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older than dirt
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anthony7777
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doc, "penny"?.. bahh, my letters went to annette funicello!, she would write back,.. honest. 
TR6oldtimer
Darth Vader
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Annette had big eyes... But my alas, she was to old for me, by one year...
V
vagt6
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Speaking of things that used to be that are no more . . .
down this way, especially in the rural parts and along old "tobacco road" there were many dirt/mud race tracks and more than a few drag strips. When I was a kid, going to the local races was the place to be for all the local gear heads!
My grandad used to take me to the "Starkey Speedway", in SW Roanoke, VA out in the woods about 10 miles from the City. Around about 1962 or '63, we saw Richard Petty at the drag strip and later on the dirt track competing there. If memory serves me, he was driving a number "43" car, maybe a Ford at that time. Also, Fireball Roberts (missing his right arm!) did a whole lap around the track in the "driver side down" position: with the car up on two wheels, driver side down in a big Ford Galaxy!. Holy cow, he musta been nuts! I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen (at age 8)!
It was not unusual to see the early NASCAR drivers on these local dirt race circuits in southern VA and NC in the early sixties. These venues were near their homes and relatively easy to reach for many of the NC and VA-based drivers.
And, I don't doubt that more than a few of the cars competing at these old tracks doubled as moonshine haulers on their non-racing days! For just fifteen minutes or so from Roanoke down route U.S. 220 was Rocky Mount, VA (in Frankin Co.), the "moonshine capitol" of the U.S. during the 20's and 30's (and probably not too far from it today).
Practically every decent-sized population center had a race track nearby. I can think of at least ten or so within an hour's ride of my home in Roanoke.
Most are gone now. Not sure exactly what happened to them, probably insurance costs/litigation, etc.
Lot of fun, and a good family venue.
To be a fly on the wall today, on that day in '62 with my Granddad: Sir Richard at the wheel, tradin' paint on the dirt track . . .
down this way, especially in the rural parts and along old "tobacco road" there were many dirt/mud race tracks and more than a few drag strips. When I was a kid, going to the local races was the place to be for all the local gear heads!
My grandad used to take me to the "Starkey Speedway", in SW Roanoke, VA out in the woods about 10 miles from the City. Around about 1962 or '63, we saw Richard Petty at the drag strip and later on the dirt track competing there. If memory serves me, he was driving a number "43" car, maybe a Ford at that time. Also, Fireball Roberts (missing his right arm!) did a whole lap around the track in the "driver side down" position: with the car up on two wheels, driver side down in a big Ford Galaxy!. Holy cow, he musta been nuts! I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen (at age 8)!
It was not unusual to see the early NASCAR drivers on these local dirt race circuits in southern VA and NC in the early sixties. These venues were near their homes and relatively easy to reach for many of the NC and VA-based drivers.
And, I don't doubt that more than a few of the cars competing at these old tracks doubled as moonshine haulers on their non-racing days! For just fifteen minutes or so from Roanoke down route U.S. 220 was Rocky Mount, VA (in Frankin Co.), the "moonshine capitol" of the U.S. during the 20's and 30's (and probably not too far from it today).
Practically every decent-sized population center had a race track nearby. I can think of at least ten or so within an hour's ride of my home in Roanoke.
Most are gone now. Not sure exactly what happened to them, probably insurance costs/litigation, etc.
Lot of fun, and a good family venue.
To be a fly on the wall today, on that day in '62 with my Granddad: Sir Richard at the wheel, tradin' paint on the dirt track . . .
bgbassplyr
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Mark>The SCCA ran a curtain raiser for the NASCAR race at Bowman Gray, 1/4 mile flat asphalt-2 cars wide-stone wall on the outside, in 64. Practice and qualifying yeilded a fast time of 17.5 seconds for a Lotus 7. I think I was running about 20 seconds in a TR 3A. Sports car group all smiles.
Then the big iron went out. Warmed up in the 16 second range and the pole was in the low-middle 15 second range. Watching Petty, Buddy Baker, and the rest (all young), made a believer out of me who, until that point, thought that foot down turn left took little skill. Since that night I have had a lot of respect for the drivers and the skill required to 'turn left'.
Then the big iron went out. Warmed up in the 16 second range and the pole was in the low-middle 15 second range. Watching Petty, Buddy Baker, and the rest (all young), made a believer out of me who, until that point, thought that foot down turn left took little skill. Since that night I have had a lot of respect for the drivers and the skill required to 'turn left'.
V
vagt6
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As a southerner, one thing I definitely <span style="font-style: italic">don't</span> miss about yesteryear is ubiquitous racial discrimination. And along these lines, I forgot to mention in my story, above, that the great Wendell Scott also raced at Starkey and other local, VA tracks. I also saw him race several times at Martinsville, and also once at Rockingham.
Scott was the original multi-tasker in stock car racing: he financed, built, repaired, promoted and raced his cars. He also was tougher than nails: it's hard to imagine the discrimination he endured on the circuit, and was successful in spite of it.
IMHO, his greatest triumph was fighting Old Jim Crow and all the while, remaining a gentleman.
A real hero, Scott.
Scott was the original multi-tasker in stock car racing: he financed, built, repaired, promoted and raced his cars. He also was tougher than nails: it's hard to imagine the discrimination he endured on the circuit, and was successful in spite of it.
IMHO, his greatest triumph was fighting Old Jim Crow and all the while, remaining a gentleman.
A real hero, Scott.
bgbassplyr
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At a pit stop, I have seen him get out and change tires. And a lot of the regulars gave him parts and tires and helped keep him in racing.