New History of NASCAR Available

Deb Williams, a longtime motorsports writer and a member of the Stock Car Racing Collection Advisory Committee, has authored a new history of NASCAR just in time for the Christmas season. The History of NASCAR Vault recounts the early history the sport and its growth to national prominence. The lavishly illustrated volume contains never before published photographs, artwork, and memorabilia. As they delve into the scrapbook format, readers will find dozens of pockets containing such fascinating items as a 1940s Bill France Sr. business card, a 1959 program from the first Daytona 500, and a 1974 NASCAR driver's license. Published by Whitman, the book is available on Amazon and from bookstores throughout the country.

Dick Beaty Items Donated to the Stock Car Racing Collection

The family of Charlotte area racer and longtime NASCAR official Dick Beaty has donated materials to the Stock Car Racing Collection. Beaty's children, Carolyn Torrence and Don Beaty, donated a number of items from their father's collection, including issues of racing magazines and newspapers, a large collection of race programs, and some personal memorabilia and correspondence related to his career in racing. The magazines,  newspapers, and race programs will expand the Collection's holdings in these areas. Plans for the items directly documenting Beaty's racing career are to organize them for public access and post a descriptive guide of the material on the Collection's web site.

A Visit with Selma Hamrick

Stock Car Racing Collection curator Suzanne Wise recently visited Selma Hamrick, widow of legendary racing broadcaster and publisher Hal Hamrick, who died in 2008. Selma donated audio tapes of several races featuring Hal as a race announcer, as well as some issues of FasTrack, the racing newspaper he published for many years, to the Collection. Suzanne reports that Selma is very active and is on the go a lot visiting children and grandchildren. She also makes an incredibly delicious pound cake!

NASCAR on South Park

In case you missed it, back in October South Park, the shall we say, edgy television show on Comedy Central, did a spoof of NASCAR called "Poor and Stupid." For more about the episode, go to http://hamptonroads.com/2010/10/south-park-takes-nascar-so-did-you-laugh-or-were-you-offended

Revised Edition of Debo Park Motor Speedway Book Available

Rick Yocum has published a second edition of Echoes of Valley Thunder: Remembering Debo Park Motor Speedway. The 2010 version chronicling the history of the historic Ohio racetrack is more than twice the length of the original 2005 edition. It is available for $24.95 from Amazon and other booksellers. Rick kindly donated a copy to the Stock Car Racing Collection. Thanks so much, Rick!

Kingsport Speedway to Reopen; Gateway Closing

Kingsport (TN) Speedway will reopen in spring 2011 under the management of Robert Presley. On a sadder note, Dover Motorsports, Inc., the owner of Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis, has announced that it will cease all operations.

New Book about Louise Smith

Pioneer racer Louise Smith, the first woman to be inducted into the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame in Talledega, is the subject of a new children's book. Fearless: The Story of Racing Legend Louise Smith is by Barb Rosenstock and features wonderful illustrations by Scott Dawson. The book, published by Dutton, is available for $16.99.

Racing at North Wilkesboro Speedway

Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway will host a short track racing weekend October 29-31, 2010. Among the featured races will be the Allison Legacy Series, Super Trucks, Late Models, and more. For more information go to http://www.savethespeedway.net/events.

Historian Daniel Pierce Speaks at Appalachian

Dr. Daniel S. Pierce, author of Real NASCAR: White Lightning, Red Clay, and Big Bill France (UNC Press, 2010), spoke at Appalachian State University on Thursday, October 7. He described his research documenting the real story of the early days of stock car racing and the formation of NASCAR. He found that moonshining played a major role: many of the most talented early drivers were bootleggers, and money made from moonshining was used to build several early racetracks, including North Wilkesboro Speedway and Martinsville Speedway. Bill France Sr. was a race driver and promoter who used a combination of charm and a strong personality to corral these free spirits into organized racing that was birthed as NASCAR in 1947. Following his talk, Pierce answered questions from the audience and signed copies of his book. Pierce, an environmental and southern historian, is chair of the History Department at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Visit his blog at realnascar..com