COLUMBUS COUNTY DRAGSTRIP in NC - Page 2

Ronnie Hamlin · 01-25-2009, 03:17 PM

The red Roadrunner looks like the late Billy West...the blue Roadrunner is Johnny Fishers C/SA car (it was a real six pack car, not a clone) and the blue "Bustin' Loose" Vega was out of John Wests' shop and if my memory is correct was Steve Coats.

joe lewis · 01-25-2009, 04:58 PM

thanks again kevin.the 63 in the pic w/ the guy on the fence looks like the stocker daddy had so much success.also i remember the hi riser of rosevelt revels,wlid thang of harold dentons.also the red snapper and el torro,but i don't remember those drivers. i'm also looking for pics of fayetteville and dunn-benson of 70-75.

wupracing · 01-25-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Rice

The siver Camaro by the van looks like Randy Mason and Warren Plowden's "Nobleman".
Bob Rice

Bob,
That was Randy Manson in the Nobleman Camaro...
You should of seen him one Sunday during the race.His Hood came up this was over half way the track Some how he still Won that race..

chris3racing · 01-26-2009, 04:27 PM

When I first read this post I was only going to reply only to one person's post. After reading all of them I was to let each person who has posted here concerning this old track and others who have family members or friends who raced or attended races back in those day to go to Henderson, North Carolina in October each year for the East Coast Drag Times Reunion and Hall of Fame Inductions. There are guys mention on this thread who are either no longer with us, Billy West, Harold Stewart (El Torro), Gene Hinson, Ronnie Sox, Ron Lyles, Don Carlton, and the list gets longer each year. If you were out there racing with us or you were there as a spectator come out on Saturday, see the old race cars and either meet folks you haven't seen in a long time or that you never had the chance to meet. There are so many cars which have been restored or are the original cars on display. On Sunday at the induction ceremony there is a room set aside for old scrap books and news papers. When you look through the scrape books of Billy West, Gene Hinson, Tom "Smoker" Smith and so many more you will remember the old tracks, Easy Street, Broad Slab, Sanford, Person County, Piedmont, Concord, 258 Dragway, etc., and cars.

Mr. Bret Kepner, who is the emcee for the induction ceremony has a data base of all of the drag strips around the world. Last year he pointed out that North Carolina is third in the country for the number of drag strips that have operated over the years.

Concerning the old pictures. During the years that we raced, my brother took Literally a Closet Full of photographs. Before the reunion, this past year, he got out some boxes and we went through, scanned and made a CD, "North Carolina Drag Racing 60's & 70"s". This CD has photos of The Pilgrim (Billy West), Melvin Yow, Gold Finger ( Bobby Brown), Rapid Rocket (Bill Rowland), Bad News (Chester Raybourn) Sinclair Chevrolet (Ronnie Sox) Bad Thang (Harold Denton) Good Time Charlie Brown (Mike Boyle), Starliner (Alan Starr), and the list can go on. I will look through our files and see if I have some from Columbus County already scanned.

If anyone has any question concerning the reunion please contact me, we always have a good time each year seeing folks we haven't seen in many years and seeing the ones who do return each year.

wupracing · 01-26-2009, 07:17 PM

I also can tell you that Daddy use to have Motorcycle races to at the track and George Byrce Yes the NOW NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Owner use to come and race with them.He drove back then.He stayed in Conway S.C. at that time..

My Dad told us about Roy Hill when he first started going to That track he was Real Young and cought rides to the tracks with people like Harold Denton & Herb McCandles

I even remember Ricky Smith in his Ford Maverick Modified Car name "Country Shindig"

Tom P · 01-26-2009, 09:06 PM

On Google Earth I can see a little of the old track left across #74, looks like two strips with grass in the middle. I guess none of the starting line or tower is left?

CFM · 01-26-2009, 09:28 PM

I stopped by a few yrs ago. Asphalt was still there although overgrown. The tower was still standing but delapadated. Far end of the track is now an industrial park. A ghost track but it still brought back memories.
Kevin may know its present state.

wupracing · 01-26-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFM

I stopped by a few yrs ago. Asphalt was still there although overgrown. The tower was still standing but delapadated. Far end of the track is now an industrial park. A ghost track but it still brought back memories.
Kevin may know its present state.

Corbin,
Beleive it or Not I was working that way today and went by the old track..It is all growed up you can still tell where the staring line was..The Tower is still there but is falling down...Sure had alot of fun there.
Only bad thing when Daddy & Buster had the track we had to work there and did not get to race other places that much..Which I was still to Young to race..But Daddy did not get to go like he would like.

Kevin

THE LEGEND · 01-26-2009, 10:48 PM

I remember Dell Britt showing off popping wheelies on the return road with his elCamino and busting the oil pan.
I remember Buddy Hickman running through the fence at the other end of the track with his BMP 63 vette.
I remember racing there a few times before the track closed.
Always had a good time.
Chip

Tom P · 01-27-2009, 05:23 AM

When did it run till? Sounds like maybe late 70's.

