I had not planned to tell this story,
but after reading Tom Leaming's comment to Robbie Solesbee's Sept 13th post it needs to be told.It took place at an Outlaw Track in Henderson NC. The 2nd Heat Race was one by Wendell Scott and I had finished 2nd in the consolation. The fifty lap feature was about 15 minutes away. I was approached by a Red Necked #**@#% and asked "If you lay back and take out the N------ I'll give you $100.00" . Remember this was the early 50s and things arn't like they are today. I told the SOB to get the hell out of the pits or he would be carried out. You see, even back then there was bond between the drivers that transcend Race. I can remember one time Bobby Meyers going up in the stands and beating the Hell out of a spectator for shouting some derogatory remarks at Wendell.By The Way: First place at that Henderson Race paid $100.00.
Jim, thanks very much for sharing that experience. We often discuss that "bond" that existed then. We see that it still exests among the guys that competed then when they show up to support one of their fellow competitors in need.
Jim,That's the kind of true sportsmanship that existed in the early days among drivers. Jimmy Thompson jokingly described racing to me this way: "We'd practice a little, cuss a while about the car not running right, race, fight, race, drink a little, race some more, drink a little more and then go home...if we could fight our way out of the pits." But, mainly it was man-to-man sportsmanship that prevailed, wasn't it?.Jim
Thanks for sharing that story! I'd bet things like that happened more often than most people know. As I've said in other postings, I admired Wendell Scott for sticking to racing even if he didn't have the best equipment. As I've also said before, his story is one that needs to be told. I sure wish someone would write a book about his life. I never saw Wendell race, as that was before my time. I'd like to beleive that our society has come along way from that kind of nasty behavior. The way I see it, anyone who wants to race should be able to do so. They shouldn't let their race or sex stand in the way of those dreams.
I remember you telling me that story way back Jim. One of the reason's I came to respect you so much.