven Speedway in the 1940s and a photo of the start of a 1948 NASCAR event at Greensboro. There's a 1930s era photo even of Big Bill France in his open wheel car at Lakewood in Atlanta and a mid 1930s photo of the big cars at Raleigh.
Did you know that the legendary Sam Nunis who taught Chris Economaki the art of race promotion began booking races after he was severely injured driving a car at a 1925 Concord, NC race?
You have got to read this piece if you have any interest at all in southern auto racing history. Excellent, excellent reading.
Here is the link to the pdf file, which may take several moments to load:
http://www.fancygapmountain.com/CarnivalofSpeed.pdf
Darrell Waltrip reflects on wild ride in NASCAR
By: Allen Gregory | Bristol Herald Courier
Published: March 16, 2012
BRISTOL, Tenn. --
Bristol Motor Speedway is one of the most brutal challenges in motorsports.
Darrell Waltrip remembers a day when Bristol was even more fearsome.
It was a time of no power steering, no custom-fitted seats, no cool suits and no media handlers.
You just strapped yourself in to that bad boy and took off. You had to man up, baby, he said.
Waltrip aced the physical and mental marathon at Bristol a record 12 times during his Hall of Fame career.
This weekend, Waltrip returns to BMS as a conquering hero and beloved television commentator.
With the help of author Nate Larkin, Waltrip profiled his wild NASCAR ride in the book Sundays Will Never Be The Same: Racing, Tragedy, and RedemptionMy Life in Americas Fastest Sport.
This is definitely not the typical memoir. In folksy fashion, Waltrip recounts ruffian days when he outsmarted the law on Kentucky backroads, outran the local leadfoots at Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, Tenn., and befriended a wild-eyed southern boy named Dale from Kannapolis, N.C.
The book begins and ends with the Feb. 18, 2001 edition of the Daytona 500. With Waltrip analyzing the race from the broadcast booth, Michael Waltrip posted his first Sprint Cup win while Dale Earnhardt lost his life on the final turn.
For the folk hero known simply as D.W., that final act at Daytona remains frozen in time.
That was important day in the history of the sport and the impact of that race is still felt in many ways, Waltrip said. Dales death affected everybody differently. There were a lot of emotions and feelings.
In his book, Waltrip offers insight into Earnhardts transformation from a Jack Daniels drinking dirt tracker to a dominating racer who could intimidate anyone with the simple twist of his busy mustache.
Dale was truly a diamond in the rough, Waltrip said. Everybody knew Dale could drive, but he worked hard to polish his image.
Earnhardt and Waltrip had their share of clashes on the track. But there were many similarities. Both men shook up the sport with their brash attitudes, courage and talent.
Dale really grew with the sport, Waltrip said. He has hard-working guy, smart businessman, great father and very good spokesman.
Earnhardt was also very stubborn. For example, he long resisted the use of full-faced helmets and safety harness.
Dale had his own way of doing things but his death helped to change the cars, tracks and driver, Earnhardt said. Thats part of his legacy. Like the book title says, Sundays were never the same after Dales death.
The most touching part of the book involves the enduring relationship between Waltrip and his wife, Stevie.
The refined daughter of a powerful and taciturn businessman, Stevie eventually had to convince her family that Waltrip was the right man for her.
Stevie has always been my biggest cheerleader, Waltrip said. Weve had a great partnership, and she was a pioneer in many ways.
Waltrip shares with readers how his wife gained admission to the pits, which was once the private domain of rugged mechanics, bootleggers and brawler.
Stevie was the first woman to sit on the pit box and be part of a team, Waltrip said. She loves the people in the sport and they love her.
Before each race, Stevie Waltrip handed Earnhardt a scripture from the bible. She continued that routine on the morning that fateful sunny Daytona day in 2001.
Stevie was a great witness to Dale, Waltrip said. She was determined to make sure Dale was a Christian, and I know he was.
Waltrip said each of his sentimental return trips to Bristol remind him of his special connection with wily crew chief Junior Johnson. That country boy connection produced seven straight wins at BMS from 1981-1984.
My six years with Junior were the best times of my life, Waltrip said. Junior is such a practical and unique guy, and he just knew what it took to get the most out of my engine and make my car go fast. That was especially the case at Bristol.
According to Waltrip, the key to success at Bristol has always centered around mental toughness.
Ill never forget the first time I went to Bristol, Waltrip said. Richard Petty and other drivers were on the radio talking about how much they hated Bristol and how hard the races were.
Well, I came with a different attitude and tried to turn those negatives of my rivals into a positive. That carried me a long way.
Waltrip won 84 career races and three NASCAR Cup championships. But he takes special pride in his mastery of Bristol.
