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NASCAR Racing's Outrage
Views: 1,618Added: Fri. Feb 13, 2009 3:13pm
Posted in: Motorsports
It really is an outrage. NASCAR continues to enjoy so much success while the men who helped build it continue in obscurity.
Have you ever heard of the Living Legends of Auto Racing Museum? Ray Fox? Russ Truelove? How about Mad Marion McDonald? They were the pioneers of the sport we love today. They paid the price for what we enjoy.
McDonald raced on the beach in Daytona starting in 1937. He ran in his own personal car. He strapped the door shut with the belt holding up his pants and taped a knife to the dashboard so if the car rolled he could cut his way out. Today, he's 90 years old and still as feisty as ever.
Truelove was one of the last to drive in a beach race. In 1956 he made Life Magazine for almost losing his life! His car flipped six times in the most spectacular crash in beach racing memory. He's 84 years old today, but his mind is sharp as a tack. He is gracious, fascinating and willing to tell stories to nearly anyone who will listen. He's a true gem.
Ray Fox was as big as you can get! He was an engine builder, a crew chief and a car owner. His cars won 18 poles and 14 races in 172 starts. He's 92 years old and always willing to share his experiences.
But you won't find them anywhere near the speedway. They're in South Daytona, hidden away in a strip mall. But they are well worth looking for. If you enjoy racing in the least, you must visit the Living Legends of Auto Racing Not only will you see some amazing relics from racing's roots, if you're lucky, you'll also get to meet the people who made racing's history.
The Living Legend of Auto Racing Museum is FREE and open to the public. These are gracious, loyal and appreciative people. They are a resource NASCAR can be proud of. Yet, they get very little in assistance from racing's governing body.
It seems it would take so little to make such a big difference in their lives. NASCAR, cherish your past, nurture it and appreciate it. For after listening to these men tell stories, your past was glorious!
Bill Shafer
Bolder Broadcasting, Inc. ©2006-2012 Bolder Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
dave cartwright
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Posted 9:34pm February 19th, 2009Hey Bill.....thanks for the article on a few of NASCAR'S ledgends. The first one you mentioned, "Mad" Marion McDonald is my Uncle and though he quit racing about the time I was born, 1947, in my youth I remember him as a daring and fiesty character with a competitive spirit and a sparkle of devlishness in his eyes. Uncle Mac, as we all called him, was much more than just a racer. Aside from the personal friendship with Big Bill France (France and his wife would fly over to my Uncle's landing strip in Plymouth, FL for dinner), Uncle Mac also mentored "Fireball" Roberts when Roberts was very young, hanging stock car motors on chains from the big Live Oaks on my Uncle's property to work on them.
Thanks again for the great piece...
Dave Cartwright
Hiker Joe
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Posted 2:04pm February 14th, 2009Bill,
I must say it is interesting to learn about the history of NASCAR. I never have been a great fan but I often stop and watch it on television only to know the names of those you'll find plastered all over advertisements. Living in North Carolina I'm right in the middle of NASCAR country. I'll have to start looking around to see what sort of museums they have here. We often forget those who made the sports we watch so great. I think the drama of today's sports clouds our memory of yesterday.
Thanks for making me think.
Ann
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Posted 11:11pm February 13th, 2009Bill this is a great story. I'm a race fan, and I have never heard about these drivers. I guess that's what happens with all the legends of any field. I was so disappointed this past weekend knowing that Brenda Lee was being presented Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Award and they couldn't even do it on the live telecast. They had a special ceremony on Saturday. I guess it is all about money, and that is sad.