|
Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
See You At The Races!!! |
| Dancing
With The Ghost of Rex Mays by Norm Bogan |
|
|
|
The
walk from the parking lot was one of excitement and anticipation to see the
mighty warriors once again challenge the famed Del Mar oval.
As you neared the gate, to enter the plush Turf Club, suddenly there were
chills down the spine and 1949 came back into focus.
It was like entering a "Twilight Zone", since there was as much
space dedicated to the 1949 race, as was to the current race.
The program had an insert, reviewing the 1949 season and especially the
season ending Del Mar show. There
was an aura of many folks wanting to relive, for a short time, what once was.
This
was the hallowed ground where the Champ cars would compete again.
The heavy hitters were all here after last week's run at Sacramento.
After a 47 year absence, the National Championship was on the line once
more. As I sought out my seating, I felt a presence was lurking
nearby. Why did I have the feeling
someone else was watching, other than the thousands of fans, who had filed in
with me? In
1949, racing was at a high point. Large
crowds attended races at numerous tracks and many of the heroes of that day had
their roots in southern California. These
warriors travelled across the nation in pursuit of the National Championship.
The race cars were much more primitive than the streamlined cocoons of
today. They ran on higher centers
of gravity, with narrow tires and nearly a total lack of safety equipment. The
brave souls who wheeled these vehicles were a special breed of men.
Most were quite muscular from fighting these ill handling bucking
machines on countless dirt tracks around the country. These men staked their lives against these tracks, many converted from a horse facility, which
were rutted and quite dusty. The
wooden rail fences often became life takers, instead of life savers.
Some who sought to accept these challenges were; Lee Wallard, Mack
Hellings, Johnnie Parsons, Rex Mays, Walt Brown, George Connors, Paul Russo, Cal
Niday, Duane Carter, Walt Faulkner, Johnny Mantz, Tony Bettenhausen and a couple
of youngsters, Troy Ruttman and Jimmy Davies. After
47 years, Del Mar was resurrected as a racing venue.
The USAC Silver Crown cars, grandchildren of the AAA Champ Trail cars of
1949, were now the headliners. Just
like Jimmy Davies in the previous race, Jimmy Sills set fast time, sat on the
pole and led the race wire to wire. There
were only a couple of incidents during the event and no injuries, a monument I'm
sure, to the improved safety equipment. The
race roster also had a number of veterans and former champions, such as; Johnny
Parsons (son of the 1949 National Champion), George Snider, Chuck Gurney and
winner, Sills. Challenging
youngsters included; Dave Darland and Kenny Irwin Jr. The
track had been well prepared, fast and smooth.
Concrete highway barriers borrowed from the Long Beach Grand Prix, now
lined the rails of the horse track. The
cars were now low slung with wide tires, which made them much more stable.
Full roll cages adorned the cars and the drivers were secured in six
point safety belts. A
preliminary exhibition by a large contingent of restored antique race cars, some
of the era of the last Del Mar race, added to the flavor of the event.
There were many former drivers, owners and crewmen, some who had
participated at the 1949 event. The
stands were full of fans, many following the modern day heroes and a number of
white haired gentlemen, who had returned to a Mecca of sorts, to reclaim an
experience that had passed 47 years ago. There
was a lot of nostalgia and reminiscing amongst the race goers.
Many considered it a salute to the great Rex Mays.
As I departed the facility, into the sunset, I swear I saw an old #15
car, just up ahead. Had Rex Mays
come to reminisce also? |
