Living Legend Raced with the Best
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Living legend raced with the best FEB 1951 DAYTONA BEACH•h.fl Jwynrri ifflr»¥4*^ «950 OLDSMOBILE GRAND NATIONAL RACE Johnny Thompson prior to his time trial run at the 1951 Grand National Beach Course race. A NASCAR official beside car is making sure it met race qualifications. Cars had to be stock right off the dealer showroom floor, courtesy photos Staff As the 56th Daytona 500 heralds the coming of spring, race fans everywhere will be celebrating the great race that was born on 3.2 miles of sand and asphalt at the old beach course directly fac ing the Atlantic Ocean. Johnny Tompson learned that course and each curve in it as he grew to become a legend of SEE LIVING, PAGE 3A Johnny Thompson standing at the Living Legends Of Auto Racing Walk of Fame in Daytona. *v"o*v<* 'Continued From Page 1A He had left what he called "There was no practice," in his book the "cotton Thompson said. "Some NASCAR. patch" and was now at "the years there would be 132 Johnny Thompson, who race track". Drivers from cars there." had driven short tracks in across the United States According to Thompson, the Southeast, was about to made the trip to Daytona the length of the race de undertake the premier chal Beach for the event. In pended on the tide. lenge for race car drivers. 1951. Thompson was one "We raced each other and of 54 competitors vying for the tide," explained Thomp the $1,000 purse. son. "That was a lot of money There were 145 cars in then," he said. the race and Thompson fin Thompson drove a modi ished 45th. fied in his first appearance "To finish there you had on the beach, anythinggoes to outrun 40 to 50 cars," he as far as setting the car's stated. suspension and engine In 1952, Thompson came components. This was a in 54th, having transmission new experience forThomp problems. Out of 136 cars son: he had never driven on in 1954, Thompson finished Annual Banquet sand and on a track the size 55th. of the beach course. He was running against "I had the knowledge to the top drivers of his day: drive," he said, "but not at Cotton Owens, Tim Flock. Johnny Thompson receives that speed." Fireball Roberts, Banjo the prestigious "Glenn "Fire He qualified at 96 mph Mathews and Marshall ball" Roberts Hard Charger on a measured mile dis Teaguc. The year 1954 was /\ward in 2009. tance that set qualifying or Thompson's final trip to the Courtesy photos der. beach. He qualified at 102.5, finished 26th out of overcast, the course didn't over all others for induc 144 cars. lose its grip as badly." tion. Beach racing was a dif Beach racing was not a Thompson's racing ca ferent animal, according to good venue for spectators, reer lasted from 1947 to Thompson. maintained Thompson. 1958 and he holds seven "It was a wide beach. "You could only see the track records at the old You could run 12 to 14 cars cars when they went by," he Jacksonville Speedway. In side-by-side down the said. 2013, Thompson received straightaway, but when you Sand was also problemat honors and was elected to got to the north turn, you ic for a competitor. the Racing's Hero's Histor had belter be two-wide. "When you get that many ical Group for drivers who That turn was the trouble cars running on sand, it was made their mark in racing spot. Drivers would try and hard to see the north turn history. force the issue by going coming at you," explained He received his certifi more that two wide and end Thompson. "You had to cate in recognition of the up in ihe sand dunes." look out the side window of pioneering and the contri He went on to say that the the car to get a clear view of bution he made to the sport Al A part of the track was the turn. The sand hitting of stock car racing in the only big enough for two your face fell like needles." early years. cars. Thompson raced five His certificate reads "There was a red line years on the beach. "Memories Never Die As painted across the track be In 2009 Thompson was Long As There Are People fore the south turn," said awarded the prestigious That Remember and Keep Thompson. "It was a warn Fireball Roberts Hard History Alive". ing for the driver to put on Charger. Besides writing a book, the brakes to give them "The award was give to Thompson also has written enough slow down time." me by Fireball's daughter," a poem, "The Last Race". "One year, 17 of them he explained. In one of the verses it piled up at the north turn. I The award is given for a reads: missed it. but it looked like driver's service and out "When I ride by that race a junk yard," said Thomp standing performance in track that stands on a hill; son. racing. Thompson also has And I look at the oak trees There was also the issue a memorial brick at the Liv that arc standing, there still; of soft sand. ing Legends of Auto Rac My mind will go back to "If the sun was out, the ing in Daytona. Drivers the days of my past; And a sand got very mushy," said who raced the old beach smile will be formed on my Thompson. "But, if it was course take precedence lips at last." NORTH TURN DAYTONA BEACH, FL 1954 Cars race through the infamous North Turn on Daytona Beach in 1954..