I was at the Prairieville, LA. track for every race in the 60's. It was the very best 5/8 oval around at the time. Freddy won most of the races at this track. There were a lot of real good local drivers here. The 'Alabama Gang' would come down here and race pretty regular. Catfish Bill Carrigan was the track anouncer, & he nicknamed one of the drivers named Doug Newman "FOUR WALLS" from the old Faron Young song for the obvious reason. Those were some real good times. It was a shame to see the track get torn down.
I believe this picture was taken at a little speedway called the Louisiana Speedway, in St. Rose La., about 20 miles north of New Orleans. The track was only open for about 3 years.
It was actually open from 1966-1971. It was a NASCAR track from 1966-1968, and had two NASCAR events in 1969. Freddy Fryar, Chuck Arnold, Donnie Simpson & Tommy Martin were the drivers with the most wins at the track. This is a photo of Fryar with the Edward Grady Partin (Jimmy Hoffa fame) owned Ford in 1966, when the track was dirt. It was paved for 1967, but reverted back to dirt in late 1971, just before it closed. Robert melvin
That looks like the model I made for my uncle, J P Rotton who gave it to the museum. I paid 18 dollars for the dealer promo and put the b pillar in it. Someone made some very nice improvements to it.
I had to put the "B" Pillar in this one too. I bought the first car I ever owned from J. P. in 1955. It was a 1935 Ford 5 window coupe. Also I was in the AF with J.P.'s nephew, from Tarramt City, in the early "60's at Hunter AFB. That wouldn't be you would it?
This is Birmingham International Raceway.The picture was made in August,1965 when the supers ran there.That's the Fair Park Drive In Theater in the background.
Tommy and his dad Dur came up from Heileigh FL and ran the engine shop at Bobby Allision's place on Church St. Tommy had been injuried in a fire and after healing from that begin racing again in Ala and Tenn and made some trips to the North East. Dur died of a sudden heart attack while working at the shop on church st. and before the medics had left the place Tommy took his own life out side in the parking lot. Another very sad day for Hueytown and the Allison family.
I am Tommy's niece and Dur's granddaughter. As exciting as your story may sound, Mr. Ashley, your story could not be further from the truth. Grampa died in 1977 after fighting a long battle with lung cancer. Sadly, almost a year later in August 1978, Uncle Tommy did choose to take his life. Might I please ask where you got your story?
My father, Willie Boyett, built and owned stockcars. One of the drivers was Nero Steptoe. I would love to hear from some of his family. I can be contacted at mailto:mailto:dorisbhart@att.net.
Doris if you get a reply would you copy me. I remember as a you kid pulling for Nero at Bob Harmon's Montgomery Speedway. If I recall right Nero wasw a Native American driver. Bob told me before he died he had lost contact with Nero's family.
Man I love that ChevyII. Freddy put on a show at Mobile and Pensacola every time he rolled in. They weren't very "aero" but they made a fine looking late model.
Please wait...
