Guess What I Saw Today?
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Such descriptive phares!!!!! Dave, you are overstuffed with turkey my friend. Painted quite a picture for me which I am sure will cause me to lie awake tonight.
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Racing History Minute - November 30, 1952
Stock Car Racing History
Dave, your discoveries are fascinating! Thanks for all you do.
Chase, thanks for rounding up the actual newspaper report. Awesome stuff.
Racing History Minute - November 30, 1952
Stock Car Racing History
The 34th and final race of the 1952 Grand National Season was a 100 mile/200 lap event on the half mile dirt track located in West Palm Beach, Florida. Of the 19 cars entering the event, Herb Thomas in the FABULOUS Hudson Hornet was the fastest and won the pole at a speed of 63.716 mph. Tim Flock, in a Ted Chester Hudson started second. Tim needed only to start the event to wrap up the season championship but he couldn't anticipate what was to come during this event. Perk Brown started a R. G. Shelton Hudson third and Fonty Flock in the Air Lift Special Oldsmobile would roll off fourth. Fifth place starter would be Ralph Liguori in an Oldsmobile.
Herb Thomas took the lead on the green flag and was never passed. 7,500 fans watched Thomas methodically work his way around the track and the traffic to post the win. Starting his first race as a driver, Henry "Smokey" Yunick started a second FABULOUS Hudson Hornet in 19th place and ended up 18th after ignition problems forced him to the sidelines on lap 7. History would come to show that Smokey was much better turning wrenches than he was turning steering wheels.
On lap 164, fans watched in horror as the Tim Flock Hudson flipped several times in a violent accident. The only sound heard as the Hudson came to rest was the sound of the racing engines until Tim emerged, unscathed, from the crumbled Hudson. The crowd gave the new Grand National Champion a standing ovation. Tim said, after the race, that "I bet I'm the only driver who has won the championship on his head". (for the record, several years later, Joe Penland would win a late model sportsman race on the roof of his car as he tangled with Bobby Isaac coming out of turn four and Joe's car flipped and he slid across the line upside down).
Finishing order:
1. Herb Thomas, FABULOUS Hudson Hornet, winning $1,000.00
2. Fonty Flock, Air Lift Oldsmobile, winning $700.00 (2 laps down)
3. Perk Brown, R. G. Shelton Hudson, winning $450.00 (4 laps down)
4. Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $350.00 (6 laps down)
5. Marion Edwards, Dodge, winning $200.00 (7 laps down)
6. Rags Carter
7. Pop McGinnis
8. Ralph Liguori
9. Alan Clarke
10. George Bush
11. Al Keller
12. Tim Flock
13. Hank Tillman
14. Doug Livingston
15. Oda Green
16.Banjo Matthews
17. Jimmie Lewallen
18. Smokey Yunick
19. Hank Pollard
The top five in the final points standings were:
1. Tim Flock, started 33, won 8, total earnings $22,890.00
2. Herb Thomas, started 32, won 8, total earnings $18,965.00
3. Lee Petty, started 32, won 3, total earnings $16,876.00
4. Fonty Flock, started 27, won 2, total earnings $19,112.00
5. Dick Rathmann, started 27, won 5, total earnings $11,248.00
PERSONAL NOTE: As I have worked on these History Minutes almost 8 months now, I am always aware that the winner of the early events, in fact through the late 50s, would take home $1,000.00. I sometimes wondered how they managed to keep the car going because even if they won like 20 races, that would hardly cover the costs of all those 100 milers on the short dirt tracks around the country. A few days ago, I was talking with a man who had fought in WWII and is still in surprising good health for his 89 years. He made a comment I didn't think about at the time, but has suddenly become very clear to me. My friend had said that in the 1930s, ONE dollar was like the difference between eating for a week or going without. Rounding off the winner's purse at $1,000.00 would seem like really big money, and in fact it was, for the era in which it was being paid.
It is sort of a jolt to the system today to watch something like "Wheel of Fortune" where they give away vacations valued at $9,000.00 for a week. Yes, I know it is all relavant, but, waxing philosophical here, is that what is wrong with values today? Just a thought. Guess I should editorialize on these History Minutes, but sometimes food for thought is a good thing no matter where you find it.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Racing History Minute for November 29th
Stock Car Racing History
November 29th is another one of these dates which did not have a Grand National Race run between 1949 and 1993. While I am certain some of our other historians will come up with some interesting details of a race somewhere on this date, I decided to go back to 1970 and relate a part of the history of the sport with which some fans may not be familiar. Certainly there are those fans who won't even care about the events of the early part of 1970, but I think it is important to note what happened at that point in time as it only served to once more enforce there is no power in sports that will alter the iron hand rule of the NASCAR organization. As noted by several folks, without NASCAR the sport of stock car racing is like to have never evolved into the sport it became, but at the same time can we help but wonder if we are now on the white flag lap of what was once the granduer of the sport.