01-25-2009, 03:17 PM	#11
Ronnie Hamlin Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chalybeate Springs, N.C. Posts: 131 Likes: 18 Liked 29 Times in 8 Posts	Re: COLUMBUS COUNTY DRAGSTRIP in NC The red Roadrunner looks like the late Billy West...the blue Roadrunner is Johnny Fishers C/SA car (it was a real six pack car, not a clone) and the blue "Bustin' Loose" Vega was out of John Wests' shop and if my memory is correct was Steve Coats.

01-25-2009, 04:58 PM	#12
joe lewis Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 13 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: COLUMBUS COUNTY DRAGSTRIP in NC thanks again kevin.the 63 in the pic w/ the guy on the fence looks like the stocker daddy had so much success.also i remember the hi riser of rosevelt revels,wlid thang of harold dentons.also the red snapper and el torro,but i don't remember those drivers. i'm also looking for pics of fayetteville and dunn-benson of 70-75.

01-26-2009, 04:27 PM	#14
chris3racing Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 528 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: COLUMBUS COUNTY DRAGSTRIP in NC When I first read this post I was only going to reply only to one person's post. After reading all of them I was to let each person who has posted here concerning this old track and others who have family members or friends who raced or attended races back in those day to go to Henderson, North Carolina in October each year for the East Coast Drag Times Reunion and Hall of Fame Inductions. There are guys mention on this thread who are either no longer with us, Billy West, Harold Stewart (El Torro), Gene Hinson, Ronnie Sox, Ron Lyles, Don Carlton, and the list gets longer each year. If you were out there racing with us or you were there as a spectator come out on Saturday, see the old race cars and either meet folks you haven't seen in a long time or that you never had the chance to meet. There are so many cars which have been restored or are the original cars on display. On Sunday at the induction ceremony there is a room set aside for old scrap books and news papers. When you look through the scrape books of Billy West, Gene Hinson, Tom "Smoker" Smith and so many more you will remember the old tracks, Easy Street, Broad Slab, Sanford, Person County, Piedmont, Concord, 258 Dragway, etc., and cars. Mr. Bret Kepner, who is the emcee for the induction ceremony has a data base of all of the drag strips around the world. Last year he pointed out that North Carolina is third in the country for the number of drag strips that have operated over the years. Concerning the old pictures. During the years that we raced, my brother took Literally a Closet Full of photographs. Before the reunion, this past year, he got out some boxes and we went through, scanned and made a CD, "North Carolina Drag Racing 60's & 70"s". This CD has photos of The Pilgrim (Billy West), Melvin Yow, Gold Finger ( Bobby Brown), Rapid Rocket (Bill Rowland), Bad News (Chester Raybourn) Sinclair Chevrolet (Ronnie Sox) Bad Thang (Harold Denton) Good Time Charlie Brown (Mike Boyle), Starliner (Alan Starr), and the list can go on. I will look through our files and see if I have some from Columbus County already scanned. If anyone has any question concerning the reunion please contact me, we always have a good time each year seeing folks we haven't seen in many years and seeing the ones who do return each year.

01-26-2009, 07:17 PM	#15
wupracing Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maxton N.C. Posts: 155 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: COLUMBUS COUNTY DRAGSTRIP in NC I also can tell you that Daddy use to have Motorcycle races to at the track and George Byrce Yes the NOW NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Owner use to come and race with them.He drove back then.He stayed in Conway S.C. at that time.. My Dad told us about Roy Hill when he first started going to That track he was Real Young and cought rides to the tracks with people like Harold Denton & Herb McCandles I even remember Ricky Smith in his Ford Maverick Modified Car name "Country Shindig" __________________ Kevin Mclamb IHRA H/R & Top/Sportsman #9416

01-26-2009, 09:06 PM	#16
Tom P Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 707 Likes: 30 Liked 239 Times in 94 Posts	Re: COLUMBUS COUNTY DRAGSTRIP in NC On Google Earth I can see a little of the old track left across #74, looks like two strips with grass in the middle. I guess none of the starting line or tower is left?

01-26-2009, 09:28 PM	#17
CFM Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Clinton, NC Posts: 226 Likes: 18 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: COLUMBUS COUNTY DRAGSTRIP in NC I stopped by a few yrs ago. Asphalt was still there although overgrown. The tower was still standing but delapadated. Far end of the track is now an industrial park. A ghost track but it still brought back memories. Kevin may know its present state.

01-26-2009, 10:48 PM	#19
THE LEGEND VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fayetteville, n.c. Posts: 1,411 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: COLUMBUS COUNTY DRAGSTRIP in NC I remember Dell Britt showing off popping wheelies on the return road with his elCamino and busting the oil pan. I remember Buddy Hickman running through the fence at the other end of the track with his BMP 63 vette. I remember racing there a few times before the track closed. Always had a good time. Chip

01-27-2009, 05:23 AM	#20
Tom P Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 707 Likes: 30 Liked 239 Times in 94 Posts	Re: COLUMBUS COUNTY DRAGSTRIP in NC When did it run till? Sounds like maybe late 70's.