Most drivers have a hard time just finishing seven races in a row at Bristol, Waltrip said. To actually win seven races in a row gave me a great sense of accomplishment. Bristol is a special place for me.
Mar 16, 9:48 AM EDT
Daytona to repave area charred by track fire
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Daytona International Speedway is getting another repave.
Track president Joie Chitwood III says the asphalt in Turn 3 will be removed and repaved following Saturday's motorcycle racing event.
Workers have washed and cleaned the area of the track multiple times since a fiery explosion charred and damaged the track during the Daytona 500 on Feb. 27. Juan Pablo Montoya's car broke during a caution lap, crashed into a track dryer carrying about 200 gallons of jet fuel and ignited a fire that halted the nighttime race for more than two hours.
Chitwood expects the damaged portion of the famed track to hold up during Saturday's AMA event, and believes the track will be back to normal before NASCAR's July race at Daytona.
The track had a complete repave in 2010.
2012 The Associated Press
By the way, here are a few current Georgia laws.... I think I'll stay in NC and let you and Cody and Johnny deal with these:
* If an organization non registered as non-profit fails to register their raffle with the local sheriff, that group risks paying up to $10,000 in fines and spending five years in jail.
* While Georgia operates its own lottery, it protects its citizens by making it illegal to promote a private lottery.
* The term sadomasochistic abuse is defined so broadly, that it could possibly be applied to a person handcuffing another in a clown suit.
* All sex toys are banned.
* It is illegal to use profanity in front of a dead body which lies in a funeral home or in a coroners office.
* Members of the state assembly cannot be ticketed for speeding while the state assembly is in session.
* Donkeys may not be kept in bathtubs.
* No one may carry an ice cream cone in their back pocket if it is Sunday.
City Laws in Georgia
Acworth
* All citizens must own a rake.
Athens-Clarke County
* If you want to read your favorite book in public to your friends, do it before 2:45 AM.
* It is illegal to sell two beers are once for a single price. For example, a bar cant run a 2 Bud Lights for $5 special.
Though being forced to close your business is bad enough, Athens-Clarke County forces one to obtain a license before holding a Going-Out-Of-Business sale.
* Goldfish may not be given away to entice someone to enter a game of bingo.
* Owners of mules may not allow their animal to roam around Athens unsupervised.
* Persons under the age of 16 may not play pinball after 11:00 PM.
* It is illegal for one to make a disturbing sound at a fair.
* On Mondays, it is illegal for one to whistle very loud after 11:00 PM.
And on and on and on by Georgia city and county.... now don't be the pot calling the kettle black!
Well, you and Newt can just stay down there in Georgia, then!
Remember what happened in South Carolina at Darlington regarding Sunday racing?
"The inaugural Rebel 300 was held as a Convertible race on May 11, 1957, only to be delayed by rain and raced on the ensuing Sunday (May 12), drawing a fine for promoter Bob Colvin for violating South Carolina blue law."
(Wikipedia)
PattyKay, never having met you in person, I didn't realize you were short like my wife (her nickname even today getting ready to turn 65 in May is SHORTY). I haven't seen any prohibition in Jeff's ROE about short writers or tall writers contributing, so feel free to keep commenting from your "low" perch!
Robert, don't know if this is one of the articles, but it appeared last year in the Statesville paper:
A look back at the short-lived Iredell Speedway
By: Joel Reese
Statesville Record & Landmark
Published: June 03, 2011
Have you ever wondered why Iredell County doesnt have a stock car track? Would you believe it has something to do with Sunday morning preachers and some milk cows?
Iredell County could probably claim to have more connections to NASCAR than any county in the country, but we lack just one thing a race track. But you know what? We used to have one.
Local history researcher Rodney Kennedy found a full-page ad in The Statesville Record on March 27, 1948, Announcing the Official Opening of the New Iredell Speedway, Inc. Sunday, April 4th, with 100 laps of Fast Stock Car Racing. The ad stated that the new Iredell Speedway would cater to the Racing of the Stock Car Type and Possibly Some with Real Racing Cars. The new track sat eight miles north of downtown, off the Turnersburg Highway.
Ed Lowe and J.H. Church, incorporators of the speedway, announced plans to run a series of stock car, race car and motorcycle events at the new half-mile dirt track. The track had taken a year to construct and featured a grandstand for spectators with free and ample parking along with refreshments.
The tracks first race, held April 3, 1948, featured 29 drivers competing in two 10-lap heat events, a 20-lap consolation and a final 60-lap main event. The track was watered and sprayed with calcium chloride to keep the dust down. The entry list included: Bill Snowden, 15; Curtis Turner, 41; Otis Martin, 92; Johnny Grubb, 28J; Jim Cook, 3; Pap White, 4; Bill Blair, 2, Buck Baker, 3; Pee Wee Martin, 19; Leon Sales, 30; Bernie Sales, 60; Bruce Thompson, 0; Alfred Thompson, 1; Charles Allison, 22; and Shorty York, 39. NASCAR Hall of Famer Curtis Turner won the first main event at the Iredell Speedway before a crowd of several thousand.
