Back in the day

[scgator]

Who knows who these guys are? The place was Augusta, Georgia and the year was mid-1964 for the top pic, and late ' 63 for the bottom pic...........

This is where I worked as a 12 year old kid; my brother and I used to "sweep the track" with push brooms. Get in free, AND all the hot dogs we could eat; it didn't get any better than this for a 12 year old boy ....unless you include the playtime and "dirt clod" fights with another 12 year old friend.....named Dale Earnhardt. His dad, Ralph raced here every Saturday..........."back in the day".

The top pic was taken at the "Georgia Cracker 300" on the 1/2 mile Oval; and the lower pic was made in late '63 on the 3 mile Road Course at the "Augusta 510". It was this driver's last victory shortly before his untimely death in a later racing accident.

[Bruce C]

Your one lucky man. Sure do miss Dale and his racing. Jr is having a good start this year. Sure wish DEI had come to terms with Jr, but life goes on. Senior was one great driver and person. He did many things for people and never looked for anything in return. Great person. Missed by many.

[scgator]

As a kid, Dale always said one day he would race and be a champion; we ALWAYS laughed...........but, he did it The biggest difference in Jr. and Sr..........Sr. learned from Ralph...........if you look back, Sr.'s career took off when he learned his dad's driving style. When the track wasn't working, Ralph did not let it dictate how he drove, instead he "made" the car adapt to him. He refused to second guess how to drive a race car. He simply drove the same week in and week out.........when Jr. gets this........he too, will wear a crown An ill handling car or loose track were not a concern to Ralph, maintaining "authority" over his car and the track was his priority. He ALWAYS felt that car control, the race, and the track were his to win or lose.............:thum b:

[mythplaced]

While I am a Motorsport FANATIC (raced MC from 1971-2010) and LOVE all Motorsport racing in general.

I am not a great fan of Left turn Oval("LTO" ) style racing. However, these early LTO pioneers form the late 40's-70's epitomised Motorsport at its best.

Brave Drivers in modified stock machines..WOW!


You were lucky to have been a part of a proud racing history!

IMO Today's racing is so "high tech" and specialized that the drivers' skills (mechanical and driving) are not as great a factor in the results as they were "back in the day".

Factory backing, Money, Technology, have radically changes the face of Motorsport racing.. The best teams in the sport (Hendrick, Joe Gibbs, Rouch Fenway) get up to $25 million dollars for a full year sponsorship from their "major" sponsor. That’s about $500,000 – $700,000 per race! The lower-tier teams get about $8 million to $10 million for a full season, which is still a good chunk of money.

[chief02]

Speedinmotorsports.com for all your two wheel and ATV needs. Great prices on parts and fast friendly service.

[scgator]

..........another friend of mine is Mike Lentz, an old high school buddy; he is now National Security Director for NASCAR; I had an uncle, who was a local racer and back in the '60's, Junior Johnson invited him to come to Daytona and try to qualify his extra car for the race............my uncle..........missed his chance...........that was "his" week for being drunk............... ...boy, what could have been..

Mike is also the former National Security Director for the NHRA.

BTW: mythplaced, my motorcycle of choice is Kawasaki; when I met my wife of almost 40 years..she rode a 750 Triple Two Stroke

[scgator]

"Factory backing, Money, Technology, have radically changes the face of Motorsport racing."

You are so right, back in the early 80's a friend of mine, whom I raced with on the local short tracks, moved up to NASCAR, and his rookie year was tied in the running with Rob Moroso for "Rookie of the Year".....Uncle NASCAR visited his car hauler @ Charlotte and informed him that the "Moroso family" put a lot of money in racing, and it would just look better if Rob was allowed to win the ROTY honors. My friend balked at this and shortly afterwards, NASCAR again came to him and said that there had been a mixup on his car number designation and he had been running an unapproved car number, and even though they would get it straightened out.......he would lose his rookie points. He and his sponsor went back to NDRA short track racing where he not only has over 1000 career wins, but is also in the National Dirt Racing World Hall of Fame

[wa8yxm]

This applies more to the subject line of this post than the text but

Joe Bethancourt - When I Was A Boy - YouTube

mudcat.org lyrics: WHEN I WAS A BOY

By the way, I know the author, He helped me break into one type of singing.

[mythplaced]

Originally Posted by scgator

BTW: mythplaced, my motorcycle of choice is Kawasaki; when I met my wife of almost 40 years..she rode a 750 Triple Two Stroke

H2's are rocketships!

I'm a Honda guy since 1970...


HONDA

[Big Bear Local]

I remember watching Fireball Roberts. I don't know the other drivers off hand.

[Gary - K7GLD]

Originally Posted by scgator

..........
BTW: mythplaced, my motorcycle of choice is Kawasaki; when I met my wife of almost 40 years..she rode a 750 Triple Two Stroke

YUP - me too:




Restored/upgraded that one this past Winter...

[mythplaced]

Originally Posted by scgator

BTW: mythplaced, my motorcycle of choice is Kawasaki; ....

Had one O them too..Kamakazi that is

ZR1100 Zephyr Not too many made it to the US

[scgator]

Originally Posted by Campingman

I remember watching Fireball Roberts. I don't know the other drivers off hand.

# 11 Ned Jarrett
# 29 Dick Hutcheson
# 6 Bobby Isaac