For those of you who recall the PDA (Professional Drivers Assocation) headed up by Richard Petty, you will remember the debacle of the first race at Talladega in September, 1969. The tire companies could not build a tire that would hold up to the speed at that super track so the PDA member drivers pulled out. Big Bill France, as determined as always not to be undermined by anyone or anything, filled the field with Grand American (Mustangs, Cougars, Camaros, etc) and ran the race anyway. Richard Brickhouse won in a Dodge Daytona, which was his only win on the Grand National Circuit.
About the time all of those events were going on in Alabama, a "wheeler-dealer" from Detroit, one Larry LoPatin was building his "racing empire" to be known as American Raceways, Inc. LoPatin had the money to compete with Big Bill and he was already in total control of Atlanta Internation Raceway Michigan International Speedway, Riverside International Raceway and Texas International Speedway. At the time, LoPatin was already hard a work building a fifth track in New Jersey. Les Richter, a former Football player with the NFL, was Executive Vice President for LoPatin's organization but was "fired" in October, 1969, for what LoPatin called "siding with France and siding with drivers" in different areas of the Talladega dispute.
Actually, it was reported Richter resigned, but those in the know realized the resignation was obtained "under pressure". Pushing further, LoPatin openly questioned France's actions in allowing the Talladega race to run under the circumstances it did. He very publicly asked "if the track had been some other track that France's, would they have allowed the Grand American cars to compete"?
Within days of Richter's departure from American Raceways and LoPatin publicly criticizing the NASCAR operation, Bill France removed the season ending, long scheduled Texas 500, set for December 7th, from the schedule. Advantage: Big Bill. The caveat, according to Big Bill was that the purse was not enough at $75,000.00 and Bill was demanding a minimum $100,000.00. Long story short, LoPatin arranged the funds to handle the minimum requirement of the purse and the race, although plaqued by awful weather, was run on the December 7th date in 1969 with Bobby Isaac as the winner.
LoPatin and France first came together in the same room after the Talladega remarks by LoPatin at the Ford Awards Banquet in Dearborn, Michigan in late November. The two were seen in a corner, very confrontational, arguing and finger pointing. France stormed out of the affair while dinner was being served and did not return for the awards portion of the evening. Advantage, LoPatin.
Although LoPatin faded into the rearview mirror of Big Bill as a threat, the PDA was still an entity with which he had to deal. In December, 1969, NASCAR signed a broadcast agreement with ABC Television for some $1,365,000.00 to provide television coverage of the races but NOT live coverage. France was set for a good 1970 season. It was also about this time that Richard Petty returned to the Chrysler Corporation camp after one year with arch rival Ford, and that was sure to spark renewed interest in some fans that pulled for the car make over the driver. Petty was happy, Chrysler was happy, and Big Bill was happy. It appeared the 1970 season would be a "barn-burner" for NASCAR.
While Petty was signing up with Chrysler Corporation again, Big Bill was working on a new entry blank for NASCAR events in an effort to destroy the PDA. He had added a clause to the entry blank which contained verbage that stated once the entry blank was signed, NASCAR had total and complete control of the race car, which assured that the driver of that car would appear and would race. The first entry blank to carry the extended verbage was for the Motor Trend 500 at the American Raceways track at Riverside. Richard Petty, President of the PDA, Elmo Langley, VP, James Hylton and E. J. Trivette returned their signed entry blanks with that verbage marked through. Petty stated "France wants to keep control of 110 percent of racing and it can't be done. The sport has outgrown a one man operation". Langley added "We disagree with the pledge. If this is binding,then NASCAR could put anyone in the car, even an unqualified driver. I'm not going to let anyone drive my car if I can't".
NASCAR sent the forms back to the four drivers. Petty and Chrysler executives conferred (personal note: probably including a lot of high paid Detroit attorneys) and determined they could sign the entry blanks because they all intended to race anyway. Thus, that part of the confrontation was avoided.
Throughout the coming months, events such as tire tests at Talladega to develope new tires, ABC actually joining the Talladega race at halfway for live action, and France holding LoPatin's tracks to minimum promotion by NASCAR and the continued efforts of Bill France to destroy the PDA, were ongoing and France seemed to hold all the advantage.
When the August race at Atlanta was unable to provide the required purse, Big Bill had his advantage over LoPatin he needed. Long story short, Bill removed the race from the schedule until the required $100,000 purse was posted. Through some very "slick" actions, Richard Howard of Charlotte Motor Speedway guaranteed the purse and the race went on. On July 31st, less than a week before the Atlanta race, LoPatin resigned from his position with American Raceways .