Other racers to compete at the track over the next few months included Ed Samples, the 1946 national champion; Marshal Teague, Billy Carden, Buddy Shuman and Jimmy and Speedy Thompson. Turner returned to victory lane, winning $500 on June 13, 1948, beating Glenn Dunaway before a crowd of 5,000 in the 22-mile main event. Three cars hurled over the bank at the north turn, but no drivers were injured. The Iredell-Star Motorcycle Club sponsored an AMA (American Motorcycle Association) race at the speedway on June 27, 1948. Alex Sing beat little Joe Weatherly by a nose. General admission to the event was $1.50 and grandstand seating was .75 cents.
On Oct. 24, 1948, the Statesville Record featured an ad from the Iredell Speedway proclaiming, For the First Time in North Carolina: Hot Rod Auto Races. The ad featured a photo of Hot Rod racer Glenn Weaver of Bristol, Tenn., and explained, A souped-up, stripped down stock car is the definition of a Hot Rod. These little cars which are claimed to be much faster than a stock car have been clocked in California, where Hot Rod racing began, at speeds up to 150 miles per hour. On April 18, 1949, a 100-lap stock car event sanctioned by the Interstates Racing Association was held at the track. The race featured brothers Al and Jimmy Thompson, sons of former racer Bruce Thompson of Monroe.
So what happened to the Iredell Speedway and its fans? Jimmy Alley of Troutman remembers getting grounded by his mom and dad for running the family car on the speedway and dragging the sideboards in the dirt. He also remembers the local dairy farmers in the area near the track complaining that the noise and traffic from the races was bothering the local herds.
Apparently a lot of the trouble came from the fact that the races were held on Sundays. State Sen. C.H. Dearman purposed Senate Bill 193 prohibiting racing in Iredell County on Sundays. In 1949, Chapter 374 (S.B. 193), An Act to make it Unlawful to Operate or Conduct Motor Vehicle Races in Iredell County on Sundays was passed. Section 1 of the law read, That it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, on the Sabbath Day, generally known as the Lords Day, to operate or be in any manner interested in or participate in the operation of any race track or other places at which the racing of motor vehicles, including racing cars, stock cars, motorcycles, or other types of motor vehicles, is carried on in Iredell County.
The new law shut down the Iredell Speedway for good. The Dec. 19, 1949, issue of the Landmark noted that the Iredell Speedways Certificate of Incorporation had been suspended by the state due to failure to file certain reports and payment of franchise taxes. J.H. Church, who had operated the speedway, turned the track into a fishing lake covering more than three acres. A photo in the Statesville Daily Record on Jan. 12, 1950, showed Church and Clarence Estes with a 13-pound carp at Churchs Lake. The location today would be on Church Lake Road between Highway 21 and Old Mocksville Road.
Could the Iredell Speedway have one day become a NASCAR track? Consider this. The North Wilkesboro Speedway opened May 18, 1947, less than a year before the Iredell track opened. The Hickory Speedway opened in 1951. The Charlotte Motor Speedway was not built until 1959.
Can racing ever be brought back to Iredell County? Perhaps. I hear Kyle Busch already made the inaugural first lap on Perth Road outside Mooresville and put down a speed of 128 mph. Not on a Sunday, of course.
Joel Reese is the local history librarian at the Iredell County Public Library.
This is proving difficult to find....
HOWEVER, the search led me to one of the best documents on Southern Auto Racing that I've seen and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it.
Published in the July 2007 edition of the North Carolina Historical Review , the piece is titled THE AUTO RACING BUSINESS IN THE EMERGING SOUTH by Dr. Randall Hall, Editor of the Journal of Southern History.
The article has outstanding info on southern auto racing in the very early days and continuing through the 50s.
There are some astounding photos, such as Bobby Myers holding a very young Chocolate Myers beside a Confederate flag draped concession stand at Peace Haven Speedway in the 1940s and a photo of the start of a 1948 NASCAR event at Greensboro. There's a 1930s era photo even of Big Bill France in his open wheel car at Lakewood in Atlanta and a mid 1930s photo of the big cars at Raleigh.
Did you know that the legendary Sam Nunis who taught Chris Economaki the art of race promotion began booking races after he was severely injured driving a car at a 1925 Concord, NC race?
You have got to read this piece if you have any interest at all in southern auto racing history. Excellent, excellent reading.
Here is the link to the pdf file, which may take several moments to load:
