Back in the middle 50's I can remember dad and the crew loading up both cars and J.W.Brown was over with his going also.

Exactly where we went I cant remember but we went to Fla. with all three cars. It was not to far from where Smokey had his shop because there were several trips made to his shop that week.

It was a good sized dirt track 1/2 mile or better because gearing was a problem. That was one of the reasons they were running back and forth changing stuff. Bob Brown was down with his wrecker and it was utilized holding cars in suspension while rear ends were removed or swapped or change completely.

I was getting old enough now to separate the gawkers from people of importance. One such guy was there in a suit and tie and very proper acting . Anyway he knew dad and Bob good enough to walk in and work would stop at least for a minute. This is where I first met this guy named Smokey,at least it was the first time I was close enough and old enough to understand the who and what he was.

There were probably better than 75 cars there for this race and everyone was nervous and jittery.

As time trials started there was no time left but to tinker with the cars. J.W.Brown went out and lost high gear before the first lap so he ducked back in and the went to work on it. Smokey gathered up some gears and they proceeded to put the gears in the quick change. He went back out just after dad qualified and posted a better time than dad . Comes to find out Smokey had come up with a combination that let the car run in first gear and qualify.

Boy they ragged dad about that but then the work was on to replace the tranny. This guy with the coat and tie on announced he had a spare one over in his trunk that could be used and away they went to retrieve it. Now I popped a question to dads mechanic asking him who this guy was because everyone but him was greasy.

Bob Brown informed me that this was Raymond Parks out of Atlanta. Well this settled me down because I had read and heard about him in the stories that are told in a racing shop.

Next day there was another car down parked with us putting the count to six from Ga. huddled together.

That put both of dads cars there along with J.W. Browns car and the one from the Cherokee Garage.(Sounding kinda familiar now huh). Joe Riddle had showed up with his sedan and now Smokey had his car sided along with Mr Parks car.

Race time came and cars were pulled onto the track getting ready for this race. Now this race is either at Thanksgiving or Christmas time because I was out of school,otherwise I would have had to listen to the stories being told back at the shop to half way way know what I was fixing to see.

Race finally gets under way and its a long one because there were some pitstops made during it. It was sure dusty too because at some points in the race I couldnt see nothing and I was really scared for our two cars out there. Then out of the blue one of those afternoon rain showers came floating by and put the correct amont of water down to make the race very interesting especially the finish.

Well that car out of Atlanta won it and let me tell you there was a lot of arguing over how he did it. Seems as though he made it on one less stop than the rest with Smokeys help of course. You see it was tuned by smokey and had a funny carburetor on it.

The trip back home was good because all three cars ran up front and no car was tore up. I remember setting around a table somewhere in Ga at a restaurant and Mr Parks was the head man that night. Everyone was happy and talking about the next big race.

Seems it was a ways away because I dont remember anything about dads cars going. This little tidbit came to me out of no where. the players in it are true,the location im not sure of,it wasnt at the beach but inland somewhere in Fla. It wasnt to far from Smokeys shop in Daytona because it seems there were a few trips made to it for parts and what not.

If you think or see photos of back then it seems as most every guy had a hat,not a cap but a hat with a brim around it. Mr Parks had a nice one along with Smokey. Dad had one too that was always kinda turned up in front.Jack Roush I think is a hold over from that era because he has his signature hat to this day.

Another thing they had was cigars. If you had one it seemed like most looked half chewed but never smoked.

I put these in script so as someone in the future may be able to continue on with the memories I have from time gone by.