In my discussions with RacersReunion Members (there have been quite a few).
I have relied on memories of up to 72 years ago. If I made a mistake it wasn't intentional. I am happy to answer questions about how it was " back in the day". I was very close to the Nascar growth in North Carolina in the late 40s and early 50s.
I think your memory is fine, Jim. I really appreciate all you've done to help me understand the ins and outs of those cars.Pete
Stock Car Racing was a dirty word back then. I got fired from a job because I drove back them.The Regional Sales Manager of Armour & Co.fired me because driving a stock cars was not dignified .
Jim,Your recollections of racing back in the day...and your willingness to share them is what this site is about. We appreciate you very much! With your permission I would like to have Jim Seay contact you for an interview to be aired on our new radio show called "Racing The Way It Was". Jim is creating a series for the show called "Racing Through History". We will begin with recollections about the origin of Stock Car Racing....pre-NASCAR...then move forward through history as the sport progressed.The first show will air October 1 at 8:00 PM on Racers Reunion Radio...right here on this site.Thanks Jim!Jeff
Hey Jim I remember being in pits back in the 1950's as a just child. My younger brother and I were able to get in the pits back then with the crew in the tow car at outlaw tracks in VA & NC.NASCAR tracks would not let us in the pits so we had to go into the grandstands for those races.I saw a lot of drinking, fighting and you name it going on in the pits back in those days. We had lots of fun and good memories but the sport of racing was rough back then. It was a place for real men only, sometimes the driver and crew had to fight there way into the track and then fight there way back out. After that they all became friends again and had a drink together. Everybody helped each other, if someone needed a particular part or tool he got with no question. but once they were racing on the track it was every man for his self.Like you said Stock Car Racing was a dirty word back then, because of that my father would never put the name of his business on the race car. He owned and operated his auto repair shop in Hampton, VA, it was called Phoebus Auto Service located in that part of the city of Hampton
Mr Streeter,im saying Mr only because I look up to you as a person of superior knowledge of"back in the day". because I grew up in that era of racing by going with my father every weekend and week day,sleeping across the seat while he drove or huddled in back beside him as others drove. Getting in the tracks was sometimes a chore but when there are two cars coming in and with the movement i usually made it in and was on top of the world,or truck at least,-- many a nite was spent changing gears or transmissions or even motors because thats the way it was done back then.like someone said everyone helped everyone until the green flag fell then all bets were on.Sir I admire you for who you were then and NOW also,and it would be a thrill to listen to you for hours on Racers Reunion Radio telling the world how it was ---B A C K I N T H E D A Y ------------ I salute you---------------------------------------------------memories
So many of us fans are curious about how everything worked and as for me I am fascinated by mechanicals. You have been so generous in helping me know about the tires, transmissions and rear ends that you used. I was amazed to see you found a 456 rear end for your race car!! That is one hell of a piece.Again, thank you for sharing your knowledge and please consider doing the interview. Maybe Jeff can have a plate of BBQ for you to eat.LOLPete
Pete you can credit Billy Meyers for finding it.He also found a tire company in Conneticut that capped a soft rubber on his tires.That why no one could stay with him in the curves at Bowman Gray.Can you imagine Billy also drove a big Mercury Turnpike Cruiser at McCormick Field in Ashville.This track was built around a baseball field. The start / finish line was at 3rd base you would drive to home plate make a sharp left, then drive to right field . Then you would begin a large curve around right field then center ,then left field, sharp left to home plate.That was a fun track.
Jim, we had a guy in Michigan named Danny Byrd who used to drive Edsels and Ford Starliners. Car was real fast and he won a lot. In fact, Danny sold his Edsel to a skinny kid named Benny Parsons. (Yes, Benny drove an Edsel!) That Turnpike Cruiser was HUGE. Do you recall the motor in that? I thought I saw 430 Cubic inches on the hood of the Edsel. I remember it wasn't the 427. Not sure who made the 430, maybe Lincoln or Mercury?Pete
tc had 430 cid.