LoPatin had some good ideas but was fighting the might of Big Bill France, AND, absolutely awful weather for several of his events. Crowds were almost non-existant (much like today's events) and ARI was losing big money. LoPatin said he felt "my actions were right and the concept was right. The question is was my personality right for it".
Throughout the 1970 season, Goodyear was testing tires, NASCAR was working with drivers and mechanics to find a way to balance speed, tires, and handling. The PDA would quietly slip into obilvion and Big Bill would once more rule with the iron hand that had built the sport. But changes were on the horizon as R.J. Reynolds was in the background, about to be approached by Junior Johnson to sponsor his race car. With television advertising banned for the cigarette maker, they needed an advertising venue. In the days of the 70s, there were no more loyal product supporters than NASCAR fans. Big Bill would step down and hand the reins to Bill, Jr. The Winston Cup, restrictor plates, and some good racing would entertain the fans. At the end of the decade, the Daytona 500 would be aired by CBS, flag to flag, and we all know what an Hollywood scripted ending did for the sport.
So, race fans, I hope at least a portion of this History Minute was entertaining for you. As always, many thanks to Greg Fielden and his "Forty Years of Stock Car Racing" series of books from which I obtained most of this information and the quotes used in the Minute.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
How I found out about RacersReunion shortly after it started.
Stock Car Racing History
Jim was the one who called me late one evening in February when Jeff had started the site in January. Jim said that Dargan Watts had just called him about a site he ought to check out and when Jim saw it he knew to call me right away. I went to my computer, with Jim on the phone, and I got signed up and signed in. At the time I was about the 74th person to sign up. Jim was right about the site being the "perfect fit" for me as he knew how much I loved the sport. He also knew how active I was in the sport all those years. I first met Jim when I was 14 years old. He gave our "Richard Petty Fan Club of Columbia" a lot of air time on the local radio station. Jim would come to the races and always use my parents' motorhome as a base of operations. Jim also allowed me to cover Darlington qualifying for his WSCQ radio station which was affiliated with CBS. One of my interviews with David Pearson was actually used on CBS Sports one year. Jim Seay was an unique individual with one of the most recognizeable voices around. He loved sports, especially high school and college football and stock car racing.
My thoughts and prayers go our for his family and to all his many friends. Rest in peace, Jim, although I doubt that is your style. I remember every extended telephone call you ever made to me which always ended with your long list of things you had to accomplish that day. With your drive and talents, the list was never ending.
November 28, 1982 - Bobby Allison Wins Out West
Stock Car Racing History
Excellent post Chase!!!! Thanks for finding something racey to post today. Happy Thanksgiving.
Racing History Minute - November 28th
Stock Car Racing History
This is another date for which my source does not indicate a race date by NASCAR in the Grand National Division. I thought of writing some notes on some historic happenings in the sport in the 70s but I guess I'm just too lazy to tackle that tonight so please forgive me. We do have some good History Minutes coming up and I hope you will continue to look forward to what is posted here. Just leave us a little comment to let us know if you like what you're seeing or if there is something you would like to see.
Now, most of all for today, may you all, and your families, have a very Happy Thanksgiving. To my friends in other countries who do not celebrate the Thanksgiving Day, I hope your day will be just as fine as it can possibly be.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Stock Car Racing History
And a very Happy Thanksgiving to you, my friend. Hope to see you at Memory Lane on December 10th.
A Historic Date - November 27th, 1895
Stock Car Racing History
Good job Cody!!!! Great History Minute. I do sort or like those old cars in the pics. Happy Thanksgiving to you.
Racing History Minute - November 27, 2013
Stock Car Racing History
Yes, the date is correct. The "Minute" for today IS, in fact, today. As most of you know, I use Greg Fielden's "Forty Years of Stock Car Racing", "Forty Plus Four" and "Rumbling Ragtops" as my exclusive source for these Minutes. Part of that use is to further honor the great effort Greg put forth in putting together that series of books. What he did, all those years ago, will serve all of us who want to recall those early days of the sport. Thanks, Greg, for your hard work and dedication.
As my reference material contains only the Grand National events through 1993 and the convertible events for the three years that division was in existence, there will be, this time of year, certain days when there were no races in those divisions, although believe it or not, those days aren't that frequent. While I have plans to work most of the days of January and February into "special events", December is going to be a difficult month to cover. I started this series on April 5, 2013. With the assistance and contributions by so many, especially TMC Chase and Dave Fulton, we have put together a beautiful history of stories, pictures and even a few videos for every day since April 5th. This day, November 27th, had no Grand National or Convertible race on which to report although I have no doubt someone, or more that just someONE will have memories to post.
So, all you folks who read these posts, add a sentence or two to this post today and let us know if you have special memories of any racing event on November 27th of any year, any division of racing, or simply anything about racing you want to share.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM