Harlow Reynolds
Bill Lorah-59
Anybody know who the driver was? Number 59--Bill. Can't make out the
last name.
Looks like this came from Wayne Patterson's stuff. This car might have ran at South Boston.
Thanks for your help.
Harlow Reynolds---Lynchburg,Va.
Harlan... In the 50s-60s, BILL LORAH - driving car #59 -ran dirt NASCAR Modified races at Strawberry Hill in Richmond (he is a member of the Strawberry Hill Mod Squad) and at Langley Field in Hampton, Virginia. On September 1, 1962, Bill posted a 24th place finish in the Dixie 66 NASCAR Modified race at RAMBI in Myrtle Beach. Perhaps RR member Jack walker has a photo of his car.49 years ago this week - on October 25, 1964, Bill Lorah and his NASCAR Modified #59 placed 11th in the big Ray Platte Memorial race at Langley won by Richmond's Ted Hairfield.
Back in October 2010, RR member, Jack Walker did the following write-up of the Ray Platte Memoria l race at Hampton, Virginia's Langley Field Speedway on October 25, 1964 showing BILL LORAH of Norfolk, Va. finishing 11th in NASCAR Modified #59: The 2nd annual Ray Platte Memorial Modified- Sportsman race was held at the 4/10 mile dirt Langley Speedway on October 25th, 1964. Forty-Four cars were in the pits attempting to qualify for the 40 starting spots in the 200 lap event. Sonny Hutchins of Richmond, VA turned the fastest lap at 20.83 seconds to win the number one starting spot. Doug Yates on Chapel Hill, NC driving the #1va was able to secure the outside front row starting position. Lap leaders were Sonny Hutchins, Ted Hairfield, Earl Moss, and Ray Hendrick. Hairfield was able to lead on 3 different occasions including the final 73 laps. Lil Bud Moore from Charleston, SC was able to work his way through the field getting as high as 3rd from a starting spot near the rear of the field before his steering locked up. Hairfield and McGinnis went the entire distance without a pit stop. There were 2 red flags, and 3 caution flags in the event. Hairfield won $1000 for the victory before a crowd of 5000 fans.
Thanks Dave,
My friend Wayne Patterson was killed when he wrecked his truck after working late on his
race car. His wife gave some of his collection.Wayne was a great race driver & won a lot
of races.
Thanks for your help.
Harlow Reynolds---Lynchburg,Va.
Harlow, I knew Wayne Patterson well. Wayne's one time car owner and sponsor Bill Grubb (father of drivers Wayne Grubb and the late Kevin Grubb), owner of W.O. Grubb Steel Erection in Richmond, sought me out back around 1981 to try to help them find sponsorship for a good Late Model Sportsman run and then Busch Series go. Wayne was a tremendously talented driver.
My father's car number 37 modified driven by Butch Torrie raced with Bill Lorah many times on dirt back in the 1950's and early 1960's. Bill Lorah also drove the number 58 Duke's Special, I remember the car was painted black and white. In the photo above Bill Lorah is pictured to the right side of the photo.
Hey guys I'm Bill Lorah grandson, I race at Langley speedway and unfortunately I never got to meet my grandfather as he passed away before I was born ,but I heard he was a good racer just wondering if anyone has any more stories about him. Thank you