Note: In addition to being a former NASCAR racer and current NCATS team owner, Canadian Jim Bray is also a motorsports historian. He recently stopped in Charlotte, NC to check out the new NASCAR Hall of Fame and catch up with some old friends.
Story and photos by Jim Bray
Watching the Dover race on Sunday was great; but being in Charlotte last week was beyond anything. On Monday evening I stopped in the new NASCAR Hall of Fame building, and through some NASCAR people, I met a couple who have a huge collection of restored and reproduction race cars. They have a ‘63 Ford in the 'Glory Road' display, claimed to be driven by Fireball, and painted the purple with 22 on it like his car was in ‘63. I raced against this car in USAC in ‘63 when it was driven by Curtis Turner (painted red). It later became Wendell Scott’s NASCAR car.
These same people also have an ex-Bill Stroppe ‘63 Mercury that they bought from Curtis 'Crawfish' Crider. I phoned my friend Rex White, from the show, to verify that this was the car he got from Stroppe at Daytona in July ‘63 when he switched from Chevrolet to Mercury. It was.
The owners were ecstatic that I was able to give them this very welcome information. Rex said, "Let’s meet tomorrow." We did, and how great it was to be with one of my best friends, whom I met at the CNE in ‘57. Rex is the oldest living National 'Cup' Champion.
Because I was with Rex and his niece Kay, whom I hadn’t seen for about 40 years, I ended up in a private escorted tour of the Hall of Fame facilities, with a Hall of Fame official.
No matter what you hear, or see on TV, there is absolutely nothing that will give a full reflection of what these people have done in building the new NASCAR Hall of Fame. Having most of the living former National Champions on stage at the opening was great. Junior Johnson even seemed choked up. (I was at Junior’s farm for breakfast on Monday morning and he was being interviewed by two groups of media people - a very early time of day for them.). Joining the racing legends on stage were the Governor of North Carolina, the mayor of Charlotte, the ex-mayor, and the woman who represented (as she said) the most important part of the whole deal; the bank that loaned them the money!
When you are at the Hall, seeing what is on each floor, you would think "that’s it," but no! The next level gives you even more. From a replica ‘39 Ford Raymond Parks, Red Byron car, to a ‘48 car and most eras in between, to entry forms, pit equipment, pictures, trophies etc. etc. or anything else you might think of. Anyone who has any respect for the drivers, crews, owners and NASCAR needs to see this place.
I have been to a few Halls of Fame, and nothing comes even close to this. It took millions of dollars to build, part of which is being repaid by a local entertainment tax, but I cannot even imagine how wonderful this will be for the City, for the State and for NASCAR.
What really made my day (Rex’s too) was when Rick Hendrick spoke, he reminisced about going to Martinsville as a young person, getting Richard Petty’s autograph and seeing his favourite driver, Rex White, race. So I’m sure millions will do what I believe they should do, and make many trips to Charlotte and the Hall of Fame.
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